NFL Power Rankings Week 7: Positive Outlooks for All 32 Teams

Some might say that having a positive outlook on life is the key to happiness. 

Whether that is your philosophy or not, it's clear that some NFL fans have to keep thinking positive thoughts to cope with the first few outcomes for their favorite team during the 2013 season. 

Undefeated Denver Broncos and Kansas City Chiefs fans haven't had much to complain about, and the resurgence of the New Orleans Saints has the "Who Dat Nation" in Louisiana feeling like it's early 2010. 

But on the flip side of that coin, pundits of Tom Coughlin and the New York Giants have to be digging deep in search of answers. Meanwhile, the Washington Redskins, Minnesota Vikings and Houston Texans are all sinking ships after making the playoffs just under a year ago—their fans must be in disarray. 

We'll take a look at a fresh set of Week 7 NFL power rankings below and see what a few positive thoughts can do to brighten your spirits before a full slate of action commences on Sunday. 

1. Denver Broncos (6-0)

It's extremely easy to be positive about the Broncos right now. 

If the 6-0 record and offensive numbers weren't enough to do the trick, the return of Champ Bailey and Von Miller to the defensive unit should have fans jumping for joy. 

Peyton Manning's return to Indianapolis is the big storyline in the NFL this week, but for the Broncos, the big storyline is that there are three very winnable games on the schedule before a Week 11 showdown with AFC West rival Kansas City. 

2. Seattle Seahawks (6-1)

Seattle is now 6-1 after a Thursday Night Football win over division rival Arizona, in which the team used a third-quarter scoring output to put the game away for good. 

The Seahawks boast one of the NFL's top defenses, continue to improve on offense each week and have the moxie to show poise and execute down the stretch in close games. There's a lot to like about this expected Super Bowl contender. 

3. Kansas City Chiefs (6-0)

The state of Missouri loves the Kansas City Chiefs, and the following will only grow as the franchise continues to rack up wins in Andy Reid's first season at the helm. 

On both sides of the ball, the resurgence of this team has been remarkable. Grantland.com's Robert Mays has been most impressed by the defense:

But the offense has turned it around too, and the Chiefs have the best turnover differential, plus-12, in the NFL heading into Week 7. In contrast, their opponent, the Houston Texans, has the second-worst mark at minus-12. Kansas City is staring down the barrel of 7-0. 

4. New Orleans Saints (5-1)

Sure, the Saints suffered their first setback of the 2013 season in Foxborough last week, but the outcome could have gone either way. It was one of those games where the last quarterback to touch the ball was going to do something remarkable. 

By the numbers, New Orleans has a top-five offense and is knocking on the door of the top 10 with its defense. Take a bow, Sean Payton—you've earned it. 

5. New England Patriots (5-1)

Despite all the offseason turnover on offense, injury setbacks for key players and being forced to lean on young receivers, the Pats are 5-1 and their lone loss came in a fierce rain storm on the road in Cincinnati. 

Bill Belichick knows how to get his teams ready to play football, regardless of the 53 players that might be on the roster when the week begins. Tom Brady showed us he still has a little magic in the come-from-behind win over the Saints, and tight end Rob Gronkowski has reportedly been cleared to return. 

Look out, AFC. 

6. Indianapolis Colts (4-2)

Losses to the Miami Dolphins and San Diego Chargers are troubling, but the Colts are the only team in the NFL that can boast wins over Seattle and San Francisco in the 2013 season. 

The Colts have a young nucleus, a defense allowing just 16.3 points per game and a firm grasp on first place in the AFC South. With Houston's struggles in plain sight, it wouldn't be hard to project Indianapolis running away with the division. 

Denver has given up over 400 yards per game to opposing offenses through six weeks of play, making it conceivable that the Colts have the stuff—running back Trent Richardson's production will be key—to knock off the Broncos at home. 

7. San Francisco 49ers (4-2)

Despite a 1-2 start that had fans up in arms, Jim Harbaugh has helped the 49ers right the ship with three straight wins in which the offense put up more than 30 points each time. Two of the wins (Arizona Cardinals, St. Louis Rams) came against NFC West opponents. 

The Niners have a tough matchup with the Tennessee Titans this week in Nashville, but the combined record of their next three opponents is 5-12. Before Week 11's showdown with New Orleans, San Francisco could build some valuable steam by having a six-game winning streak. 

8. Cincinnati Bengals (4-2)

The Bengals are right where they want to be at the top of the AFC North, and a win over the Buffalo Bills in Week 7 will help them stay there. 

Giovani Bernard has looked like one of the steals of the draft with his play out of the backfield, and Cincinnati has managed to compile a winning record through six games despite inconsistent quarterback play. With the division wide open, there's a lot to like about the Bengals. 

9. Green Bay Packers (3-2)

Speaking of wide-open divisions, the Packers are one of three teams in the NFC North with two losses. A slow start and a tough schedule doomed them early on, but bounce-back wins over the Detroit Lions and Baltimore Ravens have helped right the ship heading into this week's matchup with the Cleveland Browns. 

We all know Aaron Rodgers can get the job done, but maybe it's time the Packers started leaning on the run—they're second in the NFL in yards per carry at 5.2. Injuries to key wideouts sting, but having a solid running game will help Green Bay weather the storm.  

10. Detroit Lions (4-2)

Detroit has gotten off to a nice start and deserves to be in the top 10 at 4-2, but a daunting four-game stretch (home against Cincinnati and the Dallas Cowboys and on the road against the Chicago Bears and Pittsburgh Steelers) looms in the coming weeks. 

Still, the Lions boast one of the NFL's best offenses, have playmakers all over the field and Matthew Stafford has kept the turnover numbers low through six weeks. If the defense rounds into form—and it should, based on talent alone—Detroit has a case to go 3-1 in its next four games. 

11. Chicago Bears (4-2)

Don't despair, Bears fans—your team will have every opportunity to prove it deserves to win the NFC North. 

A winnable game with the struggling Redskins awaits in Week 7, and then the Bears will have two weeks to prepare for the Packers. Jay Cutler and this offense have quietly exceeded expectations through the first few games of the 2013 season, and the big-time weapons Marc Trestman has to work with shouldn't be taken lightly. 

Brandon Marshall and Alshon Jeffery are one of only two wide receiver tandems—Demaryius Thomas and Eric Decker of Denver are the other—to be in the top 16 in the NFL in receiving heading into Week 7. 

12. Baltimore Ravens (3-3)

The defending Super Bowl champs have been on a roller-coaster ride since the season began, but when two Hall of Famers from your defense leave and your best receiver is traded to another conference, that dip can be expected.

Still, Baltimore is a .500 team through six weeks and is just one game off the pace currently set by Cincinnati. With three division games on the schedule in the next four weeks, the Ravens will have a chance to stake their claim toward the AFC North crown.  

13. Dallas Cowboys (3-3)

Harping about the poor defensive output and Tony Romo's fourth-quarter inabilities is a popular pastime for fans in Dallas, but a quick peek at the good things this team is doing is far more beneficial. 

One of those good things is found on the offensive line, where ESPN's Calvin Watkins highlighted one of Dallas' brightest stars in the making on Twitter:

The Cowboys have lost their three games this season by a combined 13 points. If Jason Garrett can instill some mental fortitude and late-game execution prowess, Dallas might run away with the division. 

14. San Diego Chargers (3-3)

"Inconsistent" isn't quite the phrase to use to describe the Chargers, but "playing to the level of their competition" might be. 

In wins over Dallas, Indianapolis and Philadelphia—all teams with at least a .500 record—San Diego has looked like a playoff team. In losses to Houston, Oakland and Tennessee—two of which are 2-4—San Diego has made crucial mistakes in key moments. 

Like Dallas, San Diego's combined points from its three losses is a low number (16). There's hope for the Chargers to build off their Monday Night Football win over Indy and not have a setback against the Jaguars or Redskins (combined 1-10 record). 

15. Tennessee Titans (3-3)

The injury to Jake Locker was a killer for the Titans offense, but wouldn't you know it, Tennessee had a chance to win games against Seattle and Kansas City the past two weeks. 

It's not much of a silver lining for Titans fans, I know, but when you are trying to rebuild as a franchise in a tough division, you have to take the moral victories where you can get them. The defense has been outstanding, and Tennessee can take a giant leap forward with an upset win over San Francisco this week. 

16. Miami Dolphins (3-2)

Coming off a bye week, the Dolphins will have had two weeks of prep time for a home game with the Bills. Buffalo is a little banged up in various positions, including at quarterback, where Thad Lewis is expected to make his second straight start for Doug Marrone. 

This week is a perfect opportunity for Miami to prove that wins over Indianapolis and Atlanta were no fluke. Beating a division opponent and doing so at home is crucial to making the playoffs any season, but especially this year in the AFC. 

17. Philadelphia Eagles (3-3)

With a win on Sunday at home over Dallas, Philadelphia will be in first place in the NFC East. 

It hasn't always been pretty—particularly on defense—during the first part of the Chip Kelly era, but both Michael Vick and Nick Voles have led the Eagles to separate victories, and Kelly's offense has been on fully display all season. 

18. St. Louis Rams (3-3)

The inconsistencies of the Rams have been astounding, but no fan in St. Louis will argue with what the team did in a demolition of Houston in Week 6. 

Now facing the Panthers on the road in Week 7, St. Louis has the same chance Arizona did earlier this week to move to 4-3 and put pressure on the division leaders to continue winning games. 

19. Cleveland Browns (3-3)

Hope in Cleveland had to take a dip after Brandon Weeden threw another game away against Detroit last week, but the Browns are in an enviable position in the AFC North. 

With Willis McGahee running well and the outside options—Jordan Cameron, Josh Gordon and Greg Little—all coming on strong in the past few weeks, there's still hope that the Browns can continue their upward trend and be in the mix for a playoff spot. 

It all starts with a showdown with Green Bay in Week 7. 

20. New York Jets (3-3)

Say what you will about the Jets and their offseason problems, but the infusion of Geno Smith to the starting QB position based on Mark Sanchez's unfortunate injury has taken the drama out of NYC. 

The defense is playing well, and although Smith has struggled as a rookie when it comes to taking care of the ball, New York played its opponent this week (New England) well in an early-season loss. With the Pats riding waves after their win over New Orleans, the Jets are a team capable of pulling off an upset at home in Week 7. 

21. Atlanta Falcons (1-4)

It's been a comedy of errors for the Falcons this year, but I'm among the group who doesn't see the season as lost just yet. 

With a bye week to refresh their spirits and hopefully heal up some wounds in key spots, the Falcons have a must-win home game this week with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. After that, Arizona and the Carolina Panthers are on the schedule. It's conceivable that Atlanta could be 4-4 by the time New Orleans rolls into town on Nov. 21. 

22. Carolina Panthers (2-3)

"Skeptical" is the word that comes to mind when looking at Carolina's two wins this season. Sure, the Panthers blew out the Giants and Vikings, but those teams have a combined record of 1-10. 

We're looking for consistency when talking about the Panthers, and this week's game against St. Louis at home will be the perfect opportunity to showcase that improvement. The defense has been strong all season; the offense just needs to be efficient and avoid mistakes for Carolina to creep into the top 20 on next week's power rankings. 

23. Arizona Cardinals (3-4)

The Cardinals were within four points at halftime against the Seahawks and made a late comeback that was for naught in the fourth quarter, lending us to believe that the franchise has made strides on all fronts. 

With the exceptions of Carson Palmer and Larry Fitzgerald, this is a relatively young team, but also one that's very talented. If Palmer can stop turning the ball over, Arizona can make a late push in the NFC. 

24. Buffalo Bills (2-4)

As this tweet from a spirited Bills fan suggests, the two-headed monster of Fred Jackson and C.J. Spiller has been quite effective this year:

Fantasy owners might not like it, but the Bills are dangerous running the football with both their backs. Facing a Dolphins team in Week 7 that yields over 100 yards per game and 4.0 yards per carry on average, the Bills will be happy leaning heavily on the run game again in a divisional showdown. 

25. Houston Texans (2-4)

There isn't much excitement surrounding this franchise right now, but the decision to start Case Keenum in Week 7 might have Houston fans finally feeling some sense of hope for the future. 

Keenum, the former University of Houston standout and NCAA career passing leader, won't have an easy go against a top defense in Kansas City, but it will be exciting to see the local product try to turn things around for a franchise otherwise in disarray. 

26. Pittsburgh Steelers (1-4)

Coming off their first win of the season, expect the Steelers to be motivated and ready to face the Ravens at home in Week 7. 

The game is one of the NFL's best rivalries when both teams are at their peak. Although that's not the case this year, the Steelers can make a huge statement and prove their slow start was a fluke by moving to 2-4 and knocking off the reigning champs. 

27. Oakland Raiders (2-4)

The Raiders weren't expected to contend this year, and in the AFC West, it isn't going to happen anyway, with Denver and Kansas City taking up the top two spots. 

But Oakland is building for the future, and Terrelle Pryor has been outstanding in stretches. Look for Dennis Allen and Co. to continue to develop talent and remain competitive in the weeks to come. 

28. Minnesota Vikings (1-4)

The Vikings took a stab on Josh Freeman, and he's now the team's starting QB. 

Only time will tell if that decision was fortuitous, but Freeman has a live arm and plenty of starting experience in the NFL. With better tutelage and the league's top back (Adrian Peterson) in tow, Freeman has a chance to thrive in Minnesota. 

29. Washington Redskins (1-4)

The return of Robert Griffin III has been a disaster, leading fans and analysts alike to wonder if RG3 shouldn't have spent some more time off the field and let Kirk Cousins take the reins for a few weeks. 

That said, the Redskins are familiar with slow starts in the Mike Shanahan/RG3 era. Last year, they were 3-6 before an improbable run to the postseason took place. Don't sleep on the 'Skins just yet, especially if Griffin can get back to being a true dual-threat guy soon. 

30. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (0-5)

The leadership situation in Tampa Bay is frightening, but the defense is playing well and there's reason to believe the Bucs aren't as bad as they've shown themselves to be in five games. 

Mike Glennon at QB will be an experiment, but the offensive line can help by creating more running room for Doug Martin, who hasn't lived up to preseason hype. It's hard to be positive about the Bucs, but the talent on both sides of the ball makes them a startling winless team right now. 

31. New York Giants (0-6)

The turnover situation has helped handicap the Giants all year, as New York has the league's worst turnover differential at minus-16. 

Brandon Jacobs has been a true bright spot for the team since taking over the starting RB job, though, and if the Giants trust him to continue to thrive, there's hope the offense will start looking more balanced and Eli Manning won't need to throw the ball 40 times per game. Less turnovers will occur as a result. 

32. Jacksonville Jaguars (0-6)

We knew all along that Jacksonville would struggle this year; Blaine Gabbert and Chad Henne just aren't suitable guys to lead you to the playoffs in the AFC. 

With that in mind, the positive outlook here is simple: If the Jaguars get the No. 1 pick in the draft, they'll pick a QB that will hit the restart button on offense. 

Positive thinking only gets you so far, but hold on to what you can, football fans. Emotions run wild on a week-to-week basis in the NFL. 

Follow B/R's Ethan Grant on Twitter.