NFL Power Rankings Following Week 6 Games: New #1

Six weeks into the 2023 NFL season and there are already zero undefeated teams remaining. As a result, the top spot on this week’s NFL Power Rankings is finally open for debate. On the other end of the spectrum, there is no debating who is below the other 31 NFL franchises. The Carolina Panthers are the only team without a win, and therefore the only team without anyone to look down on in the power rankings for the second consecutive week.

Once again, these NFL Power Rankings are not based on hypotheticals, potential or feelings. These rankings are based on reality. As Bill Parcells noted, “you are what your record says you are.” The five teams with one loss deserve to take the top five spots in the rankings. Likewise, the lone team without a win should take up the rear, which they do.

With that in mind, the NFL Power Rankings from Patriots Football Now…

32. Carolina Panthers (0-6)

The lone winless team remaining stays at the bottom of this week’s NFL Power Rankings. The Panthers were out to a surprising 14-0 lead in the first quarter against the Dolphins. But by halftime Miami led 21-0 and never looked back, handing Carolina a 42-21 defeat. WR Adam Thielen (11 receptions, 115 yards, touchdown) continued his excellent first season as a Panther after nine years with the Vikings. With a bye this week, there will be no change to Carolina’s change in the rankings for a bit.

31. Chicago Bears (1-5)

A week after a 20-point win over the Commanders, the Bears were back to their losing ways. They fell to Minnesota 19-13 in a game both teams entered with one win. QB Justin Fields left the game due to an injury. He was replaced by Tyson Bagent, an undrafted rookie from Division II Shepherd University. Things did not go better for the offense with their backup in. Bagent threw an interception and lost a fumble, which was returned 42 yards for a touchdown. With Fields having suffered a dislocated thumb on his right (throwing) hand, Bagent is likely to get his first NFL start on Sunday.

30. Denver Broncos (1-5)

The Broncos have only lost one game by more than 11 points, which isn’t bad for a team so low down in the rankings. On the glass half-empty side, their only win was by three points over the Bears. Denver’s defense held the dangerous Kansas City offense to only one touchdown, but that was all the Chiefs needed. The Broncos did not get on the scoreboard until the fourth quarter. The 19-8 final score was another tough pill to swallow for Sean Payton and Russell Wilson, who threw two interceptions in the game. DB Justin Simmons had an interception, but it wasn’t enough to offset the offense’s three turnovers.