NFL Power Rankings Week 7: Breaking Down Best and Worst of the Weekend

Week 7 in the NFL was a wild one, to say the least. Only two of the weekend's 11 games were decided by more than seven points. Five games were decided by four points or fewer and two needed overtime to determine a winner.

While the Houston Texans and Green Bay Packers announced their arrival among the NFL's elite, others like the Washington Redskins and Jacksonville Jaguars cemented their hopelessness. 

If you missed any of Sunday's action, don't worry, because we've got you covered with the best and worst of the weekend. 

Here are my NFL power rankings after the wild weekend in Week 7. 

No. 1. Atlanta Falcons (6-0)

Atlanta was on a bye in Week 7. But as the only undefeated team left in the NFL, the Falcons hold down the top spot in these power rankings for at least another week. 

No. 2. New York Giants (5-2)

It seems like New York's postseason ways are beginning to rub off on the regular season. Somehow, some way, the G-Men found a way to beat RG3 and the Redskins on Sunday. New York has won three in a row and is looking more and more like the defending Super Bowl champion. 

No. 3. Houston Texans (6-1)

The Houston Texans bounced back in a Texas-sized way in Week 7, throttling the AFC's only other winning team coming into the weekend. 

Houston made the Baltimore Ravens look silly and unprepared inside Reliant Stadium, and sent the message that the AFC will go through them this postseason. The Texans already have a three-game lead in the AFC South division and look refocused after being embarrassed by Green Bay in Week 6. 

Arian Foster and company were the best of Week 7 by far. Houston dominated a Super Bowl favorite from start to finish on Sunday and is heading into the bye week with boatloads of confidence. 

No. 4. San Francisco 49ers (5-2)

The Niners didn't make it look easy on Thursday night against division-rival Seattle, but a win is a win. San Francisco doesn't strike me as the team that made a surprise run to the NFC title game last January, but its defensive prowess is second to none.

No. 5. Chicago Bears (4-1)

Ever since losing in blowout fashion at Green Bay in Week 2 the Chicago Bears have been on a mission. They have won three in a row coming into Monday night and can remain in first place in the NFC North with a win over Detroit. 

No. 6. Green Bay Packers (4-3)

After putting a winning streak together for the first time this season, the Green Bay Packers are finally beginning to look like contenders in the NFC. 

If Aaron Rodgers' performance at Houston in Week 6 didn't convince you that he and the Pack were back, then certainly his 342-yard, three-touchdown effort in Week 7 at St. Louis did. After all, the Rams were 3-0 at home before Sunday's loss to Green Bay.

The Packers finally met expectations in Week 7, and for that they represent the best that the weekend had to offer. With home games against Jacksonville and Arizona up next, Green Bay should add to its winning streak before its Week 10 bye. 

No. 7. Baltimore Ravens (5-2)

Baltimore completely came unraveled on the road in Week 7. Sure, the Ravens were without two of their best defensive players, but that doesn't explain what happened to Baltimore's offense in Houston.

Despite boasting the second-best record in the AFC after seven weeks, the Ravens will be in big trouble if their offense doesn't pick things up. Only the New England Patriots are allowing more points this season among teams with winning records. 

No. 8. Minnesota Vikings (5-2)

The Vikings recovered superbly from their Week 6 loss at Washington with a quality home win over the Arizona Cardinals. With Tampa Bay coming to town Thursday night, Minnesota has a great shot to reach six wins before November.  

No. 9. Seattle Seahawks (4-3)

You definitely can't blame the Seahawks defense for their Week 7 loss at San Francisco. Seattle held the Niners to just 13 points, but Pete Carroll's offense proved that it has a ways to go before it can be considered the best in the NFC West.

No. 10. New England Patriots (4-3)

The Patriots are extremely lucky to be 4-3 and in first place in the AFC East after Week 7's matchup with the Jets. New England did its best to give Sunday's game away, but in the end New York gave it right back.

On offense, the Pats are always a threat, but until they shore up the defense, they will be navigating a slippery slope. 

No. 11. Denver Broncos (3-3)

Peyton Manning was on a bye in Week 7, but the buzz and excitement surrounding Denver's comeback win over San Diego in Week 6 is still very much alive heading into Week 8 against New Orleans. 

No. 12. Pittsburgh Steelers (3-3)

Say what you will about the Pittsburgh Steelers, but this team has AFC Wild Card written all over it. No team manages injuries and adversity better than Pittsburgh. The Steelers may be down, but they are never out of it. 

No. 13. Arizona Cardinals (4-3)

The Cardinals are experiencing firsthand just how fast luck can turn from good to bad. Arizona is on a three-game losing streak after starting 4-0. The Cards aren't catching any breaks at the moment and will need to discover some offense quickly, as they are set to take on division rival San Francisco next Monday night.

No. 14. Philadelphia Eagles (3-3)

Philadelphia was on a bye in Week 7, so Michael Vick and the Eagles were turnover-free. Philly is heading into a challenging stretch beginning in Week 8, however. After dropping three of their last four games, the Eagles will have to find a way to survive the next four weeks, when they play Atlanta, New Orleans, Dallas and Washington

No. 15. Dallas Cowboys (3-3)

Kudos to the Cowboys for saving their season in Carolina. Dallas failed to impress in its Week 7 win, that's for sure, but heading into their second meeting with the defending Super Bowl champs in Week 8, it's better the 'Boys are flying under the radar.

No. 16. San Diego Chargers (3-3)

The good news is the Chargers are still tied atop the AFC West division after being on a bye in Week 7. The bad news is that San Diego has lost three out of four games and blew a 24-point halftime lead in its most recent outing.  

The Bolts will be at Cleveland in Week 8, where a loss would really hurt. 

No. 17. Miami Dolphins (3-3)

Miami was one of six teams on a bye in Week 7 but is sitting comfortably in second place in the AFC East. The Dolphins will play at New York and at Indianapolis over the next two weeks with a shot at getting above .500 for the first time this year.

No. 18. Washington Redskins (3-4)

You can't blame RG3 for Washington's failure at MetLife Stadium in Week 7. The rookie put the Redskins up three with just over 90 seconds left to play, only for Washington's NFL-worst pass defense to give up a game-winning touchdown a few moments later.

RG3 and the 'Skins have been a pleasant surprise this season, but Sunday's mishap at the end qualifies them for worst of the weekend. Washington had the defending champs on the ropes and couldn't finish. 

No. 19. St. Louis Rams (3-4)

No one expected the Rams to beat the Packers in Week 7, but regardless, St. Louis has dropped two in a row and in danger of becoming irrelevant once again. With matchups against New England and San Francisco sandwiching a bye week, St. Louis is in desperate need of regrouping this week.

No. 20. Tennessee Titans (3-4)

It's hard to imagine that the Titans have won two in a row, especially considering that they boast the league's worst scoring differential this season. But after an unthinkable last-minute win in Buffalo on Sunday, Tennessee is on a winning streak and right back in the thick of things in the clouded AFC.

Matt Hasselbeck's clutch touchdown pass against the Bills in Week 7 lifts the Titans into rare air along with the Texans and Packers as the best of the weekend.

With a home matchup with the Colts looming in Week 8, the Titans could easily get to 4-4 by the halfway point of the season. Look out AFC, Tennessee has life. 

No. 21. New York Jets (3-4)

The New York Jets could easily be 4-3 after Week 7 and in first place in the AFC East, but thanks to some poor clock management late against New England, they are under .500 once again this season.

No. 22. Buffalo Bills (3-4)

Oh, did the Buffalo Bills ever let one slip away on Sunday. Chan Gailey's team fell apart late, much like the Washington Redskins, and now must rebound quickly on a bye week before playing at Houston and at New England. 

No. 23. Indianapolis Colts (3-3)

A hard-fought win over Cleveland has the Colts feeling good about themselves, but we've yet to see the explosion necessary on either side of the ball to believe that Indy will compete for a playoff spot in the AFC this fall.

No. 24. Detroit Lions (2-3)

The Lions desperately need a win to get back to .500 on Monday night against Chicago. Detroit has been extremely inconsistent to start the year but can ignite a winning streak with a strong outing at Soldier Field in Week 7's finale.

No. 25. New Orleans Saints (2-4)

Don't look now, but the New Orleans Saints have won two straight and are climbing in the NFC standings as well as these power rankings. The Saints' Week 8 matchup with the Denver Broncos will define how far they've come, though. A win in Denver would finish off a 3-0 October for New Orleans. 

No. 26. Cincinnati Bengals (3-4)

The Bengals have lost three in a row and are in danger of falling out of the AFC playoff race. Cincinnati has dropped two straight home games and will play Denver after a Week 8 bye. 

No. 27. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2-4)

Tampa Bay certainly competed with the New Orleans Saints on Sunday, but once again its 31st-ranked pass defense failed it. The Bucs can't stop explosive teams, and therefore are 2-4 after seven weeks.

No. 28. Oakland Raiders (2-4)

If the Raiders played at home every week, they might be AFC contenders. Unfortunately, Oakland has to travel from time to time, and the results are atrocious. Dennis Allen's team is 0-3 away from home this season. Only Cleveland is worse.

No. 29. Cleveland Browns (1-6)

Cleveland has more losses than any other team in football through seven weeks, but the Browns haven't come up short in the effort department. Pat Shurmur's squad plays hard every week. Sooner or later, that will pay off. 

No. 30. Carolina Panthers (1-5)

Cam Newton has struggled mightily so far this season, and as a result, the Panthers can't score points. Carolina has dropped four in a row and is in danger of becoming embarrassingly bad if it doesn't shape up and try to salvage the season.

No. 31. Jacksonville Jaguars (1-5)

There are only two teams that are still winless at home this season, and the Jacksonville Jaguars are one of them. The Jags found a way to lose on the road at Oakland in Week 7, blowing a 10-point lead with under seven minutes to play in the fourth quarter.

Although most NFL fans were busy watching the Patriots and Jets, some unlucky ones got to see Jacksonville come apart late, surrendering 13 unanswered points on the road to fall in overtime to the Raiders, who had one win coming into Sunday as well.

Since Week 3, the Jaguars have been able to do no right, and they highlight the worst of Week 7 with their collapse at the Coliseum. 

No. 32. Kansas City Chiefs (1-5)

The Chiefs were on a bye in Week 7, but that doesn't change the fact that they are the worst team in football. KC has lost three straight games and has been outscored by 79 points this season.

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