Falcons top Week 6 Power Rankings

After six weeks, one undefeated team remains - Atlanta - and only nine teams have winning records. The league's favorite word, money parity, was on full display in Week 6. Let there be no doubt as to who is No. 1, and who is No. 32, though.

1. Atlanta (6-0); Last week: 2
Week 6 result: Won vs. Oakland, 23-20
Matt Ryan threw three first-half interceptions as the Falcons tried their hardest not to remain undefeated, but a pick-six from old friend Asante Samuel and Matt Bryant's late field goal helped move Atlanta to 6-0 heading into their bye week. Next up: Bye

2. Houston (5-1); Last week: 1
Week 6 result: Lost vs. Green Bay, 42-24
The Texans looked like the best team in the league through the first five games, but they ran into the Packers at the wrong time. In their first game without Brian Cushing, Houston allowed some guy named Aaron Rodgers to throw six touchdown passes. The offense didn't provide much help, as Matt Schaub threw two interceptions to go with zero touchdowns, and Arian Foster managed only 29 yards on 17 carries, though he did score twice. Next up: vs. Baltimore

3. New York Giants (4-2); Last week: 8
Week 6 result: Won at San Francisco, 26-3
Traveling to San Francisco, the Giants just continued to be good, moving the ball on the 49ers' defense and reminding Alex Smith that he's not that good. The defense forced Smith into three interceptions and sacked him and backup Colin Kaepernick a combined six times. With the win, the Giants gained sole possession of first place in the NFC East. Next up: vs. Washington

4. San Francisco (4-2); Last week: 3
Week 6 result: Lost vs. New York Giants, 26-3
Speaking of Alex Smith, he was back this week, replacing whoever that guy was wearing his jersey for the first five weeks of the season. The 49ers suffered their worst loss of the season in a game they likely saw as potential vengeance against the Giants team that knocked them out of the playoffs last season. Instead, they barely put up a fight. The offense was so pathetic that they did not make it into the red zone once. Next up: vs. Seattle

5. Baltimore (5-1); Last week: 4
Week 6 result: Win vs. Dallas, 31-29
The Ravens gave up a ton of rushing yards and almost lost. Luckily, they played the Cowboys. Two Ray Rice touchdowns and a dropped two-point conversion pass sealed the win, but the season-ending injuries to Lardarius Webb and Ray Lewis are big blows to a 5-1 team preparing to face the Texans. Next up: at Houston

6. Chicago (4-1); Last week: 6
Week 6 result: Bye
The Bears had the weekend off after a blowout win over the Jaguars in Week 5, in which their defense returned two Blaine Gabbert interceptions for touchdowns. They rank first in the league in rushing yards against and they'll keep moving up in these rankings until the next Jay Cutler implosion. It seems so long ago since we had one. (Miss you, Week 2). Next up: vs. Detroit

7. Green Bay (3-3); Last week: 13
Week 6 result: Won at Houston, 42-24
This team is pretty hard to figure out, but when they are good, they are very good. After beating himself up in the week leading up to Sunday night's game, Aaron Rodgers threw six touchdown passes on the road against what was the AFC's only undefeated team. Jordy Nelson was the main beneficiary, catching nine passes for 121 yards and three touchdowns. Next up: at St. Louis

8. New England (3-3); Last week: 7
Week 6 result: Lost at Seattle, 24-23
The Patriots' loss to the Seahawks just shows how difficult an environment CenturyLink Field in Seattle is for a visiting team. Facing one of the league's best defenses in heavy rain, Tom Brady threw for 395 yards and two touchdowns but also two interceptions in a game that had Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman asking Brady, "U Mad Bro?" Next up: vs. New York Jets

9. Seattle (4-2); Last week: 18
Week 6 result: Won vs. New England, 24-23
What a defense. Seattle has probably the best homefield advantage in the NFL, and this time they didn't need the refs to pull off the upset of a Super Bowl contender. Russell Wilson threw three touchdown passes, including one to Sidney Rice with 1:18 left that ended up as the winning score. The Seahawks are tied with the Cardinals and 49ers for the NFC West lead. Next up: at San Francisco

10. Denver (3-3); Last week: 14
Week 6 result: Won at San Diego, 35-24
The most stunning comeback of the week featured the Broncos outscoring the Chargers 35-0 in the second half, roaring back from a 24-0 halftime deficit to win. Denver's defense forced Philip Rivers into six turnovers (four interceptions, two fumbles), returning one of each for a touchdown. Peyton Manning completed 13 of 14 passes in the second half for three touchdowns, as the Broncos moved into a first-place tie in the AFC West. Next up: Bye

11. Minnesota (4-2); Last week: 10
Week 6 result: Lost at Washington, 38-26
After having to settle for three short field goals in the first quarter and one in the third, the Vikings could not make up the deficit despite getting the score to 31-26. Despite the loss, Percy Harvin hauled in 11 more passes, giving him an NFL-best 49 receptions for the season. Next up: vs. Arizona

12. Washington (3-3); Last week: 19
Week 6 result: Won vs. Minnesota, 38-26
Robert Griffin III showed no ill effects from his Week 5 concussion against the Vikings, rushing for two touchdowns, including a 76-yard run that effectively put the game away. The Redskins' defense sacked Christian Ponder four times and forced him into two interceptions and a fumble. Next up: at New York Giants

13. Arizona (4-2): Last week: 7
Week 6 result: Lost vs. Buffalo, 19-16
Kevin Kolb was knocked out of the loss to the Bills with a rib injury and will miss several weeks, but not before rushing for 66 yards on five carries, good for second on a Cardinals team with more or less no running backs. Arizona now has lost to St. Louis and Buffalo in consecutive weeks. They're still tied for first in the NFC West. Next up: at Minnesota

14. Pittsburgh (2-3); Last week: 9
Week 6 result: Lost at Tennessee, 26-23
Just when the Steelers thought they had an actual running game, Rashard Mendenhall went and got hurt again. Their defense, without Troy Polamalu and LaMarr Woodley, was unable to keep a Matt Hasselbeck-led attack from beating them. Shawn Suisham did not help by missing a 54-yard field goal late in the fourth quarter. To top it all off, rookie nose tackle Alameda Ta'amu was arrested Sunday on charges including fleeing police, aggravated assault and DUI. Next up: at Cincinnati

15. PHILADELPHIA (3-3); Last week: 11
Week 6 result: Lost vs. Detroit, 26-23
In case you missed it, the Eagles blew a ten-point lead with 5:18 left in the fourth quarter and lost to a bad Detroit team at home. It was something out of 2011. Michael Vick threw two more interceptions to push his turnover total to 11 for the season. In what is being deemed the only decision to cure all that ails them, defensive coordinator Juan Castillo was fired. Next up: Bye

16. Miami (3-3); Last week: 24
Week 6 result: Won vs. St. Louis, 17-14
Ryan Tannehill and the Dolphins continue to exceed expectations in their first season under Joe Philbin. Led largely by a stout front seven and the surprising competence of their rookie quarterback, the Dolphins held Sam Bradford without a touchdown pass while Tannehill threw two of his own to squeak out the win. Amazingly, the Dolphins are in a four-way tie with their AFC East rivals for first in the division. Next up: Bye

30. Carolina (1-4); Last week: 28
Week 6 result: Bye
Cam Newton did not do anything to upset teammates and/or sportswriters this week, as the Panthers were on their bye. Next up: vs. Dallas

31. Jacksonville (1-4); Last week: 31
Week 6 result: Bye
Blaine Gabbert had his best week of the season. In a related note, the Jaguars were on their bye. The team is last in the league in passing yards per game (142.8) and is averaging 13 points per game, also worst in the league. And yet, they're only ranked 31st. Next up: at Oakland

32. Kansas City (1-5); Last week: 29
Week 6 result: Lost at Tampa Bay, 38-10
Employing Brady Quinn as a backup quarterback - to starter Matt Cassel - is a sound #suckforBarkley strategy. As is employing a defense that allows Josh Freeman to throw three touchdowns. This was hilarious, though. Next up: Bye