NFL Power Rankings - Week 7
The Kansas City Chiefs take over the top spot in our Week 7 Power Rankings, but the Ravens and Steelers are right on their heels. Baltimore and Pittsburgh square off this weekend in a pivotal AFC North showdown.
Kansas City Chiefs (6-1)
When Patrick Mahomes only throws for 200 yards and a touchdown, and you still win 43-16, you know you have the complete team. A pick six and a kickoff return for touchdown aided the Chiefs effort against the Broncos. Last year’s Super Bowl champ is hungry to repeat.
Baltimore Ravens (5-1)
Baltimore moves up a spot during its bye week. The extra time off gives the Ravens a slight advantage in their upcoming clash with division rival Pittsburgh. The team also made some noise this week by signing WR Dez Bryant to the practice squad. It’s been nearly three years since he’s played a snap.
Pittsburgh Steelers (6-0)
Pittsburgh won a tight game against fellow undefeated Tennessee 27-24. It doesn’t get any easier for the Steelers as they take on the Ravens in Week 8. This should the type of physical game between these two that we’ve grown accustomed to over the years.
Seattle Seahawks (5-1)
It’s proving to be the NFC Wild West with all teams owning a winning record. Seattle drops from the top spot in the BCSC Power Rankings after an OT loss to Arizona. The Hawks face another tough matchup against San Francisco this week, winner of two straight over the Rams and Patriots.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (5-2)
The Bucs sneak inside our Top 5 after a convincing 45-20 win vs. Las Vegas. TOMpa Bay owns the highest point differential in the league. Now it adds embattled WR Antonio Brown to the mix, whose last game was early in the 2019 season when he teamed with Brady in New England for one game and netted a touchdown score.
Arizona Cardinals (5-2)
The Cards get a much-deserved bye after their thrilling win against Seattle on Sunday Night. Kyler Murray is absolutely balling out in his second year in the league and is slowly putting himself in the MVP conversation.
Buffalo Bills (5-2)
Buffalo’s victories aren’t exactly what one might call pretty, but they are wins. After a division matchup with New England, the Bills face Seattle and Arizona in consecutive weeks. That will give us a good litmus test for where this team stands.
Green Bay Packers (5-1)
Green Bay earned a good bounce-back victory over Houston after getting embarrassed by Tampa Bay the week prior. The Pack look to sweep the Vikings this week after their 43-34 win in Week 1.
Tennessee Titans (5-1)
Tennessee was down early 24-7 against Pittsburgh and fought back to make a game of it. They could use wins in the next two weeks where they’ll enter as the favorite against Cincinnati and Chicago. After that, it’s a three-game stretch where they’ll face Baltimore and their biggest threat to the AFC North division crown, Indianapolis, twice.
Cleveland Browns (5-2)
The Brown’s 37-34 back-and-forth win against division foe Cincinnati was big. This was the type of game Cleveland would have figured out a way to lose in year’s past. That said, the team was dealt a huge blow with Odell Beckham Jr.’s ACL injury and end to his season.
Indianapolis Colts (4-2)
Indianapolis is quietly having an impressive season. Coming off a bye week, the Colts face Detroit, Baltimore, Tennessee, Green Bay, and Tennessee again. That stretch will prove what this team is made of.
New Orleans Saints (4-2)
New Orleans is winner of three straight after starting 1-2. Drew Brees continues to do Drew Brees things like leading his offense on 2-minute drills before halftime and comeback wins. The Saints are always in the conversation for a deep postseason run.
Los Angeles Rams (5-2)
LA’s most relevant NFL team got its first win against a non-NFC East team vs. Chicago last week. It’s still hard to get a good gauge on this team. The second half of the season will tell the story as five of the final eight games are against divisional opponents.
Chicago Bears (5-2)
Chicago just doesn’t seem like a great team, but here they are standing at 5-2 with a win against Tampa Bay on its resume. They have a top-10, if not top-5 defense. Yet offensively, the team hasn’t seen much of an uptick since Nick Foles replaced Mitch Tribisky at QB.
San Francisco 49ers (4-3)
Last year’s NFC representative in the Super Bowl and very-near champion stands at 4-3, and is somehow in last place in its division. 2020 folks. There is a remote chance all NFC West teams make the playoffs with the new seven-team format in 2020. The Niners have won two straight and are clearly a different team when Jimmy G is at the helm.
Miami Dolphins (3-3)
The Tua Tagovailoa era is upon us. After an impressive 3-3 start for Miami, the team hit its bye week and decided to make the switch at QB from Ryan Fitzpatrick to Tua. It’s clear this Dolphins squad is a far cry from what we’ve seen in previous seasons.
Las Vegas Raiders (3-3)
After a resounding victory over the Chiefs in Week, Las Vegas had a bye week and then got throttled by the Buccaneers. The Silver and Black continue to live in mediocrity. Three straight games against AFC West teams will prove whether they are a playoff team.
Detroit Lions (3-3)
Detroit pulled out a much-needed win against Atlanta this past week. With a tough second-half schedule it will be an uphill battle for the Lions to make the dance.
Carolina Panthers (3-4)
Carolina plays Atlanta on Thursday Night and would love to snag a victory to get back to the .500 mark. RB Christian McCaffrey is nearing his return to the field after sustaining an ankle injury in Week 2.
Los Angeles Chargers (2-4)
Their jerseys still look good, and their QB Justin Herbert continues work his way into the Rookie of the Year mix.
New England Patriots (2-4)
No Tom, big problem. This Patriots’ team is unrecognizable from those we’ve seen the past two decades.
Philadelphia Eagles (2-4-1)
The best of the worst. At least for now. The Eagles pulled out a 22-21 win against the Giants. They could realistically take the division winning six or seven games.
Washington Football Team (2-5)
Washington dismantled the Cowboys in Week 7. But then again, it’s the Cowboys. The Football Team in the league’s worst division needs to take advantage of its upcoming four-game stretch – Giants, Lions, Bengals, and Cowboys again.
Denver Broncos (2-4)
Denver has three straight losing seasons and is trending in that direction again in 2020.
Cincinnati Bengals (1-5-1)
They’ve been so close all season long, but they’re looking up at three 5-win teams in the AFC North. This isn’t their year, but hope abounds in Cincinnati with Joe Burrow leading the way.
Atlanta Falcons (1-6)
You’ve heard the term “snatching defeat from the jaws of victory,” yeah? Well the Atlanta Falcons continue to perfect that craft.
Minnesota Vikings (1-5)
It’s do-or-die time in Minnesota. Packers, Lions, Bears on the docket in the next three weeks.
Houston Texans (1-6)
This is the team that was up 24-0 on the Chiefs in the divisional round of the 2019 playoffs. Since then, it’s gone sharply downhill.
Jacksonville Jaguars (1-6)
The Jags have lost six straight by an average of 12 points. That’s not a winning formula.
Dallas Cowboys (2-5)
We don’t have anything good to say about America’s Team so we won’t say anything at all. Except that Dak Prescott showed his value.
New York Giants (1-6)
The worst of the NFC’s worst.
New York Jets (0-7)
It’s a disaster fire anywhere you look in New York. The Jets are the leading candidate in the Trevor Lawrence sweepstakes.