Power Rankings - Season 62 - Week 7
by adelfish | 4 years ago | 0 Comments
Season 62 - Week 7 Power Rankings
#32 - Houston Texans (1-5)
Yeah, it's bad. The only win of the season came against the Steelers a few weeks ago, but then losses to the Vikings and Jaguars, and a 44-7 thumping from the Titans solidifies them as the worst team in the league. Texans quarterbacks have thrown 3 touchdowns and 12 interceptions, and Deshaun Watson is on pace to throw about 6 touchdowns on the season. Yikes. At least they have their 1st and 2nd round pi-
#31 - Minnesota Vikings (1-5)
The worst offense in the league has thrown 3 touchdown passes and 16 interceptions in 6 games, and with all that aside, the defense has kept them in games. Losses to the Titans and Falcons by a touchdown stings, but their offense simply is too putrid through the air to compete. Dalvin Cook is enjoying a nice season, despite a low yardds per carry. This season is about figuring out the future, and it likely with start with Coach Eikim jettisoning Kirk Cousins.
#30 - Kansas City Chiefs (1-5)
So far this has been a catastrophic failure on every level, as the Chiefs surrendered draft picks to improve their defense this preseason, and it currently ranks as the worst pass defense in Red Zone. After starting 1-0 against Houston, the Chiefs have lost five straight, including back to back embarassments against Las Vegas and Buffalo in which they were completely exposed. Patrick Mahomes has thrown 16 interceptions in 6 games, and the Chiefs offense is currently ranked 19th in scoring. Not sure how it can get much worse for a team that had such high expectations.
#29- Chicago Bears (2-4)
Surprise! Not really, the Bears are exactly who we thought they would be. Slogging, mediocre offense, with a talented defense that can't compensate for the aforementioned inept offense. The Trubisky/Foles experiment is derailing rapidly, and the rushing attack has proven to be one of the worst in the league. They'll be able to hang their hats on that Colts win in Week 4 and remind us that is their 'potential'.
#28- Cincinnati Bengals (1-5)
Yes, as expected, the defense is pitiful. We knew the Bengals were looking ahead after trading Geno Atkins and A.J. Green, but this team has been surprisingly frisky and fun to watch, despite the 1-5 record. The offense is good, with Joe Mixon having a really nice start to the year, and Joe Burrow being effective, albeit turnover prone. This is going to be an exciting team to watch the rest of the year, and a sleeper for next year - 3 of their 5 losses have been by a touchdown or less.
#27- Miami Dolphins (2-4)
Everything changed when they traded the Houston 1st round pick (which is proving to be the most valuable asset in Red Zone) for Von Miller . They went from 'cute little club' to a team that believed it could compete for the AFC East. Miller has been good, but the Dolphins are proving us right, in that this roster simply isn't good enough. The arrogance to sit Tua Tagovailoa for an entire preseason is also rearing it's ugly head, as the highly touted rookie has 4 touchdowns and 10 interceptions in 6 games.
#26- Carolina Panthers (2-4)
Not sure what to think of the Panthers after their 24-8 victory over the hapless Bears. They had a great Week 1 win over the Raiders, then dropped close games to good teams like the Chargers and Cardinals, then get blown out by Atlanta. As expected, the young defense is going through their growing pains, and the offense is still trying to find it's footing. Positive? D.J. Moore is really good, and he is the only Carolina wide receiver to catch a touchdown pass.
#25- Pittsburgh Steelers (2-4)
They've had some great highs, and some very bad lows. Under a new coaching staff, you can expect to see a rollercoaster of a season, as we predicted. The win over the Titans was huge, proving that this team has a very bright future, but then getting blown out by Denver and Houston (!) shows this team still has a lot to learn. Big plus? Their last two games, they've lost by 4 points or less, and quarterback Jake Fromm is in serious contention for Rookie of the Year.
#24- Los Angeles Rams (2-4)
Big win for Jim and the Rams against their rival 49ers, as they have been playing a lot better since their dreaful three game start to the season. Still a lot of work to be done on offense, as the musical chairs between Jared Goff and John Wolford continues, and they have been unable to get rookie running back Cam Akers going. A remedy lies ahead, as the Rams face the Bears and Dolphins back to back, and they could easily be sitting at .500 this time in two weeks.
#23 - Detroit Lions (2-3)
The Litterbox was certainly thrilled with the beginning of the RFox era, with a shocking 2-1 start with wins over the Bears and Cardinals, and a great effort in a loss to the Packers in Week 2. Since then, 2 losses in a row (with one being a blowout loss to the Saints), and now a game against Atlanta that Matthew Stafford will miss due to suspension. The offense needs to figure out a formula, as the run game has been ineffective, and the passing offense mediocre. The defense on the other hand has been solid, with the new-look secondary currently ranked 10th in the league in pass yards allowed.
#22 - Cleveland Browns (2-4)
What a rollercoaster the last month has been for the Browns...they could easily have 2 more wins, or 2 more losses. They lost to Washington by 3, lost to Dallas by 1, allowed a heartbreaking final minute touchdown to the Colts to lose by 4, then scratched out a 1 point win over Pittsburgh. So...yeah. The offense has not been good enough, especially quarterback Baker Mayfield. Can Prewitt find a way to get some wins? This roster is too talented to be losing close game after close game.
#21 - New York Giants (2-4)
Don't look now, but the Giants have a little 2 game winning streak on their hands after the 0-4 start, both of the victories coming against NFC East opponents. Let's remember one thing, this roster is not talented, but Beech has them playing well. A heartbreaking 13-10 loss against San Francisco haunts them, but then losses to Chicago and the Rams...those remind us how far away this team is. The formula to win is here, as Saquon Barkley has accounted for 251 yards and 3 touchdowns during the 2 game win streak, can he continue his success against Philadelphia?
#20 - Atlanta Falcons (3-3)
Of all the teams that are 3-3, these guys are the most fraudulent. It's simple really, they have enough talent to beat bad teams (Minnesota, Chicago, Carolina), and they aren't good enough to compete with good teams (Seattle, Green Bay, Dallas). Alex Mack was just placed on the trade block, signaling that their coaching staff knows this too. They are doing what we though, in that Matt Ryan is throwing for a bunch of yards and touchdowns, but they don't score enough points.
#19 - Washington Football Team (3-3)
Coach Snyder has this team competing, and has this offense flying high. Despite a high amount of interceptions thrown from Haskins, this passing offense has been very effective, currently ranked top 10 in the leauge. Washington has a big upset already early in the season (Arizona), but then a big disappointment last week against the Giants, where the defense allowed Daniel Jones and company to score 51 points. It's what we will likely see all year from them, ups and downs, on their way to 8 or 9 wins.
#18 - San Francisco 49ers (3-3)
Really, really shocking start to the season for Ernest and his 49ers, with losses to Arizona and the Jets. They rattled off 3 straight close wins to trick us all, then fell to the Rams 24-17. So, what is this team? They are very solid defensively, ranked top ten in all categories, and are a top 5 rush attack. The pass attack is desiged right now to not make mistakes, and it is apparent. The 49ers are currently protecting their quarterback from losing the game for them. In my belief, the way they currently operate is not sustainable, and they will not continue to win close games. They need to find a way to involve Jimmy Garoppolo and this passing offense.
#17 - Dallas Cowboys (3-3)
Throw out the blowout loss to the Seahawks, and you have a team that finds ways to lose games it is in. The losses to Arizona and New York were close games, where this team can't find a way to get a stop defensively, or put one more scoring drive together. Of their 3 wins, their most impressive one was a 1 point win over Cleveland. Maybe we overrated the Cowboys? Right now with all this talent, they currently have the worst run defense in Red Zone, and have stars like Ezekiel Elliott and Amari Cooper underperforming. Big games against Washington and Philly lie ahead.
#16 - New York Jets (4-3)
Really hard to find the right spot for the Jets. They have some very, very, promising positives about their season. Sam Darnold and this offense has found ways to score, and is currently producing high yardage amounts. Their 3-0 start, with wins over Buffalo, San Francisco, and Indianapolis is very impressive. Since then? 1-3, with all 3 losses being double digit losses. This is what we feared, that as the season continued, the rest of the talented teams will catch up with the Jets, because at some point you can't out-coach everyone when you don't have the horses. A 12 point loss to the Bills last night showed us that the Jets still have a ton of work to do, despite Coach Mojica coaching his butt off.
#15 - Seattle Seahawks (3-3)
As I write this, Seattle leads Arizona 15-10 in the 3rd quarter...and I really don't care how that game ends. I don't think Seattle is very good. Throw out the Dallas game, this is a 2-2 football team with wins over Atlanta and Minnesota, and losses to Miami (!!) and New England, and the Patriots game was a complete debacle. The defense has been very solid, one of the top ranking scoring defenses, but this team is still far too consistent to be considered a contender in the NFC.
**EDIT** - During the writing of this the Seahawks blew it and lost in OT...told you!
#14 - Denver Broncos (3-3)
What a time to be alive. Astin and the Denver Broncos have limped their way to a 3-3 start, but you can bet they aren't going away anytime soon. With a very strong defensive showing, and a heavy dose of Royce Freeman, the Broncos have managed to become a grind-it-out kind of football team, as the inept Drew Lock continues to struggle. Denver has a real good shot at winning their next two games, against Kansas City and Atlanta, before a really tough stretch of their schedule begins. Their defense can keep them in every game, Coach Astin needs to find a way to become more balanced on offense, and for pete's sake, get Jerry Jeudy involved!
#13 - Jacksonville Jaguars (4-2)
I rarely am surprised with Red Zone anymore, but this is really giving me the shakes. After an 0-2 start, everybody wrote off Pat and hs Jaguars, only for them to rattle off 4 consecutive wins, and watching as an offense full of unknowns becomes a top ten unit. My big concern right now is that the Jaguars have yet to beat anyone who I consider a 'big win'. Wins against Houston, Detroit, Cincinnati and Miami are fun, but I still get worried about them long term against tougher AFC opponents. Their biggest test is next week, versus the Los Angeles Chargers. Can Leonard Fournette continue his resurgence against that stout defense?
#12 - New England Patriots (3-2)
How long can they keep it up? That is my question, coming off the biggest win in Coach Glenn's history over Astin and the Denver Broncos. The defense is exactly what we thought, save for the debacle Week 1 in Miami, the Patriots pass defense is currently ranked #1 in football. The flipside, is the pass offense is currently ranked #32. The lack of weapons, and the amount of turnovers for Cam, is really limiting their production. Glenn needs to lean on his effective rushing attack, and keep the ball in his hands. The defense has done enough to prove they can win games on their own.
#11 - Las Vegas Raiders (3-2)
Pretty impressed by what this Raiders team has managed to do, especially after the disappointing Week 1 loss to Carolina. Three big wins against New England, Kansas City, and New Orleans, and a tough 3 point loss to Buffalo. Derek Carr is enjoying a nice start to his season, thanks in big part to rookie wideout Henry Ruggs, who's 8 touchdowns and game breaking speed has brought a terrifying element to this offense.
#10 - Green Bay Packers (3-2)
They're going to win the NFC North, they're fine. It is concerning to me that the only two games in which they have played teams with winning records, they lost by double digit points. I have no concerns about the defense, which is currently one of the best groups in the league, but the offense, especially in the game against Tampa, makes me worry about this team's success come postseason time. Rodgers finished with 0 touchdowns and 3 turnovers in the loss, mustering only 13 offensive points...yikes. Luckily, the Packers get a shot in the arm in the form of the Houston Texans this week!
Is there any coach that has a more impressive start to their cycle then Spencer? All things considered from last year, the fact that he has defeated the Buccaneers and Packers this early on in the season deserves a round of applause, but the 36-19 loss to the Chargers has left a bitter taste in my mouth. This 3-2 start has been fueled by great defense, and efficient offense. The book is out on the Saints, if you can force them into mistakes, they will likely fall. Can Spencer remain disciplined, and push for his first ever postseason appearence?
4-2, with a lethal wide receiver duo of A.J. Green and T.Y. Hilton combining for 11 touchdowns, and a dynamic duo of running backs. Why am I not more excited? The Colts lost two in a row, to the lowly Bears and the Jets, and needed a last minute touchdown drive to knock off the Browns. They seem to still be finding their footing, but the great news is they have already won 4 games during that time. If this passing offense can continue it's success, and start limiting turnovers, this team is going to be very difficult to stop. An absolutely brutal stretch of games is ahead (Titans 2x, Ravens, Packers).
#7 - Los Angeles Chargers (4-2)
I love the Chargers defense, especially with a coach like Ian Johns at the helm, this unit is going to be scary for a long time. They have done a great job in shutting down offenses like New Orleans, Tampa Bay, and the Jets. I am worried about this team's upside with the offense, especially with the way Justin Herbert has been playing. Managing 14 points against a Jets defense that has been porous really raised an eyebrow for me. I think this team wins the AFC West, but unless Herbert starts to improve, I think this could be a quick playoff exit team.
#6 - Philadelphia Eagles (4-2)
In an article that well documented the Eagles' struggles, 'Eagles Daily' told us that without the presence of Jalen Reagor and Miles Sanders, this offense struggles to make big plays. Against San Francisco and Baltimore, the Eagles wide receivers were blanketed, and the run game ineffective. The defense has been as advertised, but I struggle to see how the Eagles will be able to make a deep playoff run with an inconsistent offense. Getting healthy will help show us if this offense can compete with the other top NFC teams.
#5 - Buffalo Bills (5-2)
A lot has been said about the Bills defense, and the improvement of Josh Allen during their two game win streak against Kansas City and the Jets, and those takes are 100% accurate. The defense is really stout, with a great secondary and strong pass rush, while Josh Allen continues to improve each week. The 27-17 loss to Tennessee two weeks ago raised some questions about Buffalo's ability to compete with top AFC teams, allowing over 150 rushing yards in the loss. I love Buffalo's roster, but I still feel as though their inexperience and youth will be their downfall come January.
#4 - Arizona Cardinals (5-2)
The emergence of a run game as strong as this one, has fueled the Cardinals 5-2 start, nearly 1000 rushing yards as a team through just 7 games, including an overtime thriller against Seattle. The defense is still learning on the fly, but the addition of Matthew Judon has helped the pass rush (4 sacks). Currently on a 4 game win streak, the Cardinals head into their bye week 1st place in the NFC West. Their biggest challenge lies ahead, with the stout Bills defense in Week 10.
An early Week 1 loss to New Orleans didn't phase them, as the Bucs have rallied off 5 straight since, including a very convincing 27-13 win over Green Bay, a game in which the offense didn't even play well. The Bucs are proving how balanced they are, ranking top ten in both offense and defense, a formula for success come playoff time. They have to find a way to limit turnovers, as Brady currently has more interceptions than touchdown passes, as this could be their undoing come January. As we predicted earlier this year, this is the best chance Tauph has had in his career to win a ring.
If not for the way the Titans have been winning games convincingly, the Ravens could be #1, so this is no shot at what they've done. Throw out the Week 1 game against Cleveland, although that game may matter come seeding time, and the Ravens have been great. Huge wins over Washington and Philadelphia proved that this defense can play with anyone, as the savvy acquisition of Joe Haden makes this one of the deepest secondaries. Find a way to limit turnovers from Lamar Jackson, and the sky is the limit for this team.
We knew that the Titans would rely on a heavy dosage of Derrick Henry, but we did not know it would be this successful. The frontrunner for MVP, Coach Roc's offense has been structured around his top back's skillset, and Henry has accounted for 13 touchdowns and 759 yards in 6 games. I put them at #1 because their lone hiccup of the year against Pittsburgh, was a 1 point loss. This team is deep, and built for playoff success. A 44-7 dismantling of the Texans last night shows how legit this team is, but everyone will be looking to Weeks 10 and 12, where the Titans play the Colts twice in three weeks.