NFL Power Rankings Week 7: Broncos, Chargers and Titans Will Rise After Bye

Las Vegas has a habit of showing some favor to NFL teams coming off a bye week and, as a fan of Sin City, I tend to do the same.

Not in every case, of course, but these three teams deserve a bit of a bump, though not entirely for being well rested.

Denver Broncos

Wait for it...wait for it...it's almost Tebow time!

I'm sure you're excited, too. And who wouldn't be? He'll be making his first start of the season against the Dolphins in Miami, which, by the way, will be honoring the 2008 Florida Gators team that Tim Terrific quarterbacked to the BCS National Championship.

How convenient.

That boost of confidence could very well be enough in and of itself to push the Brandon Lloyd-less Broncos over the top against the terrible Fins. Denver may be destined for a dubious season, but at least the team is building something in some direction.

As for the Dolphins, they could just as easily end up in a tuna can as with an 0-16 record at season's end.

San Diego Chargers

As far as, you know, good teams are concerned, the Chargers will be ready to take full advantage of the rest their bye week afforded them. Beating the Jets in New York won't be easy, but it's not as though Rex Ryan's rambunctious bunch is a juggernaut just for beating the aforementioned Fins.

Granted, the Bolts haven't exactly set the world on fire this season, either. However, now that the leaves are brown and falling, they should be about ready to awaken from their annual early-season slumber to slog out double-digit wins and an AFC West crown.

Oh yeah, and Mark Sanchez stinks. 'Nuff said.

Tennessee Titans

Now, if you're looking for an exciting game in Week 7 with some actual meaning behind it, look no further than Titans-Texans. These two teams have emerged as the de facto frontrunners in the AFC South since Peyton Manning's season rendered another division crown for the Colts null and void.

Both are coming off sizable losses to AFC North foes, though at least Tennessee has had some time off to sort out its situation. Houston, on the other hand, has dropped three of its last four and looks lost without Andre Johnson on offense and Mario Williams on defense.

Meanwhile, the Titans will have the benefit of playing this one at home, hoping that the Chris Johnson of old will show up in time to lend a hand to Matt Hasselbeck. Look for Tennessee's D to be the latest to shut down Matt Schaub and the Texans' O on the way to a surprising lead in the AFC South.

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