NFL Power Rankings: St. Louis Rams and Bottom Feeders Who Will Rise in Week 7

There is so much parity in the NFL that even the worst teams have a chance to win every week. There are so many moving parts on the field that, even if one thing goes wrong, the whole thing collapses. That is when upsets occur. 

Through six weeks, there are a few teams who have had a rough go so far. One of those teams, the St. Louis Rams, was expected to contend this season. However, everything that could possibly go wrong for them has, and there appears to be no hope of rescue. 

Having said that, they're not just sitting on their hands and waiting for everything to get better. They have taken action. The team acquired wide receiver Brandon Lloyd from Denver to give Sam Bradford a weapon to throw to. 

The Rams will travel to Dallas this week in search of their first victory of the season. Bradford's status for the game is up in the air with an ankle sprain. However, regardless of whether they win or lose, they will rise in the rankings because they will play their best game of the season. 

I know you are not supposed to elevate a team if they lose, but the Rams are moving in the right direction. That is what you need to see from a team that is not going to make the playoffs. 

Here are two other bottom feeders in the power rankings who will play well enough to move out of the gutter.

Denver Broncos, No. 28

Unlike the Rams, who will move up without actually winning a game, the Broncos will be elevated in the power rankings because they will get their second victory of the season. 

They travel to Miami to play the Dolphins in Tim Tebow's homecoming party. The schedule says this is a road game for the Broncos. However, make no mistake, the fans will be cheering Tebow every step of the way. 

Tebow and the Broncos won't win a lot of games this season, but this is one of those few games that they will dominate.

Carolina Panthers, No. 29

I have been championing the Panthers all season long. I think they are a better team than their record indicates and will end up winning more games than they probably should. 

This week, they have a home game against a Washington team that is falling apart at the seams.

The Redskins' Rex Grossman experiment did not work (surprise, surprise). Instead, John Beck is being given the reins to the offense after he saw his first regular season action since 2007 last week.

The Panthers offense has been one of the best in the NFL this season, and that will continue in this game against an overmatched Redskins team. 

NFL Power Rankings Week 7
1. Green Bay Packers (6-0)
2. New England Patriots (5-1)
3. San Francisco 49ers (5-1)
4. Detroit Lions (5-1)
5. Baltimore Ravens (4-1)
6. San Diego Chargers (4-1)
7. Pittsburgh Steelers (4-2)
8. Oakland Raiders (4-2)
9. New York Giants (4-2)
10. Cincinnati Bengals (4-2)
11. Buffalo Bills (4-2)
12. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-2)
13. New Orleans Saints (4-2)
14. Tennessee Titans (3-2)
15. Washington Redskins (3-2)
16. Chicago Bears (3-3)
17. Atlanta Falcons (3-3)
18. New York Jets (2-3)
19. Dallas Cowboys (2-3)
20. Houston Texans (3-3)
21. Seattle Seahawks (2-3)
22. Kansas City Chiefs (2-3)
23. Philadelphia Eagles (2-4)
24. Cleveland Browns (2-3)
25. Minnesota Vikings (1-5)
26. Arizona Cardinals (1-4)
27. Jacksonville Jaguars (1-5)
28. Denver Broncos (1-4)
29. Carolina Panthers (1-5)
30. Miami Dolphins (0-4)
31. Indianapolis Colts (0-6)
32. St. Louis Rams (0-5)