Packers up to No. 2

"Ask Vic" will publish on M-W-F through the football season.

Here are my all-important Week 5 power rankings:
1. Chiefs -- Better than last year.
2. Packers -- Offense unstoppable.
3. Seahawks -- Building momentum.
4. Bills -- AFC's new power team.
5. Titans -- Wear your masks!
6. Ravens -- Beating weak competition.
7. Rams -- Good feel to them this year.
8. Bucs -- Unimpressive win.
9. Steelers -- They didn't need the rest.
10. Colts -- Rivers protecting the ball.
11. Browns -- Explosive offense.
12. Saints -- Rallied in Detroit.
13. Panthers -- Could be a surprise team.
14. 49ers -- Ordinary for now.
15. Cardinals -- I don't see special.
16. Patriots -- Contender.
17. Bears -- Now what?
18. Raiders -- Gruden under-achieving.
19. Eagles -- Reached down and found something.
20. Dolphins -- Better than advertised.
21. Lions -- Turn out the lights.
22. Chargers -- Herbert can play.
23. Cowboys -- Disgusting display on defense.
24. Broncos -- Not good but gritty.
25. Vikings -- It was a must win.
26. Bengals -- Burrow is "The Man."
27. Jaguars -- Tank for Trevor?
28. Texans -- Firing justified.
29. Giants -- They're in the hunt for top pick.
30. Washington -- It'll get worse.
31. Falcons -- Infected by virus of decline.
32. Jets -- Yeah, but they still have Le'Veon Bell.

Kris from Stockbridge, WI
You were right, Vic, dime a dozen.
This might be the best offense in the Aaron Rodgers era.

Casey from York, PA
Which QB is playing the best football this season?
Rodgers, Wilson and Mahomes are the candidates, and Allen is close behind.

Darrell from Kingsland, TX
I think I finally understand what you mean by "dime a dozen." Thank you for the additional perspective. Do you think it's necessary to use additional scheme with unknown receivers or is it still players, not plays in the passing game?
The first touchdown wasn't sexy scheme. A blown coverage left a receiver wide open and Rodgers almost never misses seeing an open receiver. In contrast, Ryan had a receiver open in the back of the end zone and he didn't see him. Yes, when you have a quarterback of Rodgers' acumen for the game, you can expand your scheme, but it always comes back to players executing it.

Steve from Wausau, WI
You're alone and symptomatic in the White House, hopped up on steroids, telling your supporters to ignore a pandemic that has killed 200,000-plus Americans. Is there an historical allegory to this? Biblical? Civilizational? Epistemological? Vegetable?
When Trump was posing defiantly on the balcony of the White House, I was strangely reminded of a high school coach who told us he was going to get into his Thunderbird convertible and drive around the track while holding a stick with a piece of bloody meat on the end of it, and we were going to chase after the car because we wanted the bloody meat. I remember thinking, "This is nuts."

Brent from Dubuque, IA
Does the tackling start improving as the season goes on?
No.

Chad from Kansas City, MO
Vic, America is divided by race, as you have said so many times, and the only way in which we can change is by having uncomfortable conversations. So, here is my question. Why is it African Americans dominate sports in America? Are they so much more athletic than white athletes?
Is this a trick question?

Mark from Nashville, TN
Although we disagree about politics -- that's OK, it's healthy and I love reading your blog -- but the Trump signs "dominated with a nearly palpable anger"? How could you tell? Did the signs frown? Just curious.
A member of our party was jeered when she walked into the gas station wearing a mask.

Dave from St. Peters, MO
Vic, I find it interesting you see "palpable anger" where others might see proud support of conservatism. Why does the left presume anger and racism from the right?
She just wanted to go to the bathroom.

Ben from De Pere, WI
Do you remember seeing fights and cleared benches when you watched sports growing up? Is this trend new to sports these days and a reflection of where our culture is, or simply another day in the life of sports?
Google Juan Marichal/John Roseboro. The difference is that seemed to be very real, very genuine. The Steelers and Raiders truly hated each other. Jalen Ramsey/Golden Tate?

Lukas from Milwaukee, WI
Looking at the NFC West, they have four teams you would not want to face in the playoffs. Just wondering if you have seen any other divisions this deep while you covered football.
It was common when the league had only three divisions in each conference. The 1978 AFC West had a 10-6 and three 9-7 teams, but only the 10-6 Broncos made it into the playoffs.

Brad from Jacksonville, FL
Vic, after watching another abysmal start, after fire-selling the roster this offseason, at what point does Jacksonville press the reset button at the top?
I suspect that's the direction the franchise is headed. The Jaguars did the right thing in tanking for a season compromised by Covid. It's going to be an offseason blow it up.

Jon from Anaheim, CA
Vic, in the July 14, 2011, edition of "Ask Vic," you stated: “All players wishing to call attention to themselves would be instructed to go immediately to the celebration zone and dance for the TV cameras.” With the advent of this season’s "Showtime Cam," I think your celebration zone has come to pass. Would you care to offer another prognostication for 10 years hence?
I don't know what "Showtime Cam" is, but I see college coaches have created silly sideline celebration routines that have the players sprinting to the designated area to express their joy. That's what I had in mind. If they can't control their emotions, then at least get them off the field so they won't draw a damaging penalty. What's next for the sideline? Soon, the NFL will allow TV to interview players on the sideline during the game.