NFL

Welcome to week 7 of the official r/NFL Power Rankings! Lions, Niners, Dolphins all tumbled, while the Patriots and Bears won convincingly. Any given Sunday is perspective to hold (until a ranker has misplaced your favorite team by a couple slots). Do the Broncos deserve post-game sushi for beating a meek Green Bay squad? Should the Lions fall for the perennially well-coached Ravens? Are Chicago and Cleveland better without their starters? Week 8 should throw more questions into the mix, until then - Discuss! 33/32 Reporting

1. | | Chiefs | +1 | 6-1 | 7 weeks into the season the Chiefs have a 3 game lead in the AFC West. They have a top 5 defense by every metric, the best player in team sports, and the best coach in the league. Kansas City remains the team to beat in the NFL.
2. | | Eagles | +3 | 6-1 | For the first time in what feels like forever, the Eagles beat a good offense. Defensive coordinator Sean Desai took away Tua’s first reads for long enough for the team’s strength, their pass rush, to collapse the pocket. Desai’s detractors might point to a 10-0(!) penalty discrepancy, Miami’s depleted iOL, and/or Waddle’s mid-game injury, but the Eagles were also banged up in the defensive backfield missing both starting safeties and their top 2 slot CBs. These injuries prompted Howie Roseman to call up Kevin Byard from their double-A affiliate, roughly a year and a half removed from bringing AJ Brown into the building. If he’s half the player he once was, Philadelphia’s defense should be a force through this upcoming murderer’s row of a schedule after Washington: Dallas, Kansas City, Buffalo, San Francisco, Dallas.
3. | | Ravens | +5 | 5-2 | Last week we said to expect the Ravens ready to play their best ball. It appears that was an understatement. By the time the Lions got their first first down of the game, they were down 28-0. It's only fitting that on the day that T-Sizzle was inducted into the Ravens' Ring of Honor we battered Goff with a litany of pressures and sacks to go with a spectacular outing from the ever-electric Lamar Jackson. It's incredible what a team can do when you get a couple weeks of continuity with your starting lineup. Standing alone atop the highly competitive AFCNorth standing consistency is going to be paramount. Up next is a trip out west to face the 1-6 Arizona Cardinals featuring the Passtronaut(or perhaps Kyler Murray's first game back?). We’ll see if the Ravens can avoid playing down to their level of competition, and if the “sleeping giant” is really awake.
4. | | 49ers | -3 | 5-2 | The 49ers played easily their worst game of the season so far. The defense was shredded through the air by a receiving corps missing Justin Jefferson. The offensive line was overwhelmed by blitzes the entire game, and Purdy's two late interceptions were the final nails in the coffin. The team returns home this week looking to right the ship against the Bengals.
5. | | Dolphins | -1 | 5-2 | While we certainly had a lot of major injuries to this team, and do have a major gripe with the penalties in our game against the Eagles, there were was a concerning trend regarding our team that showed its ugly head again on Sunday night and is worth talking about. For the past two seasons more often than not we've played our sloppiest, most unfocused football when facing great teams and/or during primetime. Penalties, receivers running wrong routes, bad snaps, not getting plays in on time, receivers dropping balls, you name it, we had it. Instead of showing our best play to our best opponents, we've often showed them our worst. Over the past two seasons we have now moved to 0-6 on the road against teams that won a playoff game last season.
6. | | Lions | -3 | 5-2 | Sunday was a spectacularly abysmal performance on every level save for Jack Fox. There are no excuses for it and it simply comes down to preparation and discipline in both practice and come game day. Encouraging, though, was the way Dan Campbell spoke about the Lions’ performance: “When you step back and you look at a number of performances that were very much subpar across the board, it’s not coincidence. And so that’s where, man, I did not do a good job of getting them ready. I did not, I did not. And it’d be one thing if there were just a couple of guys here or there, but ultimately, it was that I didn’t have them ready and I’ve got to do a much better job of getting them prepared, which I will this week.” Onto Vegas, where a dominant showing is needed if Detroit wants to remain looked at as an NFC title challenger and a top 5-10 football team in the NFL.
7. | | Jaguars | +2 | 5-2 | As you can see illustrated in the chart, the Jaguars are spending a little too much time trying to get cute with their offensive play calling. Combined with a bit too much sloppy it could cause problems in the future. Do note however, that the offense still completely got there, doing exactly what was needed. The defense continues to eat like they're stuck at an AYCE buffet; That hunger combined with a fortunate last second Saints drop was enough to extend the JAX win streak to 4 — their best start to a season in over 15 years. The Jaguars may be the worst 5-2 team you've ever heard of, but you have heard of them.
8. | | Cowboys | -1 | 4-2 | The Cowboys ranker was heavily medicated this weekend, and from what he can recall, so was the NFL. This weekend made approximately fuck-all for sense, to the point where Prime TIme Kirk knocked off the #1 team in the league. This was a smart week to have a bye, because who knows what could have happened.
9. | | Bills | -3 | 4-3 | People are hammering the Bills offense right now for its recent ineptitude —and rightfully so —but let me pose a question. What’s more embarrassing: scoring 25 against a thus-far bad defense coached by one of the greatest defensive minds ever, or letting fucking Mac Jones put 29 on you? Feels like the second one. I mean, the game is in hand if you can just stop MAC JONES. THAT’S ALL YOU NEED TO DO. STOP MAC FUCKING JONES. I mean Jesus, this guy hasn’t put up more than 20 all year. The fucking Raiders figured out how to hold him to 17. I understand we’re pretty banged up on that side of the ball, but come on.
10. | | Seahawks | -- | 4-2 | No DK, no problem. You're typically in for a real weird experience when those little red desert birds come to Seattle; losing 6-3 or winning 43-8 are both realistic scenarios. Thankfully, Seattle took care of business this week beating Arizona 20-10. The offense was a bit yucky, specifically Geno making some.... odd decisions. But Ken Walker looked great, and Seattle had 2 rookies (Jaxon Smith-Njigba & Jake Bobo) catch touchdowns. Bobo's touchdown was an absolutely sick catch that everybody should see.
11. | | Browns | -- | 4-2 | Darrell Baker Jr. was called for pass interference and then some stuff happened and then Browns won in Week 7.
12. | | Bengals | +2 | 3-3 | The Bengals are coming off of a bye week, so there is no excuse not to beat a suddenly cold and banged-up 49ers team coming off a short week.
13. | | Steelers | +6 | 4-2 | Sunday's victory is underscored by some lesser headlines. Jaylen Warren is proving to be not just explosive when he touches the ball, but indispensable in the passing game due to his prowess in protecting the QB. It's fair to say that the offensive blocking is still a work in progress, but if two defenders get a jailbreak towards Pickett, it's a good bet that Warren is going to intercept one of them. The line itself was very up and down, but showed promise. Cautious optimism is in order. Notably, we also got to see what Pickett has been trying to do all year, which is stand in the pocket and take time to let things develop and go through his progression. Earlier, he's had no time to throw, but still wanted to do that and it didn't work out. As the season progressed, it became clear that he needed to get rid of the ball quickly. He did that, but it's not a formula for success. Not every play can be a quick throw. In LA, he was not just getting the route and receiver he liked, but he was ripping the ball and really pushing it downfield. There's reason for hope there. The same is true for Joey Porter Jr, who is making progress in a trial by fire. Things are getting interesting in the defensive backfield in that Kazee, Porter, and Wallace have all shown potential. There's potentially 5 guys back there who can play, along with PP and Minkah who had a hell of a team effort performance and was virtually everywhere the whole day. Sketchy calls aside/acknowledged, the point is that this team might finally be putting it together.
14. | | Rams | -1 | 3-4 | The inability to play four quarters of consistent football is this season’s theme as youth and self-inflicted wounds let yet another very winnable game slip away in the second half. Margin for error is thin, and issues like losing your ability to challenge and setting up short fields for a bad offense from an INT and missed kicks (that also left 7 points on the board) is going to change a win into a loss. The Rams can compete with anyone but can't hang with them for a whole game.
15. | | Buccaneers | -3 | 3-3 | The problem with the NFL is that it's unbalanced. There are divisions where there's one clear favorite above the other three teams in the division. There are some divisions where two teams are head and shoulders above the other teams. There are divisions where three teams are fighting for the first spot. There are even divisions where all 4 teams are average and all four teams are fighting to win the division till the last game of the season. Then there's fifty feet of crap, and then there's the NFC South.
16. | | Texans | -- | 3-3 | It’s the bye week for the Texans which meant that all of Houston was able to focus on the Astros this weekend needing only one win at home, so let’s check in there and….Oh….Oh no….Never mind about that. Most Texans fans spent Sunday watching the Colts and Browns beat up on each other and trying to justify rooting for one of them. Were the standings or the draft pick more important? Either way, you were definitely going to feel dirty. Next up for the Texans though is a trip to Carolina and I’m sure you can guess what storyline we’re going to be hearing about all week leading up to the game. Will CJ Stroud finally get to play that game of HORSE that Josh McCown promised him?
17. | | Jets | -- | 3-3 | The Jets get to "visit" one of the worst teams in the NFL in the New York Giants. The Jets pass rush should be able to give fits to the Giants offense, but Zach Wilson is still a huge question mark on the other side of the ball. If the Jets have any chance to make some noise this season, they'll take care of business against the Gmen and get back above .500.
18. | | Falcons | +2 | 4-3 | Falcons are used to losing games they shouldn't, but Sunday was the rare win despite missing opportunity after opportunity. The defense truly kept the Falcons afloat in a game where they were only kinda missing their top running back, good thing Cordarelle was waiting in the wings to average over 5 YPC. Ridder had a touchdown turned touchback, and London also fumbled within the 1 yard line that the Bucanneers would scoop up on the next play. Despite 3 takeaways, Ridder's slight improvement might be enough to stave rabid fans off for one more week, and if this keeps up in 9 years he'll be beating the 49ers on MNF. Atlanta takes on a Baird-less Titans squad in week 8, another perfect day for the current NFC South leader to take the babiest of steps.
19. | | Vikings | +7 | 3-4 | The Vikings have had some bad breaks, between Jefferson on IR and the worst luck in the NFL, but their Monday night victory over the 49ers proves the team has the talent to go toe-to-toe with anyone: Darrisaw, O'Neill and the Vikings' offensive line pitched a complete shutout against an elite defensive line; Addison proved he can be a WR1 in JJ's absence; Hockenson came up huge moving the chains over-and-over; Hunter continues to lead the NFL in sacks; and Kirk Cousins lit up arguably the best defense in the league to the tune of 378 yards and two TDs.
20. | | Chargers | -5 | 2-4 | Sunday's lost once again begs the question of Brandon Staley "What exactly do you do?". The KC offense got a get-right game posting 31 points and Travis Kelce had 143 yards at half time. This was mixed in with some highly questionable game management including 4th and short punts, and opting to go to halftime with all 3 timeouts. Again, Herbert hasn't looked himself, but that's far from the only issue on this team.
21. | | Saints | -3 | 3-4 | This week's episode of MTV Celebrity Deathmatch features Derek Carr vs Chris Olave. Who you got?
22. | | Colts | -1 | 3-4 | "Well you know why there's a chance that it was called? I think an investigation — OK? — into that particular ref… not only that ref, let's not just check that name. We need aunties, we need moms, we need sisters, we need girlfriends, we need husbands. He had to have something on that game! I don't wanna be a guy proclaiming that these refs are rigging games, but I don't know how you call those back to back, to secure one team to definitely have a win. … That seems a little… little fishy." – Pat McAfee speaking for Colts fans everywhere yesterday
23. | | Commanders | -- | 3-4 | “f—ing tired of this s—. I’m f—ing tired of this bulls—. It’s been seven f—ing years of the same shit. I’m tired of this s—.” - Jonathan Allen/Washington fans this week. The Giants had 5 sacks coming into Week 7. They doubled that total to 10... by halftime. The Giants had the fewest 20+ yard plays in the NFL at 15. They had 3 of them.. in a single drive.. with their backup QB. There are major issues in Washington. Coach Rivera is in his 4th year here, and the same problems frustratingly continue to plague this team. At it's best these last 4 years, this team has looked marginally above average. At it's worst, this team can readily compete for the number 32 spot. A team that at both times looks completely unready to play and yet unwilling to shift off of its predetermined gameplan indicates a problem with the coaching staff. At 3-4 with some of the best teams in the league ahead on the schedule, optimism isn't on the menu. 10 games left including the Eagles, Cowboys (twice), Dolphins, Jets, Niners, Rams, Giants, Patriots and Seahawks; this team is likely headed for a 6-11 record at best and a draft spot just outside the top talent. New ownership is surely preparing to clean house and a true rebuild is forthcoming. I'm tired of this s---
24. | | Packers | -2 | 2-4 | It is an absolute disgrace that the Packers continually sleepwalk through the first half of every single game. Green Bay averages 13 more points in the second half than they do in the first half. It's an indictment of the coaching staff that the team continually enters games unprepared and can't figure out what to do until the third quarter, and it's especially irksome coming out of a bye week and having an extra 7 days to prepare. Lafleur's scripting was excellent last year but the play-calling this year has been flaccid beyond explanation. We can blame it on Love all we want but he can clearly lead touchdown drives in the second half! Why can't we do it the whole game?
25. | | Titans | -- | 2-4 | The bye week turn a fast turn from the question of which young QB may start in week 8 against the Falcons when the Titans traded All-Pro safety Kevin Beard to the Eagles on Monday. This move was not entirely unexpected but shows signs that the Titans may be on the verge of a real turnover in the roster that made a few playoff runs over the last 5 years. With the trade deadline after the next game it will be very interesting to see if this week’s result changes the Titans plans moving forward.
26. | | Patriots | +3 | 2-5 | The largest living tree on earth is an Aspen. It has 47,000 trunks all connected by a common root. The Patriot Way is a phrase often used to discuss Belichickian culture, but clear definition is strangely elusive to talking heads. The holy scripture of the football gods is short and sweet if you hear Billy B preach. The many come before the one. He pleads it. He demands it. He lives it. He breathes it. Though each September we forget, his devotion echoes true year after year when the wind carries the first chill warnings that winter is coming. Winter is not for the Buffalo Bills, They are from frosty climes, but cast a foolish spell naming themselves doubly after the game of sustenance. Warm the herd may be, but in the end prey warms the bellies of the predator. Winter is for those who know that when the bleakness comes, it is time to form close ranks. We meet the eyes of our brethren, and fight on for each other even when glory seems a distant faded vision. Grim determination survives one day more to keep the dream alive. Lone heroes die of exposure. As one of many, there is hope. To be part of a shared fate blurs the lines of self altogether. The aspen of 47,000 heads is known as Pando.
27. | | Giants | +1 | 2-5 | No matter how bad things get, and no matter how inept the Giants look, I will always be thankful for the Commanders for making them look competent twice a year. The Giants' offense showed its best signs of life in the first half, as Tyrod connected on several deep passes (6 different receivers caught passes of 20+ yards). Darren Waller had his best game as a Giant, and the defense absolutely shut down the Washington offense for the vast majority of the game. The only points given up were on a muffed punt that put Washington in the redzone. The second-half offense was lackluster, to put it nicely, and the unit will have to find a way to play four quarters of good football ahead of a tough matchup for bragging rights in the Meadowlands bowl.
28. | | Raiders | -4 | 3-4 | Fire Josh McDaniels
29. | | Bears | +1 | 2-5 | The Chicago Bears broke international law on Sunday by deploying Bagent Orange all over the Las Vegas Raiders en route to a 30-12 shellacking in the Backup Bowl. Bagent should be the story of the week - an UDFA from D2 making & winning his first NFL start is an incredible achievement no matter the context. The kid was composed, confident, energetic, and rose to the moment. But here's the context anyway: Bagent played calm, efficient football and got the ball where it needed to go quickly. Paired with a powerful run game, that allowed the Bears to build a big lead and sic the defense on former Bears great Brian Hoyer. It will be an incredible week for Chicago sports radio as even in just 24 hours we've heard such gems as "more than 50% of Bears fans want Bagent to be the starter" (it's a very scientific poll) and "Matt Eberflus is actually a great defensive coach and when the Bears bring in a new coach they should keep him as DC" (...okay). After stacking wins against Slippery Rock, the Indiana (Pa) Hawks, and the Raiders, Bagent will face a tougher(?) test next week against the Chargers in a thrilling primetime matchup of 2 win teams (you're welcome, America). If the Bears win, tune in to Chicago radio on Monday.
30. | | Broncos | +1 | 2-5 | As a nostalgic and emotional person, it's not uncommon for me to wake up feeling sad. My dreams are very detailed, and the places I frequently dream about feel like accurate representations of places I've been. The places aren't remarkable: the interior of my first high school, my college campus, various childhood homes and neighborhoods, offices I've worked in. Time moves slowly in my dreams. Even a quick nap can feel like hours spent reluctantly touring these old places, waiting to eventually wake up and leave them. I've moved a lot - over 30 times across 10 states - so my memories of locations are tied to the time period when I was there. The last time the Broncos were good, I was living south of Denver. It was my third time returning to Colorado and I rented a booth at a local sports bar to watch Super Bowl 50 with my wife and a friend. Obviously football is a big part of my adult life, and I'm self-aware enough to know that the slump my team has experienced lately is nothing compared to what some other fanbases have dealt with, so I'm experiencing it with that same demeanor of a reluctant tourist. I wonder if I'll visit the room where I'm writing these blurbs in a far-off future dream, spend what feels like a long afternoon wandering the space, and wake up feeling a little sad.
31. | | Cardinals | -4 | 1-6 | Haha, Tankathon go brr. We are now in the hour of the Murray. Maybe. He might play this week, he might not. Either way, we go up against a scary Raven defense and then an even scarier Browns defense. Could the Texans do their best Astros impression and lose? Please?
32. | | Panthers | -- | 0-6 | Week 7 yielded a much-needed bye week for the Panthers. If I had to give it a win or a loss, I would give it a tie. Terrace Marshall Jr has requested permission to seek a trade. Probably because Reich quite literally forgot he was on the team in the Week 6 stomping via the Miami Dolphins. Bad for a squad lacking WR strength/depth. He is still welcome on the team but he’s had one good week in this 2ish years here and then requested a trade. Smart guy honestly. Stay or go, it’s all love. Week 8 Thomas Brown is calling the plays. That is very exciting as the offense has been looking absolutely disgusting. No consistency whatsoever. Brown has nowhere to go but up. It’s the hope that keeps Queen City buzzin right now. 0-6 with no draft picks.. what else do we got? I’d equivalate that to a tie. Some bad and some good. Coming out of the bye we are 0-0-1. Texans are a winnable game truly and we need to take advantage if there is any hope left to be had. Keep Pounding.