Home Articles/Editorials NFL 2013 Power Rankings – Week 7

NFL 2013 Power Rankings – Week 7

In a week where there were many surprises in college football, the NFL didn’t disappoint. Just when you think you know whats going on, a team like the Colts or the Redskins come out and shock you. With that, on to the rankings.

32. Jacksonville Jaguars (0-7) (32) – For the first time this season, the Jaguars had all of their premier players on the field together. They still couldn’t score any touchdowns. With the trade deadline fast approaching, it’ll be interesting to see if they try to trade away some of their talent like Maurice Jones-Drew and Cecil Shorts. Next game: vs San Francisco 49ers
31. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (0-6) (31) – For the record, I did pick the Bucs to win this game against the Falcons. I think their defense is better than they’ve shown, especially with guys like Darelle Revis, Lavonte David, Dashon Goldson and Mark Barron. For some reason, they haven’t gelled as a unit. They could learn a thing or two from the Raiders defense. The Bucs were shredded through the air by  a shorthanded Falcons team. Harry Douglas is still catching passes as we speak. Next game: vs Carolina Panthers (TNF)
30. Minnesota Vikings (1-5) (24) – When you go from Christian Ponder to Josh Freeman and expect to get better, you know your team is in trouble. Adrian Peterson did absolutely nothing and Josh Freeman did even less. At one point, the Vikes brought in Joe Webb. The good news for the Vikings is that there are a few quarterback that’ll be available in the first round of the draft. So Vikings fans, join the movement. #TankForTeddy Next game: Bye Week
29. Oakland Raiders (2-4) (29) – Bye Week. Next game: vs Pittsburgh Steelers
28. St Louis Rams (3-4) (20) – You have to feel terrible if you’re a Rams fan this week. Not only do you lose to a division rival on the road but your quarterback tears his ACL and is likely done for the season. Bradford can’t seem to stay healthy so it might be time for the Rams to move on from him. Luckily, there are several college quarterbacks being talked about as first round picks. Maybe the Rams can land a guy like Brett Hundley, Johnny Football or Teddy Bridgewater. Until then, Kellen Clemens will have to do. Next game: vs Seattle Seahawks (MNF)
27. Tennessee Titans (3-4) (23) – Jake Locker came back and looked pretty good. He threw an interception to Tramaine Brock but also found Chris Johnson and Delanie Walker for touchdowns. Johnson still hash’t been able to run the ball effectively and I think thats hurting the team’s balance. The defense keep Colin Kaepernick in check for the most part but couldn’t stop the run as Kaep and Frank Gore combined for 138 yards and three touchdowns. Next game: Bye Week
26. Philadelphia Eagles (3-4) (21) – This just in- The Eagles quarterbacks aren’t very good at football. With Michael Vick injured, Nick Foles got the start. After a head injury, Matt Barkley finished…with three interceptions in the fourth quarter. The Eagles defense is really the bigger issue despite coming away with two interceptions. Shady McCoy couldn’t really get going on the ground and really wasn’t much of a factor. Fun fact- the Eagles haven’t won a home game in over a year. Take that, Vince Papale. Next game: vs New York Giants
25. New York Giants (1-6) (30) – The Giants won an ugly game, but they won. Eli Manning didn’t turn the ball over for the first time this season and the offense looked more balanced than usual. Peyton Hillis, who the Giants had just signed on Wednesday, rushed for 36 yards on 18 carries and got into the end zone. Defensively, the Giants held Adrian Peterson to only 28 yards on 13 carries. Justin Tuck got a sack and Antrel Rolle got an interception. Hopefully this is the first of several wins for the G-Men. I’m not saying they could make the playoffs but playing spoiler and making the season interesting would be nice. Next game: @ Philadelphia Eagles
 
24. Atlanta Falcons (2-4) (28) – Give Matt Ryan a lot of credit. He really put the team on his back. No Roddy White, no Julio Jones? No problem. Matty Ice found Harry Douglas 7 times for 149 yards and a score. He also threw a pair of touchdowns to Jacquizz Rodgers. The Falcons clearly won’t make the playoffs so I think they should seriously consider trading Tony Gonzalez. Trade him to the Chiefs. They’re a serious contender who could use his services and the Falcons could get as much as a third round pick in return. Its a win-win. Plus Gonzo gets to go back to the team that drafted him so long ago and help them get to a Super Bowl. Next game: @ Arizona Cardinals
23. Pittsburgh Steelers (2-4) (27) – If you listened to my advice on Keeping It Real Sports this past Sunday and you started LeVeon Bell, you’re welcome. I know he only had 9 points but it was an impressive 9 points. Oh and the Steelers have won two straight games. Don’t think thats a fluke. This is a team that knows how to win games, despite having a bad record. Don’t count them out, especially in this division. Next game: @ Oakland Raiders
22. Buffalo Bills (3-4) (26) – The Bills went into this game a serious underdog.  Thad Lewis came into the game with an injury and CJ Spiller hadn’t been playing well but the Bills defense forced three turnovers and paced the team to a solid win. Next game: @ New Orleans Saints
21. Washington Redskins (2-4) (25) – The Redskins defense isn’t any good…at all. But the offense carried the slack, especially RG3. It also helped that Jay Cutler went down with an injury. Alfred Morris finally ran well but couldn’t find his way into the end zone, but Roy Helu Jr pulled a Mike Alstott and vultured him out of three touchdowns. Next game: @ Denver Broncos
20. Cleveland Browns (3-4) (17) – The Browns defense allowed 21 points to a depleted Packers team but the story of this game is Brandon Weeden doing Brandon Weeden things. He completed far less than 50% of his passes for a measly 149 yards. His garbage time touchdown to Jordan Cameron only made his stat line look less miserable. If the Browns want to win going forward, they’ll need a change at quarterback…and maybe running back. Next game: @ Kansas City Chiefs
19. Arizona Cardinals (3-4) (16) – The Cardinals ran into a buzz saw on a mission named the Seattle Seahawks. Carson Palmer completed 30 passes on 45 attempts for 258 yards. His garbage time touchdown didn’t do much to make people forget about his two interceptions. Call it Carson Palmer or call it the Seahawks defense, but Larry Fitzgerald was totally shut down. Give the Cardinals credit, they tried to shake things up, even inserting Patrick Peterson into the offense. Next game: vs Atlanta Falcons
18. Houston Texans (2-5) (15) – The Texans had a tough task in front of them and I don’t know that anyone expected them to win anyway. Case Keenum was thrust into the starting job and while he didn’t throw an interception, his low completion percentage wasn’t great either. Keenum actually played well enough to earn more playing time in favor of Matt Shaub.The running game was basically nonexistent. Arian Foster’s hamstring injury continues to plague this team. Defensively, they didn’t seem to bother Alex Smith all that much even though he threw for no touchdowns and an interception. The Texans injury bug struck again with Brian Cushing being carted off the field with a left knee injury. Next game: vs Cleveland Browns
17. Carolina Panthers (3-3) (22) – The Panthers seem to be firing on all cylinders even though their record doesn’t reflect it much. Cam Newton only had two incompletions and the Panthers defense produced points from a pick six by Captain Munnerlyn, who has an awesome name. I want him and Major Wright to play together. Just army names all around. Captain, Major, Private, Corporal, all of them. Next game: @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers (TNF)
16. San Diego Chargers (4-3) (19) – They played the Jaguars. No need for analysis. I won’t lie. I figured the west coast to east coast trip for a 1pm start made me wonder if the Chargers would struggle but they obviously didn’t. And who is this guy impersonating Ryan Mathews and playing like the stud running back out of Fresno State? And how about Phillip Rivers with the heads up play to kick the challenge flag back to Mike McCoy? Veteran move. Next game: Bye Week
15. New York Jets (4-3) (18) – I know they say its better to be lucky than good sometimes but but come on…how many times can the Jets luck out this season. By my count, thats three different times, this year that the Jets have come away with a lucky win. They really should be 1-6. That being said, they’re above .500 and they’re challenging the Patriots in that division. Next game: @ Cincinnati Bengals
14. Baltimore Ravens (3-4) (11)  – The defending champs haven’t played all that bad. Well, the defense hasn’t. And to his credit, Joe Flacco played a clean game. He didn’t turn the ball over and he was only sacked once. The Ravens couldn’t run the ball and it doesn’t look like they even want to try. They seem content with throwing the ball 35-40 times a game and limiting their Pro Bowl running back to only 15 carries. That is not the recipe they need to return to the Super Bowl. Anything can happen in the AFC North but they will need to clear up these inconsistencies. Next game: Bye Week
13. Miami Dolphins (3-3) (8) – The Dolphins offensive line is usually very stout but Ryan Tannehill was harassed all day and was pressured into two interceptions including a pick six. The Dolphins defense looked like they really miss Cameron Wake. Next game: @ New England Patriots
12. Chicago Bears (4-3) (7) – The Bears got three touchdowns from Matt Forte and a punt return touchdown from Devin Hester but none of it was enough to help the Bears win over the Redskins. Jay Cutler’s groin injury in the second quarter wasn’t as bad as it could have been, as Josh McCown played a decent game but just couldn’t match RG3’s play. Next game: Bye Week
11. Detroit Lions (4-3) (6) – The Lions played a pretty good game but in the end, they couldn’t outlast the Bengals. Matthew Stafford played a clean game and passed for over 350 yards. The running game never got going on either side. Calvin Johnson had a typical Megatron type game to put away the worries about his health. The Lions defense couldn’t stop the pass all day and they paid the price for it. AJ Green showed that he’s just as good a receiver as Calvin Johnson. Next game: vs Dallas Cowboys
10. New Orleans Saints (5-1) (10) – Bye Week. Next game: vs Buffalo Bills
9. New England Patriots (5-2) (5) – For the second straight game, the Tom Brady didn’t a touchdown pass. The running game kept them alive and the defense kept them in it. They definitely miss Vince Wilfork. Chris Ivory pounded them over and over for 104 yards. The Gronk came back and you could tell how much Brady missed him. He targeted Gronkowski 17 times for 8 receptions and 114 yards. Next game: vs Miami Dolphins
8. Indianapolis Colts (5-2) (14) – Andrew Luck is a playmaker man. This guy knows how to win games. He played a really clean game, threw for 228 yards and three touchdowns without much of a run game to help him. He led the team well and they capitalized on some big time mistakes by the Broncos. How about this stat? The Colts have beaten the three best teams in the league, the 49ers, the Seahawks and the Broncos. Those three teams are a combined 17-1 against everyone else. Next game: Bye Week
7. Dallas Cowboys (4-3) (13) – The Cowboys won in spite of Tony Romo’s turnovers. The defense really stepped despite playing without Demarcus Ware, Anthony Spencer and Jay Ratliff. Jarius Wynn, who was recently released by the Chargers, combined with George Selvie to knock out Nick Foles. This is really the Cowboys division to lose. Next game: @ Detroit Lions
6. Cincinnati Bengals (5-2) (12) – Like their opponents, the Bengals couldn’t really get the running game going, but Andy Dalton spread the ball around to Green, Marvin Jones and Tyler Eifert in a 372 yard effort. In the end, it was a Mike Nugent field goal at the end of the game that won it. Next game: vs New York Jets
5. Green Bay Packers (4-2) (9) – The Packers launch themselves back into the top with a win over the Browns. Aaron Rodgers shows why he’s always an MVP candidate by putting the offense on his back and leading them to a win over a tough team. Without Randall Cobb and James Jones, Rodgers was able to light up the Browns with Jermichael Finley and Jarrett Boykin. Next game: @ Minnesota Vikings (SNF)
4. Denver Broncos (6-1) (1) – I feel bad for whoever has to play the Broncos next. Oh right…its the Redskins with one of the worst defenses in football. You know they’re going to clean up the mistakes they made and get back to winning. They played a great game and just came up short against a pretty good Colts team. I thought the Broncos had a good shot to go undefeated this year but now that the loss is there, they can focus on getting to the Super Bowl. Next game: vs Washington Redskins
3. Seattle Seahawks (6-1) (4) – The Seahawks are on a mission this year to get to the Super Bowl and they’re beating teams up on both sides of the ball to get there. Russell Wilson’s three touchdowns and Marshawn Lynch’s one paced the offense and kept the Cardinals defense on its heels. Defensively, Brandon Browner and Earl Thomas each had interceptions to keep Carson Palmer and Larry Fitzgerald under wraps. Next game: @ St Louis Rams
2. San Francisco 49ers (5-2) (4) – The Niners have clawed their way back to the top of the power rankings. Or near the top, I guess. They’ve won four straight and they’re gaining a lot of momentum which should culminate in some great games down the stretch. If Kaep can put it all together the way we all know he can, they will be the team to beat. Next game: @ Jacksonville Jaguars
1. Kansas City Chiefs (7-0) (2) – Who would have predicted at the beginning of the season that the Chiefs would be the NFL’s remaining undefeated team by Week 8? I know I wouldn’t have. But this team is playing well under Andy Reid. They’re making timely plays, running the ball well, protecting the ball and managing the clock. Most importantly, they’re destroying teams with that defense. So much for this huge Week 11 matchup with the Broncos. Next game: vs Cleveland Browns
The Queens native handles all things football on KeepingItRealSports.com. Stan attended Holy Cross High School in Flushing, Queens and SUNY Old Westbury. He's spent his post graduate career in different parts of the media, as an editorial assistant, a production assistant and a board operator. He can be followed on twitter @FunnyManStan and routinely performs standup comedy all over New York City.

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