NFL Power Rankings Week 7: Steelers, Saints and Cowboys in No-Win Situations

Contrary to typical NFL coach-speak, all wins are not created equal, at least when it comes to evaluating the strength or weakness of a given team. It may not always be fair to a judge a team differently based on which others it plays, seeing as how the league does all the scheduling.

But, as these squads are soon to find out, beating bad teams does little to improve a team's public perception.

Pittsburgh Steelers

Normally, the mere mention of Super Bowl XLIII, in which the Pittsburgh Steelers defeated the Arizona Cardinals, would evoke memories of classic plays and heroic efforts from stars like Larry Fitzgerald, James Harrison, Kurt Warner, Ben Roethlisberger and Santonio Holmes.

Then again, this isn't 2009, and the Cards aren't any good. In fact, they might be the worst team in the NFL when all is said and done this season. The Steelers, on the other hand, are still solid and could very well be on their way to another appearance in the Super Bowl.

So really, it'll be a disappointment if Pittsburgh does anything other than completely tar and feather the Redbirds.

New Orleans Saints

Speaking of Super Bowl rematches that will yield mediocre games, the Saints will host the Colts in a game that NBC must be kicking itself over right now. Indy has fallen on hard times without Peyton Manning under center, while New Orleans will be taking directions from a hobbled Sean Payton upstairs.

Drew Brees and company should bounce back quite nicely from their Week 6 loss at Tampa Bay, but will be hard-pressed to blow out an 0-6 Colts squad that's played its opponents remarkably close over the last five weeks.

How much credit does one team really deserve for sending another to 0-7 anyway?

Dallas Cowboys

How 'bout them Cowboys? Well, they could certainly use a morale boost after squandering a golden opportunity to beat the Patriots in New England.

They can thank Jason Garrett's conservative play calling for that one.

The winless Rams should make for a rather suppliant opponent in Week 7, though it'd still be tough to give Dallas much credit for scoring a blowout at home against a hopeless team.

And what if Tony Romo finds a way to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory? Well, we all know how readily the sky falls in the Metroplex. That's why Jerry Jones built Cowboys Stadium with a retractable roof, right?

Josh Martin's Week 5 NFL Power Rankings

1. Green Bay Packers

2. New England Patriots

3. Baltimore Ravens

4. San Francisco 49ers

5. Detroit Lions

6. New Orleans Saints

7. San Diego Chargers

8. New York Giants

9. Pittsburgh Steelers

10. Buffalo Bills

11. Oakland Raiders

12. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

13. Dallas Cowboys

14. Cincinnati Bengals

15. Tennessee Titans

16. Atlanta Falcons

17. Washington Redskins

18. Houston Texans

19. Chicago Bears

20. Cleveland Browns

21. Philadelphia Eagles

22. Seattle Seahawks

23. New York Jets

24. Kansas City Chiefs

25. Minnesota Vikings

26. Carolina Panthers

27. Denver Broncos

28. Jacksonville Jaguars

29. Arizona Cardinals

30. Miami Dolphins

31. St. Louis Rams

32. Indianapolis Colts