NFL Power Rankings Week 7: 10 Teams Better Than Their Current Spots
Week 7's NFL power rankings obviously don't tell the whole story about the current state of the NFL or a particular franchise.
Power rankings declare where a particular team is at any given point in the season. But they don't always say how good or bad a team is on the whole.
Remember back in 2000, when the Ravens lost three out of four straight games, scoring exactly one touchdown during that stretch? Where would they have been on the Week 9 power rankings? That team went on to win the Super Bowl.
Here are 10 teams that are doing a whole lot better than their power rankings might suggest.
No. 10: Detroit Lions (1-5), Ranked 29th
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The future is bright in the Motor City.
A 1-5 record isn't anything to write home about, but Jim Schwartz's team is starting to look decent.
On defense, they've turned in a few good efforts during losses this season, most notably against Chicago, Minnesota and in the second half of the Packer game.
They really should have defeated both Green Bay and the Bears.
It's also pretty impressive that they could drop all the way down to their third-string quarterback, Drew Stanton, and hang on the road with a team like the Giants. That's a testament to the quality of all 11 players on offense—not necessarily the former Michigan State star.
Actual Rank: 22nd
No. 9: Dallas Cowboys (1-4), Ranked 24th
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The Cowboys are better than their record. How much better depends on whether or not they are actually capable of cutting back on the penalties, turnovers and special teams mistakes.
Even if Dallas is out of the playoff hunt—which is far from guaranteed—it still is capable of winning any game it plays in.
With Miles Austin, Dez Bryant and a resurgent Roy Williams at his disposal, Tony Romo can heave an 80-yard touchdown in a matter of seconds. That is a threat no matter what your record is.
The defense is also allowing just 281 yards per game. That ranks fourth in the entire NFL.
The Cowboys belong in the top half of the NFL rankings.
Actual Rank: 15th
No. 8: Minnesota Vikings (2-3), Ranked 21st
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Looking past all the drama of Brett Favre, Brett Favre/Jenn Sterger and Brett Favre/elbow tendinitis, the Vikings have had other problems to deal with this year.
For one, the loss of Sidney Rice cannot be ignored. He was a tremendous weapon that Favre sorely misses. He could be ready to return in the second half, which would boost the Vikings' slim playoff chances.
The Minnesota defense has been outstanding this season. It's a shame that three of its performances have been squandered because the offense couldn't do very much.
Provided that the defense doesn't run out of steam from carrying the team all year, once Favre and Co. start pulling their weight, the Vikings will be one of the top five teams in the NFC.
Actual Rank: 12th
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No. 7: Denver Broncos (2-4), Ranked 20th
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No team has played a more difficult schedule in the past month than Denver.
They split their two-game road trip at Tennessee and Baltimore, two of the best and most physical teams in the AFC right now. They also dropped two home games to Indianapolis and the Jets.
A truly elite team would have won one of those games, but Denver isn't elite.
Still, during that 1-3 stretch, they were in every ball game during the fourth quarter. Since those were games against teams that could very easily be their respective divisional winners, Denver deserves to be rated higher than 20th.
Actual Rank: 17th
No. 6: Seattle Seahawks (3-2), Ranked 18th
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No matter how bad the division is, listing any leader at the Week 7 mark in the bottom half of the power rankings is probably a stretch.
The Seahawks are easily one of the most improved teams in 2010. That alone doesn't rank them higher than they currently are. But their defense does.
There are tons of holes in the passing defense—both coverage and rush problems—but they are a good unit. It is true that the run defense is really only ranked tops in the NFC because teams can so easily throw the ball on them. But it's still a quality group.
Marshawn Lynch could add a significant spark in the second half of the season. Matt Hasselbeck has played very well, and with a potential go-to-guy in Mike Williams, they will win division games because St. Louis, Arizona and San Francisco are average to below average defensive teams.
Actual Rank: 16th
No. 5: Miami Dolphins (3-2), Ranked 11th
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Without their horrific special teams showing on Monday night a few weeks ago against the Patriots, this team could be 4-1 and just a half game out of the AFC East race.
Chad Henne has developed a great deal in the first two months of the season, and he is fortunate to have a pair of good receivers (Brandon Marshall and Davone Bess), a pair of good running backs (Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams) and a pair of good offensive tackles (Jake Long and Vernon Carey).
The defense has several quality players but needs to be more consistent in the second half of games. If they manage to do that and beat Pittsburgh on Sunday, they will easily shoot up into the top 10.
Actual Rank: Eighth
No. 4: New Orleans Saints (4-2), Ranked 10th
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Do you really want to sleep on the Saints? With that offense?
Everyone knows that Drew Brees hasn't played his best this season and that the injuries to Pierre Thomas and Reggie Bush make the offense even more one-dimensional than it was a year ago.
But to make it to 4-2 when you have played fairly average football gives New Orleans fans hope that another Super Bowl run is in the cards.
People have been down on the Saints defense this season, especially because they haven't collected the turnover totals they did a year ago. But they never were going to repeat those figures. They grabbed a once-in-a-decade number of picks and fumbles.
The main reason why they aren't higher in most people's rankings is because they haven't played "like a Super Bowl champion should."
Actual Rank: Seventh
No. 3: Baltimore Ravens (4-2), Ranked Seventh
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Their loss on Sunday felt worse than it really was because they blew a 10-point lead in a game they really dominated throughout the first three quarters. But they were on the road against New England.
That minor collapse isn't enough to drop the Ravens out of the discussion for AFC's best.
When Baltimore is at full strength, there really isn't a more balanced team from top to bottom. Joe Flacco is a very good quarterback with a handful of good receiving options. Ray Rice and Willis McGahee might be the best running duo in the AFC, and the defense is rock solid.
Once Ed Reed is closer to 100 percent, they have they have the type of playmaker on defense that only one other team (Pittsburgh) can boast.
Actual Rank: Fifth
No. 2: Pittsburgh Steelers (4-1), Ranked Second
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Power rankings shouldn't take into account who is NOT there or the "what if" debate. That is the purpose of a list like this.
You cannot help but wonder where the Steelers would be right now if Ben Roethlisberger was there in Week 1. That's not just because of what he would have added, although Hines Ward, Mike Wallace and Heath Miller probably would each have 10 more catches and two more touchdowns on their stats.
What is more curious is the rushing figures that Rashard Mendenhall might have if Roethlisberger were there to scare defenses more than Dennis Dixon and Charlie Batch. Mendenhall averaged nearly 100 yards per game with defenses stacked eight or nine men in the box. He will do even better in Roethlisberger's return.
Maybe the Steelers would still be 4-1 and not 5-0 had Roethlisberger not been suspended. But going forward, it's clear that there is not a better team in the NFL right now.
Actual Rank: First
No. 1: Green Bay Packers (3-3), Ranked 15th
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Again, power rankings cannot and should not take into account the unseen variables.
Still, the Packers have managed to play .500 ball enduring the types of injuries that ruin seasons.
Losing Ryan Grant for the season hurt. But they bounced back with consecutive wins.
Yes, they've lost three of four and probably should have lost to Detroit in Week 4.
But the season-opening win at Philadelphia proves that this is one of the best teams in the conference. The Eagles are a front runner for the NFC East right now and Green Bay defeated them in a fashion much more convincing than the final score indicated.
The injuries to Clay Matthews, Nick Barnett, Brandon Chillar, Donald Lee, Jermichael Finley and now Brady Poppinga and Donald Driver have been a significant loss, whether they were/are for one game or 16. With those players healthy, the Packers take the NFC North by more than a game.
Actual Rank: Ninth
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