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2021 NFL Power Rankings, Week 5: Cowboys make statement, Cardinals take the top spot

By Randy Gurzi

Oct 3, 2021; Inglewood, California, USA; Arizona Cardinals strong safety Budda Baker (3) recovers the fumble against the Los Angeles Rams during the first half at SoFi Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 3, 2021; Inglewood, California, USA; Arizona Cardinals strong safety Budda Baker (3) recovers the fumble against the Los Angeles Rams during the first half at SoFi Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports /
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2021 NFL Power Rankings
Oct 3, 2021; Denver, Colorado, USA; Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Devin Duvernay (13) reacts to his punt return in the second quarter against the Denver Broncos at Empower Field at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports /

Previous: 4th. Baltimore Ravens. 3. team. 26. .

This was a weird game for the Baltimore Ravens since they were in control all game long. They lost to the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 1 in a game that went to overtime. This loss was followed by one of the best games of the season when they knocked off the Kansas City Chiefs 36-35 in a late-game win.

As if that wasn’t enough, they then made it look as though they would lose to the Detroit Lions before Justin Tucker came on and drilled an NFL-record 66-yard field goal to give them a shocking win. After that game, they were 2-1 with all three games coming down to the wire.

Then in Week 4, they were against the undefeated Denver Broncos and after falling behind 7-0, they went with 23 unanswered points as they beat Denver 23-7. The Broncos had some bad fortune with Teddy Bridgewater and Patrick Surtain suffering injuries but with how Lamar Jackson and the Ravens were playing, that wouldn’t have mattered.

Jackson had 316 yards and a touchdown while Marquise Brown put up 91 yards and a score. On the ground, they had 102 yards and Latavius Murray ran in a touchdown. But it was the defense that registered five sacks — including two from Tyus Bowser — that really made the difference. Baltimore is knotted up with the Bengals and Browns in a very tough AFC North.

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