NFL Power Rankings: 10 Teams That Could Rise After Week 7 Games

Nearing the midway point of the season, NFL Power Rankings are beginning to have a feeling of familiarity to them.

Though there are constant movers--with fallers like the Packers and risers like the Eagles--a few teams have begun to establish themselves as the best squads in the NFL.

While three or four AFC teams will likely sit at the top of this week's rankings, there are plenty of teams looking to join them in Week 7.

So what teams can make the biggest leap to close the gap between themselves and the likes of the Patriots, Jets, Steelers and Ravens?

Here's a look at ten teams who could shoot up the NFL Power Rankings with big Week 7 victories.

No. 10: Dallas Cowboys (1-4)

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MINNEAPOLIS - OCTOBER 17: Quarterback Tony Romo #9 of the Dallas Cowboys walks off the field following the game against the Minnesota Vikings at Mall of America Field on October 17, 2010 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Vikings defeated the Cowboys 24-21.

Cowboys fans should look at things on the bright side: the only way to go is up.

After dropping to 1-4 following a Week 6 loss to the Vikings, Dallas has a good opportunity to turn their season around with an NFC East win over the New York Giants.

This will be a matchup of two top-ten defenses that could provide the Cowboys the opportunity to spoil the Giants' recent hot streak.

Dallas needs to find some sort of balance on offense to pull off the upset, but it won't be easy against a Giants defense that allows less than 265 total yards per game.

No. 9: Arizona Cardinals (3-2)

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GLENDALE, AZ - OCTOBER 10: Wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald #11 of the Arizona Cardinals runs onto the field during introductions to the NFL game against the New Orleans Saints at the University of Phoenix Stadium on October 10, 2010 in Glendale, Arizona.

Arizona may be 3-2, but the Cardinals have yet to prove that they're a good football team.

They are ranked 25th or lower in every major statistical category on offense and defense, and will likely rely on rookie quarterback Max Hall the rest of the way. The Cardinals aren't going to stay above .500 if they continue to be below average in every aspect of the game.

A good way to prove that you're for real is to win against Seattle on the road. If the Cardinals can win with the "12th Man" screaming at them for four quarters, Arizona could establish itself as the team to beat in the NFC West.

No. 8: Kansas City Chiefs (3-2)

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HOUSTON - OCTOBER 17: Matt Cassel #7 of the Kansas City Chiefs waits for the snap during game action against the Houston Texans at at Reliant Stadium on October 17, 2010 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images)

What have you done for me lately, Kansas City? Besides drop two straight winnable games against the only quality opponents you've faced all season.

Well, the Chiefs get another opportunity this week to prove that they're a legitimate contender when they host Jacksonville.

At worst, the Jaguars will enter the game at 3-3, but either way, Kansas City can't rely on just beating up on bad teams. Quality wins matter.

Playing the Jags at home is a very winnable game, and the Chiefs need a win about as bad as anyone in the league right now.

No. 7: St. Louis Rams (3-3)

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ST. LOUIS - OCTOBER 17: Steven Jackson #39 of the St. Louis Rams celebrates a touchdown against the San Diego Chargers at the Edward Jones Dome on October 17, 2010 in St. Louis, Missouri. The Rams beat the Chargers 20-17. (Photo by Dilip Vishwanat/Getty

The St. Louis Rams have been an incredibly hard team to figure out. They manhandled the Seahawks at home, then got destroyed by the Lions, then beat the Chargers.

But if you examine the Rams a bit closer, their major problem becomes obvious: the inability to win on the road. St. Louis is winless away from home, and they travel to Tampa Bay this week to take on the Buccaneers.

Come on, St. Louis. Show that you have some kind of life when you're not playing indoors.

No. 6: San Diego Chargers (2-4)

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ST. LOUIS - OCTOBER 17: Head Coach Norv Turner of the San Diego Chargers looks on from the sideline against the St. Louis Rams at the Edward Jones Dome on October 17, 2010 in St. Louis, Missouri. The Rams beat the Chargers 20-17. (Photo by Dilip Vishwan

I can't recall the last time a team was statistically as good as the Chargers are, but just can't win their games.

San Diego scores the fifth most points and allows the fewest yards in the league, but the Chargers still sit at 2-4.

Maybe it's because their defense still manages to give up a lot of points (21 per game) despite preventing teams from racking up yardage. Maybe it's because the team can't pull off a fourth quarter come back, like against Seattle, Kansas City, and St. Louis.

Whatever it is, the Chargers absolutely need to beat the Patriots in Week 7, or Norv Turner could be on his way out. 

No. 5: Minnesota Vikings (2-3)

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MINNEAPOLIS - OCTOBER 17: Quarterback Brett Favre #4 of the Minnesota Vikings celebrates a pass interference call against Mike Jenkins (not pictured) of the Dallas Cowboys during the fourth quarter at Mall of America Field on October 17, 2010 in Minneapo

The Vikings temporarily averted disaster with a win over the Cowboys in Week 6, but the team still has a lot of work to do.

Minnesota has a huge divisional matchup this week with the Packers at Lambeau Field. Green Bay has injuries all over the place on defense, so Brett Favre and company have to take advantage.

If the Vikings continue to throw for just 177 yards and score 17.4 points per game, they're in trouble.

With some key pieces misses from that once-vaunted Green Bay defense, the Vikings have a very realistic shot at reversing roles and sending the Packers into panic mode.

No. 4: Tennessee Titans (3-2)

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ARLINGTON, TX - OCTOBER 10: Running back Chris Johnson #28 of the Tennessee Titans carries the ball against the Dallas Cowboys at Cowboys Stadium on October 10, 2010 in Arlington, Texas. The Titans won 34-27. (Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images)

Tennessee may have one of the best offensive players in the league in Chris Johnson, but they don't have much else.

Sure, Vince Young has proven he can win games with mediocre play, but the Titans aren't going to the Super Bowl if the team can't find some sort of balance on the offensive side.

Tennessee's passing offense ranks next to last in the league, and teams that stop Johnson stop the Titans. Young and the Titans' wide receivers will have to put plenty of points on the board this week against Philadelphia.

This is my sleeper pick for game of the week. A win for either team greatly improves their resume. 

No. 3: Cincinnati Bengals (2-3)

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CINCINNATI, OH - OCTOBER 10: Quarterback Carson Palmer #9 of the Cincinnati Bengals throws against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Paul Brown Stadium on October 10, 2010 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images)

Cincinnati may have gotten screwed in their loss to the Buccaneers two weeks ago, but the bottom line is they put themselves in that position.

I stand corrected. Carson Palmer put the Bengals in that position.

Palmer hasn't played too fantastic all season, and he can' expect his team to win if he throws three interceptions in one game. It'll be interesting to see how Palmer rebounds from his performance against Tampa Bay when his Bengals take on Atlanta this week.

The Falcons were brought back to Earth with a loss at Philadelphia last week, so both teams need this game badly. A win for Cincinnati over one of the better teams in the NFC would go a long way for Cincinnati.

Since they play in the toughest division in football, they need to win games like this.

No. 2: Washington Redskins (3-3)

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LANDOVER, MD - OCTOBER 17: Running back Ryan Torain #46 of the Washington Redskins is gang tackled by the Indianapolis Colts defense at FedExField on October 17, 2010 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images)

Washington is another one of those teams that isn't overly impressive in any facet of the game.

The Redskins give up more yards than anyone in the league, they don't score a whole lot (18.8 points per game), and they don't run the ball that well without Clinton Portis (92.7 yards per game).

But the Redskins continue to hang around, and they have a big game against the Bears at Soldier Field in Week 7.

The Bears themselves have looked pretty average the past couple of weeks, but both teams need a win: the Bears to fend off Green Bay and Minnesota, and the Redskins to stay on pace with the Giants and Eagles.

A win here for Washington keeps them just behind their NFC East foes.

No. 1: Miami Dolphins (3-2)

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GREEN BAY, WI - OCTOBER 17: Dan Carpenter #5 and Brandon Fields #2 of the Miami Dolphins celebrate the winning field goal in overtime against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field on October 17, 2010 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. The Dolphins defeated the Pac

Playing the Jets and the Patriots twice per year certainly doesn't do the Dolphins any favors, but neither do games against teams like Pittsburgh.

Miami hosts the Steelers this week, and Pittsburgh looks like it might be the best team in football. But Miami is coming off a nice little win themselves after beating the Packers on the road at Lambeau Field.

I don't need to tell you how important this game is for Miami. A win obviously does them wonders here and could send them skyrocketing up the NFL Power Rankings.