Ranking the NFL Teams in Week 5 of 2024: Where Does Each Team Stand of the 32? | Sports

Welcome to Week 5 of the 2024 NFL season. The Kansas City Chiefs and Minnesota Vikings are the final undefeated groups remaining, and the Jacksonville Jaguars are the lone winless group.

In Week 4, we noticed the Washington Commanders and Baltimore Ravens seize massive wins, the Buffalo Bills and Pittsburgh Steelers lose for the first time this season, and the Atlanta Falcons beat the New Orleans Saints in a thriller. With all of this pleasure comes motion in our Power Rankings.

We additionally requested our NFL Nation reporters to call the largest subject on protection for each group. From third-down protection to forcing turnovers, we took a have a look at what's troubling each group's D.

Let's take a look at the new 1-32 rankings under.

Our energy panel of greater than 80 writers, editors and TV personalities evaluates how NFL groups stack up towards each other, rating them from 1 to 32.

Previous rankings: Preseason | Week 2 | Week 3 | Week 4

Jump to a group:
ARI | ATL | BAL | BUF | CAR | CHI | CIN
CLE | DAL | DEN | DET | GB | HOU | IND
JAX | KC | LAC | LAR | LV | MIA | MIN
NE | NO | NYG | NYJ | PHI | PIT | SF
SEA | TB | TEN | WSH

Week 4 rating: 1

Biggest subject on protection: Pass rush outdoors of Chris Jones

Other than Jones, the Chiefs don't get sufficient stress on the opposing quarterback. They have sacks on simply 5.2% of opponents' go makes an attempt, rating close to the backside of the league. George Karlaftis and Mike Danna have been productive go rushers final season, however they've simply 1.5 sacks between them this season. Jones had each of the Chiefs' sacks in final week's win over the Chargers. — Adam Teicher

Week 4 rating: 3

Biggest subject on protection: Age/snap counts

Brian Flores' protection has been one of the NFL's greatest tales this season, and there aren't any obtrusive points. But after the group allowed 22 factors in the fourth quarter to the Packers, it is value occupied with age and snap counts. Of the 10 defensive gamers who've began all 4 video games, three are 30 or older and 6 are 28 or older. So far this season, the Vikings' protection has performed the league's third-most defensive snaps (272). Safety Harrison Smith (35), cornerback Stephon Gilmore (34) and No. 3 nook Shaq Griffin (29) represent one of the NFL's oldest secondaries. — Kevin Seifert

Week 4 rating: 2

Biggest subject on protection: Maintaining the scheme with backups

After the Bills survived with many backups by the first three weeks, their defensive shortcomings have been uncovered by Baltimore. The Ravens compelled the Bills out of their most well-liked nickel bundle, and the whole lot went downhill with three backup linebackers on the area. The Ravens rushed for 217 yards earlier than contact, which was the most the Bills had allowed in a recreation since 2012. Buffalo might get a possible enhance in the coming weeks with the return of linebacker Terrel Bernard (pectoral) and nickel nook Taron Johnson (forearm). But the Bills ought to anticipate different groups to drive them out of their scheme, and so they'll want to regulate accordingly. — Alaina Getzenberg

Week 4 rating: 5

Biggest subject on protection: Limiting QB effectivity

Although the Lions' go protection has allowed solely 4 touchdowns this season, Detroit's protection might enhance at decreasing opponents' QBR (55.6 by 4 video games), which ranks twenty second in the league. In Week 1, Matthew Stafford accomplished 34 of 49 passes for 317 yards and a landing. Baker Mayfield went 12-for-19 with a TD in Week 2, whereas Geno Smith went 38-of-56 for 395 yards and a landing on Monday. Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn mentioned they “plan on improving every week,” which they're going to must do after surrendering 29 factors towards Seattle. — Eric Woodyard

Week 4 rating: 13

Biggest subject on protection: Consistent stress

Up till Week 4, the Buccaneers had simply two sacks — the fewest in the NFL. They generated six in their 33-16 victory over the Eagles, however that was towards a group that allowed QB Jalen Hurts to get hit 44 instances in the first three video games. Will it proceed? The Bucs actually received extra push up the center with the return of defensive deal with Vita Vea, who was out for one recreation to take care of an MCL harm, however they're nonetheless with out 2023 first-round draft choose Calijah Kancey (calf). — Jenna Laine

Week 4 rating: 4

Biggest subject on protection: Lack of takeaways

Before a rash of accidents up entrance caught as much as the Seahawks on Monday night time at Detroit, their protection had been amongst the greatest in the NFL, permitting the fourth-fewest factors over the first three weeks. The one space that has been persistently missing is takeaways. Seattle has compelled solely three takeaways regardless of going through a tender quarterback schedule and producing loads of go rush. — Brady Henderson

Week 4 rating: 12

Biggest subject on protection: Giving up massive passing performs

The Ravens have allowed an NFL-worst 10 completions on passes which have traveled at the least 20 yards in the air. Teams have been compelled to stretch the area as a result of Baltimore has jumped out to massive leads early. But these massive passing performs have enabled foes to chop their deficits. This should not be a season-long downside for Baltimore: The Ravens basically have the identical secondary that gave up solely 18 completions on throws of 20 yards or longer all of final season, the seventh fewest in the league. — Jamison Hensley

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Week 4 rating: 8

Biggest subject on protection: Safeties in protection

Houston's safeties are getting picked on by opposing offenses. The Texans run Cover 4 on 34% of first and second downs. So groups run play-action to make the safeties cowl vertical routes, which is an element of why the Texans have allowed the second-most yards off play-action on early downs (337). Also, foes are placing their higher extensive receivers in the slot to match them up towards these safeties. That group has given up 4 touchdowns in protection, based on NFL Next Gen Stats. — DJ Bien-Aime

Week 4 rating: 9

Biggest subject on protection: Third-down protection

The 49ers did a a lot better job of getting off the area on third down towards New England, however they'll see a lot better offenses and must discover a method to get stops persistently. The Niners rank twenty sixth in the NFL in third-down conversions allowed (46%). What's worse is that they are final in third-and-long (7-plus yards) conversions yielded (50%). — Nick Wagoner

Week 4 rating: 19

Biggest subject on protection: Run protection

Washington ranks thirty first in yards per carry (5.3) and twenty seventh in yards per recreation (357) allowed. In the previous three outings mixed, it has allowed 5.9 yards per carry. Gaps have been too extensive, as tackles are getting nudged out or others try to keep away from blocks. And at instances, the edge is not being set robust sufficient to drive working backs outdoors. The excellent news for Washington is that in the subsequent six weeks it performs solely two groups — Baltimore (No. 1) and Pittsburgh (No. 10) — ranked in the prime 10 in speeding. — John Keim

Week 4 rating: 11

Biggest subject on protection: Affecting the quarterback

While the Packers have pressured opposing quarterbacks 49 instances (sixth most in the NFL by Week 4, based on ESPN Research), they don't seem to be essentially transferring these signal-callers off the spot or rushing up their launch. Passers have averaged 2.71 seconds inside the pocket, the most in the league, and so they're averaging 3.04 seconds earlier than throwing, second most in the league. Green Bay's go rush win charge of 27.3% is the lowest in the league. — Rob Demovsky

Week 4 rating: 7

Biggest subject on protection: Giving up chunk passing performs

The Steelers gave up six passing performs of 15 yards or extra to Indianapolis on Sunday — together with 4 in the first half — after permitting solely 12 such performs by the first three weeks. Prior to that Week 4 loss, the Steelers have been limiting opponents to eight.6 factors per recreation. But they yielded 27 factors to the Colts by giving up giant chunk performs. “That was one of our goals, to minimize the chunk plays, and we went out there and we just weren't capitalizing — whether we were being out of position, we weren't making a play on the ball,” Pittsburgh security DeShon Elliott mentioned. — Brooke Pryor

Week 4 rating: 6

Biggest subject on protection: Edge rushers

The defensive group entered Week 4 with zero sacks and at last received on the board with takedowns by Brandon Graham and Josh Sweat towards Tampa Bay. At age 36, Graham has been the greatest of the bunch, which is an effective story but in addition problematic when projecting out a 17-game season. The Eagles signed Bryce Huff to a three-year, $51 million contract in free company to be an affect three-down participant, however he hasn't been dependable towards the run, in explicit. Barring a big uptick in play from Huff or 2023 first-round choose Nolan Smith Jr., this unit might be a difficulty all season. — Tim McManus

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Week 4 rating: 10

Biggest subject on protection: Last-minute errors

The Saints' protection has made vital errors late in the previous two video games. Players bumped into one another and allowed a 61-yard achieve by the Eagles with 1:13 left in Week 3's contest, establishing Philadelphia's profitable landing. And whereas the D gave up solely 12 factors in Sunday's loss to the Falcons, a 30-yard defensive go interference penalty arrange the profitable 58-yard area objective. — Katherine Terrell

Week 4 rating: 16

Biggest subject on protection: Stopping the run

Just as a result of the Giants ran for less than 26 yards on 24 carries does not imply the Cowboys' run protection is fastened. It will take a number of weeks for the Cowboys to clear up the points that resulted in 464 speeding yards allowed to New Orleans and Baltimore. Three of their subsequent 4 opponents have working video games ranked amongst the prime 10. And Dallas might be with out Micah Parsons (ankle) and DeMarcus Lawrence (foot) for at the least two of these contests. The Cowboys have allowed a landing on each 15.88 carries, which ranks twenty ninth in the league. Their defensive complete rush anticipated factors added is minus-13.21; the Rams are thirty first at minus-7.43. — Todd Archer

Week 4 rating: 14

Biggest subject on protection: Only one interception

The Jets have an efficient go rush (14 sacks) and play good go protection, so they need to have a couple of choose. The solely participant with an interception is backup nickelback Brandin Echols, who made his play as an harm alternative in Week 2. None of the regulars has an interception, together with All-Pro cornerback Sauce Gardner, whose drought is as much as 28 video games. All of that is head-scratching as a result of the Jets needs to be in a really perfect place to make interceptions as a zone-heavy group. — Rich Cimini

Week 4 rating: 21

Biggest subject on protection: Getting off the area

The Falcons have the second-worst allowed time of possession (35:28) in the league. Atlanta's protection has been “bend-don't-break” for the most half and has saved the group in video games. But it has to get off the area sooner to offer the offense time to get right into a rhythm. Opponents have considerably extra offensive performs (a mean of 276 in comparison with the Falcons' 215) and first downs (85 in comparison with 70) than the Falcons. And whereas the secondary has performed nice (solely the Seahawks have allowed fewer go performs of greater than 20 yards), Atlanta has allowed the seventh-most speeding yards in the NFL (582). — Marc Raimondi

Week 4 rating: 15

Biggest subject on protection: Absent stars

The Chargers have been one of the NFL's greatest defenses, permitting the fewest factors per recreation by 4 weeks (12.5). Still, this protection has been with out two of its greatest gamers. Outside linebacker Joey Bosa (hip) has performed simply 16 snaps since Week 1 and missed Week 4. The NFL suspended security Derwin James Jr. towards the Chiefs after he was flagged for pointless roughness for a helmet-to-helmet hit in Week 3. With these gamers again, the Chargers' protection can be an much more formidable unit. — Kris Rhim

Week 4 rating: 24

Biggest subject on protection: Third-down protection

Stopping groups on third down continues to be a difficulty. Statistically, the Colts have been one of the worst third-down models, permitting a 49.2% conversion charge. The sensible affect of this was evident throughout Sunday's win over the Steelers when the Colts allowed QB Justin Fields and the Pittsburgh offense to transform 5-of-8 third-down makes an attempt. That helped erase a 17-3 halftime lead and turned a lopsided affair into an in depth recreation. Fields was 4-of-5 (80%) for 43 passing yards and a landing on third downs in the second half. — Stephen Holder

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Week 4 rating: 26

Biggest subject on protection: Run protection

The Bears' protection has been excellent, so any points are extra possible addressed by fine-tuning relatively than wholesale adjustments. Chicago ranked No. 1 towards the run in 2023 and is permitting 121 speeding yards and 4.5 yards per carry per recreation, which ranks 18th and tenth, respectively. While the Bears have allowed just one 100-yard rusher (Jonathan Taylor in Week 3) and struggled to take down Kyren Williams (5.0 yards per carry in Week 4), discovering methods to enhance towards the run will get Matt Eberflus' unit one step nearer to its objective of top-five standing. — Courtney Cronin

Week 4 rating: 22

Biggest subject on protection: Getting dwelling

Sure, backup edge rusher Chris Snowden's last-minute takedown of quarterback Deshaun Watson closed out the Raiders' white-knuckle win over the Browns on Sunday. But it was simply Las Vegas' eighth sack of the season, tied for the fifth-fewest quantity of sacks in the NFL by 4 video games. To be honest, beginning defensive finish Malcolm Koonce was misplaced for the 12 months with a knee harm earlier than the season opener, and Maxx Crosby missed the Browns recreation with a left excessive ankle sprain. But others have to step up. — Paul Gutierrez

Week 4 rating: 27

Biggest subject on protection: Consistency towards the run

This is a bit of a nitpick, as the run protection has improved since permitting greater than 140 speeding yards in every of Denver's first two video games. But in comparison with the place the Broncos rank in different classes (they lead the NFL in sacks per go try and are prime 4 in pink zone protection, complete protection, passing protection and third-down protection), their No. 12 rating in rush protection is one thing to work on. Vance Joseph's unit has gotten higher, surrendering solely 155 speeding yards the previous two weeks, however additional enchancment will make the Broncos much more stifling than they already are. — Jeff Legwold

Week 4 rating: 20

Biggest subject on protection: Defending the run

The Dolphins have been the seventh-best run protection a season in the past however have allowed 119.5 yards per recreation on the floor this season (ranks sixteenth in the NFL). They are but to permit a 100-yard rusher this season, however Zach Charbonnet and James Cook scored a number of touchdowns towards this protection in consecutive weeks. The Dolphins have allowed seven speeding touchdowns, which is tied for the second-worst mark in the league. Miami's sluggish begin has extra to do with a struggling offense than shortcomings of its protection, however the Dolphins can nonetheless enhance in controlling their opponents' run recreation. — Marcel Louis-Jacques

Week 4 rating: 24

Biggest subject on protection: Defensive line

Whether it is in the run or the go, the Bengals' line of defense has been a nonfactor. Cincinnati is thirty first in the league in run cease win charge (28.5%) and in sacks per dropback (3.8%). Those two issues are a significant purpose why the protection is one of the worst models in the league. Injuries to 4 defensive tackles — starters Sheldon Rankins (hamstring) and BJ Hill (hamstring); rookies Kris Jenkins Jr. (thumb) and McKinnley Jackson (knee) — have performed a task in that. But regardless of the well being points, Cincinnati wants extra manufacturing from its defensive entrance. — Ben Baby

Week 4 rating: 18

Biggest subject on protection: Defending the run

The Rams entered the week ranked thirty first in defensive rush DVOA (defense-adjusted worth over common) and confronted a Bears offense that ranked thirtieth in offensive rush DVOA. But in Week 4, Bears working again D'Andre Swift recorded extra speeding yards towards the Rams (93) than he did in the Bears' first three video games mixed (68). Coach Sean McVay mentioned he thought the Rams did a “really good job throughout the course of the game, and then the key drive that we had to have they ended up popping a long one that Swift ended up scoring from 36 yards out.” — Sarah Barshop

Week 4 rating: 17

Biggest subject on protection: Secondary

The Cardinals are ranked second to final in the NFL in passing yards allowed per play at 8.1, which has contributed to them being ranked twenty eighth total in complete yards allowed per play at 5.8. The Cardinals have one way or the other not allowed a 100-yard receiver, however 18 gamers have caught at the least 20 yards towards Arizona in 4 contests. — Josh Weinfuss

Week 4 rating: 23

Biggest subject on protection: Missed tackles

The Browns' protection hasn't regarded like the elite unit it was in 2023, and missed tackles have performed a giant position. The subject has turn into particularly problematic on the floor, as Cleveland is permitting 2.24 yards after contact per rush, the worst mark in the NFL. “A lot of guys are going in with their shoulder trying to lay that big hit … first guy's got to wrap up and slow the runner down and stop his momentum,” defensive finish Myles Garrett mentioned after the Browns allowed greater than 150 speeding yards to the Raiders on Sunday. — Daniel Oyefusi

Week 4 rating: 30

Biggest subject on protection: Cornerbacks in run assist

It's straightforward to have a look at the Giants' run protection — the place they're permitting 4.7 yards per rush (twenty fourth in NFL) — and blame the line of defense. But lots of the injury is approaching the outdoors. Teams are averaging over 5.6 yards per rush working extensive proper. They're averaging over 6.0 yards working outdoors the left deal with. The Giants' cornerbacks, significantly Deonte Banks and Cor'Dale Flott, want to assist higher on the edges if this group goes to repair the downside. — Jordan Raanan

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Week 4 rating: 32

Biggest subject on protection: Forcing turnovers

The Titans' protection did not drive a turnover till Monday night time's win in Miami and have solely compelled one this season. Defensive coordinator Dennard Wilson introduced an excessive deal with takeaways with him when he took the job. As secondary coach, Wilson's models helped the Bears tie for second with 18 interceptions final season and the Eagles tie for third with 17 in 2022. Usually, groups produce what they emphasize. Wilson preaches “attacking the ball with aggressiveness” and “populating to the football.” But that hasn't occurred to date. Tennessee's protection is final in the NFL with a minus-8 turnover ratio. — Turron Davenport

Week 4 rating: 28

Biggest subject on protection: Pass rush

The Jaguars rank twenty ninth in QB pressures (41) and twenty ninth in stress proportion (25.9%). That's regardless of enjoying video games towards a Cleveland group that did not have both beginning offensive deal with and a Houston group that misplaced its greatest offensive deal with for an prolonged interval of time Sunday. Josh Hines-Allen and Arik Armstead have one sack and Travon Walker — whom the Jaguars took first total over Aidan Hutchinson in 2022 — has two. — Michael DiRocco

Week 4 rating: 31

Biggest subject on protection: Pressuring the QB

Injuries might be the reply right here, as a result of LB Shaq Thompson is now out for the relaxation of the season with a torn Achilles, and the Panthers have been already down three starters — DE Derrick Brown (knee), DT Shy Tuttle (foot) and S Jordan Fuller (hamstring). But stress was a priority heading into the season, and it was magnified Sunday towards the Bengals. QB Joe Burrow was pressured on simply 4 of 32 dropbacks, the third-lowest he has confronted in his profession. Carolina has nobody outdoors of LB Jadeveon Clowney who can persistently get to the QB. — David Newton

Week 4 rating: 29

Biggest subject on protection: Allowing QBs out of the pocket

There is not an official statistic for blown edges, but when it existed, the Patriots may lead the league. As coach Jerod Mayo mentioned after Sunday's loss to the 49ers, “Keeping the quarterback in the pocket continues to be an issue.” The Patriots allowed Brock Purdy to flee the pocket thrice on the first drive to increase passing performs or use his legs, which was alarming as a result of it was a prime level of emphasis after Geno Smith and Aaron Rodgers had related success. Mayo mentioned that if defenders proceed to make the identical errors, they may lose enjoying time because of this. — Mike Reiss