2023 NFL Power Rankings, Week 7: No Undefeated Teams Remain, Vikings Get Back in the Win Column
Folks, we’re officially a third of the way through the NFL regular season already.
Even with so much football behind us, we may have even more questions than ever in front of us as to who can actually compete for a Super Bowl this year.
In Week 6, we saw both the Philadelphia Eagles and San Francisco 49ers fall to their opponents, meaning there are no undefeated teams left in the NFL. Meanwhile, the Chiefs and Bills also had some struggles despite their wins.
In the latest rendition of the 2023 NFL power rankings, we will try to sort through the mess that was all of this past weekend’s action.
The Super Bowl Contenders
1. Miami Dolphins
- Last Week: 42-21 win vs. CAR
- Trending: +3
- This Week: 10/22 @ PHI
It was a bit of a slow start for Miami as they fell down 14-0 early against the Panthers. However, they came roaring back in the second half and finished the game on a 42-7 run. Even without De’Von Achane, this offense continues to just roll through opponents.
2. San Francisco 49ers
- Last Week: 17-19 loss @ CLE
- Trending: -1
- This Week: 10/23 @ MIN
The 49ers had a slight hiccup on Sunday, falling to a tough Cleveland Browns defense. Considering they were without Dre Greenlaw throughout the game and lost both Christian McCaffrey and Deebo Samuel mid-game, the fact that they were a field goal away from winning is still pretty remarkable. They are still a contender if they can get their stars healthy.
3. Kansas City Chiefs
- Last Week: 19-8 win vs. DEN
- Trending: -1
- This Week: 10/22 vs. LAC
Kansas City won on Thursday night, but it was a rather underwhelming performance from their offense once again. The Chiefs have scored 25+ points in just two of their first six games, so this is becoming a bit of a trend. Lucikly, their defense remains one of the elite groups in the league.
4. Buffalo Bills
- Last Week: 14-9 win vs. NYG
- Trending: -1
- This Week: 10/22 @ NE
The Bills definitely lulled their way through the majority of this game. Then, when they finally had to go make plays to win, they got it done. Buffalo was able to get away with it against the Giants, but they won’t be able to do that very often moving forward.
5. Detroit Lions
- Last Week: 20-6 win @ TB
- Trending: +1
- This Week: 10/22 @ BAL
The Lions continue to just dominate opponents on a weekly basis, yet they remain a bit under the radar as one of the five 5-1 teams in this league. This road win was especially impressive considering they lost David Montgomery midway through the game, and they still dominated the time of possession. This week will be a big road test against the Ravens, though.
6. Philadelphia Eagles
- Last Week: 14-20 loss @ NYJ
- Trending: -1
- This Week: 10/22 vs. MIA
The Eagles’ inability to really dominate inferior opponents finally came back to bite them in Week 6. Philly is still among the class of the NFC, but they have to start converting their red zone opportunities on a regular basis. They rank 23rd in red zone TD% right now at 45.5%. I can’t move them out of this Super Bowl tier yet, but there are definitely chinks in the armor.
Strong Playoff Teams
7. Jacksonville Jaguars
- Last Week: 37-20 win vs. IND
- Trending: +1
- This Week: 10/19 @ NO
The Jaguars did exactly what they should’ve on Sunday, which was win a divisional game to put them firmly atop the AFC South by themselves. The defense created four takeaways, thus allowing Trevor Lawrence to spend most of the day on cruise control.
8. Dallas Cowboys
- Last Week: 20-17 win @ LAC
- Trending: -1
- This Week: Bye
Dallas was able to ride into their bye week on a high note behind a huge game from CeeDee Lamb and the Cowboys offense. Ultimately, their defensive letdowns kept this one close down the stretch, but of course, Micah Parsons showed up at just the right time in order to get a sack of Justin Herbert as LA tried to charge down the field for one last scoring drive.
9. Baltimore Ravens
- Last Week: 24-16 win @ TEN
- Trending: —
- This Week: 10/22 vs. DET
The Ravens are a very good team, but they continue to have struggles on the offensive side of the ball that could prove detrimental in a playoff situation. They had multiple drives stall out on Sunday when they should have been putting the final nail in the Titans’ coffin.
10. Cleveland Browns
- Last Week: 19-17 win vs. SF
- Trending: —
- This Week: 10/22 @ IND
Without Deshaun Watson in the lineup, the Browns still managed to upset who many consider to be the best team in the league right now. Of course, the injuries on San Francisco’s side helped with that as well, but we can’t take anything away from the defensive effort from Cleveland on Sunday. That unit is legit.
The “Swing” Teams
11. Los Angeles Rams
- Last Week: 26-9 win vs. ARI
- Trending: +3
- This Week: 10/22 vs. PIT
Cooper Kupp’s re-emergence in this Rams offense is exactly what they needed. In his first two games back, the All-Pro receiver has caught 15 passes for 266 yards, and he had his first touchdown reception of the season this past weekend. Their RB situation is one to keep an eye on heading into next weekend, though.
12. Cincinnati Bengals
- Last Week: 17-13 win vs. SEA
- Trending: +5
- This Week: Bye
After a slow start to the year, the Bengals seem like they are getting back on track. They’ve now won two consecutive games in very different fashion. In Week 5, the offense dominated the Arizona Cardinals, and in Week 6, they relied on a steady defensive performance to get the better of the Seattle Seahawks. It would be good to see the offense string together a few quality performances in a row, but they have a bye week to get things right.
13. Los Angeles Chargers
- Last Week: 17-20 loss vs. DAL
- Trending: -2
- This Week: 10/22 @ KC
The Chargers played a fantastic game right up until the end. Their offensive line let them down with a number of penalties in the fourth quarter, and ultimately, this one ended with a Justin Herbert interception as he tried to drag the offense down the field one more time.
14. Seattle Seahawks
- Last Week; 13-17 loss @ CIN
- Trending: -3
- This Week: 10/22 vs. ARI
Seattle’s defense did a great job of slowing down the Cincinnati offense, and Devon Witherspoon continues to look like a budding star at the cornerback position. However, Geno Smith had a couple of costly turnovers in the second half, and the offense completely sputtered out in the fourth quarter.
15. Houston Texans
- Last Week: 20-13 win vs. NO
- Trending: +6
- This Week: Bye
C.J. Stroud finally threw an interception this weekend, but it actually worked as a positive for Houston as Zach Baun promptly fumbled the INT, and it was recovered by Houston’s Tytus Howard for a new set of downs. The Texans defense didn’t play a particularly strong game, but they stepped up in big moments to get the win.
16. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Last Week: 6-20 loss vs. DET
- Trending: -3
- This Week: 10/22 vs. ATL
With each of the other NFC South teams losing on Sunday, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers had a chance to put some more distance between themselves and the rest of the pack. Instead, their offense was no match for Detroit, and the Lions cruised to a big win.
17. Green Bay Packers
- Last Week: Bye
- Trending: -1
- This Week: 10/22 @ DEN
Green Bay got a chance to rest up this week, and their bye couldn’t have come at a better time. The Packers are dealing with a number of injuries right now, including Aaron Jones, De’Vondre Campbell, Darnell Savage, and Quay Walker.
18. Pittsburgh Steelers
- Last Week: Bye
- Trending: -1
- This Week: 10/22 @ LAR
Pittsburgh comes off their bye after riding high off their victory against Baltimore in Week 6. Now, they get a chance to go on the road to beat a quality Rams team with some extra rest.
19. New Orleans Saints
- Last Week; 13-20 loss @ HOU
- Trending: -4
- This Week: 10/19 vs. JAX
The Saints piled up yards against the Texans, but they just could not make plays when it mattered. They were just 6-of-15 on third downs and 0-for-2 on fourth downs, denying them the opportunity to put together substantial drives.
20. New York Jets
- Last Week: 20-14 win vs. PHI
- Trending: +4
- This Week: Bye
The Jets defense has continuously wreaked havoc on opposing offenses all season, and Zach Wilson is finally getting his sea legs under him. If the young QB continues to progress, the Jets can still compete for a playoff spot in the AFC.
21. Indianapolis Colts
- Last Week: 20-37 loss @ JAX
- Trending: -2
- This Week: 10/22 vs. CLE
Gardner Minshew could be the starter for the rest of the season now with Anthony Richardson likely out for the year with his shoulder injury. That may not inspire much confidence in Colts fans after his 3-INT performance on Sunday against their AFC South rivals.
On the Outside Looking In
22. Minnesota Vikings
- Last Week: 19-13 win @ CHI
- Trending: —
- This Week: 10/23 vs. SF
In a lot of ways, the Minnesota Vikings proved exactly who a lot of people thought they were on Sunday. They have very little identity on the offensive side of the ball right now, and without Justin Jefferson, much of their scheme just feels stale and predictable.
23. Las Vegas Raiders
- Last Week: 21-17 win vs. NE
- Trending: +3
- This Week: 10/22 @ CHI
The Raiders were able to jump out to an early 13-3 lead on the Patriots before Jimmy Garoppolo left the game with a back injury. Brian Hoyer was able to do enough to keep them on top for the rest of the game against a paltry Patriots offense.
24. Washington Commanders
- Last Week: 24-16 win @ ATL
- Trending: +5
- This Week: 10/22 @ NYG
After their three-game losing skid, the Washington Commanders were able to get back on track this weekend with a road victory over the Falcons. They were benefited greatly by 3 interceptions from Desmond Ridder, one of which came in the red zone.
25. New York Giants
- Last Week: 9-14 loss @ BUF
- Trending: +2
- This Week: 10/22 vs. WSH
Credit the New York Giants, they did not roll over against the Bills, particularly on the defensive end. However, big problems remain with the offense. For the third time this season, they were unable to crack double-digit points, and their 11.8 points per game average is the worst in the NFL.
26. Atlanta Falcons
- Last Week: 16-24 loss vs. WSH
- Trending: -5
- This Week: 10/22 @ TB
It continues to become more and more clear on a weekly basis that Desmond Ridder may not be the answer at quarterback for the Falcons. Atlanta had every chance to win this game, but their young QB could not make the necessary plays to get it done.
27. Tennessee Titans
- Last Week: 16-24 loss vs. BAL
- Trending: -4
- This Week: Bye
Ryan Tannehill had to leave this game, meaning it was Malik Willis who got snaps to finish this one out. As a result, Tennessee largely relied on their running game as they tried to mount a comeback, but ultimately, it was too little, too late for Mike Vrabel’s crew.
28. Arizona Cardinals
- Last Week: 9-26 loss @ LAR
- Trending: -3
- This Week: 10/22 @ SEA
Once again, the Cardinals made their opponent sweat a little bit. They led this game at halftime, but a 20-0 second half in favor of the Rams handed Arizona their fifth loss of the season.
29. Chicago Bears
- Last Week: 13-19 loss vs. MIN
- Trending: -1
- This Week: 10/22 vs. LV
If Justin Fields is going to miss extended time with his hand injury, the Bears offense is going to go from bad to worse. They were already down their top two running backs this weekend, and their defense remains amongst the worst in the league despite what we saw against Minnesota.
30. Carolina Panthers
- Last Week: 21-42 loss @ MIA
- Trending: —
- This Week: Bye
Carolina jumped out to an early lead, shocklingly leading the Dolphins by 14 points at the end of the first quarter. However, they quickly reverted back to being the Panthers that we’ve seen for much of this season. They couldn’t put together long drives nor could they stop anything that the Dolphins did.
31. New England Patriots
- Last Week: 17-21 loss @ LV
- Trending: —
- This Week: 10/22 vs. BUF
The Patriots offense just has no life to it right now. Mac Jones has just one passing touchdown over the past four weeks and has not passed for more than 200 yards in any of the past three games. As they continue to deal with injuries on defense, it’s hard to imagine this team getting much better any time soon.
32. Denver Broncos
- Last Week: 8-19 loss @ KC
- Trending: —
- This Week: 10/22 vs. GB
Denver’s offense is completely out of sync right now. Even when the Chiefs played their D+ game, the Broncos couldn’t snatch a victory. They remain at the bottom of the rankings for another week.
Josh Frey is a Class of 2020 graduate of The College of Idaho and managing editor of PurplePTSD.com. When he’s not writing about the NFL, Josh enjoys running, gaming, or rooting for the Milwaukee Brewers and Bucks. Check out his Twitter account: @Freyed_Chicken.