NFL Power Rankings Week 7: What Worst Teams Need to Do to Rise in the Ranks

If you take a look at the rankings below, you will see one thing in common with the bottom three teams. None of them have any wins.

More than that, none of them will ever rise on my list until they do win. I don't care how bad teams like the Jaguars and Broncos look, they have won a game. The same can not be said for the Dolphins, Colts or Rams.

But beyond win, what do these teams need to do to move up in the rankings? In other words, how can they take steps to start winning a few games?

Miami Dolphins

If Miami really is a top defense in the league, they have to start playing like it. We know that their offense isn't spectacular, but that was never supposed to be Miami's strength.

The bottom line is that if they don't start defending better, this team will be lucky to win any games. I know that Andrew Luck is a popular name in Miami, but they don't need to go 0-16 to get him.

The Dolphins will never win a shootout. So, if they don't start defending better and keeping their opposition out of the end zone, an 0-16 season is not unrealistic.

St. Louis Rams

The Rams have been hit a little hard by bad luck. They started the year with a very difficult stretch of games, and have had to deal with injuries from the beginning of the season.

But their secondary is flat-out awful right now. Even with Brandon Lloyd, they are going to have a really hard time outscoring anyone.

The Rams need to control the game with Steven Jackson, and figure out a way to defend the pass better.

Indianapolis Colts

At the beginning of the year, I thought that the Colts had a chance in the AFC South. My thought was that even without Peyton Manning, their play makers would be good enough to take them over the edge.

Six games into the season, and I was clearly wrong. Still, I stand by what I said.

Curtis Painter needs to get the Colts' playmakers more involved in the action. That means that Reggie Wayne and Dallas Clark simply need to step their games up.

Of the teams on this list, the Colts have the best chance at a decent season. It won't be good, but they have the best chance at not being awful.

Michael Dixon's Week 7 NFL Power Rankings

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