NFL Rankings
10/18/22
13 min read
Week 7 Power Rankings: Vikings, Giants, Jets Climbing
Six weeks into the season, it’s safe to say that if you’ve been betting regularly on NFL games, you probably already have started a GoFundMe page to pay the mortgage and electric bill this winter.
Ten teams have 3-3 records, including three-quarters of the NFC West and half of the NFC South and AFC North.
The old "on any given Sunday" saying has never been more true.
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The 5-1 Bills, 6-0 Eagles and 4-2 Chiefs are 1-2-3 again this week in The 33rdTeam’s Week 7 power rankings. But, several other teams made significant jumps with impressive wins.
The 5-1 Vikings moved up five spots from nine to four following their fourth straight win, 24-16 over the 3-3 Dolphins. The surprising 5-1 Giants moved up from twelve to nine with an impressive 24-20 win over the 3-3 Ravens.
North Jersey’s other hot team, the 4-2 Jets, jumped from 24 to 17 with their biggest win of the season, 27-10 over Aaron Rodgers and the 3-3 Packers. And the 3-3 Falcons jumped from 17 to 13 after beating the 3-3 49ers, 28-14.
The Niners dropped five spots, from seven to 12. Tom Brady and the slumping 3-3 Bucs fell from six to 10 after their third loss in four games.
1. Buffalo Bills (5-1)
Previous: 1
Last week: W 24-20 at Chiefs | This week: Bye
Good news: The Bills have an NFL-best 10 interceptions, including two Sunday against the Chiefs.
Bad news: If Josh Allen keeps leaping over tacklers, he’s going to be watching the Bills’ rematch with the Chiefs in the AFC Championship Game from a hospital bed.
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2. Philadelphia Eagles (6-0)
Previous: 2
Last week: W 26-17 vs. Cowboys | This week: Bye
Good news: The Eagles have a league-high 14 takeaways and just two giveaways. They’re the only team in the league that hasn’t lost a fumble.
Bad news: With the exception of kicker Jake Elliott, their special teams are a concern. They gave up a 63-yard kickoff return Sunday, and their return game has contributed nothing to their 6-0 start. They’re last in kick-return average (15.0) and 25th in punt-return average (6.5).
3. Kansas City Chiefs (3-3)
Previous: 3
Last week: L 20-24 vs. Bills | This week: at 3-3 49ers
Good news: JuJu Smith-Schuster had his best game with the Chiefs. He had his first touchdown catch and his first 100-yard receiving game.
Bad news: The Chiefs have a league-worst 107.5 opponent passer rating. They’ve given up a league-high 15 touchdown passes, including three to Allen on Sunday.
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4. Minnesota Vikings (5-1)
Previous: 9
Last week: W 24-16 at Dolphins | This week: Bye
Good news: They forced three Dolphin turnovers and have 10 in their first six games.
Bad news: A week after converting 12-of-15 third downs against the Bears, they were 2-for-12 on third down against the Dolphins.
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5. Baltimore Ravens (3-3)
Previous: 4
Last week: L 20-24 at Giants | This week: vs. 2-4 Browns
Good news: The Ravens rushed for 211 yards against the Giants and have averaged 174.2 yards per game on the ground in their last five games.
Bad news: Lamar Jackson had two killer turnovers in the final three minutes, costing the Ravens the game.
6. Cincinnati Bengals (3-3)
Previous: 8
Last week: W 30-26 at Saints | This week: vs. 3-3 Falcons
Good news: Joe Burrow is hitting his stride. Since that four-interception Week 1 fiasco vs. the Steelers, he’s thrown just one pick and 10 TDs, including three against the Saints.
Bad news: The Saints rushed for 228 yards against the Bengals. Last week, the Ravens put up 155. Call the gap-control police.
7 . Dallas Cowboys (4-2)
Previous: 5
Last week: L 17-26 at Eagles | This week: vs. 1-4 Lions
Good news: They won four of five with Cooper Rush at quarterback. But getting Dak Prescott back this week will give the offense a huge lift.
Bad news: They were held to 81 first half yards by the Eagles, and fell behind 20-3.
8. Los Angeles Chargers (4-2)
Previous: 10
Last week: W 19-16 vs. Broncos | This week: vs. 3-3 Seahawks
Good news: Missing several key starters, they won their third straight game and moved into a first-place tie with the Chiefs in the AFC West.
Bad news: The Chargers had five offensive holding penalties vs. the Broncos.
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9. New York Giants (5-1)
Previous: 12
Last week: W 24-20 vs. Ravens | This week: at 2-4 Jaguars
Good news: Wink Martindale’s defense is the real deal. It hasn’t given up more than 23 points in a game yet this season.
Bad news: Daniel Jones’ wide receiving corps leaves an awful lot to be desired.
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10. Tampa Bay Bucs (3-3)
Previous: 6
Last week: L 18-20 at Steelers | This week: at 1-5 Panthers
Good news: Tom Brady has thrown just one interception, and that was way back in Week 1.
Bad news: The Bucs have scored more than 21 points once in six games. Brady has just one multiple-touchdown game.
11. Los Angeles Rams (3-3)
Previous: 13
Last week: W 24-10 vs. Panthers | This week: Bye
Good news: Allen Robinson hasn’t lived up to expectations since signing with the Rams, but had his best game Sunday, catching five passes for 63 yards and his second touchdown.
Bad news: Matthew Stafford has a minus-two touchdown-to-interception differential.
12. San Francisco 49ers (3-3)
Previous: 7
Last week: L 14-28 at Falcons | This week: vs. 4-2 Chiefs
Good news: Welcome to the NFC West, where a .500 record will get you a seat in first class.
Bad news: They gave up 168 rushing yards to the Falcons after holding their first five opponents to an average of 71.4.
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13. Atlanta Falcons (3-3)
Previous: 19
Last week: W 28-14 vs. 49ers | This week: at 3-3 Bengals
Good news: The Falcons have averaged 175 rushing yards per game in their last four games. They’re 3-1 in those four games.
Bad news: The defense has just eight sacks. That’s the second-fewest in the league.
14. Miami Dolphins (3-3)
Previous: 11
Last week: L 16-24 vs. Vikings | This week: vs. 2-4 Steelers
Good news: Tua Tagovailoa cleared concussion protocol and is expected to play this week against the Steelers.
Bad news: Miami’s ground game hasn’t been very productive. The Dolphins are averaging a meager 81.2 yards per game on the ground.
15. Tennessee Titans (3-2)
Previous: 15
Last week: Bye | This week: vs. 3-2-1 Colts
Good news: They have bounced back from an 0-2 start with three straight wins, though they’ve been by a combined 13 points against non-winning teams.
Bad news: The Titans have scored just 14 points in the second half this season, the fewest in the NFL. Derrick Henry, who used to be impossible to bring down in the second half, has just 94 yards on 41 carries after intermission.
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16. Indianapolis Colts (3-2-1)
Previous: 17
Last week: W 34-27 vs. Jaguars | This week: at 3-2 Titans
Good news: Matt Ryan had his first game with at least three touchdowns and no interceptions since Week 4 of last season.
Bad news: The Colts have been outscored 115-58 in the first three quarters.
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17. New York Jets (4-2)
Previous: 24
Last week: W 27-10 at Packers | This week: at 2-4 Broncos
Good news: The Jets have one of the league’s fastest defenses. They have seven interceptions and have held opponents to 3.9 yards per carry on the ground. They held the Packers’ Aaron Jones and A.J. Dillon to a season-low combined 60 yards on Sunday.
Bad news: The offense converted just one of 11 third-down opportunities against the Packers. Zach Wilson has a 48.3 passer rating on third down. Last year, it was just 66.0.
18. Denver Broncos (2-4)
Previous: 18
Last week: L 16-19 at Chargers | This week: vs. 4-2 Jets
Good news: The Broncos have held five of their six opponents under 20 points.
Bad news: Russell Wilson’s struggles continued. After completing all 10 of his first-quarter passes, he was 5-for-18 for 72 yards the rest of the game.
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19. Green Bay Packers (3-3)
Previous: 14
Last week: L 10-27 vs. Jets | This week: at 2-4 Commanders
Good news: The Packers lead the NFL in third-down defense (26.6%) and held the Jets to one third-down conversion in 11 opportunities. And still lost by 17 points.
Bad news: Aaron Rodgers has averaged just 5.8 yards per attempt in back-to-back losses to the Giants and Jets.
20. Las Vegas Raiders (1-4)
Previous: 20
Last week: Bye | This week: vs. 1-3-1 Texans
Good news: They took the Chiefs to the limit in Week 5.
Bad news: Their defense has given up 11 touchdown passes and has just eight sacks in five games. Only two are by someone not named Maxx Crosby.
21. New England Patriots (3-3)
Previous: 23
Last week: W 38-15 at Browns | This week: vs. 2-4 Bears
Good news: The Patriots have scored 67 points in Bailey Zappe’s first two NFL starts.
Bad news: Those starts were against the Lions and the Browns.
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22. Arizona Cardinals (2-4)
Previous: 16
Last week: L 9-19 at Seahawks | This week: vs. 2-4 Saints
Good news: DeAndre Hopkins’ six-game suspension is over. Maybe he’ll kickstart their 19-points-a-game offense.
Bad news: They failed to score an offensive touchdown against a Seahawks' defense that had given up 80 points the previous two weeks to the Saints and Lions.
23. Seattle Seahawks (3-3)
Previous: 27
Last week: W 19-9 vs. Cardinals | This week: at 4-2 Chargers
Good news: Geno Smith’s 108.0 passer rating is 25.2 points higher than Russell Wilson’s (prior to Monday Night Football). Just sayin’.
Bad news: The Cardinals are only the second team they’ve held to less than 27 points.
24. Jacksonville Jaguars (2-4)
Previous: 22
Last week: L 27-34 at Colts | This week: vs. 5-1 Giants
Good news: They’ve been in every game. None of their four losses have been by more than eight points.
Bad news: Jags are 24th in third-down defense (43.4%). Opposing QBs have a 105.9 passer rating against them on third down.
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25. Chicago Bears (2-4)
Previous: 21
Last week: L 7-12 vs. Commanders | This week: at 3-3 Patriots
Good news: The Bears' passing game is struggling, but their run game is averaging 5.2 yards per carry. QB Justin Fields has 18 rushing first downs.
Bad news: Fields seldom makes it past his first progression because of the awful protection he’s getting from his line. He has thrown just two touchdown passes and has been sacked 21 times in the last five games.
26. New Orleans Saints (2-4)
Previous: 26
Last week: L 26-30 vs. Bengals | This week: at 2-4 Cardinals
Good news: The Saints have rushed for 463 yards in their last two games, including 227 against the Bengals.
Bad news: The defense is giving up 6.6 more points per game this season than a year ago.
27. Washington Commanders (2-4)
Previous: 30
Last week: W 12-7 at Bears | This week: vs. 3-3 Packers
Good news: Their pass rush has been their saving grace. They’re tied for third in sacks with 19, including 10 in the last two games.
Bad news: They’ve lost their struggling QB Carson Wentz for 4-6 weeks with an injury to his throwing hand. Given that they’ve scored just 47 points in the last four games, though, this could turn out to be a blessing in disguise. I mean, can they play any worse with Taylor Heinecke in there?
28. Pittsburgh Steelers (2-4)
Previous: 31
Last week: W 20-18 vs. Bucs | This week: at 3-3 Dolphins
Good news: A defense that had given up 91 points in the previous three games held Tom Brady and the Bucs to one touchdown. Go figure.
Bad news: Najee Harris is averaging 3.2 yards per carry.
29. Houston Texans (1-3-1)
Previous: 28
Last week: Bye | This week: at 1-4 Raiders
Good news: The Texans have given up just four TD passes all season; only one of the last four QBs they’ve faced has had a completion percentage above 54.0.
Bad news: They’ve scored eight offensive touchdowns in five games.
30. Detroit Lions (1-4)
Previous: 29
Last week: Bye | This week: at 4-2 Cowboys
Good news: Even though they’ve got just one win, the Lions are third in the league in scoring average (28.0 points per game).
Bad news: Their run defense is really, really bad. They’re 31st in yards allowed per carry (5.5) and have held just one team to less than 120 rushing yards.
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31. Cleveland Browns (2-4)
Previous: 25
Last week: L 15-38 vs. Patriots | This week: at 3-3 Ravens
Good news: Nick Chubb is averaging 5.9 yards per carry and leads the league in rushing.
Bad news: With oft-injured Jadeveon Clowney missing three of the first six games, the Browns have just 11 sacks.
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32. Carolina Panthers (1-5)
Previous: 32
Last week: L 10-24 at Rams | This week: vs. 3-3 Bucs
Good news: Chuba Hubbard and D’Onta Foreman will soon be getting bigger workloads. That’s good news for them, at least.
Bad news: The Panthers are last in the league in total offense (just 260 yards per game) and 28th in scoring (17.2 points per game).
