Crowe - NFL Week #7 Power Rankings

Crowe - NFL Week #7 Power Rankings

Just over one-third of the way through the season, it’s time to play the “you are what you are” game with the NFL.

Through six weeks, there’s a lot of parity going on with 18 teams at .500 or better. The Cardinals sit atop that list as the league’s only undefeated team at 6-0 with four teams (Ravens, Packers, Cowboys, Buccaneers) just one game behind. Yes, the NFC is clearly holding the power early on in 2021.

Yet, if you look past the power teams, there’s an underlying current. Once you get past the five 4-2 teams (Bills, Titans, Bengals, Chargers, Raiders), there’s a large chunk of teams clogged together with 2 or 3 wins, leaving them just one victory out of the playoffs at the moment.

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Sure, the postseason doesn’t start now, but it does show a good barometer at where teams stand. Just look at our hometown Patriots. They’ve lost all four of their home games to sit at 2-4. But, they’re just one game back of the 3-3 Steelers for the seventh and final playoff spot in the AFC. So, even with those four tough losses to the Dolphins Saints, Bucs and Cowboys, there is some optimism if New England can turn those late-minute mistakes into positive plays and turn those losses into wins. Up next for the Pats are the Jets, Chargers, Browns, Panthers, and Falcons, not exactly the toughest schedule going.

Then again, that’s for a later date, right? Let’s see who is at the top of our NFL Power Rankings for Week 7:

 

10. Tennessee Titans (4-2, Last week: not ranked)

All Hail King Henry! All Derrick Henry did was take the Titans on his back, literally, to rally Tennessee to a last-second 34-31 victory over the Buffalo Bills Monday Night. Henry, the league’s leading rusher with 783 yards, dazzled his way to a 143-yard, 3 touchdown night, giving him 10 scores for the season, to solidify the Titans in the top spot in the AFC South. They could get even better if Julio Jones, who missed two games due to a hamstring injury, ever gets fully healthy. Jones played Monday night before the bad hammy had him returning to the sidelines in the second half.

 

9. Cincinnati Bengals (4-2, Last week: ranked 9th)

The Bengals have arrived. A ho-hum 34-11 victory over the winless in Lions is now the expected instead of a reason to celebrate a win. This week, reality hits the Bengals in the face with a trip to Baltimore and the 5-1 Ravens in a game between the two best teams in the AFC North. Oh, by the way, Cincinnati has NEVER beaten Lamar Jackson (5-0).

 

8. Los Angeles Chargers (4-2, Last week: ranked 8th)

We won’t kill the Chargers too much for running into a Baltimore buzzsaw last Sunday. It was never a contest, losing 34-6. QB Justin Herbert was limited to one of his worst performances, mustering up just 195 yards and a touchdown pass in the defeat. They’ll get the bye week to rest up and get ready to rebound against the Patriots at home in week 8.

 

7. Green Bay Packers (5-1, Last week: ranked 6th)

If nothing else, Aaron Rodgers keeps it interesting. He just loves beating the Bears and giving it to the Chicago fans. After running for a 6-yard score last Sunday, Rodgers screamed “All my (bleeping) life! I own you!” to the Chicago crowd.  Rodgers is rolling as week 1’s embarrassing loss to the Saints is a faint blip in the rearview mirror.

 

6. Los Angeles Rams (5-1, Last week: ranked 4th)

Honestly, the Rams could be higher if not for the two teams directly in front of them on this week’s power rankings. After dusting off the now decimated 1-5 Giants 38-11 in week 6, LA gets to welcome home old friend Jared Goff and the winless Lions. Don’t think Aaron Donald is going to take it easy on his former quarterback either.

 

5. Baltimore Ravens (5-1, Last week: ranked 7th)

The Ravens just keep getting better and better each week. All Baltimore did to build on their epic come-from-behind Monday night victory over Indy in week 5 was to completely dominate the previously 4-1 LA Chargers right from the get-go. The 34-6 win could’ve been ever greater as the Ravens let their running game do the talking behind 187 yards rushing and touchdowns from Devonta Freeman, Latavius Murray and Le’Veon Bell to head their three-headed monster at running back. And to boot, they’ve added Miles Sanders in a late-week trade from Philly.

 

4. Buccaneers (5-1, Last week: ranked 3rd)

Just another day at the office to Tom Brady and friends in South Florida. Brady throws for a pair of first-half scores to put the Bucs up 28-7 before holding on for the 28-22 victory. Don’t expect things to get much harder in week 7 as Tampa Bay welcomes rookie QB Justin Fields and the Bears to Raymond James Stadium.

 

3. Dallas Cowboys (5-1, Last week: ranked 5th)

Are the Cowboys for real? Well, how’s 567 yards of offense on the road in Foxboro? How’s 447 yards passing from Dak Prescott including a game-winning TD pass to CeeDee Lamb in overtime? And how’s coming from behind twice to snap victory from the jaws of defeat against the home-standing Patriots, winning 35-29 in-game seen by over 23 million viewers on CBS making it the most-watched October game on the network since 2015? The one big concern is Prescott hurting his calf on that overtime TD toss. The good news for Dallas is that they have week 7 off for the bye week. Still, the league’s best offense (34 points and 460 yards per game) is downright scary.

 

2. Buffalo Bills (4-2, Last week: ranked 1st)

If not for a slip by quarterback Josh Allen on a last-second fourth-and-inches, the Bills could be 5-1 and still atop our power rankings. Allen nearly rallied the Bills to a last-second victory in Nashville Monday as Buffalo decided to forego the game-tying chip-shot field goal and went for the win. Still, even with the 34-31 loss to the Titans, the Bills still look like the kings of the AFC as they head into the bye week. Up next is the Dolphins, Jaguars, Jets, Colts and Saints over the next month. The Bills may not be tested again until December 12th at the defending Super Bowl Champion Bucs.

 

1. Arizona Cardinals (6-0, Last week: ranked 2nd)     

It’s back to the top of the list for the Cardinals! Not only did the NFL’s lone undefeated team avoid the trap game in Cleveland, but they took the Browns to task for an easy 37-14 victory that sent Baker Mayfield to the sidelines with an injured shoulder. All Kyler Murray did against an above-average Browns defense is toss four touchdowns including two to his favorite wide received DeAndre Hopkins. I’m sure those two have something in store for week 7 when they take on Hopkins’ former team, the Houston Texans.

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Games to watch in week 7:

Chiefs at Titans – KC’s comeback takes on King Henry.
Bengals at Ravens – Battle for the top spot in the AFC North. Lamar Jackson has never lost to Cincy.
Lions at Rams – It’s Jared Goff’s homecoming and it will be nothing like Tom Brady’s return to Foxboro.
Colts at 49ers – The game will be better than the fact that both teams come in with losing records.
Saints at Seahawks – The Nation really has to suffer through two straight weeks with Geno Smith in primetime as Russell Wilson sits out with the finger injury.

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Last week:

10. Browns
9. Bengals
8. Chargers
7. Ravens
6. Packers
5. Cowboys
4. Rams
3. Buccaneers
2. Cardinals
1. Bills