(1) NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (No Change) But the gap is narrowing a bit between the Patriots and the number 2 team on this list. The Patriots struggled offensively vs. the Bills in an ugly 16-10 win. That being said, the real narrative for the defending Super Bowl champions this season has been on defense, which statistically ranks among the league's best in yards per game, turnovers and third down conversion rate. That may not be exciting for fantasy football geeks (unless you happen to have the Pats defense, wink wink) but it came in handy when the Pats offense stalled this past weekend. Next up is a roadtrip to face the hapless Redskins.
(2) KANSAS CITY CHIEFS (No Change) I mentioned above that the gap has narrowed between the Patriots and Chiefs. Allow me to explain. I realize the common perception is that the Chiefs win over Detroit was ugly. Let's pretend for a moment that the Lions aren't the same lovable losers we've come to know for the better part of the last decade. Detroit went into the game with one of the more proficient offenses and didn't buckle at all until that final Chiefs drive. They still rank first or second in total points scored and passing yards, and while the leaky defense is a cause for some concern, particularly that 31st ranked rushing defense, it's unlikely they'll find too many teams capable of getting into a shootout with them. Ironically for some, Detroit was that team. It's just that too many people never really saw that one coming. Next up is a Sunday Night Football match at home against the Colts.
(3) NEW ORLEANS SAINTS (Up four spots) Tell me you weren't ready to put this team on ice when Drew Brees injured his thumb a few weeks back. You're lying if you say that to me. Since then, all they've done is go on the road to beat Seattle and then lay an ass-kicking on what many were calling the newest shiny offensive playcalling scheme in Dallas. And while nobody is mistaking Teddy Bridgewater 2.0 for the original version, and Saints fans are going to hold their collective breath every time he drops back to pass, the defense more than did the trick in limiting Dallas to season lows in almost every statistical category. An intriguing divisional matchup is coming next for them as they host the suddenly resurgent Buccaneers.
(4) DALLAS COWBOYS (Down one spot) What if what we saw last weekend was just an anomaly? What if Dallas head coach Jason Garrett just got outcoached by the guy who really wanted that job some time ago? What if this was just one bad game? Well, we're about to find out. The Cowboys were outdone in almost every way imaginable on the Superdome field last weekend, but still were a factor to the final gun. It's an obvious statement they'll need more commitment to the run game and they'll need to be far more efficient on third down conversions (only 4-for-11 last weekend as opposed to better than 50% conversion rate in previous three games). Next up is a return home to face the Packers.
(5) SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS (No Change) I'm leaving them right where they were last week. I'm not gonna buy into the overwhelming hype of Week 4 results that these were some sort of season-changers for many teams. The 49ers will likely pay dearly for this early bye week they're coming out of, but it's still important to note the improvements we've seen thus far through three games. They're better on all sides of the ball and QB Jimmy Garoppolo has been smooth in his return from the ACL tear that prematurely put a curb stomp onto the team's 2018 season. Defensively, they've been lights out as well, already forcing as many turnovers this season as they did all of last season. Next up, they're at home on Monday Night Football in what should be a good one against the Browns.
(6) LOS ANGELES RAMS (Down three spots)
(7) CHICAGO BEARS (New)
(8) PHILADELPHIA EAGLES (New)
(9) GREEN BAY PACKERS (Down three spots)
(10) MINNESOTA VIKINGS (Down one spot)