JetNation NFL Power Rankings – Week Five

The Eagles were never in any danger of dropping their first game Sunday in Tampa. The beat goes on for the champs.

Next Four: DEN, @NYG, @MIN, NYG

Philly will be favored in each of their next four and it’s hard to see them starting anything except 8-0.

2. Buffalo Bills 4-0

The Bills played down to New Orleans before taking control. Buffalo needs a better killer instinct against less talented foes.

Next Four: NE, @ATL, @CAR, KC

The visit by the Chiefs is the marquee matchup. The Bills should be 7-0 entering that week.

3. Detroit Lions 3-1

The Lions appear to have found their rhythm after a disappointing week one.

Next Four: @CIN, @KC, TB, MIN

Detroit will need to focus this week on Cincinnati instead of looking ahead to the KC trip. If things go sideways in Cincinnati, the next four could be a disaster. We think the Lions will be 6-2 after their eighth matchup of the season.

4. Los Angeles Rams 3-1

The Rams are a major player in the NFC. The rest of the league is taking note.

Next Four: SF, @BAL, JAC, NO

This week’s matchup with the 49ers is for control of the NFC West. The following week will not be easy as LA travels cross country to deal with a very desperate Ravens team. If Lamar Jackson is healthy that will be a tough spot. We think the Rams will be 6-2 after eight games.

5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers 3-1

The Bucs fell behind early against Philly, and it was too much to come back from against the champs.

Next Four: @SEA, SF, @DET, @NO

The next four games for Tampa are as challenging as any team in the league. A split would be a decent showing for the Bucs. Tampa figures to be 5-3 after their eighth game.

6. Green Bay Packers 2-1-1

The Packers left their defense behind when they traveled to Dallas. This one will be pointed to if the Packers miss out on the playoffs.

Next Four: CIN, @AZ, @PIT, CAR

If the Packers bring their defense along, they could sweep their next four. We think they slip up once and end up 5-2-1.

7. Kansas City Chiefs 2-2

The Chiefs put the Raven’s season on the brink and served notice that they are not done as an elite team just yet.

Next Four: @JAC, DET, LV, WAS

Kansas City gets their toughest matchups of the season over the next four with a decent chance to sweep. We think they will. KC will be 6-2 after eight games.

8. Indianapolis Colts 3-1

The Colts competed on the road against a strong team. Indy is for real and will be a factor all the way if healthy.

Next Four: LV, AZ, @LAC, TEN

The Colts will use their next four games to loudly announce their entry into the AFC conversation. We think they sweep and stand at 7-1 after eight games.

9. Seattle Seahawks 3-1

The Seahawks won their third straight in a huge division tilt on the road against the Cards.

Next Four: TB, @JAC, HOU, @WAS

The first and last of these next four will decide how seriously Seattle contends in the NFC. We think they falter a bit in this upcoming stretch and finish their first eight at 5-3.

10. San Francisco 49ers 3-1

Health is the Niners biggest enemy right now. If they are fully healthy, San Francisco could make some noise, but it doesn’t seem like they are going to be fully healthy at any point in the year.

Next Four: @LAR, @TB, ATL, @HOU

This is a very tough run. This stretch will take its toll on the battered Niners. San Fran will be 4-4 after eight games.

29. New York Jets 0-4

There is probably just a small percentage of readers looking at this story right now that are familiar with the English Premier League. The English Premier League (EPL) is widely regarded as the most watched and most commercially successful football (soccer) league in the world, it is a global sporting and cultural phenomenon, followed passionately by billions of fans across the globe. In addition to the unrivaled level of play that envelopes its fans, there is a unique facet of life in the Premier League that brings heightened interest each season. It is called Relegation.

At the conclusion of each Premier League season, a dramatic battle for survival culminates in three clubs facing the drop to the second tier of English football, the EFL Championship. This system of relegation is a cornerstone of the English football league pyramid, ensuring constant competition and high stakes throughout each season.

The process is straightforward: the three teams that finish in 18th, 19th, and 20th place in the 20-team league are automatically relegated. The consequences of relegation are significant. Beyond the disappointment, clubs face a substantial financial blow due to the loss of lucrative television revenue and sponsorship deals associated with the Premier League. This often leads to player changes.

However, teams can play their way back into the upper tier of the league each season. As three teams are relegated, three other teams are promoted to replace them, and this cycle continues each season.

The astute reader may already have a sense of where I am headed with this: professional sports in America need relegation. Relegation would be great for the NFL. The league could start with the last place finisher in each division. That would give us six teams. Then we could add the six teams with the worst records that managed to avoid finishing last in their respective division. Those twelve teams would form the inaugural Second Division of the NFL. The remaining twenty teams would battle for the Super Bowl trophy. In the subsequent season, the worst finisher in each division would be relegated, while the top six finishers in the Second Division would get promoted back to the NFL’s top tier.

There would be several positive outcomes to relegation in the NFL. Second Division NFL games would be more competitive. Fans would be treated to NFL games with a minor-league baseball feel to them. Second Division games would be more fan-friendly as the venues could be smaller and more intimate. Fans would get to watch their team play meaningful games while paying less for tickets and concessions. Perhaps the best outcome of relegation is that teams would have a true motivation to improve. Television and advertising contracts for Second Division teams would be smaller. There would be a tangible bite for owners who currently enjoy significant revenue,s regardless of how poorly they run their teams.

I am only somewhat crazy. I know relegation is never going to happen in the NFL. I do think it would work well, but improving the way things are has never been enough to bring about significant change. I am not sure why relegation is on my mind today. I guess I should mention that the Jets fell to 29th in the power rankings after a mistake-filled performance against the previously 0-3 Dolphins last night.