NFL Power Rankings: Predicting Post-Week 7 Standings

There is still plenty of football left to be played, but with the midway point of the 2013 NFL season quickly approaching, the games will get bigger with each passing week. There are plenty of interesting clashes on tap in Week 7, and the results could very well alter the league's balance of power moving forward.

With three winless and two undefeated teams remaining as well as everything in between, it's still very difficult to say which squads are for real and which are poised to fade. What happens in Week 7 could go a long way toward determining the playoff races that will ultimately be decided later in the year, however.

Here is a closer look at how the league figures to shake out once Week 7 comes to an end.

*All records projected after Week 7

32. Jacksonville Jaguars (0-7)

The Jaguars played the Denver Broncos much tougher than anyone could have expected as they were a two-point conversion away from a tied score at halftime. Even so, the Broncos were ultimately able to outclass the Jags, who don't have enough horses on either side of the ball.

Jacksonville could play spoiler on Sunday as it hosts a San Diego Chargers team that is coming off an impressive win over the Indianapolis Colts on Monday night. While the Jags figure to show their mettle once again, the defense won't be able to stand up to Philip Rivers and the San Diego offense.

31. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (0-6)

Tampa has played two games in the post-Josh Freeman era, and it hasn't exactly been a rousing success thus far. The Bucs are 0-2 under rookie quarterback Mike Glennon and 0-5 on the season overall. Glennon did make some plays and develop a rapport with Vincent Jackson in Week 6, though, so perhaps there is reason for optimism.

Greg Schiano's squad is desperate for a win, but so are the Atlanta Falcons. The Buccaneers have a tough task ahead of them as they will have to deal with a raucous crowd in the Georgia Dome. Philadelphia Eagles signal-caller Nick Foles sliced and diced Tampa's defense in Week 6, so look for Matt Ryan to do the same in Week 7.

30. Minnesota Vikings (1-5)

The Vikings finally seemed to get on track by beating the Pittsburgh Steelers a couple weeks ago, but they couldn't capitalize on the ensuing bye as they were throttled on Sunday by the Carolina Panthers. The defense was a major issue, but so was the quarterback play. Matt Cassel was quite ordinary, which leads ESPN's Bomani Jones to believe that Freeman could be the next man up.

Adrian Peterson is still the key to Minnesota's offense, but it at least needs competent quarterback play to succeed. It remains to be seen who will be under center for the Vikes in Week 7, but it won't matter much as the New York Giants will finally put one in the win column on Monday night. 

29. New York Giants (1-6)

No team has been more disappointing than the Giants this season, as they sit with a record of 0-6 despite seemingly having plenty of talent on both sides of the ball. Quarterback Eli Manning has been a joke (15 interceptions already), and the defense hasn't been able to stop anyone. It's hard to imagine the G-Men making a playoff run at this point, but they should be able to turn things around to a certain degree.

One encouraging thing that the Giants can hang their hat on is that Brandon Jacobs and the running game got going in Week 6 against the Chicago Bears. If New York stays committed to that on Monday, the defense will be fresher, pressure will be taken off of Manning and the Giants will win.

28. Washington Redskins (1-5)

If not for the Giants, it could certainly be argued that the Redskins have performed further below expectations than anyone else this year. After winning the NFC East last season, Washington was at least expected to contend in 2013. The 'Skins find themselves 1.5 games back, and while that doesn't seem like much, they didn't do themselves any favors by losing to the Cowboys on Sunday night.

Washington's defense was much better in Week 6 than it had been previously, but quarterback Robert Griffin III was still erratic. If nothing else, he ran more often and did so effectively, so the knee must be feeling good. The Redskins have a fighting chance in Week 7 at home, but the Bears will prove to be too complete.

27. Buffalo Bills (2-5)

The Bills may only be 2-4, but they have been in every game this season, and that held true in Week 6. Buffalo trailed by two touchdowns late against the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday, but backup quarterback Thad Lewis came to life with a pair of touchdown passes to force overtime. Buffalo was able to hang in there, but Cincinnati ultimately came away with a win thanks to a Mike Nugent field goal.

Buffalo isn't yet out of it, so Week 7's divisional clash with the Miami Dolphins will be a big one. Miami has faltered since a 3-0 start, but it has plenty of good pieces. Quarterback Ryan Tannehill has played quite well this season, and look for him to be the difference as Andy Dalton was able to throw the ball at will on the Bills defense in Week 6.

26. Houston Texans (2-5)

Houston entered the season among the top contenders to represent the AFC in the Super Bowl, but the Texans would be happy to simply qualify for the playoffs at this point. After Houston was throttled by the San Francisco 49ers a couple weeks ago, most figured the Texans would get back on track against the St. Louis Rams in Week 6, but that certainly wasn't the case as they were blown out yet again.

Texans quarterback Matt Schaub had been struggling. However, things got even worse when he exited Sunday's game with an ankle injury. It is unclear if Schaub will be able to play in Week 7, but running back Arian Foster figures to be a huge part of the offense again regardless. Even so, it won't be enough to hand the Kansas City Chiefs their first loss.

25. Oakland Raiders (2-4)

The Raiders entered Week 6 on an emotional high after upsetting the Chargers the previous week, and they were able to hang with the Chiefs for much of the game. Kansas City ultimately pulled away late, but Oakland is truly making progress with Terrelle Pryor under center. The Raiders will get some time to recuperate while on the bye in Week 7.

24. Atlanta Falcons (2-4)

After coming incredibly close to reaching the Super Bowl last season, expectations were extremely high for the Falcons entering this year. Atlanta has suffered several close losses to strong teams, however, and the injury bug has started to wreak havoc. Not only is wide receiver Julio Jones out for the season, but wide receiver Roddy White could miss the team's Week 7 game as well, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.

Even with all of those problems, the Falcons still have Ryan and tight end Tony Gonzalez, so they're still a very dangerous team. Atlanta has uncharacteristically struggled at home this season, but look for that to cease against the Buccaneers on Sunday.

23. New York Jets (3-4)

The Jets figured to be one of the NFL's worst teams this season, especially with rookie quarterback Geno Smith at the helm, but they have fared much better than expected, to the tune of a 3-3 record. New York failed to capitalize on a golden opportunity in Week 6, though, as it lost to the winless Steelers and is now in danger of dipping below the .500 mark.

Gang Green will face the New England Patriots for the second time this season when they host them on Sunday, and while the Jets' stout defense may keep them in it—as was the case earlier in the year—the offense doesn't have enough firepower to hang with Tom Brady and the New England offense. The Patriots are coming off a big showing against the New Orleans Saints.

22. Pittsburgh Steelers (2-4)

The Steelers were finally able to get the job done in Week 6, as they won their first game of the season by stifling the Jets. Not only did Pittsburgh's defense return to form, but quarterback Ben Roethlisberger played well despite the fact that he was under siege for much of the game. He'll likely have to deal with plenty of pressure in Week 7 as well, as the Steelers host the Baltimore Ravens.

Pittsburgh and Baltimore have had some incredible battles over the years, and even though both teams are having a difficult time right now, the intensity should be immense. The game could truly go either way, but Pittsburgh's home-field advantage and momentum will lead to a big win.

21. Arizona Cardinals (3-4)

Although the Cardinals may not be the flashiest or most exciting team out there, the results have been pretty favorable thus far. Arizona is 3-4 in the tough NFC West under new head coach Bruce Arians, but it wasn't able to make some noise on Thursday night against the division-leading Seattle Seahawks.

While Arizona's defense has played pretty well, there are too many question marks to consider. Running back Rashard Mendenhall hasn't been effective, but Arians continues to utilize him. Also, quarterback Carson Palmer has been extremely inconsistent.

20. St. Louis Rams (3-4)

After a season-opening win over the Cardinals, the Rams went into a bit of a lull as they lost three straight, but St. Louis has bounced back since then with wins over the Jaguars and Texans. Defense has been the driving force over the past couple weeks, but quarterback Sam Bradford's steady play has been huge for the Rams as well.

St. Louis has a big game on Sunday against another team on the fringe of playoff contention in the form of the Carolina Panthers. This could be a messy, gritty affair based on the way both defenses have been playing, but when push comes to shove, Panthers quarterback Cam Newton figures to make a few more plays than Bradford.

19. Cleveland Browns (3-4)

Most teams crumble after trading away their supposed best player, but that hasn't been the case for the Browns since dealing running back Trent Richardson to the Indianapolis Colts. Cleveland hasn't had much of a running game since then, but the defense has developed into one of the league's best, and both Brian Hoyer and Brandon Weeden have made plays on offense and gotten weapons like Josh Gordon and Jordan Cameron involved.

Cleveland was unable to beat the Detroit Lions in Week 6, and it will have another tough test in Week 7 at Green Bay. The Packers really seem to be hitting their stride on both sides of the ball, and it's very difficult to imagine the Browns knocking off quarterback Aaron Rodgers at Lambeau Field.

18. Baltimore Ravens (3-4)

Speaking of the Packers, they got all they could handle from the Ravens in Week 6 as Baltimore was nearly able to complete a late comeback. The Ravens defense did a nice job of containing Rodgers for the most part, and Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco was good enough to win. However, Baltimore's running game ultimately let the team down.

Ray Rice has been a major disappointment this season; he has seemingly lost much of his explosiveness, and backup Bernard Pierce hasn't been any better. It won't get any easier to find running room in Week 7, either, when the Ravens face the Steelers. The Ravens are so much better when Rice is on his game, but that simply isn't the case right now.

17. Tennessee Titans (3-4)

The Titans may not be dominant in any one area, but they play as a unit each and every week, and that is why they have been able to overachieve to the tune of a 3-3 record. Tennessee has had some really tough games against the Kansas City Chiefs and Seattle Seahawks over the past two weeks, and while the Titans fell short on both occasions, the games were extremely close, even with backup quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick having to start.

Tennessee won't get a respite in Week 7 as the suddenly hot 49ers come to town. The Titans defense appears to be among the league's best, and that will allow the team to remain in the game, but moving the ball offensively will be a problem. Fitzpatrick isn't enough of a playmaker, and running back Chris Johnson has been quite ordinary this year as well, which means the Niners will come away victorious.

16. Carolina Panthers (3-3)

The Panthers are a Jekyll and Hyde team—they can go from looking like one of the league's worst teams to one of the league's best, and they definitely played like the latter against the Vikings in Week 6. Not only was Carolina's defense locked in, but quarterback Cam Newton seemed to hit his stride as well. Newton scored four total touchdowns, and he'll have plenty of confidence heading into a game against the Rams in Week 7.

St. Louis has a hit-and-miss defense, and it has been exploited for some big plays this season. Newton tends to get better as the season progresses, and he is already showing signs of that. He has the ability to carry a team, and he'll do precisely that on Sunday.

15. Dallas Cowboys (3-4)

When all systems are go, the Cowboys seem like they are capable of winning the Super Bowl. The offense is explosive thanks to weapons like Dez Bryant and Jason Witten along with quarterback Tony Romo, and the defense can look great at times as well.

One big reason for the defense's success is defensive end DeMarcus Ware, but he is expected to miss three or four weeks with a quad injury, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.

That doesn't bode well for Dallas as it travels to Philadelphia to take on the Eagles in Week 7. The teams are tied atop the NFC East at 3-3, so it's a hugely important game to say the least. The Cowboys should have enough firepower to hang with Philly's frenetic offense, but the lack of a consistent pass rush will be Dallas' undoing.

14. Detroit Lions (4-3)

Most fans came to the conclusion that the Lions performed well below their potential last season, and that much has been proven true in 2013 as they are currently tied with the Bears for the NFC North lead. Detroit's defense has been much better this season, which is a big factor, but quarterback Matthew Stafford is making better decisions as well, and that is of the utmost importance.

Detroit has an interesting game on its hands in Week 7 as it hosts the Bengals. It should be a classic offense vs. defense affair as Stafford, Reggie Bush and Calvin Johnson try to solve Mike Zimmer's defensive scheme. The fact that the Lions are at home certainly complicates matters, but the Bengals have a team that is built to win in hostile environments.

13. Philadelphia Eagles (4-3)

The Eagles were the talk of the NFL through one week as Chip Kelly's fast-paced offense ran the Redskins ragged, but Philly fell into a bit of a slump after that. The Eagles have won two straight, though, and find themselves tied for first in the NFC East. Quarterback Nick Foles played extremely well in Week 6 with Michael Vick injured, and analyst Solomon Wilcots believes Kelly may stick with the second-year man under center moving forward, according to NFL Network.

Based on how well Foles has played over the past six quarters, it would be very difficult to explain a move back to Vick at this point. Foles has proven that Kelly doesn't need a mobile quarterback to run his offense, and he has been a much more accurate passer than Vick. Look for Foles to lead Philly to a win over Dallas in Week 7, which will give him a stranglehold on the starting job.

12. Indianapolis Colts (4-3)

After beating the Seahawks a couple weeks ago, many were calling the Colts the second-best or perhaps even the best team in the AFC. That may still be true, but it's a much tougher sell following Indianapolis' Monday night loss to the Chargers. Indy is obviously hoping to bounce back in Week 7, but that will be easier said than done against the Denver Broncos.

Not only are the Broncos 6-0, but Sunday night will mark Peyton Manning's return to Indianapolis. Emotions will be running high, and it is very difficult to imagine Manning coming out on the losing end. Indy's defense is the main issue, as the Chargers were able to keep Andrew Luck off the field for long periods of time by controlling the ball. The Broncos offense is far superior to San Diego's, so things don't look good for the Colts.

11. San Diego Chargers (4-3)

Most observers left the Chargers for dead after they lost to the Raiders a couple weeks ago, but San Diego continued to surprise on Monday night. After a few massive wins in a row, the Colts were expected to go into San Diego and come away with a win in Week 6, but the Bolts played keep-away all game long as quarterback Philip Rivers was efficient, and running backs Danny Woodhead and Ryan Mathews excelled on the ground.

The Chargers now have a dream matchup, as they'll face the Jaguars in Week 7. It would be very easy for San Diego to let its guard down after beating the Colts, but head coach Mike McCoy can't allow that to happen. San Diego is very much in the playoff conversation right now, and a win would go a long way toward making the postseason a reality.

10. Miami Dolphins (4-2)

The bye week couldn't have come at a better time for the Dolphins, as it helped stop the bleeding after losses to the Saints and Ravens. The Dolphins are still in decent shape at 3-2, and they have a home divisional matchup on tap against the Bills. Buffalo is a tricky team that has given some of the NFL's elite squads issues, but the extra week of preparation should be a huge factor for Joe Philbin's team.

Miami has largely been good defensively this year, and Tannehill has made a lot of progress in his second season at quarterback. One thing the Dolphins must do, though, is establish Lamar Miller and the running game. Miller is averaging better than four yards per carry, but he is often ignored throughout games. The Bills are easy to run on, so Week 7 is the perfect time to unleash Miller.

9. Green Bay Packers (4-2)

If not for late lapses against the 49ers and Bengals, the Packers could quite easily be undefeated right now. That isn't the case, but they are 3-2, and they figure to improve to 4-2 in Week 7 against the Browns. Some injury concerns have crept up, though, particularly in the receiving corps. According to Tyler Dunne of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Randall Cobb will miss between six and eight weeks with a fibula fracture.

That is obviously a big loss—Rodgers counts on him to move the chains—but Green Bay has enough talent on offense to compensate. That is especially true now that rookie running back Eddie Lacy is running with a purpose. Cleveland is no pushover, but the Cobb injury won't come back to bite Green Bay in Week 7.

8. Chicago Bears (5-2)

As good as the Packers are, many would argue that the Bears are actually the best team in the NFC North. A case can certainly be made for that, as the Bears defense continues to excel while the offense is better than ever. Head coach Marc Trestman has been great for quarterback Jay Cutler, and Cutler has also benefited from weapons such as Matt Forte, Brandon Marshall, Alshon Jeffery and Martellus Bennett.

The Bears will really have to be on top of their game in Week 7 when they face Washington on the road. The Redskins may only have one win, but that will make them all the more desperate for another. Also, RG3 seems to almost be back to normal as far as health goes, which means that he can beat the Bears with his arm and his legs. Defense will ultimately be the difference, though, as the 'Skins won't be able to hold up to Chicago's well-balanced attack.

7. Cincinnati Bengals (5-2)

The Bengals truly are a tough team to figure out; you never know what they're going to do. The defense was awesome in a win over the Patriots a couple weeks ago, but the offense couldn't get much going. The opposite was true in Week 7 against the Bills: Dalton played quite well, but the defense gave up far too many big plays to Thad Lewis as well as Buffalo's running game.

If all of the phases come together at once, the Bengals will be nearly impossible to beat. Perhaps that will come to fruition on Sunday when Cincinnati faces the Lions. It will be a tough test for the Bengals defense as Detroit has one of the most explosive offenses in football, but look for Marvin Lewis' team to be up to the task.

6. San Francisco 49ers (5-2)

After San Francisco was whooped by the Seahawks and Colts, NFL fans everywhere were asking what was wrong with the 49ers.

While the San Francisco may not be quite as dominant as many expected, the ship has been righted over the past couple weeks after divisional wins over the Rams and Cardinals. The defense continues to play well even without Aldon Smith, and the offense is much better now that Frank Gore is getting an opportunity to pound the rock.

Quarterback Colin Kaepernick hasn't been the same since his Week 1 outburst against the Packers, but much of that has to do with the fact that he is short on weapons. He has linked up well with Vernon Davis in recent weeks, though, which is extremely promising. The Niners will engage in a defensive battle with the Titans on Sunday, and they'll emerge victorious since those types of games are truly their specialty.

5. New Orleans Saints (5-1)

The Saints were just seconds away from going 6-0 last week, but Sean Payton's surprisingly conservative play-calling came back to bite New Orleans as Patriots quarterback Tom Brady found Kenbrell Thompkins for a game-winning touchdown. Despite the loss, New Orleans is still an elite team, and it is probably the co-favorite (along with Seattle) to represent the NFC in the Super Bowl.

New Orleans has a bye this week, so Payton will have plenty of time think about how to avoid such disappointment in the future.

4. New England Patriots (6-1)

New England has been far from perfect this year, but it still boasts a 5-1 record, which says a lot about how good the team can potentially be. Brady has gotten the job done with less-than-ideal offensive weapons, and the defense has really stepped up as well. All of this has been done without All-Pro tight end Rob Gronkowski, so there is no telling what the Pats will be able to do if and when he returns to the lineup.

The Patriots struggled to a low-scoring win over the Jets a few weeks back, and they'll take on the Jets once again in Week 7. Bill Belichick will likely take a win any way he can get it, but there is no doubt that he's hoping for more offensive efficiency this time around. Brady hasn't been on top of his game so far this season, but he should still be good enough to beat New York on Sunday.

3. Seattle Seahawks (6-1)

While the Seahawks haven't been scoring many style points this season, they are a team that knows how to win in crunch time, as they rebounded nicely from the loss to Indianapolis by grinding out a win over Tennessee in Week 6. They added to that with a no-nonsense win against a pesky Arizona team on Thursday night, dominating every facet of the game on the road.

Quarterback Russell Wilson has been far from spectacular, but he has made plays when needed, and showed signs of flipping the switch with a terrific Thursday night performance. The true key here is Seattle's defense—the unit showed on Thursday it can truly dominate a game. 

2. Kansas City Chiefs (7-0)

The Chiefs continue to be this year's feel-good story after being the worst team in football in 2012, as they are 6-0 under new head coach Andy Reid. There are no guarantees in the NFL, but it's very difficult to imagine K.C. missing the playoffs after such a hot start. The big question, though, is if the Chiefs will still be undefeated when they face the Broncos in a few weeks. That remains to be seen, but they should be in good shape on Sunday.

Kansas City will host a Houston team that has struggled mightily over the past couple weeks, and beating the Texans would accomplish a couple things. Not only would it move the Chiefs to 7-0, but it would put Houston in a very deep hole as well. The Texans can't be written off in this game since they have the talent necessary to beat the Chiefs, but if K.C.'s defense continues to play great, Alex Smith takes care of the football and Jamaal Charles runs effectively, Kansas City will win yet again.

1. Denver Broncos (7-0)

Denver has been the talk of the league through six weeks, and for good reason. Not only are Peyton Manning and the offense still on a record-setting pace, but the Broncos are set to compete in one of the biggest regular-season games in recent memory. Emotions promise to be running high when Manning returns to Indianapolis in Week 7 in what could be a preview of the AFC Championship Game. Manning may not make it known, but one can only assume that he wants to win this one badly.

The Broncos won't be able to plow through the Colts—they will be determined to bounce back from Monday's loss against the Chargers—but it is clear that Indy has some defensive deficiencies. Denver may not be a perfect team, as the defense can stand to make some improvements, but there is no doubt that the Broncos remain the best team the NFL has to offer.

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