Eli’s Week 5 Top 10 NFL Teams

The Big Jab

Can you believe we’re already at the quarter-mark of the season? Here’s my top 10 entering Week 5.

1. San Francisco 49ers (4-0)
Death, taxes, and the 49ers offense making it look easy. Behind a massive game from Christian McCaffrey, who is putting himself firmly in the MVP conversation, the 49ers continue to be the best team in the league. Brock Purdy continues to play turnover-free football, and the defense is making life hard for the opposing offenses. The health of Deebo Samuel is my only concern at the moment, but that didn’t matter for the 49ers on Sunday in a win over Arizona. They host Dallas on Sunday night.

2. Philadelphia Eagles (4-0)
It’s been a strange start to the season for the Eagles, but they find themselves undefeated entering Week 5. The secondary looks very shaky, the offense hasn’t been very explosive, and we have yet to see the best of Jalen Hurts. Despite all this, the Eagles clearly know how to win, pulling out a close one in overtime over the Commanders on Sunday despite Washington tying the game at the gun. They still don’t look like the team we saw last season, but 4-0 is 4-0. Philly travels to the West Coast on Sunday to face the Rams.

3. Buffalo Bills (3-1)
Buffalo has officially found its offense. After a lackluster Josh Allen performance in Week 1, he’s played close to perfect football over the last three weeks. Because of this, the Bills have scored 38, 37, and 48 points respectively in their last three games. Von Miller is eligible to return this week, only stiffening this defense even more. The defense has been great too, allowing 10 points to Vegas, 3 to the Commanders, and 20 to the Dolphins who were coming off their 70-point outburst against Denver last week. Buffalo heads across the pond to face Jacksonville this Sunday in London.

4. Kansas City Chiefs (3-1)
A win is a win, but man was that ugly for the Chiefs on Sunday night in East Rutherford. Patrick Mahomes, who was outplayed by Zach Wilson (I never thought I’d type those words), played arguably the worst game of his career. Despite this, he led the Chiefs on a long drive in the 4th quarter to drain the clock and secure the victory, but he’ll need to be a whole lot better as the season progresses. I feel like we’ve only seen this offense be who we thought they were once this season, but that will change. Maybe that comes this week, as they face Minnesota on the road.

5. Dallas Cowboys (3-1)
After one of the biggest letdown performances of the season last week in Arizona, Dallas got back on track with a blowout win over the Patriots on Sunday at home. The defense is a machine when it comes to forcing turnovers, and Dak Prescott played arguably his best game of the season. If the Cowboys can get that kind of production out of their franchise QB every week, this team will be hard to beat with one of the best defenses in the league and their steady run attack. Dallas travels to San Francisco next Sunday night for a marquee showdown.

6. Miami Dolphins (3-1)
What a difference a week can make in this league. After dropping 70 points on Denver and looking like a well-oiled machine on offense, Miami sputtered against Buffalo and Tua Tagovailoa was unable to find the end zone through the air. The defense has got to be the biggest concern in South Beach, as they’ve given up 119 points through four games. The emergence of the run game continues to be a pleasant surprise, but again, this defense is going to have to get right if Miami is going to be a legit contender. I expect Miami to bounce back next week when they face the lowly Giants at home.

7. Detroit Lions (3-1)
The Lions have lived up to the preseason hype so far, and this offense continues to be one of the most underrated units in the league. The run game has been excellent so far, capping off the first four weeks of the season behind a David Montgomery masterclass to lead the Lions to a win over the Packers at Lambeau on Thursday. The defense turning into a respectable group has got to be the headline in Detroit however, something that plagued them last season. If this defense can keep it up, this team will be hard to beat. The Lions face Carolina at home on Sunday.

8. Baltimore Ravens (3-1)
It’s probably about time I stop doubting this Ravens team. Despite the lack of weapons on offense and the injuries piling up on both sides of the ball, this team continues to win football games. After a shocking loss last week at home to the Colts, the Ravens took their frustrations out on the Browns and rookie QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson in a resounding 28-3 victory in Cleveland. Lamar Jackson looks great, and this team will only get healthier as the season progresses. Baltimore faces the Steelers in Pittsburgh this weekend in another AFC North showdown. 

9. Seattle Seahawks (3-1)
After a Week 1 loss to the Rams at home that had us questioning what Seattle would be this year, the Seahawks have ripped off three impressive wins in a row to get to 3-1. Geno Smith has got back on track, Kenny Walker is a stud running the ball, and this defense is legit. Devon Witherspoon is looking like a star in the making, giving the Seahawks an embarrassment of riches in their secondary. They’ll have to keep pace with the 49ers in the NFC West, but they’ve given me no reason to think they can’t with how they’ve played over the last three weeks. Seattle is on bye in Week 5 before facing Cincy in Week 6.

10. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3-1)
The Bucs are the most surprising team in the NFL so far, and Baker Mayfield is playing his best football since 2020. The Bucs look like the clear favorite in the NFC South so far, but that could change with the volatility of the NFL and that division in particular. Tampa downed its biggest competition in New Orleans this Sunday and slid into my top 10 for the first time this season. If Mayfield continues this level of play to go along with that stout defense, they’ll be in here for the majority of the season. The Bucs get an early bye this week, before a big game at home against Detroit in Week 6.

Taylor’s Week 5 HS Football Games to Watch

The Big Jab

Power Rankings:

  1. Leavitt Hornets
  2. Portland Bulldogs
  3. Oxford Hills Vikings
  4. Thornton Academy Trojans
  5. Sanford Spartans
  6. Bonny Eagle Scots
  7. Kennebunk Rams
  8. Messalonskee Eagles
  9. Windham Eagles
  10. Foxcroft Academy Ponies

 

Games To Watch:
Class A: Thornton Academy Trojans (2-2) @ Sandford Spartans (3-0) Alumni Stadium 

The Thornton Academy Trojans are looking to get their heads above .500 for the first time in the 2023 season while the Sanford Spartans are looking for a signature win. Jordan Bissonnette finished last Friday’s contest vs. the Marshwood Hawks with 62 rushing yards while Rhylen Avery ran for 141 yards and a touchdown on seven carries in a 42-6 rout. The Trojans are coming off a huge confidence builder; they handed the Windham Eagles their first loss of the season with a 37-6 victory behind Mauricio Sunderland’s three rushing Touchdowns. Sanford is the only remaining undefeated team in Class A South, but this weekend will be their toughest challenge yet.

Class B: Leavitt Hornets (4-0) @ Lawrence Bulldogs (3-1) Keyes Field 

The Leavitt Hornets are coming off a weekend where they put the entire state of Maine on notice. The Hornets took on the defending Class A state champion Oxford Hills Vikings at home on Saturday and handed them their first loss of the season 21-14 in Turner, ME. Lawrence meanwhile took one on the chin in Week 1 vs. Class A Bangor but has since responded with three convincing wins, allowing just 15 total points in the last three weeks vs. Cony, Mt. Blue, and Falmouth. If Lawrence wants to keep pace with Messalonskee and Gardiner in Class B North, a result tonight vs. arguably the best team in the state will be important.

Class C: Fryeburg Academy Raiders (3-1) @ Cheverus Stags (4-0) Boulos Stadium 

With all the talk in Class C South about the Leavitt Hornets, Portland area fans are wondering what about us? The Cheverus Stags have opened the season 4-0 for the first time since 2013 and are tied with Leavitt atop Class C South. The Stags will be tested again (they survived a 26-20 back-and-forth game with Wells last week) when they play Fryeburg Academy Raiders, the Raiders’ only blemish came Week One vs. Leavitt and the team has since ripped off three straight convincing wins. Fryeburg is also one of the best offensive teams in the state, they are ranked fifth amongst all 11-man teams with 153 points scored, and 145 of those points have come in the last three weeks, they were held to 8 points vs. Leavitt in Week 1.

Class D: Foxcroft Academy Ponies (4-0) @ Medomak Valley Panthers (4-0) Medomak Valley HS Field 

This is my favorite matchup of them all this week, the Ponies vs. the Panthers in what should be a fantastic battle between the defending Class D Champion in the Ponies, and one the best programs this season out of Class C North in the Panthers, who looking to solidify themselves as the team to beat in the region. We’ll start with Foxcroft Academy which leads all 11-man teams across all classes with the most points scored in the State (219) and the least points given up (6). The Ponies also have an absurd point differential of +213 (best in the state) and for some perspective, the next closest team is Class B North Messalonskee at +143. The Panthers enter this matchup looking to raise some eyebrows and keep pace with their mid-cost rivals Oceanside in the process. The Panthers spoiled Hermon’s homecoming last weekend behind Aaron Reed. During the Panthers’ 32-14 win, Reed carried the ball 26 times for 206 yards and 3 touchdowns, he converted on 2 two-point conversions, and he had 8 tackles on defense with a forced fumble and an interception.

8-Man: Orono Red Riots (4-0) @ Dexter Tigers (3-1) Tiger Field 

Orono comes into this one vs. Dexter as one of the best 8-Man teams (Small or Large) in the State, the Red Riots are third in total points scored across both 8-Man leagues, and the program has given up the third-fewest points through four games and you guessed it, has the third best point differential at +157. On the other side Dexter is looking for a signature win at home vs. the defending 8-Man Small North regional champs, the Tigers are led by QB Blaine Gould and have athletic receivers that can open the game up, Kody Kimball, Holdyn Gunther, and, Bryce Cooper are a triple threat that has been tough to handle. Dexter’s only loss came vs. the Houlton Shiretowners but responded well on the road last week vs. Valley 41-6. Keep your eyes towards the North this week in 8-Man Small.

Other Notes for Week 5: 

– There are four Maine vs. New Hampshire games this weekend. The first two will be played Friday night when winless Edward Little hosts the winless Spaulding Red Raiders and then Bonny Eagle travels to Merrimack to play the Tomahawks. The other two contests will be on Saturday and things don’t get easier for the Oxford Hills Vikings as they host the unbeaten Portsmouth-Oyster River ClipperCats. Head north and the Bangor Rams will be hosting the winless Winnacunnet Warriors.

– Down at Warrior Memorial Field in Wells this Friday night the “Mike Guyer Salute to Armed Forces Game” will take place when the Wells Warriors host the undefeated Poland Knights. Mike was an assistant coach for Wells who passed away in February. Mike served 29 years in the Navy. He graduated from BUDS school in 1989 Class 149. He officially Commanded Seal Team 2, Served as CDR. of 4, Served as tactical CDR. of 6, Operations CDR. of 8 and Plank Owner of 10. Seal Team members are coming in what should be a fantastic night. For more information on the game check out the Mannix Brothers interview with Wells Warriors Head Coach Tim Roche on our website.