Five unbeaten teams left in the NFL: NE, Cin, Den, GB, and Car.
Here's the capsule for each team (note: SRS and SOS (strength of schedule) are from pro-football-reference.com):
New England
5-0 record, +80 point differential (#2 in the NFL), 15.0 SRS, -0.5 SOS
Offensive ranks: #1 pts, #2 yards
Defensive ranks: #10 pts, #17 yards
Total average rank (of the 4): 7.5
Cincinnati
6-0 record, +60 point differential (#4 in the NFL), 8.5 SRS, -1.5 SOS
Offensive ranks: #4 pts, #3 yards
Defensive ranks: #9 pts, #21 yards
Total average rank (of the 4): 9.3
Denver
6-0 record, +37 point differential (#8 in the NFL), 2.6 SRS, -3.5 SOS
Offensive ranks: #13 pts, #29 yards
Defensive ranks: #4 pts, #2 yards
Total average rank (of the 4): 12.0
Green Bay
6-0 record, +63 point differential (#3 in the NFL), 6.8 SRS, -3.7 SOS
Offensive ranks: #5 pts, #10 yards
Defensive ranks: #3 pts, #16 yards
Total average rank (of the 4): 8.5
Carolina
5-0 record, +41 point differential (#6 in the NFL), 1.1 SRS, -7.1 SOS
Offensive ranks: #6 pts, #28 yards
Defensive ranks: #7 pts, #7 yards
Total average rank (of the 4): 12.0
How I rank them and why.
1. New England
2. Green Bay
3. Cincinnati
4. Denver
5. Carolina
The Patriots are, at this moment, pretty clearly the best team in the NFL. +80 point differential in just 5 games = an average margin of +16. At first glance, their schedule isn't very difficult. And yet, of these five teams, the Patriots have played by far the hardest schedule. Moreover, their team rankings are superior to everyone else's, all put together. No other team in this group has a unit ranked #1. Only the Patriots' scoring offense ranks as the best in the league. Only one other unit has a #2 ranking - Denver's yardage defense. So clearly the Patriots' offense is the best single unit of all five teams. And the defense is better than average (a combined ranking (pts/yds) of 13.5).
I put Green Bay a little ahead of Cincinnati, even though Cincy's SRS and SOS rank higher. I think the rankings of GB's offense and defense combined outshine Cincy's, though it's very close between the two teams, and I wouldn't quibble with anyone putting the Bengals ahead of the Packers.
Denver and Carolina are distantly behind GB/Cin. I put Denver ahead because their defense is so good. Moreover, they've played a harder schedule so far. Though again, I wouldn't quibble too much flipping these two around.
Here's the capsule for each team (note: SRS and SOS (strength of schedule) are from pro-football-reference.com):
New England
5-0 record, +80 point differential (#2 in the NFL), 15.0 SRS, -0.5 SOS
Offensive ranks: #1 pts, #2 yards
Defensive ranks: #10 pts, #17 yards
Total average rank (of the 4): 7.5
Cincinnati
6-0 record, +60 point differential (#4 in the NFL), 8.5 SRS, -1.5 SOS
Offensive ranks: #4 pts, #3 yards
Defensive ranks: #9 pts, #21 yards
Total average rank (of the 4): 9.3
Denver
6-0 record, +37 point differential (#8 in the NFL), 2.6 SRS, -3.5 SOS
Offensive ranks: #13 pts, #29 yards
Defensive ranks: #4 pts, #2 yards
Total average rank (of the 4): 12.0
Green Bay
6-0 record, +63 point differential (#3 in the NFL), 6.8 SRS, -3.7 SOS
Offensive ranks: #5 pts, #10 yards
Defensive ranks: #3 pts, #16 yards
Total average rank (of the 4): 8.5
Carolina
5-0 record, +41 point differential (#6 in the NFL), 1.1 SRS, -7.1 SOS
Offensive ranks: #6 pts, #28 yards
Defensive ranks: #7 pts, #7 yards
Total average rank (of the 4): 12.0
How I rank them and why.
1. New England
2. Green Bay
3. Cincinnati
4. Denver
5. Carolina
The Patriots are, at this moment, pretty clearly the best team in the NFL. +80 point differential in just 5 games = an average margin of +16. At first glance, their schedule isn't very difficult. And yet, of these five teams, the Patriots have played by far the hardest schedule. Moreover, their team rankings are superior to everyone else's, all put together. No other team in this group has a unit ranked #1. Only the Patriots' scoring offense ranks as the best in the league. Only one other unit has a #2 ranking - Denver's yardage defense. So clearly the Patriots' offense is the best single unit of all five teams. And the defense is better than average (a combined ranking (pts/yds) of 13.5).
I put Green Bay a little ahead of Cincinnati, even though Cincy's SRS and SOS rank higher. I think the rankings of GB's offense and defense combined outshine Cincy's, though it's very close between the two teams, and I wouldn't quibble with anyone putting the Bengals ahead of the Packers.
Denver and Carolina are distantly behind GB/Cin. I put Denver ahead because their defense is so good. Moreover, they've played a harder schedule so far. Though again, I wouldn't quibble too much flipping these two around.