NFL Power Rankings Week 7: Initial Standings Post Thursday Night Football

The New England Patriots survived a scare against the New York Jets on Thursday Night Football with a 27-25 win, but the game still ended up impacting both team's standings in this week's power rankings. 

Geno Smith was nearly able to lead the Jets on a game-winning drive, but the Patriots were able to block Nick Folk's potential game-winning field goal from 58 yards away. Tom Brady played another solid game, throwing for 261 yards and three touchdowns, including two to running back Shane Vereen.

Still, it wasn't the best game from the Patriots, and it ended up hurting them in the Week 7 power rankings.

Now that Thursday night's game is over, let's take a look at the updated power rankings throughout the league.

32. Jacksonville Jaguars

Rebuilding processes usually take a few seasons, but for the Jacksonville Jaguars, they're still trying to figure everything.

So far, the Jaguars still haven't proven anything. They nearly had their first win of the season last week against the Tennessee Titans, but a missed field goal has them at 0-6 heading into Sunday. Fans were excited to see Blake Bortles take over as the starting quarterback, but through four games played, he's thrown just four touchdowns and seven interceptions.

Teams in this league are bound to get a win at some point, but the Jaguars are probably going to need to get one soon before they hit the tougher part of their schedule.

31. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

It is not a good year to be a football fan in Florida.

Head coach Love Smith's love of the Cover 2 defense has seemed to be his downfall, with quarterbacks like Joe Flacco throwing bombs for touchdowns on a consistent basis. The Buccaneers rank dead last in the NFL with 34 points allowed per game, while opposing quarterbacks are posting a 111.8 passer rating and an average of 8.4 yards per attempt.

Josh McCown wasn't the answer at quarterback, so sophomore quarterback Mike Glennon is trying to prove that he's the long-term option. Still, if the Buccaneers continue to play this poorly, there's a good chance that they look at a new quarterback in next year's NFL draft.

30. Oakland Raiders

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After so many ugly losses, the Oakland Raiders gave the San Diego Chargers a scare, but still came away with a 31-28 loss.

The Raiders still don't have a win this season, but there are finally some positives for this team. Rookie quarterback Derek Carr is starting to look like the gunslinger we saw at Fresno State, throwing four touchdowns this past week. Still, a late interception might have cost his team a win, and he'll need to cut down on the turnovers if he hopes to make a name for himself in this league.

29. Tennessee Titans

Sure, the Tennessee Titans are 2-4, but their most recent win came against a Jaguars team thanks to a blocked field goal after a recovered onside kick. 

Backup quarterback Charlie Whitehurst has been doing all he can, but he's struggling to get the offense moving down the field. Some Titans fans are beginning to wonder what Zach Mettenberger can do under center, although the coaching staff will likely keep him sidelined as he continues to rehab from a torn ACL back in December.

The defensive line has been quite strong, but the linebackers and secondary haven't done the Titans any favors. Still, despite all the concerns, the Titans have a chance to go 3-4 with a matchup against Washington this week.

28. New York Jets

It was a close game for the Jets, but they were still unable to get the win. They're now just 1-6, with their only win coming back in Week 1 against the Raiders.

The big problem for the Jets is that they just don't have enough offensive talent to compete with most of the other offenses in the league. Before Thursday night, the Jets were averaging just 16 points per contest, with Thursday's 25 points being the most they've scored all season.

The defense has some terrific players on the line, but that's not going to be enough for this team, as it's well on its way to having one of the first picks in the 2015 NFL draft, making it tempting for them to look for another quarterback besides Smith.

27. Washington

It's been another rough start to the season for Washington, with their only win coming against the Jaguars back in Week 2. Fans were expecting Kirk Cousins to come in and save the franchise after Robert Griffin III went down, but seven interceptions over the past three games has him looking more like a backup that was taken in the fourth round.

There's still plenty of talent on offense, with players like DeSean Jackson and Pierre Garcon on the outside as well as Alfred Morris in the backfield. But the Redskins are still averaging just 22 points per game, and that's not going to be enough to keep up with the rest of the NFC East.

26. Minnesota Vikings

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No rookie quarterback is going to carry his team if he gets sacked eight times in a game, including Teddy Bridgewater. The offensive line for the Minnesota Vikings will likely continue to a problem, especially considering Matt Kalil and Phil Loadholt have given up a combined 31 quarterback hurries and nine sacks, according to Pro Football Focus (subscription required).

The Vikings are doing their best to try and make up for the loss of Adrian Peterson, but running backs Matt Asiata and Jerick McKinnon can't fill the hole left by the six-time Pro Bowler. The defense has shown improvement, but the offense has taken a big step back so far.

25. St. Louis Rams

Even though the St. Louis Rams are just 1-4 to start the season, they've played in some very close games after the Week 1 blowout, with three consecutive games being decided by a total of just 11 points before last week's 31-17 loss.

For an undrafted quarterback, Austin Davis has held his own, throwing for seven touchdowns and three interceptions over the past three games. With Sam Bradford out, it's up to Davis to lead the offense, but the Rams have an ugly upcoming schedule that makes it hard to see them getting their second win until late November against the Raiders.

24. Pittsburgh Steelers

Unlike the San Antonio Spurs in the NBA, it seems that age has finally caught up with the Pittsburgh Steelers.

At 33 years old, safety Troy Polamalu isn't the same player he used to be, and neither are his fellow Steeler defensive backs.  The entire defense has failed to stop some pretty weak offenses, and former head coach Bill Cowher wasn't afraid to call out his old team.

“I never thought I would say these words but Pittsburgh has gotten soft,” Cowher said during Sunday's post-game show according to Ryan Wilson from CBS Sports.

The Steelers offense has struggled a bit as well. Le'Veon Bell and Antonio Brown are terrific playmakers, but there are too many questions on both sides of the ball right now to take the Steelers seriously.

23. Buffalo Bills

At the start of the season, it looked like the Buffalo Bills might be able to challenge the New England Patriots for the top spot in the AFC East with two straight wins, but a recent 37-22 loss to Tom Brady and company have the Bills back at just 3-3.

Surprisingly, quarterback Kyle Orton has done a good job in replacing EJ Manuel, posting a 90.9 passer rating. The defense is starting to come together as well, even without linebacker Kiko Alonso, leading the NFL with just 67.5 rushing yards allowed per game.

The Bills continue to add pieces on both sides of the ball and have a lot of young talent, but they still need a legitimate quarterback to put it all together.

22. Miami Dolphins

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Like the Bills, the Miami Dolphins have a chance to put everything together this season, but Joe Philbin's team needs to focus on being more consistent week in and week out.

The Dolphins looked quite strong this past week, forcing Aaron Rodgers to beat them on a game-winning touchdown with time almost expired. Three turnovers ended up costing the team a chance at a win, but there were also some positives.

Compared to last season, the offensive line is giving Ryan Tannehill significantly more protection, while the defense, thanks to players like ends Cameron Wake and Olivier Vernon, is doing a great job at getting to opposing quarterbacks. If the Dolphins can keep it up in the trenches, the rest could start to work itself out.

21. New York Giants

It really looked like the New York Giants were back and ready to challenge the rest of the NFC East this season, but everything changed on Sunday night.

The Giants suffered a 27-0 shutout against the Philadelphia Eagles, with Eli Manning getting pressured constantly while the defense could do little to stop Chip Kelly's offense. To make matters worse, Victor Cruz suffered a patellar tendon injury, ending his season, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.

The New York offense looked good to start the season, but the injury to Cruz could change everything. We'll have to wait and see what Manning can do, but with a limited number of playmakers on offense, it's going to be an uphill battle.

20. Houston Texans

It's been a roller coaster of a season for the Houston Texans, starting at 3-1 but losing two straight to fall to 3-3.

Offensively, the Texans are struggling to get much going with Ryan Fitzpatrick under center, but the defense has helped keep them in games. J.J. Watt, who already has scored three total touchdowns, is making a strong case for this season's league MVP award, and the defense should get even stronger once Jadeveon Clowney returns.

The AFC South is arguably the weakest division in the league right now, but the Texans are still going to have to get through the Indianapolis Colts if they want a shot at making the playoffs.

19. Atlanta Falcons

I'm probably higher on the Atlanta Falcons than most people right now, especially after three straight losses. At 2-4, head coach Mike Smith may very well be on the hot seat, and it could get a little hotter if his team doesn't show up to play against the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday.

Matt Ryan is back to playing like his old self, but the real problem for this team is the defense. The Falcons are giving up 28.3 points and 419 yards of offense per game, ranking 29th and 31st in the league, respectively. A limited pass rush has been an issue, and the Falcons need to focus on adding more pieces this coming offseason. 

18. Kansas City Chiefs

The Kansas City Chiefs come right out of their bye week with a crucial AFC West matchup against the Chargers, and a good game could go a long way in helping them prove they're legitimate playoff contenders.

Jamaal Charles started to pick things up in his last two games after being sidelined with an ankle sprain. He needs to stay, as a lot of the Chiefs offense revolves around the running game, which ranks fourth in the league at 137.6 yards per game.

17. New Orleans Saints

This season has not gone according to plan for the New Orleans Saints. Despite an offense that produces the second-most yards in the league (442.8 per game), the Saints have been unable to win the turnover battle, giving away the ball nine times this season while forcing just two turnovers.

To make matters worse, the Saints have upcoming games against the Detroit Lions and Green Bay Packers, while there's a chance that they're without Jimmy Graham this Sunday in the Motor City, according to Michael Fabiano from NFL.com.

Defensive coordinator Rob Ryan completely turned the Saints defense around last season, but now the defense is starting to struggle once again. If the defense can't force turnovers, then Drew Brees can't be as effective.

16. Cleveland Browns

After two straight wins, the Cleveland Browns are starting to look like a better team than many thought. The Browns also have a chance to keep that winning streak going thanks to upcoming games against the Jaguars, Raiders and Buccaneers.

Offensively, the Browns have been solid thanks to some great play by their offensive line, but their best lineman will no longer be with them this year. According to Mark Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com, center Alex Mack is out for the season.

Backup center John Greco will have some time to adjust against what appear to be easier opponents over the next few weeks, but he'll need to make sure to hold his own if the Browns are going to try and challenge the rest of the AFC North.

15. Chicago Bears

It seems like the Chicago Bears offense is starting to find its rhythm. Jay Cutler has plenty of targets in the passing game with Alshon Jeffery and Brandon Marshall on the outside. Meanwhile, Matt Forte has already put up 775 total yards and three total touchdowns while leading the NFL with 46 receptions.

There are still some questions about the Chicago defense, but Kyle Fuller has been a terrific surprise in the secondary, looking like the front-runner for the Defensive Rookie of the Year award.

14. Carolina Panthers

A tie against the Cincinnati Bengals wasn't the best result, but at least the Carolina Panthers were able to maintain a winning record at 3-2-1. Cam Newton has started to get comfortable in the offense again, putting up over 100 rushing yards and a rushing TD in Week 6. He also threw two touchdowns.

The next few weeks will be a tough stretch for the Panthers, but if they can make it to their bye week with a winning record, they should be able to compete for the NFC South title by the end of the season.

13. New England Patriots

The Patriots have a 5-2 record, but it has not been a pretty season so far. The past two games against the Bills and Jets have been closer than they should have been, and a blowout loss to the Chiefs in Week 4 still has people murmuring about how good this team really is.

Even with a bye in Week 10, the Patriots are going to have a very rough next six games, playing against legitimate playoff contenders with a combined record of 24-11. Fortunately, as long as the Patriots can make it out of this stretch with at least a couple of wins, they should be in good shape to take the AFC East.

12. Green Bay Packers

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Aaron Rodgers is healthy and the Green Bay Packers are winning because of it. He's thrown 15 touchdowns with just one interception, but he's also been sacked 15 times this year, tied for the fourth-most among quarterbacks. 

The offensive line has been an issue so far this season, and that hasn't helped Eddie Lacy get out of his running slump. The defense is starting to see Ha Ha Clinton-Dix get more comfortable in the system, and it will be crucial for him and Casey Hayward to step up during the absence of both Tramon Williams and Sam Shields.

11. Cincinnati Bengals

The Cincinnati Bengals headed into their bye week with a 3-0 record, but have come out struggling, losing in a blowout to New England and tying the Panthers. 

This week, the Bengals will be trying to prove themselves in a big game against the Indianapolis Colts. That may be difficult without wide receiver A.J. Green, who expects to miss this week's game, according to ESPN's Bob Holtzman.

Unfortunately, the Bengals defense hasn't been meeting expectations this year, and that could end up hurting them once again if they are able to make it into the playoffs.

10. Baltimore Ravens

The only two losses for the Baltimore Ravens this season came against two legitimate contenders in the AFC, and their offense has been playing well to help them win four of their last five games.

Joe Flacco's five-touchdown performance last week against Tampa Bay showed what this offense can do with receivers like Steve Smith and Torrey Smith. The defense has been one of the best in the league, allowing just 16.2 points per game, while rookie C.J. Mosley has embraced his role as the replacement for Ray Lewis at inside linebacker.

9. Detroit Lions

If it wasn't for some extremely bad kicking performances, the Detroit Lions would probably be one of the best teams in football right now. Matt Prater should be the answer at place-kicker, despite an ugly 1-of-3 performance against the Lions in Week 6, and that should be a big lift to a team that's struggled to put up points this season.

Fortunately, the Detroit defense has been superb to start the year, allowing just 13.7 points and 270.7 yards per game, easily the best in the NFL in both categories. No one wants to go against Detroit's defensive line and linebackers, as they've done a great job shutting down the run and pass.

The Lions have always had plenty of talent, but so far the difference has been Jim Caldwell keeping his defense disciplined, and that's one of the main reasons the Lions are 4-2.

8. San Francisco 49ers

The San Francisco 49ers are going to try and get their fourth straight win before their bye in Week 8, but it's going to be a tough game going against Peyton Manning and the Denver Broncos at Mile High.

There are few defenses that can go toe-to-toe with Manning, but the 49ers might be one of them. However, according to Matt Maiocco of CSN Bay Area, All-Pro linebacker Patrick Willis isn't expected to play.

“It’s not turf toe, no, I wouldn’t say that,” 49ers head coach Jim Harbaugh said, according to Maiocco. “But he’s continuing to be evaluated. I don’t think it’s a long-term thing, so that’s the positive. And that’s about as much update as has been given to me, so we’ll know more day-to-day.”

Injuries have hit the 49ers pretty hard this season, and if they continue, it's going to be hard for them to compete in a very tough NFC West.

7. Arizona Cardinals

Even with some less-than-stellar play from their offense, the Arizona Cardinals are looking good at 4-1 with an upcoming game against the Oakland Raiders. 

In his first game back from a shoulder injury, Carson Palmer didn't need to shake off much rust. As Darren Urban from AZCardinals.com points out, Palmer was able to go 10-for-13 with 101 yards and a touchdown when blitzed by Washington in Week 6.

Palmer has options, but these skill-position players really need to hit their stride as the season continues. Meanwhile the defense has been quite sturdy allowing only 21.2 points per game while forcing 11 turnovers. If Palmer keeps playing well when being pressured, then this Cardinals team has a shot at making a deep run in the playoffs.

6. Indianapolis Colts

The Colts are essentially a lock to win a very weak AFC South division, especially now that they're starting to find their groove on offense. They already have a four-game winning streak, but that has a chance to get up to six or seven games before their bye week.

Andrew Luck remains one of the league's top MVP contenders, leading the NFL with 1,987 passing yards and 17 touchdowns. The offensive line and pass rush have been big surprises so far, with Luck being sacked nine times compared to opposing quarterbacks going down 17 times.

Perhaps the most underrated part of the Colts' success this year has been their special teams. The duo of Pat McAfee and Adam Vinatieri continue to be reliable each and every week. This is especially true of McAfee, who has helped the Colts convert on all three of their onside-kick attempts.

5. Philadelphia Eagles

One of the more hyped-up games from last week was the Sunday Night Football matchup between the Eagles and Giants, but Chip Kelly made sure his team was ready, as Philadelphia trounced New York, 27-0.

LeSean McCoy was finally able to break out of his running slump, putting up 149 yards on just 22 carries. Now that Darren Sproles is out for a bit, McCoy will need to keep running like he did in 2013 to help open up the passing game for Nick Foles.

Much like the Colts, special teams have been a huge help this year, scoring multiple touchdowns. There's speed everywhere on this Eagles team, but they'll still be in for a tough battle to win the NFC East title.

4. Seattle Seahawks

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The defending Super Bowl champions already have two losses, including one at home, but the two teams the Seattle Seahawks have lost to so far are ahead of them on this week's power rankings. 

They may be only 3-2, but this is still the Seahawks we're talking about. Not only do they have the best secondary in the NFL, but they also have terrific players on offense like Russell Wilson and Marshawn Lynch. As long as they can win their upcoming games against the Rams, Panthers and Raiders, Seattle fans should start to calm down.

3. San Diego Chargers

The Chargers offense has been a ton of fun to watch this season, especially because of the terrific start from quarterback Philip Rivers. So far, he's thrown for 1.756 yards, 15 touchdowns and just two interceptions, posting the highest passer rating in the league at 117.6.

Malcom Floyd has been one of Rivers' favorite targets this season, especially deep down the field. According to Pete Damilatis from Pro Football Focus, Floyd leads the NFL with 247 yards on passes that travel 20-plus yards downfield.

This kind of production from the offense was expected, but few were expecting to see the defense play at this level. So far, they've given up just 15.2 points and 308.3 yards per game, ranking second and third in the league, respectively.

2. Denver Broncos

Considering all of the talent the Denver Broncos have on both sides of the ball, it feels like they have yet to reach their full potential. Still, they are playing like one of the best teams in football right now.

Teams have been unable to find an answer for Peyton Manning, who has thrown 15 touchdowns in just five games. He needs just three more to break Brett Favre's career touchdown record, and he may be able to break it this week, even if he is playing against the 49ers.

With their only loss coming to Seattle, the Broncos are still the clear favorite to represent the AFC in this year's Super Bowl. They'll have a tough stretch of games coming up, but successfully managing that stretch should only help assure the rest of the league that the Broncos are still one of the toughest teams to beat.

1. Dallas Cowboys

Skeptics can continue to critique the Dallas Cowboys all they want, but the truth is that this team is a legitimate force in the NFL right now, and last week's win in Seattle proved that.

The offensive line has been huge for the Cowboys, consistently giving DeMarco Murray running lanes. Murray is on pace to break 2,000 rushing yards this season, as he's posted a league-leading 785 yards on 159 carries along with six touchdowns. The Cowboys haven't been afraid to use Murray as a workhorse, and he's been able to handle the workload up to this point.

That consistent running game has opened up the field for Tony Romo, and that's helped this offense put up 27.5 points per game. The defense has played well above its talent level, but even if it comes back down to Earth, the offense looks too good to stop, even for teams like the Seahawks.

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