10. Green Bay Packers
Last week: 20th
What we saw from the Green Bay Packers on Sunday against the Chicago Bears is much more in alignment with what we have expected all season long.
The Packers haven’t had the best start to the 2026 season, nobody is going to deny that. With the Bears coming to town in Week 5, you hate to be super hyperbolic and say that they were in a “must-win” scenario, but it sure felt like it going in.
And they responded appropriately.
They absolutely put it on the Chicago Bears, winning 31-7 and making a statement as they await the return of Micah Parsons. It was one of the best games we have seen so far this season from Packers quarterback Jordan Love, who absolutely carved up the Bears’ defense to the tune of 26-of-31 passing, 367 yards, and a pair of touchdowns.
His touchdown throw to Christian Watson was one of the best you will see all season. The Packers finished this game with two receivers over 100 yards, and the defense absolutely tortured Tyson Bagent with 9 QB hits.
This is a contending team.
9. New England Patriots
Last week: 12th
After the first three games this season, we were beginning to wonder if the Patriots were down for the count.
To say they’ve come to life the last couple of weeks would be an understatement. The Patriots are back to looking like one of the top teams in the AFC, and they have gotten it done against some good teams as well.
They went on the road last week and beat the Buffalo Bills, getting a huge divisional win. Maybe just as important as the result of that game, we saw Drake Maye really come back to life. And that continued in the Patriots’ absolute domination of the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 5.
The Raiders were 3-0 to start the season, lost a tough one to the Chiefs last week, but came to New England hoping to get back on track. The Patriots made absolute sure they slammed the door quickly.
Maye had 374 yards and 4 TDs against the Raiders, and he looks all the way back after a rough start to the season.
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