NFL Power Rankings: Assessing League Heirarchy Heading into Week 7

The NFL is thoroughly difficult to predict, but with nearly one-third of the regular season complete, we are beginning to get a better grasp of the league.

Early-season flukes and mirages have turned into trends. Injuries and poor play have completely removed teams from the postseason conversation. Sleepers and underdogs are no longer.

With Week 7 on the horizon and things beginning to clear up, let's take a gander at the NFL's pecking order.

1. Denver Broncos (4-1)

Peyton Manning, Demaryius Thomas and Julius Thomas are clicking as well as they ever have—which is a frightening thought considering what they've already accomplished together—but let's talk about the defense.

Von Miller, with 6.0 sacks through five games, has rediscovered his 2012 form, and the Broncos are third in the NFL in yards allowed per play and second in Football Outsiders' defensive metrics. And franchise legend Shannon Sharpe believes there is still room to improve:

A bit of a struggle to fully put the New York Jets away was unexpected, but this team is thriving on both sides of the ball.

2. Dallas Cowboys (5-1)

The question of the week heading into Week 6 was simple: Are the Dallas Cowboys contenders or pretenders?

Well, Jason Garrett's team provided an emphatic answer.

In a very Seattle Seahawks-like fashion, the 'Boys went into the hostile environment of CenturyLink Field and dominated the defending champions, controlling the trenches and flying to the ball on defense. The final margin was only seven points, but Dallas outgained Seattle by nearly 200 yards (401-206) and were clearly the better team outside of two special teams plays.

The defense may be a bit of a mirage (31st in yards per play allowed but eighth in points per game allowed), but as ESPN's Kevin Seifert explained, that may not matter:

As long as the Cowboys continue to play smashmouth football—DeMarco Murray has six straight games of 100-plus rushing yards—they will remain one of the league's best teams.

3. San Diego Chargers (5-1)

A comeback victory against the winless Oakland Raiders wasn't exactly something to put on the resume, but those things happen. Teams will have to grind out wins against inferior opponents, and the Bolts found a way to get a win despite Brandon Flowers leaving with an injury and Jason Verrett playing at less than 100 percent.

It's the Raiders, yeah, but the win showed resiliency, which is important.

While the defense has been up and down (and, again, saddled with injuries), Philip Rivers is playing like an MVP (first in the NFL in passing percentage, yards per attempt, QB rating and QBR), and Branden Oliver has given this team an extra dynamic threat.

4. Seattle Seahawks (3-2)

Although injuries to the defense and the offensive line are quickly becoming a major concern, it's not yet time for panic in Seattle. Their two losses have come to No. 2 and 3 on this list, and this roster remains full of talent on both sides of the ball.

The play-calling, however, must be better. In the 'Hawks' two losses, Marshawn Lynch, who is averaging 4.6 yards per carry, received six and 10 carries, respectively.

Game flow obviously dictates part of that, but Beast Mode received back-to-back carries only once against Dallas, as Pete Carroll often got too cute trying to get Percy Harvin the ball in space. Harvin is a home-run threat, but the Seahawks need to remember what got them those shiny rings.

5. Philadelphia Eagles (5-1)

If the Eagles continue to play like they did Sunday night, they will only continue to move up the list. 

Not only did the defense hold what was a red-hot New York Giants offense to 4.3 yards per play and zero points, but LeSean McCoy looked like 2013, top-three-NFL running back LeSean McCoy.

Remember when the NFC East was supposed to be the worst division in football? Yeah, me neither.

6. Arizona Cardinals (4-1)

The Cardinals weathered the storm with Drew Stanton and Logan Thomas under center, and now Carson Palmer is back.

If the veteran can stay healthy, he's going to have all kinds of success with the array of pass-catching weapons—Larry Fitzgerald, Michael Floyd, Andre Ellington, John Brown—at his disposal. AZCardinals.com's Darren Urban noted a particularly impressive aspect about his return Sunday:

Now they just need to get Calais Campbell healthy. 

7. San Francisco 49ers (4-2)

As is becoming the theme at the top of the NFC West, the injuries are a bit worrisome. Patrick Willis, Jimmie Ward and Mike Iupati became the newest players to join the ever-growing injury list Monday night.

"Next man up" has clearly resonated with the 'Niners, though, as they remain a top-five defense (fourth in yards per play allowed and sixth in scoring defense).

If Colin Kaepernick can consistently play at the level he did Monday, giving Jim Harbaugh a balanced offense to go with a stout defense, watch out.

8. Indianapolis Colts (4-2)

That Andrew Luck guy is pretty good, but don't take my word for it:

The defense is shaky, but it's doing two very important things to stay afloat: getting to the quarterback (fourth in the NFL in sack percentage) and forcing takeaways (10th in turnover forced percentage). And staying afloat is all that unit needs to do with Andrew the Giant at the helm.

9. Baltimore Ravens (4-2)

No, they won't get to play the Tampa Bay Buccaneers every week, and no, Joe Flacco won't look like Johnny Unitas every week.

However, Steve Smith is the league's only wide receiver with four 100-yard games, Justin Forsett is thriving in offensive coordinator Gary Kubiak's system and the defense is third in the NFL in points allowed per game.

No other team in the NFL has been as balanced as the Ravens, who are the only squad in the top five in both scoring offense and defense.

10. Green Bay Packers (4-2)

Aaron Rodgers' 236.5 passing yards per game would be his lowest since he became a starter. Oh well. He's still tied for first with Peyton Manning in touchdown percentage (touchdowns divided by pass attempts) and has thrown a ridiculous one interception in 189 attempts. He is on pace for 40 touchdowns and just two interceptions.

Rodgers, via Ryan Wood of the Green Bay Press-Gazette, put it simply:

The Pack have flaws, but as long as A-Rod is under center, they are are a top-10 team.

11. Cincinnati Bengals (3-1-1)

This is a bit low for a team that has only one loss (and one sister kissed), but it's best to play it a little conservative for as long as A.J. Green remains sidelined.

The fact Marvin Lewis' squad has given up an Arena Football League-esque 80 points over the last two games doesn't help, either.

12. New England Patriots (4-2)

Gary Wiepert/Associated Press

Will the real New England Patriots please stand up? Is it the squad that lost by 13 at Miami, barely eclipsed Oakland at home and was embarrassed on Monday Night Football by the Kansas City Chiefs?

Or is it the one that has destroyed two good teams (Cincinnati and the Buffalo Bills) in consecutive weeks?

I'm inclined to lean towards the latter, especially with Rob Gronkowski looking his healthiest in those two wins. However, we'll keep the Patriots outside of the top 10 until we see how they adjust to the losses of Stevan Ridley and Jerod Mayo.

13. Detroit Lions (4-2)

If Detroit is coming in at No. 13, it's a sign we've got a really impressive top 13 in the NFL this season. 

While the Lions' offense hasn't quite clicked as usual, it still has a slew of talented weapons, and things will only improve once Calvin Johnson gets healthy.

More importantly, defensive coordinator Teryl Austin has worked wonders on the defense, which is first in the NFL in points allowed per game, first in sack percentage and fourth in yards per carry allowed. With production like that, you're going to be competitive in every game.

14. Cleveland Browns (3-2)

Brian Hoyer has done the impossible. He has quieted the Johnny Manziel talk. While the veteran has been tremendous (244.8 yards per game, seven touchdowns, one interception), NFL.com's Chris Wesseling noted that offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan also deserves some praise:

(Drools over the the impending return of Josh Gordon in Week 12)

The defense is still a question mark, but Hoyer is being utilized perfectly and the running game behind Ben Tate and tantalizing rookie Isaiah Crowell is among the best in the league. With Jacksonville, Oakland and Tampa Bay on the horizon, there's a good chance the Browns are 6-2 heading into a matchup with the Cincinnati Bengals.

Buckle up.

15. Chicago Bears (3-3)

We know what Jay Cutler, Brandon Marshall, Alshon Jeffery and Matt Forte can do, especially behind an offensive line that through five weeks was ranked as the league's fifth-best unit, according to Pro Football Focus.

To push the Bears higher, however, the defense, which has been ravaged by injuries in the secondary, will need to string together consecutive performances like Sunday's against the Atlanta Falcons: 287 yards allowed, four sacks, one interception.

16. Carolina Panthers (3-2-1)

The Panthers running game has been essentially nonexistent, but Cam Newton changed that on Sunday, running 17 times for 107 yards against the Cincinnati Bengals.

Pro Football Focus' Sam Monson put it simply:

Newton seems to finally be over the ankle injury that hampered him to start the season, and if the Panthers continue to let him loose with designed runs, this offense becomes exponentially more dangerous.

17. Kansas City Chiefs (2-3)

Offensively, the Chiefs need all the playmakers they can get with the normally conservative Alex Smith running the show.

That means getting more carries for Jamaal Charles (just five second-half touches against San Francisco), and more snaps for Travis Kelce, who is producing at an unbelievable rate, per Pro Football Focus' Nathan Jahnke:

Chiefs fans will be hoping Andy Reid uses to bye week to get the Gronkowski-esque tight end more involved in the offense.

18. New York Giants (3-3)

Sunday night's performance against the Eagles was ugly, but let's not forget Eli Manning and the G-Men were really starting to click under Ben McAdoo's West Coast offense.

Being without Rashad Jennings (short-term) and Victor Cruz (season) definitely hurts, but there has been enough evidence over the past month to suggest they will remain very competitive throughout the season.

19. Houston Texans (3-3)

I nearly wrote the Houston J.J. Watts, but that would be a disservice to Arian Foster, who has looked like one of the best running backs in the league when healthy.

Seriously, though, Watt is playing at an unbelievable level right now, via Monson and Pro Football Focus' Twitter feed:

"

So far J.J. Watt leads league with 41 combined sacks, hits & hurries. 2nd? Ryan Kerrigan with 30 & Dwight Freeney 3rd with 27

— Pro Football Focus (@PFF) October 13, 2014"

The quarterback situation isn't ideal, but Watt is an MVP candidate and talented rookie Jadeveon Clowney is set to make his return. Even with losses in their last two, the Texans' arrow is pointing up.

20. New Orleans Saints (2-3)

The bye week came at a welcomed time for the New Orleans Saints, who needed overtime to put away the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at home in Week 5. 

There's an absolutely brutal stretch on the way: at Detroit, Green Bay, at Carolina, San Francisco, Cincinnati, Baltimore, at Pittsburgh, Carolina. While the offense hasn't quite looked like itself, priority No. 1 will be to start forcing some turnovers.

21. Pittsburgh Steelers (3-3)

Ben Roethlisberger, Antonio Brown and Le'Veon Bell—the latter two are each playing like top-five players at their respective positions—will help this team consistently put points on the board, but the defense is a problem. 

The Steelers are 20th in sack percentage and 23rd in yards per rush allowed. Cleveland took advantage of the latter in a Week 6 shellacking.

22. Buffalo Bills (3-3)

The Bills are in the opposite boat of the Steelers. Behind an incredibly stout defensive line, they are first in the NFL in yards per rush allowed and are giving up just 21.0 points per game.

Offensively, however, Doug Marrone's team is a mess. Kyle Orton isn't the answer at quarterback, while Buffalo can't seem to find a way to best utilize C.J. Spiller's dangerous open-field ability.

23. Miami Dolphins (2-3)

The Dolphins have been a wild roller-coaster ride: Their first four games produced two wins by an average of 18.5 points and two losses by 19 points each. Unsurprisingly, that's indicative of the guy under center, as Ryan Tannehill is about as hot and cold as they come.

Still, let's not forget this team is seconds away from being 3-2 had it held on in Week 6 to beat the Packers. Additionally, the running game is thriving (5.0 yards per carry) under new offensive coordinator Bill Lazor, so there is reason for optimism in Miami.

24. Atlanta Falcons (2-4)

Rotoworld's Patrick Daugherty summed up the Falcons, who have dropped three in a row, all by double-digits:

Matt Ryan and Julio Jones are unstoppable at times, but the offensive line is a mess (ranked 28th by PFF) and the running game has been average. On defense Atlanta is last in the NFL in yards per play allowed.

Free Antone Smith.

25. Minnesota Vikings (2-4)

It's time to pick the best of the worst.

Although the Vikings aren't going to be mistaken for an NFC North contender, there are positives. The defense has been average, while Teddy Bridgewater and Jerick McKinnon give them two enthralling, talented rookies to watch develop this season.

Things could be worse.

26. St. Louis Rams (1-4)

Matt Rourke/Associated Press

It's time for St. Louis to start putting together two halves of football. They held a 21-10 first-half lead against the Dallas Cowboys...and lost. They outscored the Philadelphia Eagles 21-14 in the second half...but lost. They jumped out to a 14-0 lead on San Francisco...and lost.

Moreover, there's far too much talent on the defensive side of the ball to have a historically bad one sack through five games.

Jeff Fisher's seat is basically a toaster oven at this point.

27. Tennessee Titans (2-4)

They beat the 0-6 Jacksonville Jaguars by two points at home, so they've got that going for them.

While that doesn't quite make us forget about the previous four, which they lost by a combined 67 points, the pass rush led by Jurrell Casey has been fantastic and rookie running back Bishop Sankey is starting to carve out a bigger role.

28. New York Jets (1-5)

The Jets once stout run defense has suddenly allowed undrafted rookie Branden Oliver and underachiever Ronnie Hillman to run for 100-plus yards in each of the past two weeks. That's not a good look when the secondary has been ineffective all year and the defense as a whole has been unable to force turnovers.

A Thursday night game against a less-than-100 percent Tom Brady and a banged-up New England Patriots squad could be the recipe for an upset, but the Jets have a lot of problems right now.

29. Washington Redskins (1-5)

Remember when there was clamoring for Kirk Cousins to keep the starting job even when Robert Griffin III returned from his ankle injury?

Well, four starts, eight touchdowns and eight interceptions later, there have even been whispers about Colt McCoy taking the starting job from Cousins:

While that won't happen, Cousins has this team trending in the wrong direction.

30. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1-5)

The Buccaneers have a win, which keeps them above the last two teams on this list, but after their second 30-plus-point defeat of the season, Lovie Smith's team is really pushing it.

Mike Glennon has played decent since taking over for Josh McCown, and he has some nice weapons in Vincent Jackson and Mike Evans. But Doug Martin is doing nothing in the run game, and the defense has been atrocious.

31. Oakland Raiders (0-5)

So close. 

While the Raiders just missed a huge home win against the Chargers Sunday, they looked like a rejuvenated squad under interim coach Tony Sporano.

Derek Carr and Andre Holmes—who is finally and rightfully being treated like a No. 1 receiver with 20 targets over the last two games—are starting to develop an enticing repertoire. Win No. 1 is coming is coming for the Silver and Black.

32. Jacksonville Jaguars (0-6)

I like Bortles.