NFL Power Rankings Week 7: Chicago Bears and Other Teams Destined for Mediocrity

For some reason, there are some teams in the NFL that remind me of my favorite Mitch Hedberg line.

That, for the record, is this one:

"I played in a death metal band. People either loved us or hated us. Or they thought we were OK."

Ah yes, just like the NFL. There are those who are good, there are those who are bad, and there are those who are just OK.

There are lot of teams out there who are just OK at the moment. But in my estimation, only a select few of them will remain just OK.

New York Jets (No. 19 overall)

We know that the Jets can beat teams like the Dallas Cowboys, Jacksonville Jaguars and Miami Dolphins, and we know that they can beat these teams at home.

Beyond that, we really don't know what the Jets are capable of. It's clear in watching them that they are a flawed team, and their flaws are evenly distributed on both sides of the football.

If nothing else, the Jets are good enough to beat the league's dregs. The trouble with that is that the Jets only get to play the dregs so many times, which will invariably lead to a largely unimpressive record.

To illustrate, the Jets are 3-3 now, and 8-8 seems like a legit possibility. That will put a damper on the latest Super Bowl guarantee.

Chicago Bears (No. 18 overall)

Aside from letting Devin Hester return kicks and getting the ball to Matt Forte, there is not a single thing that da Bears do particularly well.

Indeed, they sound like just the kind of team we want representing American football across the pond.

Oh well. It's possible that the Bears will turn things around, though I wouldn't go so far as to say that this is at all probable. The Bears have some tough games remaining on their schedule, including a brutal stretch of games when they return from their Week 8 bye.

Luckily, the Bears should be able to finish strong. But by that point, it will be too late.

Washington Redskins (No. 15 overall)

The Redskins are a very good team wrapped around two quarterbacks who don't inspire any confidence whatsoever. Rex Grossman quite literally threw his opportunity away, and now it's John Beck's turn.

My guess is that the Redskins are in for more of the same under Beck. He talks a good game, but it remains to be seen whether or not he can play a good game.

Just so you know, the last time Beck saw significant time under center was in 2007 with the Dolphins. In five games, he threw three picks and fumbled the ball five times.

Sounds like a guy who must be set to Yakety Sax at all times.

Cincinnati Bengals (No. 14 overall)

Contrary to what you might be thinking right now, I actually really like the Bengals. They have some good young players, and you have to respect an owner who can commit highway robbery and rid himself of a washed-up quarterback in the same instance.

But I just can't be sure about the Bengals. They've done well to get to 4-2, but I worry what will happen to them when they come up against the Baltimore Ravens and Pittsburgh Steelers, both of whom have yet to play the Bengals.

If I had to guess, good things will not ensue. As a result, Cincinnati's season will collapse like, in the words of Eddie Izzard, a flan in a cupboard.

Zachary D. Rymer's Week 7 Power Rankings

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