NFL Power Rankings Week 7: Which Teams Are Winning in Spite of QBs?

I think we can all agree that having a solid quarterback is the way to win in the NFL. The position is so vital to a team's success that it has actually become the most valued in all of sports. Still, in spite of shaky quarterback play, three squads are still contenders after six weeks thanks to the rest of the team picking up the slack.

The Washington Redskins are somehow 3-2 despite opening the season with an overweight Rex Grossman at quarterback. Through five games, Grossman was so bad that the Redskins have now turned the starting job over to John Beck and will likely move forward with him under center for the rest of the season.

Grossman's numbers for Washington were atrocious. In the five games he played, the 31-year-old completed 92 of 165 passes (55.8 percent) for 1,132 yards, with six touchdowns and a whopping nine interceptions. His quarterback rating of 66.5 ranks 32nd out of the 33 players who qualify. Oh, and he threw four interceptions in a 20-13 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday.

It's not hard to understand why head coach Mike Shanahan made the switch to Beck.

The Baltimore Ravens have had their own share of quarterback problems. Luckily for them, they have a 4-1 record and have emerged as one of the best teams in the league. Despite the team's success so far, Joe Flacco has been less than stellar. 

The 26-year-old Delaware product has completed 89 of 173 passes (51.4 percent) for 1,278 yards, with seven touchdowns and four interceptions. His 79.6 passer rating ranks 23rd in the league and his completion percentage is ahead of only those belonging to Kerry Collins (49 percent) and Blaine Gabbert (48.8 percent). 

If the Ravens want to make a deep run into the playoffs, Flacco has to step up his game and become a more consistent contributor to the offense.

The New York Jets have clawed their way back to 3-3, but quarterback Mark Sanchez hasn't really been the reason why. This was supposed to be the year that the 24-year-old took a big leap forward, but that hasn't been the case so far. 

This season, Sanchez has completed 111 of 198 passes (56.1 percent) for 1,372 yards, with nine touchdowns and five interceptions. His 82.3 quarterback rating is 20th in the NFL.

With the team's rushing attack ranked 31st in the league and averaging just 80.8 yards per game, Sanchez has to be better if the Jets hope to reach the playoffs. Until he improves, the quarterback position will continue to keep the Jets from becoming one of the NFL's elite teams. 

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