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NFL Power Rankings, Week 5: Steelers free fall out of the Top 10 of rankings

The Pittsburgh Steelers were a unanimous Top 5 team heading into the regular season, but not anymore. These days, they’re just trying to stay near the Top 10.

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NFL: Kansas City Chiefs at Pittsburgh Steelers Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

The only consistent aspect of the Pittsburgh Steelers are their many inconsistencies.

After an opening week tie with the Cleveland Browns, followed by a loss to the Kansas City Chiefs, the Steelers had shown it all — amazing offense, head-scratching play calling and shoddy defense, among others.

Needless to say, the Steelers experienced a precipitous drop in the weekly NFL Power Rankings because of their poor play which resulted in a 0-1-1 record heading into Week 3. However, a 30-27 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Monday Night Football had the Steelers on the rise. After their 26-14 loss to the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday Night Football, the Pittsburgh roller coaster is again on the decline.

In reality, these rankings mean nothing, but they’re great for conversation and debate. This week, the Steelers saw themselves claw their way back into the Top 10.

With a Week 5 matchup with Atlanta Falcons looming, the Steelers will be looking for their first home win of the season and they need to put up a good performance if they aim to resurrect their rankings status.

Check out the rankings, and let us know what you think in the comment section below!

ESPN

1. Los Angeles Rams
2. Kansas City Chiefs
3. Jacksonville Jaguars
4. New Orleans Saints
5. New England Patriots
6. Philadelphia Eagles
7. Baltimore Ravens
8. Cincinnati Bengals
9. Green Bay Packers
10. Chicago Bears
...
15. Pittsburgh Steelers
“Rookie snaps leader: Terrell Edmunds, 242 snaps out of 282 (85.8 percent). The DB out of Virginia Tech has picked up his production the past two weeks, compiling seven tackles and a fumble recovery against the Ravens and an interception in Week 3 against the Buccaneers.”

USA Today

1. Los Angeles Rams
2. Kansas City Chiefs
3. New Orleans Saints
4. Jacksonville Jaguars
5. New England Patriots
6. Los Angeles Chargers
7. Carolina Panthers
8. Cincinnati Bengals
9. Baltimore Ravens
10. Washington Redskins
...
16. Pittsburgh Steelers
“Good as James Conner has been, Le’Veon Bell’s ongoing absence(for now?) puts too much burden on Big Ben, who’s on track for 744 passes.”

SB Nation

1 Los Angeles Rams
2 Kansas City Chiefs
3 Jacksonville Jaguars
4 New Orleans Saints
5 Carolina Panthers
6 Cincinnati Bengals
7 Baltimore Ravens
8 New England Patriots
9 Philadelphia Eagles
10 Green Bay Packers
...
19. Pittsburgh Steelers

NFL.com

1. Los Angeles Rams
2. Kansas City Chiefs
3. Jacksonville Jaguars
4. New Orleans Saints
5. Carolina Panthers
6. New England Patriots
7. Cincinnati Bengals
8. Green Bay Packers
9. Chicago Bears
10. Baltimore Ravens
...
16. Pittsburgh Steelers
“What we’ve all gleaned from the Steelers’ season thus far is that if Ben Roethlisberger is off, Pittsburgh doesn’t win. Despite having a few talented starters, the defense has been riddled by opposing quarterbacks. Even in the fourth quarter of their ”Sunday Night Football” matchup, when the Ravens were settling for field goals, Baltimore was marching right down the field with a mix of runs and intermediate throws. The Steeler defense couldn’t keep the Ravens off the field, while Pittsburgh’s offense couldn’t stay on it. All is not lost yet. Nonetheless, there is little question that the Le’Veon Bell situation has been a distraction. Is Pittsburgh headed to 8-8?”