NFL Power Rankings Week 7: Ranking All 32 Teams

There were a few surprises in Week 6 and thus few drastic changes in my power rankings going into the seventh week of the season. The top team is still at the top, the worst team is still at the bottom, and few in the middle have shifted significantly.

However, teams have risen and fallen. Here are my Week 7 power rankings, with last week's position in parentheses for your fun and convenience.

No. 1: Green Bay Packers (1)

To no one's surprise, the Packers are still at the top of the NFL for yet another week after beating the woeful St. Louis Rams in Week 6 to become the league's only undefeated team. Chances look good for them to end this week at 7-0, as they travel to Minnesota to take on the 1-5 Vikings.

No. 2: Baltimore Ravens (7)

Taking a leap upward are the Baltimore Ravens, one of the league's most balanced teams (I feel like a broken record I say this so much). They had little trouble beating the talented Houston Texans in Week 6 and now they get to prove their prowess on a national stage, taking on the Jacksonville Jaguars on Monday night. They shouldn't struggle with that squad. 

No. 3: San Francisco 49ers (5)

The Niners ended the Detroit Lions' five-game 2011 regular-season winning streak by marching into their home turf and walking out with the win. Their defense proved its fierceness against one of the more explosive offenses in the league. Who knew the NFC West could produce a serious playoff contender?

No. 4: Detroit Lions (2)

Obviously the Lions take a hit in the rankings with that loss to the Niners, but they don't fall far. They played well against a difficult team and haven't proven that their early season success is anything close to a fluke.

No. 5: Oakland Raiders (6)

The Raiders keep climbing as yet another well-balanced squad in the otherwise pass-heavy NFL. Many question marks line their future, however, with Carson Palmer as the team's new starting quarterback.

No. 6: New England Patriots (4)

Yes, the Patriots beat the Dallas Cowboys in Week 6, and yes, they've already beaten the Raiders. But wins and losses are only one factor I take under consideration when compiling my rankings. Overall performance takes center stage when it comes to dropping the Patriots this week; that poor secondary is quickly becoming their Achilles heel.

No. 7: New Orleans Saints (3)

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers went into their Week 6 contest against the Saints with far more to lose after dropping 48-3 to San Francisco the week before. The Saints, therefore, were on the wrong end of an inspired performance. While still one of the league's best, they need to shore up issues both in the running game and on defense.

No. 8: Buffalo Bills (8)

Despite losing to the New York Giants in Week 6, I didn't drop them (or advance them) in the rankings this week. They're still a talented squad with all the necessary components to challenge the Patriots as the best in the AFC East. It's just their inexperience with being one of the NFL's top teams that they need to overcome.

No. 9: San Diego Chargers (9)

The Chargers spent Week 6 on the bye, and as they're still a powerhouse, there's no need to move them going into Week 7. They need to keep an eye on the Raiders going forward, now that Jason Campbell is out and Carson Palmer is in. It might be a one-horse race again in the AFC West.

No. 10: Pittsburgh Steelers (10)

The Steelers climbed to No. 10 last week on the merits of their commanding win over the Tennessee Titans in Week 5, but made no leap upward after defeating the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 6. There are still many unanswered questions for this team, one being why they nearly gave up the game in the second half last Sunday.

No. 11: Houston Texans (11)

The Texans put forth a solid effort against a very difficult Baltimore Ravens squad in Week 6, and though they lost that contest, it was due primarily to factors that should resolve themselves in the coming weeks, the primary one being that wide receiver Andre Johnson should return to the field in a week or two.

No. 12: Cincinnati Bengals (14)

The Bengals continue their creep up the rankings, this week rising two spots after handily beating the winless Indianapolis Colts 27-17. A bye in Week 7 should be of huge benefit to this surprising AFC North contender.

No. 13: Atlanta Falcons (15)

The Falcons were able to score 31 points while holding Cam Newton's high-powered Carolina Panthers offense to just 17 of their own, which is a clear indication that their identity crisis is slowly resolving itself.

No. 14: Tennessee Titans (12)

Other movements around the league have the Titans slipping two spots despite being on the bye in Week 6. The team needs to get their offense back on track; their defense, however, looks extremely solid. They'll have a major test this week against the Houston Texans in a game that should help shape the AFC South playoff picture.

No. 15: New York Giants (18)

The Giants came off of an embarrassing Week 5 loss to the Seattle Seahawks by besting the formidable Bills. They're still suffering from being consistently inconsistent, however. Their Week 7 bye should help them get things together.

No. 16: New York Jets (16)

They're the same team they were in Week 5. The only difference is that they beat the significantly-worse Miami Dolphins in Week 6 rather than losing to the New England Patriots. They've got a lot more to prove if they're truly the Super Bowl contender head coach Rex Ryan believes they are.

No. 17: Tampa Bay Buccaneers (17)

They scored an emotional win over the Saints in Week 6, but that doesn't tell me enough about the team to boost them in the rankings this week. Let's see how they manage in London against the Chicago Bears this Sunday.

No. 18: Chicago Bears (19)

Chicago gets a one-spot jump for a convincing win over the Minnesota Vikings in Week 6. But they've yet to convince me they're a seriously dangerous team. The Vikings are terrible; I wouldn't expect any team in their division to struggle to beat them.

No. 19: Dallas Cowboys (20)

The Cowboys hung in there against the Patriots in Week 6, though they didn't win. They rise one spot because it's not an easy feat to do so considering all of the issues the team has had so far this season. Hopefully they don't regress into an error-prone team against the league-worst St. Louis Rams this Sunday.

No. 20: Philadelphia Eagles (23)

The Eagles' typically porous run defense held the Washington Redskins to just 42 total rushing yards and picked off quarterback Rex Grossman four times, effectively ending his tenure as the Redskins' starter. Still, it's hard to say if the Eagles have found the answers to their problems or if it was just a one-week improvement.

No. 21: Cleveland Browns (21)

The Browns fell by seven to the Oakland Raiders but showed they are just one hair shy of getting their team in line. They lose no ground in my rankings this week, but they gain nothing either. The team should manage a win against the Seattle Seahawks this Sunday. 

No. 22: Kansas City Chiefs (22)

The bye week couldn't have come at a better time for the Chiefs, who are still trying to build stability on both sides of the ball. The Raiders should be a major challenge this week; they need to focus on the running game behind Jackie Battle rather than rely on quarterback Matt Cassel to throw 40 or more times.

No. 23: Washington Redskins (13)

I've not been sold on the Redskins so far this season, regardless of their win-loss record, and their dismal performance against the Eagles in Week 6 is one example why. Now their running game has been stifled, they're starting John Beck at quarterback and they travel to Carolina to face the Panthers. I don't trust their ability to contain Cam Newton. 

No. 24: Seattle Seahawks (24)

A poor team on a bye week won't rise or fall in my rankings, and even though the Seahawks defeated the Giants in Week 5, that doesn't convince me of much. Let's see how they manage taking a trip eastward to take on the Browns this Sunday.

No. 25: Carolina Panthers (25)

The Panthers are 1-5, and little has changed. Cam Newton is still impressive, their running game is still in and out and their defense keeps costing them games. Little has changed, including their position in the power rankings.

No. 26: Denver Broncos (26)

Denver is emerging from the bye with Tim Tebow as the starting quarterback and their best wide receiver Brandon Lloyd now a St. Louis Ram. Your guess is as good as mine when it comes to how this mess is going to play out.

No. 27: Jacksonville Jaguars (27)

The Jaguars have proven they've got what it takes to score a few points and yet still lose games. No matter how much of a contribution running back Maurice Jones-Drew makes to his team, it can't make up for poor play from rookie quarterback Blaine Gabbert or a shaky defense. The return of receiver Mike Sims-Walker just means the team has yet another hyphen on its roster, not another playmaker.

No. 28: Arizona Cardinals (28)

The Cardinals are coming off of a much-needed bye to host the Pittsburgh Steelers this Sunday. They better hope they've improved from their Week 5 showing against the similarly bad Minnesota Vikings that saw them lose 34-10, because if not, a major beatdown is in their future.

No. 29: Minnesota Vikings (29)

Those Vikings don't get any favors from me in the rankings, despite that Week 5 win. Considering they were trampled by the unimpressive Bears in Week 6, which has forced head coach Leslie Frazier to install rookie Christian Ponder as the team's starting quarterback over veteran Donovan McNabb, it's pretty clear that this is the end of the road for the Vikings.

No. 30: Indianapolis Colts (30)

The only thing exciting about the Colts is the prospect that Andrew Luck could be sitting on the bench, developing his skills behind Peyton Manning next season.

No. 31: Miami Dolphins (31)

No, Matt Moore isn't the answer, but Brandon Marshall's many drops aren't doing the quarterback or his team any favors. Another loss against the Broncos this week and it might be the last we see of Tony Sparano as Miami's head coach.

No. 32: St. Louis Rams (32)

The Rams don't need Luck next season; they need wins, now. Quarterback Sam Bradford is playing well below his abilities behind a weak offensive line, and poor receiving targets haven't done him any favors either. The addition of receiver Brandon Lloyd should help his production, but the Rams have so many other issues that a wide receiver cannot fix.