Whether it's a coaching change or potentially a needed quarterback shift, there are some teams in the NFL that have to get something going in the other direction. It feels like there are more mediocre teams than usual as we close out Week 5 of the 2026 NFL Season.
The league also feels wide open this year for multiple reasons. Even some of the teams we were rather high on before the season aren't performing as we expected, and there are some teams that have already exceeded expectations.
This is all to say that the 2026 season has been wacky. We've undergone another power rankings exercise, and, this time, we've ranked teams that need to make a major change, and the criteria are ranking the teams based on how big a change they need to make. All 32 teams surely have something not going well, but there are some that just stand out more than others. We aren't necessarily advocating for these moves to be made, but it's clear that these moves are necessary for the sake of the franchise.
Ranking teams that need to make the biggest changes through Week 5
6. Dallas Cowboys - Moving on from Christian Parker
The Dallas Cowboys took a big risk hiring Christian Parker this offseason, as this is his first defensive coordinator job, but he came from the Vic Fangio free, so many hyped up the hire, as it was surely going to be better than Matt Eberflus, right?
Well, not exactly. Dallas' Thursday Night Football performance on defense against a rookie quarterback was flat-out pathetic, as this team does rank near the bottom of the league in most defensive categories. This can't be another lost season due to the defense, so the Cowboys may need to already consider making this big change.
5. Tennessee Titans - Sending Cam Ward to the bench
Cam Ward might not be it, folks, but it also can't hurt to send him to the bench for a bit. The Carolina Panthers did send Bryce Young to the bench once upon a time, and he's been borderline great ever since returning from that benching.
The Titans invested the first overall pick on Ward back in the 2025 NFL Draft, and he just looks overwhelmed and mediocre across the board. Tennessee's personnel isn't exactly great, but you'd not be crazy to have expected more from Ward thus far.
A benching could do him well in the end.
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