Week 7 Power Rankings

This week's rankings are out, and as usual, they're out before anybody else will do them. I've got a new number 1, a new number 32, and not one team slipped out of the top 16. So, there is a lot of change here and there, but no team made a big jump this week from bottom half to top half. Or slipped that far either. The season gets better every week and we are getting a clearer picture as to who the contenders and pretenders are.

Let's roll....



1. Indianapolis Colts - I'm ready to anoint the Colts as the best team in the league. Yeah, the Patriots are good and I keep saying that. But screw it. The Colts are the defending champs and have played a much tougher schedule. With or without David Garrard, the Colts beat the Jags on the road and locked up the toughest division in football and we're not even in the 2nd half yet. The Pats get all the publicity because they're in Boston (yeah, I said it) and because they are really really good, but what have the Colts done wrong? Nothing. We'll see how it shakes out in week 9, but I have faith that the Colts will prove they are the better team. (Last week's ranking: 2)

2. New England Patriots - The Patriots get knocked down this week, not for doing anything wrong, but because the Colts are doing everything right. If the Pats beat the Colts in 2 weeks, I am fully confident that they will retain that top spot for the rest of the season, be the number 1 seed in the AFC, and be the favorite to win the Super Bowl. But as it is right now they play in the worst division in football and sort of have the "Boise State" affect. Don't know how to judge them until they play one of the elite teams. We'll get a preview against Washington this week, and know for sure the week after that. (1)

3. Dallas Cowboys - If not for a blocked field goal in the 3rd quarter, that would have put the Vikings ahead 17-14, the 'Boys may be taking a big slide in the power rankings this week. That's twice in the last 3 weeks that we have to question the "real-ability" of the Cowboys. If not for the miracle in Buffalo and the blocked FG yesterday, we could be looking at a 3-game losing streak for Dallas and they could easily be 3-3. Not great news for Dallas, but they are 5-1 and get a week off, so what me worry? They are still 3rd in the league in total offense despite playing 3 tough games. (4)

4. San Diego Chargers - While the Cowboys are a beneficiary of a few breaks, the Chargers are on the other side of the coin. At 3-3, they can't be too happy, but look at the AFC West standings and you'll see they are still the favorite. Beat Houston next week and they'll be in first and probably not look back. (5)

5. Tennessee Titans - Fact: They blew a 32-7 fourth quarter lead against the Houston Texans and backup quarterback Sage Rosenfels. Fact: The Titans scored only two offensive touchdowns and needed a record 8 Rob Bironas field goals to win the game. Fact: The Titans are not as good when they don't have Vince Young. All true statements and all reasons to not have the Titans ranked so high. But here a few other facts: They held the Houston offense scoreless through 3 quarters. They have a kicker who can make 8 of 8 field goals. They scored 38 points without Vince Young. I don't know why the Titans blew that huge lead, what caused it, but I know that they won without Young on the road against a divisional opponent. When Vince is back, they'll be that much more dangerous. (8)

6. Pittsburgh Steelers - So, the game that was supposed to be the leagues best running game against the leagues worst rushing defense turned into a shootout. The fact is, despite the fact that the Steelers came back and tied it, they were down 21-7 to the 2-3 Broncos at halftime and were lucky to be as close as they were. Against a slightly better offense, the Steelers would have lost by 20. (3)

7. New York Giants - I'm hearing a lot of talk now about how the Giants are the best team in the NFC. Let's not let this get out of hand, they aren't even the best team in their division. Yes, they have won 5 straight. But the combined records of those 5 teams is 10-22. The best team they beat during that stretch was 4-2 Washington, and yes, it was a key win for them. But take away the Skins and the record of their last 4 wins becomes 6-20. The Jets, Falcons, Eagles, and Niners are certainly not as good as the Giants, but that only means they are better than the really bad teams. Will they be in the hunt for a wild card and perhaps divisional playoff berth? Yes. Of course. But I'm still waiting to see if Brandon Jacobs can be the go-to guy and if Eli Manning is going to have a breakdown. (9)

8. Green Bay - The Packers had a bye week, so I don't have to say much. They need to run the ball better, and it doesn't seem like they have the answer for that problem yet. (6)

9. Jacksonville Jaguars - I can't drop them too far for losing to the Colts. Especially when they were without David Garrard. They may fall fast though. Quinn Gray is clearly not ready. His passes were all off by at least 5 yards. It was not a pretty thing to watch so they better hope Garrard is okay. They rested their entire season on him, and trusted Gray as the backup. The decision to start Garrard was good, but the decision to cut Leftwich and not replace him was a mistake. Also, when are the Jags going to start getting some flack for Matt Jones and Reggie Williams in the same way that the Lions do for Charles Rogers and Mike Williams? Those 2 guys just stink right now. (7)

10. Washington Redskins - I get to hype up my preseason sleeper pick again as the Redskins move to 4-2 on the season. It wasn't an easy win and the Cardinals had 2 very good chances to win this ball game, but they didn't and the Redskins are still in the hunt for the divisional crown. While the NFC East is still the red-headed stepchild of the AFC South, the gap is closing. This division is really good. (11)

11. Carolina Panthers - Another team I get to happily talk about since I picked them to win the NFC South in the pre-season. They are now in first place all alone and will come back next week rested and ready. The only question is "who will their QB be?" Hopefully the only answer isn't a 50-year-old. (10)

12. Seattle Seahawks - On one hand, it's a sigh of relief for Seahawks fans. I mean, they won and that should feel good right? They beat the hated Rams 33-6 and all should be well. But that was one of the worst 33-6 victories I've ever seen. Shaun Alexander still looks awful and the Hawks will still be looking for answers until the playoffs start. Oh yeah, they locked up the division. No way the Cards or Niners can get on a hot streak now. None, at all. Won't happen. (14)

13. Denver Broncos - It's been a roller coaster season for Denver, but they make a slight move up after beating the Stillers. The road to the playoffs won't be easy for the Broncos though. Upcoming schedule: Packers, at Lions, at Chiefs, Titans, at Bears, at Raiders, Chiefs, at Texans, at Chargers, Vikings. Only the Vikings, Texans, and Raiders are games that they should win (or at least be favored for.) I still know they have the talent for 10 wins and a playoff berth though, but will it show up? (16)

14. Kansas City Chiefs - Once again I must repeat that the Chiefs did in fact make the playoffs last year. They overcame an injury to Trent Green to make the playoffs last year, can they overcome an even more lackluster roster for a repeat trip? Perhaps. With the return of Priest Holmes as a spiritual motivator, and the legs of Larry Johnson as a physical motivator, anything can happen in the AFC Worst. (15)

15. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - I still say they have no shot of making the playoffs with Cadillac Williams out for the year. But Jeff Garcia is proving me wrong that he's not a very good quarterback. A decent defense and decent offense just won't be enough in my opinion. Even in the below-decent NFC South. (13)

16. Baltimore Ravens - My upset of the week pick was the Bills over the Ravens, so I shouldn't be too surprised that the Ravens are on this slide. In a "down" year, the defense is still only allowing 17 points per game. When you consider just how bad their offense is (17.7 ppg) it's easy to see how that could put added pressure on the D, and why they're 4-3. Plus there is no slouch in the North. Even the Browns are dangerous now. (12)

And the rest...

17. Cleveland Browns - On the cusp of the top half of the league for the 2nd week in the row. They get the Hawks next week. I can't wait to see Derek Anderson in action for the first time this year. (17)
18. Cincinnati Bengals - An ugly win is still a win. But the defense has now given up 20 points to the Ravens, 51 to the Browns, 27 to the Chiefs, and 31 to the Jets. Aka, start all Steelers next week, even Najeh Davenport. (20)
19. Chicago Bears - Under Rex Grossman - 11 points per game. Under Brian Griese - 26 ppg. If Grossman was the problem the whole time, then they should be among the favorites again, right? We'll see. (23)
20. Minnesota Vikings - Like I said before, they were so close to beating the Cowboys, getting to 3-3 and the top half of my rankings. Finally moving in the right direction. Now it's time to find a QB of the future. (19)
21. Detroit Lions - At 4-2 with a win over TB shouldn't I be giving the Lions more love? No. I have been a closet Lions fan for a long time and I've learned a thing or two along the way. People in Detroit know what I'm talkin' about. (24)
22. Buffalo Bills - If not for the mishap against the Cowboys, the Bills would be 3-0 under Trent Edwards and 3-3 overall. I like the Bills as a sleeper team down the stretch to get to 8 wins. (26)
23. Philadelphia Eagles - I would have never thought that they would be wanting Jeff Garcia back. (18)
24. Houston Texans - Almost beat the Titans with Sage Rosenfels as the QB. That's gotta mean something. (21)
25. New Orleans Saints - 2-4 now. I stand by my prediction that they'd miss the playoffs, even though they could start to creep up in a division where every team is on thin ice. (28)
26. Arizona Cardinals - One close Neil Rackers field goal away from staying in the division hunt. But after seeing that massive cast on Kurt Warners arm, it's just a reminder of how close Tim Rattay is from being the starter on this team for the remainder of the season. (22)
27. Oakland Raiders - At least they competed against the Chiefs. The "When will Russell" clock is ticking. (27)
28. San Francisco 49ers - ESPN's favorite sleeper team is exactly that. Asleep. Welcome to another top ten pick San fran. (25)
29. New York Jets - Still an ugly team from top to bottom, but after the Browns scored 51 on the Bengals it got them started. Maybe after putting up 31, they'll start to feel better on offense. (30)
30. Atlanta Falcons - Almost any other year this would be the worst team in the league. Michael Vick has set them back 5 years. (29)
31. St. Louis Rams - How can a winless team that just lost 33-6 actually move up in the standings? (32)
32. Miami Dolphins - When the other team is the Dolphins and they just lost their all-pro player (the only player on offense that's worth a damn) for the entire season. Starting QB is undrafted and has a 66.8 qb rating. Starting RB is undrafted and last played in 2004. Starting WR's are 31-years-old and a 3rd round sophomore named Derek Hagan with 31 career catches. Defense has allowed the most points in the league, most rushing touchdowns in the league, and 3rd most passing touchdowns in the league. What else can you say when the teams best player is their place-kicker? Dolphins have a shot at 0-16. (31)