NFL Power Rankings: Top Ten After Week Five

Oct 6, 2013; Cincinnati, OH, USA; New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) waits to go onto the field before the game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paul Brown Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Marc Lebryk-USA TODAY Sports

6. New England Patriots (4-1):

Last Week’s Rankings: 4

What debacle. I’ve honestly never seen the New England Patriots play this bad, keep in mind I’m only 19 so I wasn’t around for those horrible years in the late 80s and 90s. I don’t think I’ve ever seen Tom Brady play that bad. The Patriots offense was just in shamble, only a week after playing so well versus the Falcons. Part of the credit has to go to the Bengals defense which was great, more on them later in the article, but the Patriots just could not do anything right. Running the ball well? Nope, LeGarrette Blount fumbles on what would’ve been a scoring drive. There was no passing game period, as Brady could only muster one drive, and that was made by some fantastic tight rope walking by Aaron Dobson. The last drive was simply cringe worthy in the pouring rain. Yes it was tough to complete a pass, but the Patriots couldn’t do anything, and wouldn’t have gotten any yards period, if the Bengals hasn’t kept shooting themselves in the foot. Even Giovani Bernard hand wrapped a fumble that should’ve ended in a touchdown, but redzone offense once again killed them. With all that negative stuff out of the way, the defense was once again phenomenal. They managed to actually give that putrid, sorry excuse for an offence a chance to win and tie this game. If the defense can keep the Patriots in these games like this, it at least gives the offense a chance to get their crap together. The Patriots get to return home to Gillette Stadium this week, but the biggest test of the season so far is coming to town, the New Orleans Saints. If the Patriots can’t get their act together, Drew Brees will pick them apart.