The top three have become hard to dethrone in the NFL, but that’s what happens when you’re undefeated. It’s the rest of my top 10 that has seen a lot of movement in recent weeks.
Nos. 4 and 5 have been a back-and-forth between the Jaguars and Bills, who swapped spots this week. Just behind those teams are several teams that are finding their rhythm behind stellar quarterback play with the Broncos led by Bo Nix in the middle.
Here’s where things stand going into Commanders vs. 49ers on Monday night to close out Week 6 of the NFL.
Caleb Williams celebrates after the Bears’ sweeping victory in Atlanta on Sunday. (Rich von Biberstein/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Super Bowl Odds: +1800
Central defender Caleb WilliamsThe rebound helped the offense find its spark in Week 6. Former election no. 1 overall completed his first 12 passes and looked like that coach’s superstar QB Ben Johnson must make his Xs and Os come to life in the Windy City.
As a team that can light up the scoreboard with the run or the pass, the Bears have the potential to crack the top five by the end of the season.
Who stood out: According to Next Gen Stats, Williams completed all 24 passes from a clean pocket for 248 yards in the Bears’ Week 6 win. His 24 attempts were the most without an incompletion from a clean pocket in a game since at least 2018.
Record: 4-2
Previous Rank: N/A ↑
Kicker Andre Szmyt was the Browns’ hero once again with a game-winning kick against the Ravens that put his team atop the AFC North. (Frank Jansky/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Super Bowl Odds: +20000
The ugly win has become the norm in Cleveland Todd Monken. The scrappy Browns can overcome long stretches of offensive inability to string drives together in the clutch. Central defender Deshaun Watson is becoming one of the league’s closers with four hitting streaks this season and a heroic late-game flurry that has skeptics and supporters alike singing his praises.
With a pair of division wins and a share of the division lead coming out of Week 6, the Browns’ rebuild is ahead of schedule under Monken.
What stood out: Despite a 4-2 record, Watson has been sacked an NFL-leading 24 times this season.
Record: 4-2
Previous ranking: 9 ↑
Jordan Love and the Packers offense was impressive in the first half against the Cowboys on Sunday night. (Patrick McDermott/Getty Images)
Super Bowl Odds: +3000
After scoring their third consecutive victory with a run Josh Jacobsreturn on the horizon, the Packers are rounding into form as a playoff contender. Central defender Jordan Love has found his rhythm with wide receivers Christian Watson AND Matthew Goldengiving the offense a big-play dimension that could make the unit unstoppable when the former NFL rushing champion returns to action.
If the defense continues to stifle opponents as a defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon by adapting the scheme to the talents of its stars, the Packers will continue to climb the ball as a legitimate contender in the NFC.
Who stood out: Watson (538 yards) and Golden (501 yards) lead all teammate duos with a combined 1,039 receiving yards.
Record: 4-2
Previous Rank: N/A ↑
Bo Nix was thanking kicker Will Lutz after Thursday night’s win over the Seahawks after an uninspiring performance. (Andrew Wevers/Getty Images)
Super Bowl Odds: +2000
Although the head coach Sean Payton hasn’t sparked the offensive resurgence expected when he took over the play-calling duties, the Broncos are scraping wins as he figures out how to get quarterbacks Bo Nix and Co. back on track.
With an ultra-aggressive defense that keeps opponents in check, the Broncos can be scary when the offense catches fire.
Who stood out: Nix is averaging just 5.55 yards per pass attempt, ranking last among 28 NFL quarterbacks with at least 100 attempts this season.
Record: 4-2
Previous ranking: 8 ↑
Drake Maye turned in his third straight performance in the Patriots’ win over the Jets. (Kathryn Riley/Getty Images)
Super Bowl Odds: +1800
Don’t look now, but the Patriots are back in business as a dark horse contender.
Drake Maye has clawed his way out of an early season slump with his third straight game with at least three touchdown passes. Although he still needs to work on his chemistry with wide receivers AJ Brownwho returned from a four-week layoff against the Jets this week, the Patriots are starting to look like a championship-caliber team with Maye rediscovering his mojo as a playmaker.
Who stood out: Maye became the first Patriots quarterback with at least three touchdown passes in three straight games since Tom Brady in 2017.
Record: 4-2
Previous ranking: 4 ↓
Trevor Lawrence and the Jaguars will leave London 1-1 over the last two weeks, with their bye next week. (Images by Bradley Collyer/PA via Getty Images)
Super Bowl Odds: +1400
A tough loss to a bitter shadow division rival Travis Hunter‘s Breakout game as a two-sided star. The flashy playmaker grabbed a key red-zone interception, also flashing big-play potential as a pass catcher from different alignments in the Jaguars’ spread formations. The Jaguars’ WR-CB could be the X-factor for a team that needs to clean up its bye week mistakes on offense and defense.
Who stood out: Hunter became the third player since 1970 with a touchdown and an interception in the same game, joining Brian Dawkins (Week 4, 2002) and Roy Green (Week 3, 1981).
Record: 5-1
Previous ranking: 5 ↑
Josh Allen celebrates with fans in Las Vegas after the Bills’ Week 6 win. (Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
Super Bowl Odds: +720
Josh Allen is the MVP front-runner after another dazzling display that featured some jaw-dropping performances. The 6-foot-5, 237-pound improv wizard continues to harass and torment defenders with his improvised runs and scrambles on the perimeter.
Although the Bills’ leaky defense is a major concern, the heroics of No. 17 can mask deficiencies during a Super Bowl run.
Who stood out: Allen has rushed for eight touchdowns, tied for the most by a quarterback through the first six games of a season in NFL history.
Record: 5-0
Previous ranking: 3
Kyler Murray and the Vikings will come out of the bye undefeated and atop the NFC North. (Cooper Neill/Getty Images)
Super Bowl Odds: +1800
Given a bye week to spend more time concocting exotic pressures and impressive disguises, defensive coordinator Brian Flores could make the league’s most devastating unit even more formidable. If the head coach Kevin O’Connell takes the offense with QB Kyler Murray top, the Vikings could emerge as the team to beat in the NFC.
Who stands out: Linebacker Dallas Turner‘s 5.5 sacks through five games are tied with Doug Martin (1982) for the most by a second-year player through the first five games of a Vikings season.
Record: 5-0
Previous ranking: 2
Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs’ great start to the season continued with a great win over the Chargers. (Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
Super Bowl Odds: +850
Kenneth Walker III has added a dimension to the Chiefs’ offense as a dynamic runner with big-play potential. The NFL’s rushing leader reached 100 yards for the fourth time in five games, displaying explosiveness out of the backfield that has been missing since the Jamaal Charles era.
With a more balanced offense, head coach Andy Reid it’s the Chiefs’ penchant for a complementary football approach that makes them a more formidable playoff foe.
Who stood out: Patrick Mahomes earned his 100th career win in his 131st start, tying Tom Brady as the fastest quarterback to reach 100 wins in NFL history.
Record: 5-0
Previous ranking: 1
Brock Purdy enters Monday night’s game against the Commanders as a legitimate MVP candidate. (Alika Jenner/Getty Images)
Super Bowl Odds: +580
The 49ers enter their Monday night game against the Commanders sitting pretty at the top. Staying healthy will be key for San Francisco, me Deebo Samuel out many weeks and receiving friend Mike Evans already dealing with nagging injuries.
Who stands out: Purdy enters the game against Washington leading all NFL quarterbacks with at least 100 pass attempts in passer rating (119.3), adjusted net yards per attempt (9.32), adjusted yards per attempt (9.62) and field goal percentage (9.2%), while having the lowest sack percentage (2.1%).
