NFL Week 5 Power Rankings

1. New England Patriots (4-0, Last week: 1)

Tim Sharp / Associated Press

Quarterback Tom Brady was banged up by the Cowboys defense, but the Patriots still hung 30 on Dallas and shut down their second string offense in a big way. The Deflategate Grudge Match looms Sunday in Indianapolis, when they’ll face a Colts team that gets quarterback Andrew Luck back and wants to break an ugly losing streak against New England.

(Tim Sharp / Associated Press)

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2. Cincinnati Bengals (5-0; LW: 3)

Frank Victores / Associated Press

The Bengals were about 20 minutes from being laughed off as phonies in the first week in October as opposed to the first week in January, but stormed back for a signature home win against the Seahawks. The defensive line was just as much of a nightmare for Seattle as it was for the Ravens, and quarterback Andy Dalton just has too many weapons to be contained.

(Frank Victores / Associated Press)

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There are surprisingly few teams with winning records as October wears on, and the ones who have them seem to be way better than everyone else. Among them? The red-hot Cincinnati Bengals, who the Ravens’ heartbreaking loss to doesn’t look terrible in retrospect. As always, these rankings are completely subjective, yet objectively correct.

Jon Meoli