And so it stands at three.
The 49ers and the Chiefs, having squared off in the Super Bowl twice since 2019, represent two of the NFL’s three remaining undefeated teams. Not too shocking, right?
The third unbeaten team is the Vikings. They’ve just offloaded their first-round quarterback disappointment, J.J. McCarthy, to the Giants, and are currently trying their luck with a couple of underachieving first-round quarterbacks from other teams, Kyler Murray and Carson Wentz.
Interestingly, two of the Vikings’ wins in this 4-0 start came without scoring an offensive touchdown. That’s a rarity in the NFL; the last time it happened was with the 1923 Chicago Cardinals.
However, the Vikings boast the NFL’s toughest defense, which is certainly helping the team’s cause. They are once again winning those close games—three this season—similar to how they charged through the playoffs last year.
Here are the NFL power rankings from The Post for Week 5:
1. 49ers 4-0 (2)
Brock Purdy connected for two touchdown passes, and Christian McCaffrey added another score as the 49ers found the end zone on three consecutive possessions in the second half, eventually winning 24-14 against the consistently slow-starting Broncos. A recovered fumbled punt return helped set the stage for this scoring spree. George Kittle outpaced his former teammate, Talanoa Hufanga, for a decisive 56-yard touchdown.
2. Chiefs 4-0 (3)
Kenneth Walker made quite the impression with 177 rushing yards and two touchdowns, including a crucial go-ahead score with just over three minutes remaining, leading to a 30-27 win against the Raiders. Meanwhile, Patrick Mahomes improved his record to 7-0 in Allegiant Stadium, throwing for 225 yards and two touchdowns. An interception by Xavier Nwankpa with only a second left finalized the Chiefs’ victory.
3. Vikings 4-0 (5)
Will Reichard was instrumental in a 15-10 win over the struggling Dolphins, kicking five field goals and extending his conversion streak to 31. T.J. Hockenson’s career-high tying 13th catch contributed to running down the clock. Impressively, the Vikings’ defense allowed a mere 198 total yards in what was a personal revenge game for defensive coordinator Brian Flores.
4. Bills 3-1 (1)
In a tight 29-26 loss to the Patriots, Josh Allen threw a costly interception when the team was close to field-goal range with just over a minute left. Khalil Shakir also lost a fumble, adding to the Bills’ turnover woes—now totaling seven in their last two games. This marked the first loss for head coach Joe Brady and at the new Highmark Stadium.
5. Bears 3-1 (6)
Ever wonder what domination looks like? The Bears managed to achieve more first downs (34) during their 89 offensive plays than the Jets had in total offensive plays (32) in a 23-12 win. Kyle Monangai had a standout performance, rushing for 146 yards and two touchdowns, while the Bears controlled the clock for nearly 43 minutes. Remarkably, they’ve won each of their three victories with a different quarterback contributing the most.
6. Seahawks 3-1 (7)
Despite facing 14 penalties totaling a franchise-record 150 yards, the Seahawks bounced back impressively for a 30-23 victory against the Chargers. Emmanuel Wilson made notable contributions with 81 rushing yards, 39 receiving yards, and scoring both on the ground and through the air. The game also featured a unique occurrence where both teams threw interceptions on their very first snaps.
7. Ravens 3-1 (8)
The Ravens’ explosive first half held firm during their 24-18 victory over the Titans, even though quarterback Tyler Huntley struggled in the second half, ending with no scores and just 63 passing yards in for an injured Lamar Jackson. Derrick Henry managed to score against his former team for the first time, while Tyler Loop kicked a career-long 64-yard field goal.
8. Rams 2-2 (9)
Coming back from a 10-point deficit with four minutes to play, the Rams dramatically scored two touchdowns on Kyren Williams’ runs, sealing a 24-20 win against the Eagles. Their defense excelled, halting the Eagles on 15 out of 16 combined third- and fourth-down attempts. Sean McVay also managed to earn a victory against counterpart Nick Sirianni for the first time in five meetings.
9. Jaguars 3-1 (13)
In a clash of former first overall draft picks and college competitors, Trevor Lawrence didn’t have stats quite as flashy as Joe Burrow’s but still guided the Jaguars to a 22-17 win over the Bengals. The defense came through with a critical fourth-down stop near the end and recorded an interception, marking a new franchise record with a ninth consecutive game with a pick.
10. Raiders 3-1 (10)
The Raiders demonstrated their resilience in their loss to the Chiefs, despite their strong start in previous games. Kirk Cousins passed for 365 yards on 52 attempts, with tight ends Brock Bowers and Michael Mayer each surpassing 80 receiving yards. Head coach Klint Kubiak had a confident outlook, asserting at halftime, “We’re going to win the game.”
11. Broncos 2-2 (4)
12. Bengals 2-2 (11)
13. Giants 3-1 (16)
In a close matchup where they clung to a six-point lead, the Giants managed to stop four straight passes from the 4-yard line to clinch a 36-24 win against the Cardinals, thanks to Deonte Banks’ 98-yard pick-six as time expired. Jameis Winston’s roller-coaster outing featured 250 yards, three touchdowns, and two interceptions. The Giants are now 3-0 at home for the first time since 2008.
14. Eagles 2-2 (12)
15. Browns 3-1 (21)
16. Patriots 2-2 (18)
17. Colts 2-2 (19)
18. Cowboys 2-2 (20)
19. Panthers 2-2 (25)
20. Lions 2-2 (14)
21. Steelers 2-2 (15)
22. Falcons 2-2 (26)
23. Packers 2-2 (27)
24. Saints 1-3 (17)
25. Commanders 1-3 (23)
26. Cardinals 1-3 (24)
27. Texans 0-4 (22)
28. Jets 1-3 (28)
After losing to the Bears, there’s no point in discussing moral victories for the Jets. They finished 0-for-7 on third down, managing only 157 offensive yards. Minkah Fitzpatrick ended a record-setting streak of 20 games without an interception for the team. Still, the Jets could have had four picks—had it not been for three penalties that negated them.
