Week 7 NFL Power Rankings: Is Anyone Actually Good?

A Look at the Vikings Defensive Woes
Oct 9, 2022; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports.

Week 6 of the NFL season got started with an atrocious game between the Washington Commanders and Chicago Bears, and then we were treated to another horror show between the Denver Broncos and Los Angeles Chargers to close out the weekend. Now, heading into Week 7 with a new list of power rankings, the question must be asked, is anyone actually good, or are there 28-30 mediocre teams in the NFL this year?

1. Buffalo Bills

  • Last Week: 24-20 win @ KC
  • Trending: —
  • This Week: Bye

The Bills offense may not have looked like the overpowering juggernaut that they’d been to start the season, but the top defense in the NFL came to play on Sunday and ultimately secured a huge road win. Buffalo rides into their bye on a high note and on top of the power rankings for another week.

2. Philadelphia Eagles

  • Last Week: 26-17 win vs. DAL
  • Trending: —
  • This Week: Bye

Things got a little dicey during the second half, but the Eagles pulled out another exciting victory over the Dallas Cowboys. All facets showed their strengths throughout this game, and man, I can’t wait to watch them again next Sund…wait they’re on bye too???

3. Kansas City Chiefs

  • Last Week: 20-24 loss vs. BUF
  • Trending: —
  • This Week: 10/23 @ SF

Things set up perfectly for Patrick Mahomes to be the hero once again against the Buffalo Bills, but this isn’t last year’s Bills defense. Sure, they gave up a 12-second field goal drive in the first half, but when it mattered most, Buffalo got the better of Mahomes this time around. Still, the Chiefs certainly have to be considered one of the two best teams in the AFC.

4. Minnesota Vikings

  • Last Week: 24-16 win @ MIA
  • Trending: —
  • This Week: Bye

It sure feels weird to put the Vikings this high considering they haven’t really dominated any opponent since Week 1, but there aren’t any obvious choices at this point. At least, we can bank on them to play an entertaining game this weekend. Wait, what? Oh, you’ve got to be kidding me.

5. New York Giants

  • Last Week: 24-20 win vs. BAL
  • Trending: +6
  • This Week: 10/23 @ JAX

Through six weeks, the New York Giants have a top-10 scoring defense, and they have one of the best rushing attacks in the NFL with Saquon Barkley. As the months wear on and the weather gets colder, this should be a sustainable way to win games in the NFC East.

6. Cincinnati Bengals

  • Last Week: 30-26 win @ NO
  • Trending: +3
  • This Week: 10/23 vs. ATL

Joe Shiesty went back to Louisiana and broke the hearts of everyone that rooted for him throughout the 2019 college football season. With a game-winning touchdown drive, he once again helped the Bengals get back on track. We’ll see if it continues against the Atlanta Falcons.

7. Los Angeles Rams

  • Last Week: 24-10 win vs. CAR
  • Trending: +5
  • This Week: Bye

It’s been an up-and-down start for the defending Super Bowl champs, but as long as they continue to beat the teams that they should, a playoff berth should be in order. I promise this is the last team on bye for the week, too.

8. Baltimore Ravens

  • Last Week: 20-24 loss @ NYG
  • Trending: -2
  • This Week: 10/23 vs. CLE

The Ravens jumped ahead of the Giants by double-digits, but this team continues to get in its own way down the stretch of games. If they ever fix these problems, they should be a playoff team, but it must happen soon.

9. Dallas Cowboys

  • Last Week: 17-26 loss @ PHI
  • Trending: -1
  • This Week: 10/23 vs. DET

The Cooper Rush magic ran out this weekend in Philadelphia. The Eagles defense got the better of Dallas’ o-line often in this game, and the Cowboys own pass-rush was not nearly as effective against Jalen Hurts as it had been in weeks past. Perhaps Cowboys fans will welcome Dak Prescott back with open arms after all.

10. Los Angeles Chargers

  • Last Week: 19-16 win vs. DEN
  • Trending: -3
  • This Week: 10/23 vs. SEA

For an offense that features Justin Herbert, Austin Ekeler, and Mike Williams, it took a muffed punt in overtime to seal the win. If the Chargers have to face anyone in a close game this year, it’s tough to feel good about them after Monday night.

11. Miami Dolphins

  • Last Week: 16-24 loss vs. MIN
  • Trending: -1
  • This Week: 10/23 vs. PIT

It’s hard to imagine that the Dolphins wouldn’t have been a more efficient offense with Tua Tagovailoa at QB rather than the combination of Teddy Bridgewater and Skylar Thompson over the past couple weeks. We’ll see if Tua proves me right this week against the Steelers.

12. San Francisco 49ers

  • Last Week: 14-28 loss @ ATL
  • Trending: -6
  • This Week: 10/23 vs. KC

Nick Bosa did not play on Sunday in Atlanta, but the lack of a Bosa wasn’t ever going to fix the fact that San Francisco could not get anything going on the ground. Jeff Wilson finished the day with seven carries for 25 yards, and he fumbled a ball in the end zone, handing Atlanta seven points.

13. Atlanta Falcons

  • Last Week: 28-14 win vs. SF
  • Trending: +8
  • This Week: 10/23 @ CIN

The Atlanta Falcons defense struggled mightily over the first two weeks of the season, but that group has really hit their stride in recent weeks. A big reason behind this emergence has been their ability to force turnovers, and suddenly Atlanta finds themselves tied for the lead in the NFC South.

14. New York Jets

  • Last Week: 27-10 win vs. GB
  • Trending: +8
  • This Week: 10/23 @ DEN

The Jets have started 4-2 for the first time since 2016, and they’ve ridden Breece Hall and a strong running game to some big wins over the past two weeks. We’ll see if this trend continues, but they’ve got a very tough stretch of games coming up.

15. New England Patriots

  • Last Week: 38-15 win @ CLE
  • Trending: +5
  • This Week: 10/24 vs. CHI

Bailey Zappe has stepped in and ignited the Patriots offense to 67 points over the past two weeks. Granted, New England has played the Lions and Browns in those games, but the way New England has dominated these two teams bodes well moving forward.

16. Indianapolis Colts

  • Last Week: 34-27 win vs. JAX
  • Trending: +2
  • This Week: 10/23 @ TEN

Indy may have finally figured out how to play a functional offense with Matt Ryan. Just in time, too, because Frank Reich’s seat was getting hotter by the week.

17. Las Vegas Raiders

  • Last Week: Bye
  • Trending: -2
  • This Week: 10/23 vs. HOU

The Raiders still feel like a team that is better than their 1-4 record suggests. If they find a way to lose to the Texans, though, they could be in for a freefall next week.

18. Seattle Seahawks

  • Last Week: 19-9 win vs. ARI
  • Trending: +7
  • This Week: 10/23 @ LAC

Geno Smith didn’t do too many special things in this game. Instead, the defense stepped up and ultimately just let the Cardinals offense beat themselves for much of the afternoon.

19. Tennessee Titans

  • Last Week: Bye
  • Trending: -2
  • This Week: 10/23 vs. IND

Prior to their bye week, the Titans had gotten back on track by rattling off three consecutive wins. With the week of rest over, it will be interesting if their hot streak continues.

20. Arizona Cardinals

  • Last Week: 9-19 loss @ SEA
  • Trending: -4
  • This Week: 10/19 vs. NO

If the Cardinals were ever going to turn it around, it has to be this week against a Saints team that may be forced to roll out Taysom Hill at QB. Even better, the offense gets DeAndre Hopkins back from his suspension.

21. Green Bay Packers

  • Last Week: 10-27 loss vs. NYJ
  • Trending: -8
  • This Week: 10/23 @ WSH

When the Packers beat Tampa Bay in Week 3, that seemed like an impressive defensive win on the road. Since then, they’ve barely escaped Bailey Zappe’s Patriots, and now have lost back-to-back games against the New York teams. Additionally, Tampa has been less than stellar since that game, too.

22. Jacksonville Jaguars

  • Last Week: 27-34 loss @ IND
  • Trending: -3
  • This Week: 10/23 vs. NYG

Jacksonville’s 2-1 start happened largely because their defense was sneakily one of the best in the NFL. On this three-game losing streak, they’ve allowed 29+ points and 400+ yards in two of the three losses. It doesn’t help that they’ve failed to force a turnover in each of the last two games after forcing eight over the first three games.

23. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

  • Last Week: 18-20 loss @ PIT
  • Trending: -9
  • This Week: 10/23 @ CAR

Hopefully Tom Brady at least had a good time at Robert Kraft’s wedding because he certainly did not have a good time on Sunday. Tampa has now scored 21 or fewer points in five of six games.

24. New Orleans Saints

  • Last Week: 26-30 loss vs. CIN
  • Trending: -1
  • This Week: 10/19 @ ARI

The Saints defense simply has not been able to make plays down the stretch of games, and that does not bode well going into a Thursday night matchup against the ever-elusive Kyler Murray on a short week.

25. Pittsburgh Steelers

  • Last Week: 20-18 win vs. TB
  • Trending: +4
  • This Week: 10/23 @ MIA

Tampa Bay looks horrible, but this was a strong showing from the Steelers defense. Kenny Pickett started the day at quarterback and played well, but he was forced to leave early in concussion protocol. In his stead, backup Mitch Trubisky had a strong showing, too. The two QBs combined to complete 20-of-30 passes for 211 yards and a pair of TDs.

26. Cleveland Browns

  • Last Week: 15-38 loss vs. NE
  • Trending: -2
  • This Week: 10/23 @ BAL

After getting off to a solid start, the Browns defense has been a real let down over the past four weeks. On top of that, Jacoby Brissett has thrown just 2 TDs compared to 4 INTs over this three-game losing streak.

27. Denver Broncos

  • Last Week: 16-19 loss @ LAC
  • Trending: -1
  • This Week: 10/23 vs. NYJ

The Broncos had -14 passing yards in the second half and overtime on Monday night and somehow still had multiple chances to win the game.

28. Washington Commanders

  • Last Week: 12-7 win @ CHI
  • Trending: +4
  • This Week: 10/23 vs. GB

Carson Wentz hits the IR this week, and that means the Taylor Heinicke show is back on. Brian Robinson might have to carry this offense on his back for the rest of the year.

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29. Detroit Lions

  • Last Week: Bye
  • Trending: -2
  • This Week: 10/23 @ DAL

The Detroit Lions didn’t play a game this weekend, and they still have allowed the most points of any team in the NFL.

30. Houston Texans

  • Last Week: Bye
  • Trending: —
  • This Week: 10/23 @ LV

The Texans finally put things together right before their bye week and got their first win of the season. Now, they head to Las Vegas for a battle of the two one-win teams in the AFC.

31. Carolina Panthers

  • Last Week: 10-24 loss @ LAR
  • Trending: —
  • This Week: 10/23 vs. TB

The Panthers are on the verge of a fire sale after losing another game. They’ve fired Matt Rhule, traded Robbie Anderson, and are now shopping Christian McCaffrey.

32. Chicago Bears

  • Last Week: 7-12 loss vs. WSH
  • Trending: -3
  • This Week: 10/24 @ NE

Well, if you didn’t enjoy this latest edition of primetime Chicago Bears, I’ve got some bad news for you this week.

Josh Frey is a Class of 2020 graduate of The College of Idaho with a bachelor’s degree in Creative Writing as well as minors in History, Human Biology, and Journalism. When he’s not writing about the NFL, Josh enjoys marathon training, playing video games, or rooting for the Milwaukee Brewers and Bucks. For more of his opinions, NFL and otherwise, check out his Twitter account: @Freyed_Chicken

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