By Paul Imig Special to OnMilwaukee.com Published Oct 07, 2015 at 4:16 PM

Where do the once undefeated Arizona Cardinals rank after last Sunday's loss to the Rams? For that matter, where do the wildly inconsistent Rams place? And what about the rest of the current unbeaten, like the Patriots, Packers, Bengals, Broncos, Falcons and Panthers? Here are the power rankings going into Week 5 of the season. 

1. New England Patriots (Record: 3-0; Previous rank: 1)

The Patriots had a Week 4 bye, and they’re not going to lose the top spot without playing a game. New England scored 91 points in its past two games and will now go to Dallas this weekend.

2. Green Bay Packers (Record: 4-0; Previous rank: 2)

Aaron Rodgers didn’t have a Michael Jordan-esque performance in San Francisco, and injuries on offense might have caught up with the Packers. However, Green Bay’s defense has continued shutting down opposing running backs.

3. Denver Broncos (Record: 4-0; Previous rank: 4)

Denver withstood a tough challenge from the Vikings in Week 4. The pass-rushing duo of Von Miller and DeMarcus Ware has been incredible, totaling 30 QB hurries between them.

4. Arizona Cardinals (Record: 3-1; Previous rank: 3)

Arizona dominated its first three games, winning by 77 points. Losing at home Week 4 against St. Louis is a step back, obviously, but it was a close game (24-22 final score) and the Rams are a good team.

5. Seattle Seahawks (Record: 2-2; Previous rank: 5)

Since getting Kam Chancellor back, the Seahawks have not allowed a defensive touchdown. Yes, those games were against the Bears and Lions (combined 1-7 record), but it’s still NFL competition that Seattle has completely shut down.

6. Atlanta Falcons (Record: 4-0; Previous rank: 6)

The Falcons have scored 87 points in their last two games, including putting up five offensive touchdowns against a usually strong Texans defense. Julio Jones has been terrific, Matt Ryan has been consistently efficient – only two INTs so far – and Devonta Freeman has been a revelation.

7. Cincinnati Bengals (Record: 4-0; Previous rank: 7)

The Bengals keep winning. In Week 4, they beat Kansas City, 36-21. Cincinnati faces two very tough defensive challenges coming up in Seattle and Buffalo.

8. Carolina Panthers (Record: 4-0; Previous rank: 10)

Carolina’s four wins have come against teams with a combined 4-12 record, and the Panthers have only won those games by a total of 28 points. After a Week 5 bye, we’ll see how good Carolina really is when facing Seattle, Philadelphia, Indianapolis and Green Bay in consecutive matchups.

9. St. Louis Rams (Record: 2-2; Previous rank: 15)

Beating previously undefeated Arizona was a huge win for the Rams, especially doing so on the road. St. Louis has another great test at Lambeau Field this weekend.

10. Minnesota Vikings (Record: 2-2; Previous rank: 9)

The Vikings fought tough on the road at Denver in Week 4, only losing by two. Since the Week 1 clunker, Minnesota has been a good team.

11. Buffalo Bills (Record: 2-2; Previous rank: 8)

Buffalo has either been very good or quite bad. Perhaps that matches the personality of head coach Rex Ryan. After destroying the Dolphins in Miami, the Bills came home and lost to the Giants by 14.

12. New York Jets (Record: 3-1; Previous rank: 18)

Led by a strong defense, the Jets enter their bye week with a surprising 3-1 start.

13. Pittsburgh Steelers (Record: 2-2; Previous rank: 11)

The Steelers gave a Week 4 game away to the previously winless Ravens. Pittsburgh has to get by another few weeks without Ben Roethlisberger.

14. New York Giants (Record: 2-2; Previous rank: 13)

The Giants picked up an impressive Week 4 win at Buffalo. Their upcoming schedule isn’t very difficult, either.

15. Dallas Cowboys (Record: 2-2; Previous rank: 12)

The Cowboys are 0-2 since losing Tony Romo. Life won’t get any easier in Dallas this weekend against the Patriots. Fortunately for the Cowboys, they’re still first in the NFC East.

16. Kansas City Chiefs (Record: 1-3; Previous rank: 14)

Somewhere, a very good Chiefs team is just waiting to show up. Kansas City’s three losses are to teams with a combined 12-0 record.

17. San Diego Chargers (Record: 2-2; Previous rank: 19)

The Chargers have allowed more points than they’ve scored, and their two wins are against teams with a 1-7 record.

18. Indianapolis Colts (Record: 2-2; Previous rank: 20)

The Colts won in overtime without Andrew Luck, but it was at home against Jacksonville. So ... 

19. Washington (Record: 2-2; Previous rank: 21)

Washington continues to be surprisingly decent. Their point differential for the season is minus-1, but respectability is a good start for this team.

20. Oakland Raiders (Record: 2-2; Previous rank: 16)

Oakland had a chance to start off 3-1, but the Raiders couldn’t beat the previously winless Bears.

21. Tennessee Titans (Record: 1-2; Previous rank: 22)

Tennessee had a Week 4 bye, but things are looking up for Marcus Mariota and a very good Titans defense.

22. Baltimore Ravens (Record: 1-3; Previous rank: 25)

None of Baltimore’s three losses were by more than six points. Now the Ravens finally got their first win, one that arguably saved their season.

23. Philadelphia Eagles (Record: 1-3; Previous rank: 17)

Room has certainly opened up on the Chip Kelly / Eagles bandwagon, as Philadelphia lost again and their offense has mostly been terrible.

24. New Orleans Saints (Record: 1-3; Previous rank: 29)

The Saints got a much-needed win to avoid dropping to 0-4, but there’s still a lot of work to be done in New Orleans to support Drew Brees.

25. Detroit Lions (Record: 0-4; Previous rank: 26)

The Lions just can’t find a way to win. Still, all things considered, they’re a talented team that nearly went into Seattle and won.

26. Cleveland Browns (Record: 1-3; Previous rank: 30)

The Browns have lost their past two games by a combined 10 points. So at least Cleveland has been competitive.

27. Jacksonville Jaguars (Record: 1-3; Previous rank: 23)

One week after losing to New England by 34 points, the Jaguars couldn’t find a way to beat the Luck-less Colts.

28. Houston Texans (Record: 1-3; Previous rank: 27)

In Week 4, the Texans were trailing 42-0 to the Falcons entering the fourth quarter.

29. Chicago Bears (Record: 1-3; Previous rank: 32)

The Bears got out of the basement of the power rankings by getting their first win. No one is going to confuse Chicago for a good team, though.

30. Miami Dolphins (Record: 1-3; Previous rank: 24)

Joe Philbin is out as head coach. Let’s see if he was really the problem.

31. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Record: 1-3; Previous rank: 28)

Tampa Bay hasn’t done much well yet this season. The Buccaneers scored just nine points against the previously winless Texans in Week 3.

32. San Francisco 49ers (Record: 1-3; Previous rank: 31)

San Francisco has lost its last three games by a score of 107-28, and there is little sign of things getting better soon.

Paul Imig Special to OnMilwaukee.com
Paul Imig spent the past five years working for FOX Sports WI. He began by covering the Milwaukee Bucks and Milwaukee Brewers before taking over the Green Bay Packers beat in 2011. In addition to his writing, Paul also made television appearances nationwide on FOX Sports 1. He can be heard on the radio statewide on The Bill Michaels Show and can be seen on Time Warner Cable's Roundtable show with Dennis Krause. Paul is the 2015 recipient of the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee's award for Graduate Of the Last Decade (GOLD).