NFL Power Rankings Week 7: Is KC back, are the Colts for Real

Is Kansas City back? Are the Colts for real? Why are the Jets so bad? All this and more in the NFL Power Rankings Week 7!

1. INDIANAPOLIS COLTS (5-1): I’ve been resisting ranking Indy this high, but I can’t deny them any longer. Daniel Jones leads the #1 scoring offense and #4 overall offense in the league. Jones and Jonathan Taylor came up big in the 4th quarter of the comeback win.
2. DETROIT LIONS (4-2): Tough loss against Kansas City. The ground game never got going, and the offense didn’t look in sync. I’ll consider this just a bump in the road against a battle tested and desperate team. Another big test this week at home against the Bucs.
3. TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS (5-1): Baker Mayfield is playing at an MVP level despite continuing to lose talent around him to injury. Tampa Bay was already without Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, and Bucky Irving, then rookie Emeka Egbuka left the game in the 2nd half with a hamstring injury.v
4. BUFFALO BILLS (4-2): Despite Josh Allen throwing two interceptions and questions at receiver, the offense will be fine. The defense, however, continues to get gashed by big plays – particularly on the ground.
5. PHILADELPHIA EAGLES (4-2): Ugly game from start to finish. The passing offense was useful, but Saquon Barkley’s struggles continue (one game with over 60 rushing yards; averaging 3.4 yards per carry). The defense let rookie running back Cam Skattebo have a DAY (98 rushing yards, 3 rushing touchdowns).
6. GREEN BAY PACKERS (3-1-1): Jordan Love was efficient, but Josh Jacobs continues to show he is the engine that drives this offense. Top ten offense and defense, with room to improve.
7. SEATTLE SEAHAWKS (4-2): Seattle is the only team that ranks in the top four in DVOA in every phase of the game. Why does the coaching staff insist on giving Zach Charbonnet high value touches when Ken Walker is better and more explosive?
8. DENVER BRONCOS (4-2): The offense struggled, netting only 246 yards of total offense, but the defense was on another level. They held the Jets offense to only 82 total yards and minus 10 yards passing – thanks to a ridiculous 9 sacks.
9. SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS (4-2): Already dealing with a mountain of injuries, you can Fred Warner to the list of starters on the shelf in San Francisco. Can Mac Jones and Kyle Shanahan keep this team afloat until they get some starters back?
10. LOS ANGELES RAMS (4-2): It was an ugly first half for the Rams, but they were able to handle a Lamar Jackson-less Ravens offense. Will Puka Nacua miss any time due to the ankle injury he sustained in the 2nd quarter against Baltimore?
11. WASHINGTON COMMANDERS (3-3): In a roller coaster game where both teams played well enough to win, the difference came down to turnovers. Washington lost two fumbles, and Jayden Daniels threw 1st quarter interception. The defense hasn’t been very good.
12. KANSAS CITY CHIEFS (3-3): Patrick Mahomes looked as good as he has all season, and was in complete control throughout. Mahomes accounted for four total touchdowns, and Kansas City handled Detroit on both sides of the ball.
13. NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (4-2): Drake Maye threw three touchdown passes, and had arguably his best game of the season. Maye needs help from his running backs though. Rhamondre Stevenson again led the team in carries, but averaged only 1.4 yards per carry and was a non-factor in the passing game.
14. JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS (4-2): Trevor Lawrence was sacked a season high seven times and was running for his life all day. This is a rising, but inconsistent team. Where’s Travis Hunter?
15. LOS ANGELES CHARGERS (4-2): Kimani Vidal had a breakout game with 138 total yards and a touchdown. The defense picked off Tua three times, but saw De’Von Achane run all over them, and let Miami take the lead with under a minute left. The Chargers are lucky they played against the 2nd worst defense in the NFL.
16. PITTSBURGH STEELERS (4-1): The defense played well, sacking rookie QB Dillon Gabriel six times and shutting down rookie sensation RB Quinshon Judkins (12 carries, 36 yards). Aaron Rodgers played well and got the win, but the offense going 5 of 13 on 3rd down, and the team committing 10 penalties is unacceptable.
17. ATLANTA FALCONS (3-2): Big plays galore against the Bills defense, and another huge game by Running back Bijan Robinson. Nice win coming out of the bye week.
18. MINNESOTA VIKINGS (3-2): *Minnesota had a bye week*
19. CHICAGO BEARS (3-2): The stars in this one were starting running back D’Andre Swift and replacement kicker Jake Moody. Swift complied 175 total yards and a touchdown, while Moody scored more than half of Chicago’s points (4 of 5 on field goals, 1 of 1 extra points). Chicago has won three straight games.
20. HOUSTON TEXANS (2-3): *Houston had a bye week*
21. CAROLINA PANTHERS (3-3): Rico Dowdle has been running like a man possessed these last two games. Chuba Hubbard goes down with injury, and all Dowdle has done is run for almost 400 yards. Carolina’s top ten run defense held Javonte Williams to just 29 yards on 13 carries.
22. DALLAS COWBOYS (2-3-1): Dak Prescott threw three more touchdown passes against the Panthers, and now has thrown 10 in his last three games. Dallas has only one win to show for it. Dallas ranks 32nd in total defense and passing defense, and 31st in points per game allowed.
23. NEW YORK GIANTS (2-4): Big division win for coach Brian Daboll and Co. Jaxson Dart has played well thus far, and Cam Skattebo is looking more and more like a steal. The defense did a great job forcing two turnovers and holding Philly to 1/9 on 3rd down conversions.
24. ARIZONA CARDINALS (2-4): This is the 2nd straight game Arizona has coughed up a 4th quarter lead. Kyler Murray missed the game due to injury, and Marvin Harrison Jr. left with an injury in the 2nd quarter – and yet the passing game surpassed 300 yards for the first time this season.
25. BALTIMORE RAVENS (1-5): The defense played better, holding the Rams to under 250 total offensive yards. The offense without Lamar Jackson is a complete mess. Cooper Rush played poorly again, turning the ball over twice and passing for only 72 yards. Time to roll with Tyler Huntley until Jackson is back?
26. CINCINNATI BENGALS (2-4): When Trey Hendrickson went down in the 2nd quarter with an injury, and Joe Flacco finished the 1st half with less than 15 passing yards, it looked like the game was already over. Kudos to Cincy for not mailing it, but the defense was disappointing yet again.
27. LAS VEGAS RAIDERS (2-4): The offense is a hindrance every week, but the defense came through in this one. Maxx Crosby led the way with two sacks, and the Raiders shut out Tennessee until the last minute of the 3rd quarter. Vegas held the Titans to 225 total yards, and forced three turnovers in addition to six sacks.
28. MIAMI DOLPHINS (1-5): The defense is atrocious, and Tua had a bad game. He has now thrown seven interceptions in just six games, a total that took him 11 games to reach last year. It’s never good when your quarterback airs out the team’s dirty laundry to the press and calls out team leadership. Mike McDaniel has one foot out the door.
29. NEW ORLEANS SAINTS (1-5): Spencer Rattler was unable to get the offense into the end zone, and Kamara struggled again. Kicker Blake Grupe has now made eight field goals the last two games, and accounted for 13 plus points in back-to-back contests.
30. CLEVELAND BROWNS (1-5): Cleveland is wasting a really good defense by having the worst scoring offense in the NFL (averaging 13.7 points scored per game!). Is Kevin Stefanski on the hot seat?
31. TENNESSEE TITANS (1-5): After another dismal game where rookie QB Cam Ward suffered a bunch of sacks and he failed to top 200 yards passing (again), head coach Brian Callahan has been let go. It had to be done. They probably should’ve let him go back in March, but it’s better late than never.
32. NEW YORK JETS (0-6): Well…there’s only one way to go when you’ve hit rock bottom! Justin Fields threw for 45 yards, was sacked nine times, and finished with minus 10 yards passing (lowest in franchise history). It was reported that Garrett Wilson is going to miss at least a couple of games due to injury.