NFL Power Ranking for Week 5

The least publicized quarterback-coach combination inside the NFL Premier League is the most dangerous of the four.

Seahawks’ Russell Wilson and Pete Carroll about to fight again? Are the Rams’ Matthew Stafford and Sean McVay a perfect game? Jimmy Garoppolo’s injury means the 49ers’ debut with Trey Lance and Kyle Shanahan is here. All the fun stories, but it’s time to give Kyler Murray and Kliff Kingsbury their due.

The Cardinals are averaging 35 points per game, the best in the NFL as their offense includes stars (Kyler Murray and DeAndre Hopkins), veterans with something in the tank (AJ Green and James Connor) and explosive young players. (Rondale Moore, Chase Edmonds and Christian Kirk).

Here’s the Post’s power rankings after the Cardinals crushed the Rams, 37-20, in an unbeaten battle:

The Cardinals’ declared victory wasn’t even as close as the final score seems, as the Rams added a touchdown with 74 seconds left. Murray is the MVP favorite at the start of the season because he’s a better passer than most double-threat quarterbacks who run as well as him.

2. Los Angeles Rams, 3-1 (1)

Not too big a penalty because the power rankings are cumulative and the Rams’ victory two weeks ago against the Buccaneers still carries weight. The biggest red flag in the loss to the Cardinals is that Aaron Donald’s running defense was ripped from 216 yards.

3, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 3-1 (2)

Tom Brady didn’t throw a touchdown or interception, but he orchestrated the victorious fourth-quarter comeback against Bill Belichick’s defense, so he’s now beaten all 32 teams of his career. With the pressure of Brady’s return to New England finally over, the injury-shortened Buccaneers should start rolling.

4. Green Bay Packers, 3-1 (4)

Aaron Rodgers tied Dan Marino for 6th on career touchdown list (420). The wrist throw to Randall Cobb – with the Steelers’ defense in a winless run / pass situation – was a perfect representation of how easily Rodgers makes the game easy. The Week 1 loss to the Saints was nothing more than a wake-up call.

5. Bison tickets, 3-1 (8)

A sign of a great team is a killer instinct against an outclassed opponent: The Bills beat the Texans (40-0) just two weeks after beating the Dolphins (35-0). The Week 1 loss to the Steelers gets more puzzling week by week, but the Bills’ biggest regular-season game, against the Chiefs, is yet to come.

6. Cleveland Browns, 3-1 (3)

It’s time to penalize the Browns for flirting with disaster in a flexible three-week schedule. Wins are wins, but an uninspiring 14-7 survival against the Vikings was a reminder that this Super Bowl contender is too one-dimensional on offense right now. Baker Mayfield pitched for two touchdowns on 113 passes.

7. Los Angeles Chargers, 3-1 (9)

Austin Ekeler looked like an All-Pro double threat on “Monday Night Football”. More impressive still, the happy to play the rounds Chargers have dealt with both adversity (a home game in front of a hostile crowd dominated by Raiders fans) and prosperity (following an upheaval from the Chiefs with a second consecutive victory in the big division).

8. Las Vegas Raiders, 3-1 (7)

Falling behind the Chargers 21-0 was a bad idea. That left room for error in the return, so a 52-yard misfire in the fourth quarter was the highlight. Any of the six AFC teams could claim to be the best right now. The first wins against the Dolphins and Steelers don’t seem so hot right now.

9. Baltimore Ravens, 3-1 (11)

John Harbaugh’s decision to call an end game just to extend a 100-yard rushing streak to 43 straight games was lame. But the Ravens defeating the undefeated Broncos in Denver were not. The defense needed a performance like they had offered – even if it was mostly against Drew Lock.

10. Kansas City Chiefs, 2-2 (15)

The Chiefs looked like the Chiefs again, with Patrick Mahomes throwing three of his five touchdown passes against the Eagles at the untraceable Tyreek Hill. Remember all the Septembers where the Patriots got written off after a few losses, but still made it to the Super Bowl? Look here.

11. Dallas Cowboys

12. Seattle Seahawks, 2-2 (19)

13. San Francisco 49ers, 2-2 (5)

14. Carolina Panthers, 3-1 (12)

15. Cincinnati Bengals, 3-1 (17)

16. Denver Broncos, 3-1 (16)

17. Tennessee Titans, 2-2 (10)

18. Washington Football Team, 2-2 (24)

19. New Orleans Saints, 2-2 (13)

20. Chicago Bear, 2-2 (25)

21. Minnesota Vikings, 1-3 (18)

22. New England Patriots, 1-3 (23)

23. Philadelphia Eagles, 1-3 (20)

24. Indianapolis Colts, 1-3 (26)

25. Pittsburgh Steelers, 1-3 (21)

26. Miami Dolphins, 1-3 (22)

27. Atlanta Falcons, 1-3 (27)

The Giants are coming off their most inspiring win since 2017 – an 11-point comeback in the fourth quarter to beat the Saints in overtime. Daniel Jones threw for a career-high 402 yards, Saquon Barkley was back to himself after knee surgery and Kenny Golladay played as a No. 1 receiver. Big concerns on defense though.

The team with the lowest NFL scoring after three weeks came to life against the Titans because Zach Wilson showed great touch during his deep passes in the second half and overtime. Wilson’s ability for improvisation also manifested itself. But let’s not sleep on a defense that sacked Titans quarterback Ryan Tannehill seven times. Seven!

30. Houston Texans, 1-3 (28)

31. Detroit Lions, 0-4 (29)

32. Jacksonville Jaguars, 0-4 (31)