NFL Power Rankings 2014: Predicting Post Week 7 Standings
Another week of the 2014 NFL season is in the books, and the hierarchy of the league has changed shape once again in lieu of more unpredictable outcomes.
Some of the heavyweights we expected atop the power rankings heading into the season are still sticking around, but the emergence of a few less-touted clubs has made things quite interesting at the top of the league. While there's no doubt each of these teams are simply focused on the next week, Super Bowl aspirations aren't forgotten throughout the course of the season.
It's never too early to take a look forward to the weekend slate of matchups either, and a handful of teams will see their stock plummet after tough losses.
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Here's a look at some picks for the weekend and how the power rankings will fall once Week 7 is in the books.
| New York Jets at New England Patriots (-10.5) | 8:25 p.m. (Thu.) | Patriots |
| Atlanta Falcons at Baltimore Ravens (-7.5) | 1 p.m. | Ravens |
| Tennessee Titans at Washington Redskins (-6) | 1 p.m. | Redskins |
| Seattle Seahawks (-7.5) at St. Louis Rams | 1 p.m. | Seahawks |
| Cleveland Browns (-5.5) at Jacksonville Jaguars | 1 p.m. | Browns |
| Cincinnati Bengals at Indianapolis Colts (-3) | 1 p.m. | Colts |
| Minnesota Vikings at Buffalo Bills (-5) | 1 p.m. | Bills |
| Miami Dolphins at Chicago Bears (-3) | 1 p.m. | Bears |
| New Orleans Saints at Detroit Lions (-2.5) | 1 p.m. | Lions |
| Carolina Panthers at Green Bay Packers (-7.5) | 1 p.m. | Packers |
| Kansas City Chiefs at San Diego Chargers (-4) | 4:05 p.m. | Chargers |
| Arizona Cardinals (-3) at Oakland Raiders | 4:25 p.m. | Cardinals |
| New York Giants at Dallas Cowboys (-7) | 4:25 p.m. | Cowboys |
| San Francisco 49ers at Denver Broncos (-7) | 8:30 p.m. | Broncos |
| Houston Texans at Pittsburgh Steelers (-3) | 8:30 p.m. (Mon.) | Steelers |
Note: Spreads courtesy of Odds Shark and last updated Oct. 14 at 9 p.m. ET
32. Oakland Raiders
The Raiders have now lost 11 straight games, although they showed signs of life in Week 6 with a near win at home over the San Diego Chargers. They will have another chance to put one of the league's top teams on the ropes at home in Week 7 but should stand no chance against the Cardinals' strong defense.
Until interim head coach Tony Sparano gets the defense in order, good teams will continue to gash them late in the rare games they're able to keep close. And with trips to Cleveland, Seattle and San Diego along with a home game against Denver coming up, there remains no sign of a turnaround.
31. Jacksonville Jaguars
Like the Raiders, the Jags were oh-so close to notching that all-important first win of 2014—but being in position for a game-winning field goal had as much to do with the Titans' ineptitude as it did Jacksonville's grit.
Alas, Blake Bortles took off in Week 6 with 336 yards passing in by far his best performance yet. But it will be easier said than done keeping that up against the Browns' strong pass rush in Week 7.
30. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The start of Lovie Smith's career in Tampa Bay has already sparked talk of the end of that very same career, with the team seemingly taking steps back week after week. When your quarterback—Mike Glennon—is throwing for over 300 yards in a 48-17 loss, you know something is seriously wrong.
Tampa Bay's bye week couldn't come at a better time, with the team ranking 25th or worse against both the run and the pass on offense and defense.
29. New York Jets
The Jets have dropped five straight contests coming off a season-opening win over the hapless Raiders, and it's about to become six as Rex Ryan's crew heads to New England to face a Patriots team that is throwing the ball all over the place.
Despite losses by a combined 62-17 in the last two weeks, Ryan insists his team isn't the dysfunctional unit that many are painting them to be, per Bleacher Report's Erik Frenz:
They'll have a chance to prove it on Thursday Night Football, but they'll need Tom Brady—who has thrown for 653 yards and six touchdowns in his last two games—to return to his early season ineffectiveness for that to be possible.
28. Tennessee Titans
The Titans fans who left Sunday's game against the Jaguars sporting a 16-7 lead with three minutes left probably weren't surprised when they heard Jacksonville was a blocked field goal away from winning in the closing seconds. Save for a Week 1 drubbing of the Chiefs, Tennessee has three blowout losses, a blown 25-point lead against Cleveland and that ugly Jaguars win.
After struggling against Blake Bortles, the Titans will have their hands full with Kirk Cousins—who threw for 354 yards last week and nearly 900 in his last three games. With no identity on offense and ever-changing injuries to Jake Locker and Shonn Greene, don't count on the Titans to stay in the win column in Week 7.
27. Washington Redskins
The Redskins are a mess right now, having lost four straight games. But the last two were hard-fought losses to Super Bowl contenders Seattle and Arizona, and the confidence they've been building should manifest itself at the perfect time.
That, of course, is a Week 7 game against the Titans in which the Redskins' passing attack should match up favorably against a banged-up Tennessee secondary and get Washington its second win of 2014.
26. Minnesota Vikings
The return of Teddy Bridgewater didn't bring an offensive injection that Minnesota fans hoped, as the Vikings were beaten 17-3 by the Lions in Week 6. Their Week 7 matchup against the Bills looks more favorable until you notice Buffalo ranks atop the league in run defense.
Defensive improvements have been obvious in Mike Zimmer's first season at the helm (sixth in pass defense), but an inability to find any passing success has been a problem, as ESPN's Trey Wingo captured:
With an identity on defense and a playmaking quarterback, Minnesota has a blueprint for a turnaround that could very well come with upcoming back-to-back games against Tampa Bay and Washington. But it won't come against the Bills.
25. St. Louis Rams
The Rams just can't put two good halves together, and it's the main reason why they sit at 1-4 and on the outside looking in of the NFC West. The latest showing was a blown 14-point lead on Monday Night Football against the 49ers.
Now 0-3 at home, the Rams welcome the Seattle Seahawks—who are chomping at the bit to get back in the win column after a late loss to Dallas. Expect Marshawn Lynch to get it going again versus the league's 26th-ranked run defense.
24. Atlanta Falcons
Every time the Falcons make their case for resurgence, it all gets washed away with a distasteful defeat. Only now they have lost three straight after their 56-14 whooping of the Bucs in Week 3 and are looking worse each week.
Matt Ryan has a chance to get back on track against the Ravens' 27th-ranked secondary, but a Falcons defense that ranks in the bottom five against both the run and the pass should have no chance against Joe Flacco's suddenly potent passing attack.
23. Miami Dolphins
The Dolphins came out of their bye week strong against Green Bay, but they couldn't hold on to a late lead and fell victim to Aaron Rodgers' late heroics. Now the team has announced Knowshon Moreno will miss the rest of the season, according to ESPN's James Walker.
To make matters worse, Jay Cutler and the Bears await with the 31-year-old coming off his most passing yards (381) since 2008. Just like Rodgers, Cutler will make the plays needed to outscore Ryan Tannehill's identity-lacking offense.
22. New York Giants
Right when football experts started coming around on the New York Giants, they laid an egg on Sunday Night Football on the road at Philadelphia.
Of course, that did snap a three-game win streak of games all won by more than one possession. Eli Manning has finally gotten a firm grasp of this new offense, and the secondary is holding its own. But a loss to Dallas is imminent, followed by three games against Indianapolis, Seattle and San Francisco before another against the Cowboys.
It's hard to see the Giants keeping afloat around the .500 mark through that stretch.
21. Buffalo Bills
The Bills have trended in the wrong direction ever since their hot 2-0 start, but the team has looked more competent since starting Kyle Orton over EJ Manuel, and that should manifest itself against the Minnesota Vikings at home.
Despite the losing effort, Orton showed with 268 passing yards against the vaunted Patriots secondary that he can make it happen through the air when teams stuff the run. But against the Vikings' 20th-ranked run defense, the Bills should be able to return to what they do best—pound the rock.
20. Kansas City Chiefs
The Week 6 bye week didn't bring back the many players Kansas City has lost for the season, but it did make the team healthier. Now all the Chiefs probably want is the schedule-makers to cut them a bit more slack.
After having to face the 49ers on the road before the bye, the Chiefs face the 5-1 Chargers—also on the road—in Week 7. The Chiefs rank seventh against the pass, but Philip Rivers is on a roll that no one seems capable of stopping.
19. Houston Texans
J.J. Watt is on pace to score a touchdown in every other Texans game this season, but his stellar play hasn't done much to mask an inept defense. Houston ranks 28th against the pass and 22nd against the run.
Add that to a Ryan Fitzpatrick-led offense that is in the bottom five of the league in pass yards per game, and you have a team that has lost three of four with a road matchup against the ticked-off Steelers on Monday night.
After a 3-1 start to the season, the Texans will fall to 3-4 on Monday and plummet even further.
18. Pittsburgh Steelers
The Steelers are licking their wounds after a 31-10 loss to the Browns, but they should be able to get back in the win column with a home victory over the Texans on Monday Night Football.
Houston has holes all over the secondary that Ben Roethlisberger will be happy to exploit, and Le'Veon Bell will have running lanes plowed open for him by an offensive line that has helped the Steelers to rank fifth in the NFL in rushing. As long as Bell is running the ball like he has been (105 carries for 542 yards), the Steelers will improve to over .500 with the win.
17. New Orleans Saints
If your buddy says he knows what to make of the Saints this year, he's lying. After two losses to start the season, the Saints have wins over Minnesota and Tampa Bay, along with a 21-point loss at the Cowboys.
New Orleans has lost eight of 11 on the road dating back to last year, and that should continue in Week 7 against the Lions. Detroit's defense ranks atop the league in pass defense, and Drew Brees is a shell of his typical self away from home.
16. Carolina Panthers
After two straight losses in Week 3 and 4, what better way for the Panthers to re-emerge than with a win over Chicago followed by an inspiring...tie.
That's right, Mike Nugent's missed field goal at the end of overtime gave the Panthers a 3-2-1 record and kept them on top of the NFC South. But with a hapless defense and an invisible run game, it's hard to see Carolina keeping it up against the Packers—winners of four of their last five.
Regardless, don't count out Cam Newton's chances of keeping Carolina in the hunt for another division title.
15. Detroit Lions
The Lions defense has been as up-and-down as any unit in the NFL over the last few seasons, but there's no secret where its stock is trending so far in 2014. Detroit has given up just 197 passing yards per game (first in the NFL) and 73.5 rushing yards (second).
Those numbers will be tested by Brees and the Saints over the weekend, but playing at home should help in that regard. Detroit's offense won't be nearly as potent without Calvin Johnson, per ESPN's Michael Rothstein, but Matthew Stafford has already shown the ability to survive without him in the short term.
14. Chicago Bears
Jay Cutler is coming off his best performance through the air since coming to Chicago, and he should keep it rolling against the Miami Dolphins.
The Dolphins secondary struggled with the Packers receiving corps last weekend, and the Bears possess just as much firepower on the outside with plenty more size. Chicago's secondary can be torched by solid quarterbacks, of which Miami's Ryan Tannehill is not, and that should lead to the Bears improving to 4-3.
13. Cleveland Browns
The Browns' first four games were all decided by three points or less, leaving many wondering whether they could lay the hammer on a team and make a convincing statement. That question was answered in a 31-10 drubbing of the Steelers.
Ben Tate is back and healthy, with over 200 yards and two touchdowns in two games since returning to the field. Toss Isaiah Crowell and Terrance West alongside him, and suddenly Brian Hoyer has a nasty run game to take some of the burden off his arm.
Against Jacksonville on Sunday, the Browns should make another statement.
12. Cincinnati Bengals
The Bengals are 3-1-1 and on top of the hotly contested AFC North, but it certainly feels like Cincinnati has lost two straight as it heads into Indianapolis. The Bengals missed a field goal at the end of overtime to tie Carolina in Week 6.
Their vaunted defense has come up short so far in 2014, and it's gotten worse in the last two games, making this meeting with Andrew Luck sort of bad timing.
11. Baltimore Ravens
Joe Flacco absolutely exploded in Week 6, and a surprisingly strong run game along with Flacco's emergence has the Ravens feeling awfully confident entering Week 7 against the Falcons.
Atlanta ranks 29th against the pass, so Flacco should be in for another big day. The Ravens secondary isn't very good (270 pass yards allowed per game), but that doesn't much matter when your offense puts up nearly 34 points per game in wins and the run game ranks seventh in the league.
A.J. Green has a chance to play on Sunday according to Cincinnati.com's Richard Skinner, but unfortunately for the Bengals he doesn't play defense.
10. New England Patriots
The demise of the Patriots was greatly exaggerated. Tom Brady has thrown for over 650 yards in the last two games, and New England is back up to 4-2 and threatening the top of the AFC once again.
Brady will have no trouble staying hot against the Jets' hapless secondary. From then on, games against the Bears, Broncos and Colts will decide just how real New England's Super Bowl chances are.
9. Green Bay Packers
Aaron Rodgers sure looks like a genius after telling his fans to relax in lieu of a 1-2 start. Since then, the Packers are a perfect 3-0, with two of those being blowouts.
The Packers secondary was a weakness in recent seasons, but it ranks fifth in the league so far this year, and that should bode well with red-hot Cam Newton and the Panthers up next. With their backs banged up, the Panthers will be one-dimensional, and the Pack will take advantage.
8. San Francisco 49ers
The 49ers looked due for a long season after starting 1-2, but they have showed their composure amid three tough matchups to improve to 4-2. Those tests will feel like an appetizer after they step on the field Sunday to face the Denver Broncos.
Colin Kaepernick has made his signature improvisational plays this season, but they don't come quite as seamlessly against teams with a good pass rush. Von Miller and DeMarcus Ware will be ready to say hello on Sunday.
7. Indianapolis Colts
Speaking of teams that have shaken off woeful starts to 2014, the Colts have gone on a four-game rampage to improve to 4-2 and remind the AFC that they're indeed a Super Bowl contender.
Andrew Luck leads the league in passing, while Ahmad Bradshaw and Trent Richardson complete arguably the most underrated stable of backs in the NFL—each rushing for more than 280 yards this season. They head into a favorable matchup against the Bengals' 29th-ranked rush defense.
The winner of Sunday's Colts-Bengals matchup will threaten the Broncos and Patriots as the conference's top heavyweights, and there's little doubt that will be Luck and Co.
6. Arizona Cardinals
Save for a 41-20 loss to the Broncos that was much closer than the score indicates, the Cardinals have been perfect in 2014, even without starting quarterback Carson Palmer for much of it.
Arizona has some secondary issues to fix, but Bruce Arians' squad has mastered the art of grinding out wins. The defense should give the Raiders fits in Week 7, setting up a Week 8 matchup with the Eagles that will be a huge measuring stick for both NFC teams.
5. Seattle Seahawks
The Seahawks lost their second game already this season against Dallas at home, and it could've been worse than the seven-point defeat it was. But nobody can watch this team and act like they're not built to make another deep playoff run.
Seattle's second-ranked rushing offense will get back on its feet against St. Louis after being shut down against the Cowboys, and the defense will feast on young Rams quarterback Austin Davis to show that despite a few losses, the Seahawks are still the top dogs.
4. Philadelphia Eagles
Chip Kelly's incredible success in Philadelphia wasn't a one-year wonder, as the Eagles have scored more than 30 points per game this season. Nick Foles started 2014 right where he left off in 2013, and LeSean McCoy has bounced back after a sluggish pair of performances.
The Eagles have a bye week in Week 7, and if they can figure out how to build off a shutout of the Giants defensively, they could become the force of the NFC.
3. San Diego Chargers
If it wasn't for a Week 1 collapse against the Cardinals, San Diego would be 6-0 entering Sunday's game against the Chiefs.
The defense showed it wasn't completely impenetrable by giving up 28 points to Oakland, but this unit is much more suited toward stopping the run, and that will allow for the Raiders to shut down Kansas City's offense at home. On top of that, Philip Rivers just looks unstoppable when he has any run game to speak of, and Branden Oliver is answering the bell there.
2. Dallas Cowboys
Recent history would suggest the Cowboys' collapse is just around the corner, but they continue to defy that thinking by winning in increasingly impressive ways. The latest was a win on the road at Seattle—probably the single toughest place to play in football.
Dallas' top-ranked rushing game should continue rolling against a Giants front seven that ranks 24th against the run.
1. Denver Broncos
Peyton Manning has been on fire since the Broncos' Week 4 bye, and unlike 2013, he's not having to put up points at will to balance out an ineffective defense. While Denver's defense isn't a finished product, it allows just 76 rushing yards per game—fourth in the NFL.
The Broncos will shut down the Niners on the ground in Week 7 and allow for Manning to play with a lead, paving the way to their fifth win of the season.
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