NFL: WEEK 7 Power Rankings
Last week’s rankings in parenthesis
1. Rams 6-0 (1): After dominating the Broncos, Todd Gurley is on pace for 1,661 yards and 24 rushing touchdowns. Those are MVP-type numbers.
2. Patriots 4-2 (4): Say what you want about the issues plaguing them earlier this season; they looked mighty formidable in defeating the Chiefs.
3. Chiefs 5-1 (2): The Patriots didn’t exactly slow Patrick Mahomes; they just had the last possession.
4. Saints 4-1 (3): They emerge from their week off with a challenging slate ahead — at Ravens, at Vikings, vs. Rams, at Bengals and then vs. Eagles.
5. Chargers 4-2 (8): Melvin Gordon led a rushing attack that piled up 246 yards, the team’s most in a decade, in rolling over the Browns.
6. Steelers 3-2-1 (10): Antonio Brown scored a touchdown with 10 seconds remaining to topple the Bengals for the 10th time in the last 11 meetings.
7. Bengals 4-2 (5): Cover-0 blitz against Ben Roethlisberger blew up on them on Steelers’ game-winning play when the pass rush didn’t get home.
8. Ravens 4-2 (12): The NFL’s top-scoring defense is allowing only 12.8 points per game and sacked Marcus Mariota 11 times in a shutout victory.
9. Vikings 3-2-1 (11): All they needed to fix their running-game was a visit from the lowly Cardinals — and a career-best 155 yards from Latavius Murray.
10. Eagles 3-3 (14): They’re No. 1 in the NFL in red-zone defense, No. 3 on third down and good in other key areas but they’re getting shredded by big plays.
11. Packers 3-2-1 (16): Bad knee and all, Aaron Rodgers was as dangerous as ever on the final drive Monday night against the 49ers.
12. Dolphins 4-2 (17): Albert Wilson looks like a capable replacement for Jarvis Landry after zipping his way through the Bears secondary.
13. Bears 3-2 (7): Tough bounce-back spot with the Patriots coming to Soldier Field, but players are eager to atone after allowing a “W” to slip away.
14. Panthers 3-2 (6): Costly fumbles by rookie wide receiver D.J. Moore put them in a 10-0 hole against the Redskins, and they couldn’t climb out.
15. Texans 3-3 (21): J.J. Watt’s comeback season is going nicely — he has seven sacks to tie for the league lead. Texans have won three straight.
16. Seahawks 3-3 (19): Defensive end Frank Clark has 12 sacks in his last 15 games, including 2 1⁄2 in Sunday’s demolition of the Raiders.
17. Cowboys 3-3 (23): Dak Prescott’s 82 rushing yards on 11 carries got the Cowboys going as they hung 40 points on the Jaguars’ top-ranked defense.
18. Redskins 3-2 (20): Cornerback Josh Norman, benched the week before in New Orleans, got some sweet revenge in a victory over the Panthers.
19. Jaguars 3-3 (9): Their offensive line is beat up but the defense has been trampled the last two weeks, and the Jaguars need to find some answers.
20. Falcons 2-4 (22): They’ve dug a hole but after beating the Bucs they have the Giants and a bye before facing the Redskins, Browns and Cowboys.
21. Jets 3-3 (24): “We’re right back in this thing,” coach Todd Bowles told his players after a 42-34 victory over the Colts. Really?
22. Lions 2-3 (15): Loss of All-Pro returner Jamal Agnew to a season-ending left knee injury is a real blow.
23. Titans 3-3 (13): Just when you thought the offense was going to blossom with Marcus Mariota, the Titans hit a funk. A serious funk.
24. Browns 2-3-1 (18): Help is wanted for Baker Mayfield: Three receivers are out injured for a team that traded Josh Gordon and dumped Corey Coleman.
25. Broncos 2-4 (26): They put up a nice battle against Rams, but falling short against league’s best teams won’t save Vance Joseph his job.
26. Buccaneers 2-3 (25): Dirk Koetter needed one more game after the thrashing at the hands of the Bears to fire defensive coordinator Mike Smith.
27. Bills 2-4 (27): Josh Allen is week to week with an elbow injury. Nathan Peterman is not NFL material. How fast can Derek Anderson learn the plays?
28. Cardinals 1-5 (29): They rank last in total yards, rushing yards, possession time, so the offense’s inefficiencies are beginning to affect the defense.
29. 49ers 1-5 (31): Credit to young quarterback C.J. Beathard for battling. The 49ers have a ton of injuries but have many young players getting experience.
30. Giants 1-5 (28): Doom, gloom over Eli Manning and Odell Beckham Jr.’s tantrums is overshadowing Saquon Barkley’s brilliance.
31. Colts 1-5 (30): They’re headed toward a fourth consecutive non-winning season. They haven’t done that since the dark days of 1978-86.
32. Raiders 1-5 (32): Only nine more years on that Jon Gruden contract after this season.