Week 6 AP NFL Power Rankings: Chiefs just cling on to the top spot, Raiders jump up

While Raiders fans will always remember this week for finally pulling off a victory in Arrowhead, Week 5 of the 2020 NFL season will be remembered by all for two very different injury stories.

On pace for a 6,000-yard season, Dak Prescott’s season was cut short due to an injury that wouldn’t have looked out of place in a Tarantino film. All of our fingers are crossed for Dak that he makes a full recovery and gets the payday his play this year has deserved.

If Prescott’s injury could have belonged in ‘Kill Bill,’ then Alex Smith’s leg could have definitely passed as a prop for ‘From Dusk ‘til Dawn’ (yes I know, Tarantino only starred in and wrote it). Somehow, just two years after almost losing his leg or possibly his life to an injury, Smith beat the odds and returned to play football. A truly remarkable achievement on his part.

This week’s voters were Matt Stagner, Pete Sweeney, Ron Kopp and myself.

1. Kansas City Chiefs (1st)

They can’t win every game, right? There will be concerns about the way the Chiefs lost, but we’ve seen this game a few times before under Andy Reid. They’ll be fine.

(Note: The Chiefs stayed at No. 1 because there was a lot of variance in our voters’ top three. Kansas City was the only constant and therefore scored the highest.)

2. Seattle Seahawks (2nd)

DK Metcalf’s performances seem to be the measuring stick for the entire 2018 wide receiver class at the moment. He could be a contender for offensive player of the year.

3. Baltimore Ravens (3rd)

The defense terrorized poor Joe Burrow. AP favorite and former LSU Tiger Patrick Queen wreaked havoc on his college teammate.

4. Green Bay Packers (4th)

Don’t be surprised to see this team rise to No. 1 soon.

5. Pittsburgh Steelers (6th)

Undefeated through the first five weeks of the season — and things are starting to click on offense.

6. Tennessee Titans (9th)

Did anyone predict the Titans blowing out the Bills?

7. Buffalo Bills (5th)

We saw the true Jekyll and Hyde sides of Josh Allen last night. Monday’s game against Kansas City is a must-win for them to stay in the race for the No. 1 seed in the AFC.

8. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8th)

I was hoping that the Bucs would drop four spots just so I could insert the Tom Brady meme here.

9. Los Angeles Rams (11th)

The Los Angeles Rams – the 2020 NFC East champions.

10. Cleveland Browns (13th)

The AFC North is going to be so much fun this year. This is the best Browns team I have ever seen.

11. New Orleans Saints (10th)

Saved by the Chargers doing Chargery things.

12. New England Patriots (7th) | This week’s big faller

The NFL needs to adjust its schedule to ease the pain of enforcing a last-minute bye on teams.

13. Arizona Cardinals (15th)

I wish this team would make its mind up. Do they want to be good or not?

14. Las Vegas Raiders (17th)

Well done on winning the Week 5 Super Bowl.

15. Chicago Bears (18th)

Analytics says this team isn’t very good, but the win column does.

16. Indianapolis Colts (12th)

The only thing holding this team back is Philip Rivers.

17. Carolina Panthers (21st) | This week’s high riser

The least talked about plus-.500 team in football.

18. San Francisco 49ers (16th)

The only teams they have beaten are the Giants and the Jets….

19. Dallas Cowboys (14th)

You’ve got to hope that the injury doesn’t affect the contract Dak was probably going to sign after this year.

20. Los Angeles Chargers (19th)

The LA Chargers – finding new ways to break their fan’s (yes, fan’s, not fans’) heart since 2004.

21. Miami Dolphins (27th) | This week’s high riser

Fitzmagic isn’t giving up his starting job without a fight.

22. Philadelphia Eagles (20th)

Despite the loss, it was an impressive performance for the Eagles. They now have to be considered favorites in the NFC East.

23. Minnesota Vikings (22nd)

Time is running out for Minnesota. The Vikings need wins sharpish.

24. Houston Texans (26th)

Romeo Crennel taking over on an interim basis and winning his first game back — haven’t we seen this movie before?

25. Denver Broncos (24th)

Can’t lose if you don’t play.

26. Detroit Lions (23rd)

Matt Patricia is now 10-24-1 as the head coach of the Detroit Lions.

27. Cincinnati Bengals (25th)

This felt like Joe Burrow’s ‘Welcome to the NFL’ game.

28. Washington Football Team (28th)

Alex Smith returning from injury is the best story of the season. Change my mind.

29. Jacksonville Jaguars (30th)

The feel-good factor from the first couple of weeks has gone. This team is bad.

30. Atlanta Falcons (29th)

The Atlanta Falcons are a perfect example of how hard it is to stay at the top in the NFL.

31. New York Giants (31st)

Unbelievably, an 0-5 team isn’t out of the playoff hunt.

32. New York Jets (32nd)

Through five games, they have a minus-86 point differential. Surely, Adam Gase is next?