NFL Power Rankings, Week 5: Third straight loss has the Steelers nearing the bottom

The Pittsburgh Steelers were not victorious in their second road game against the Green Bay Packers in Week 4, and the loss to Green Bay has dropped them well out of the Top 10, according to the latest Power Rankings.

These Power Rankings are something which should be taken with a grain of salt, but if nothing else they are good for some healthy debate.

Yes, Power Rankings can be an interesting exercise, and while we don’t put too much stock into these rankings it does give you a taste of how the experts at certain sites view the Steelers. Who do they have topping the rankings this week? The Super Bowl champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers? The Baltimore Ravens? How about the Green Bay Packers?

Time to take a look at the latest Power Rankings:

ESPN

1. Buffalo Bills
2. Arizona Cardinals
3. Los Angeles Rams
4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
5. Green Bay Packers
6. Cleveland Browns
7. Baltimore Ravens
8. Dallas Cowboys
9. Los Angeles Chargers
10. Las Vegas Raiders
...
24. Pittsburgh Steelers

“Biggest surprise: Pass rush struggles

Why it’s a surprise: The Steelers got plenty of pressure out of the four-man rush in Week 1, but haven’t been able to replicate the same results the past two weeks. Without T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith, the Steelers didn’t record a single sack against the Bengals, and against the Packers, they only had two — including one that appeared to just be a trip by Watt. Watt, who sustained a groin injury against the Raiders, said he felt healthy enough to play against the Packers, but he — and the rest of the Steelers’ front — haven’t performed to the same level they did in Week 1. The Steelers have shown an ability to play championship-level defense, but the lack of replication is surprising.”

NFL.com

1 Arizona Cardinals
2 Tampa Bay Buccaneers
3 Buffalo Bills
4 Green Bay Packers
5 Baltimore Ravens
6 Dallas Cowboys
7 Los Angeles Chargers
8 Kansas City Chiefs
9 Los Angeles Rams
10. Cleveland Browns
...
20. Pittsburgh Steelers

“Beating the Packers at Lambeau Field requires a precision performance by the offense. The Steelers couldn’t deliver that on Sunday, and they’ll take a three-game losing streak into Week 5 as a result. The running game remains non-existent in Matt Canada’s offense, and Ben Roethlisberger and his receivers aren’t doing enough. On Sunday, Roethlisberger and JuJu Smith-Schuster left points on the field with failures to connect on two pass plays that should have gone for scores. Roethlisberger could have been more accurate on the throws, while Smith-Schuster could have helped his QB by flashing the playmaking ability that marked his first two seasons in Pittsburgh. The attack is not as dynamic as it needs to be, and it’s made the Steelers a middling team.”

CBS Sports

1 Arizona Cardinals
2 Green Bay Packers
3 Tampa Bay Buccaneers
4 Buffalo Bills
5 Cleveland Browns
6 Los Angeles Rams
7 Los Angeles Chargers
8 Dallas Cowboys
9 Kansas City Chiefs
10. Baltimore Ravens
...
28. Pittsburgh Steelers

“They just can’t get the offense going. In a division with three 3-1 teams, they face huge odds to get back into the race.”

The Sporting News

1. Arizona Cardinals
2. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
3. Los Angeles Rams
4. Buffalo Bills
5. Green Bay Packers
6. Cleveland Browns
7. Baltimore Ravens
8. Dallas Cowboys
9. Kansas City Chiefs
10. Los Angeles Chargers
...
21. Pittsburgh Steelers

“The Steelers’ defense is trying to hold up its end of the bargain, but it’s getting tougher every week with Ben Roethlisberger struggling. There’s no easy solution for the offense until 2022.”

What do you think of these rankings? Think the Steelers are too high? Not high enough? Let us know your thoughts in the comment section below, and be sure to check out one of our newest podcasts where we do some rankings of our own! Check out the “Steelers Power Half Hour” in the player below: