We’re only five weeks into the 2026 NFL season, but Tom Brady is ready to make some definitive statements: There’s one team separating itself from the rest of the pack and another team striving for all-time unity.
In the most recent edition of Brady’s power rankings, the GOAT proclaimed that the San Francisco 49ers are the team to beat in the NFL following their Week 5 win over the Seattle Seahawks. So, like every other power ranking, Brady has the 49ers as the best team this week.
But who is following the 49ers and which team could have an all-time defense? Here are Brady’s top 10 teams in the NFL heading into Week 6.
Record: 3-2
Previous ranking: Unclassified ↑
Week 5 result: 45-21 victory @ Cardinals
Brady’s thoughts: To a neutral observer, the Lions might be the most fun team in football right now. Granted, that might not be what Lions fans want to hear.
And I don’t have any notes for Jared Goff. He has the highest scoring offense in football. Overall, just a solid football team. They are hard to beat. They have a veteran head coach. They have a great quarterback. This buys them a lot of time to figure out this defense – and yes, uh, defense.
But until then, enjoy the fireworks.
Next: Goodbye
Record: 3-2
Previous ranking: Unclassified ↑
Week 5 result: 23-17 win @ Chargers
Brady’s thoughts: At No. 9, we might have the biggest question mark of the NFL season so far. Denver played a brutal, brutal schedule. They were expected to have a breakout game against the Chargers, but that wasn’t really the case.
Bo Nix recorded his eighth fourth-quarter comeback in the last two seasons in Sunday’s win over the Chargers. (Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images)
The defense, once again, does its job, but Bo Nix and the offense, they have to find a way to push the ball down the field. Until then, nothing will really be too easy for them.
Next up: vs. Seahawks (Thursday night)
Record: 3-2
Previous ranking: 4 ↓
Week 5 result: 32-29 loss to 49ers
Brady’s thoughts: KB and I witnessed it on Sunday and when you turn the ball over four times, you’re not going to have a good time. I think Seattle feels the target on its back. They are the defending champions. It’s been a bit difficult so far this year.
But come running back Zach Charbonnet back and, in a few weeks, get their other ball carrier back, Jadarian Prizeit could help that running game and take some pressure off the defense that is doing everything they can to win games with the ball.
Next: @ Broncos (Thursday evening)
Record: 3-2
Previous ranking: Unclassified ↑
Week 5 result: 45-17 win over Raiders
Brady’s thoughts: A story as old as time in New England. I’ve heard it before and was there when it happened: the sky is falling in September and the Pats are dead in the water, until they aren’t. Drake Mayehe answered so well. There was a first real slump at the start of the season, but he is now throwing the ball with confidence and the whole team is feeding off it.
Aaron Rodgers said it best years ago: Relax, everyone. This is a damn good football team.
As Drake builds chemistry with new receivers this season, it’s all about time on the task. There’s not much you can do in the offseason now. You are limited to training camp. A lot of these real-time reps need to start adding up. This is how we integrate new actors into the project and into the system. Reps from quarterback to receiver in the game; it creates a lot of confidence. When you make a mistake, you learn from it, move on, and try not to make the same mistake again.
Next step: against the Jets (Sunday)
Record: 4-1
Previous ranking: 6
Week 5 result: 30-23 win @ Falcons (OT)
Brady’s thoughts: They just can’t get out of the top 10. The year of the backup quarterback continues. Tyler Huntley and the Ravens returned in a classic Sunday Night Football game.
Tyler Huntley replaced injured Lamar Jackson to earn the win in Week 5. (Photo by David J. Griffin/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
They won in overtime, and what’s the best gift you can give a backup quarterback? Two hundred meters on the ground, led by King Derrick Henri. Keep an eye on the kicker Tyler Loop in these close matches. After a brutal miss late last year, he made five from over 50 yards. That’s crazy, including a 64-year career and that winner in Rio (as Jim Nantz said, the “Trio in Rio”).
Next: @ Browns (Sunday)
Record: 4-1
Previous ranking: 5
Week 5 result: 19-17 victory against the Eagles (in London)
Brady’s thoughts: Actually, the London Jaguars. There was a miraculous victory against the Eagles. But look, when you play an international match, and I’ve played a few, I don’t care about the margin. Just get the voice acting.
Parker Washingtonthis guy went from a fun story to a real guy – DAWG. And everyone knows that the sixth round is where you go when you need talent. But this defense was the star of the show. They held the Eagles to 22 rushing yards on Sunday. This could be the best unit in the league, if there wasn’t a team arriving here shortly.
Next meeting: against the Texans (Sunday, in London)
Record: 4-1
Previous ranking: 7 ↑
Week 5 result: 37-34 win @ Rams (OT)
Brady’s thoughts: We still have work to do on defense here. A lot of work, actually. But this guy, Josh Allenit makes up for a lot of problems. He’s kind of an eraser for this team – he erases all the mistakes. He had 10 carries for 120 yards. That’s a little less than my career total and I played for 23 years.
It wasn’t the prettiest game on either side of the ball for Buffalo. But getting the job done on the West Coast, against a veteran team like the Rams with Matthew Stafford And Sean McVay? And Josh Allen got rid of that overtime monkey in the process.
Next: @Raiders (Sunday)
Record: 5-0
Previous ranking: 3
Week 5 result: 23-13 win @ Saints
Brady’s thoughts: Now we need to talk about some serious defense. Serious, serious defense. I’m talking about the first elements of an all-time defense. Listen to these numbers: B-Flo’s (defensive coordinator Brian Flores) the defense allowed three scores and 12 total rushing yards in the fourth quarter throughout the year.
Kyler Murray And Kevin O’Connell are finally able to make things happen in attack and unlock Justin Jefferson. Remember him, all you fantasy owners? But this segment is about the Vikings defense, and we’re heading into a nickname watch here. Hit me with some options.
There doesn’t seem to be much risk in B-Flo’s defense at the moment. Last game, he blitzed over 90% of the time. These quarterbacks don’t understand protections like we used to. There are guys coming from the right, the left, the tight end, the boundary, the corner, the linebacker side, the safety side – they come from everywhere.
Quarterbacks, you need to know where your problems are. If you protect the left, you must take care of the right. If you protect the right, you must take care of the left. You need to know your protections. You have to know your answers when they blitz, otherwise he’ll come after you.
Next: Goodbye
Record: 4-0
Previous ranking: 2
Week 5 Result: Goodbye
Brady’s thoughts: The Chiefs are 4-0 and had a bye week, which is the best way to stay undefeated in this league. I mean, zero total yards allowed on defense? Zero turnovers for this offense? This is fundamental football.
But seriously, it’s good to rest early. KC They now have to tie up for a long time and it’s a long ride. There are three months left in this season and the Chargers will be desperate to pull off an upset on Sunday, followed by a huge test in Seattle. I can’t wait to watch this one.
Next step: against the chargers
Record: 5-0
Previous ranking: 1
Week 5 result: 32-29 win @ Seahawks
Brady’s thoughts: What they did in Seattle was nothing short of a miracle. They are undefeated in five weeks, including division wins over the Seahawks and Rams. Sure, one of them was in Australia, but both of those teams are coming to Santa Clara later this year.
It’s safe to say that the 49ers have distanced themselves from the No. 1 seed for the moment. Listen to what they did on defense: five sacks and four putouts in Seattle. It’s exactly what you need to win on the road in the NFL’s most hostile environment.
And now that we’re declaring them all consensus power rankings favorites after Week 5, you better believe they’ll be on watch against the Commanders on Monday night. This is how the NFL is doing it this year.
Next step: against the commanders (Monday evening)
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