NFL Power Rankings: Week 7 Edition

[CruiseControl]

The Rams game notwithstanding, I think you could make an argument that the Niners built those stats by playing substandard teams.

Just a thought.

Substandard teams like last years NFC Champions. Not like we had to play the battle tested Lions and get some calls to go our way to win.. Seattle barely beat the rams at home by one point with some incredible luck... they are that good.

You act like I am the only one saying they are the best team in the NFC.....

When was the last time the Rams were held to 157 yards of total offense?

 

[ATL96Steeler]

OP would be better off just posting a link.

Power Rankings: Major shakeup in top 10 - NFL.com

A lot less typing for sure, but his read is pretty interesting at least, even the ones I don't agree with.

 

[packerzrule]

Substandard teams like last years NFC Champions. Not like we had to play the battle tested Lions and get some calls to go our way to win.. Seattle barely beat the rams at home by one point with some incredible luck... they are that good.

You act like I am the only one saying they are the best team in the NFC.....

The Rams have not been playing anywhere near their championship form last year so using that game as a benchmark does nothing to support your claim.

The Lions came in red hot and true, had horrendous calls against them at the most inopportune times but at the end of the day, came out with the L.

I admit that the Niners are on a great roll but your continued gushing over their success to this point is pretty comical.

 

[CruiseControl]

The Rams have not been playing anywhere near their championship form last year so using that game as a benchmark does nothing to support your claim.

The Lions came in red hot and true, had horrendous calls against them at the most inopportune times but at the end of the day, came out with the L.

I admit that the Niners are on a great roll but your continued gushing over their success to this point is pretty comical.

I didn't hear anyone saying the Rams weren't that great when they were 3-0 or 3-1 even and 3rd in the power rankings. Suddenly they lose by one point to the seahawks on the road who are considered a good team and then get blown out at home by the 9ers who only allowed 150 yards of offense and suddenly beating them is nothing.

 

[Shane_O_Mac812]

Let me put it this way, would you rather have the meaningless gushing on power rankings all season, putting the 49ers at #1 for the entire year and then choke in the playoffs and come away with nothing. Or remain under the radar at like #4 to #8 and win the whole damn thing. I personally like the underestimating of my team. I don't wanna be put on a pedestal, that paints a big ass target on your back. And make no mistake, you guys are playing great, but the niners will not even sniff the NFC Championship game, let alone the Super Bowl.

 

[knowyourenemy]

I didn't hear anyone saying the Rams weren't that great when they were 3-0 or 3-1 even and 3rd in the power rankings. Suddenly they lose by one point to the seahawks on the road who are considered a good team and then get blown out at home by the 9ers who only allowed 150 yards of offense and suddenly beating them is nothing.

I’ve never had the Rams ranked 3rd. I think that was a nice win for the 49ers.

 

[knowyourenemy]

A lot less typing for sure, but his read is pretty interesting at least, even the ones I don't agree with.

Thank you. I try to inject some humor into it and it only gets funnier to me when people take them too seriously. I do actually try to rank the teams as I see them...but there are definitely a few teams I enjoy taking shots at as well.

 

[LambeauLegs]

Through 5 weeks

Updated strength of schedule - Fantasy Index

Looking at the five weeks we’ve completed, meanwhile, the Saints’ 4-1 start looks even more impressive. They’ve been able to win three in a row without their starting quarterback, and they’ve done it despite playing the hardest schedule. The Saints’ five opponents have gone 14-6 in games against other teams.

Tampa Bay, Kansas City and the Rams also thus far have played hard schedules.

The Patriots, meanwhile, are off to a 5-0 start, but they’ve been helped along by the league’s easiest schedule. They won on the road against 4-1 Buffalo, but their other four opponents have gone a combined 1-17.

Overall, New England’s opponents have gone 5-18 (0-5 against the Patriots, and 5-13 against the rest of the league). However you slice it, it’s been an easy schedule.

Other teams that seemingly have benefitted from easy schedules: Eagles, 49ers and Ravens.

STRENGTH OF SCHEDULE (Weeks 1-5)
Team W L T Pct
New Orleans 14 6 0 .700
Tampa Bay 13 6 0 .684
Kansas City 12 6 1 .658
LA Rams 13 7 0 .650
Pittsburgh 12 7 0 .632
NY Jets 10 6 0 .625
Oakland 12 8 0 .600
Green Bay 12 8 0 .600
Miami 9 7 0 .563
Detroit 9 7 0 .563
Washington 11 9 0 .550
Minnesota 11 9 0 .550
Jacksonville 10 10 0 .500
Indianapolis 10 10 0 .500
Houston 10 10 0 .500
Denver 10 10 0 .500
Cleveland 9 9 0 .500
Cincinnati 9 9 1 .500
Atlanta 10 10 0 .500
Carolina 9 10 1 .475
Arizona 9 10 0 .474
Tennessee 9 11 0 .450
NY Giants 9 11 0 .450
Chicago 9 11 0 .450
Seattle 8 11 1 .425
Dallas 8 11 0 .421
Buffalo 8 11 0 .421
LA Chargers 6 11 1 .361
Baltimore 6 12 1 .342
San Francisco 5 11 0 .313
Philadelphia 5 12 1 .306
New England 5 13 0 .278


Remaining schedule based on records through 5 weeks the teams with the easiest schedule are at the top

UPDATED STRENGTH OF SCHEDULE
Schedule could lift Bills into postseason
The Bills are 4-1, and looking at the schedules, I can’t help but think they’re going to be in the playoffs. They’ve still got two games left against Miami, as well as home games against the Jets, Washington and Denver. Hard to see them not being a wild card.

Things appear to be slipping away, meanwhile, for the Bears and Falcons. They’ll play two of the hardest schedules over the rest of the season.

Most fantasy leagues don’t use Week 17. If we set that one aside, Chicago, Atlanta and Denver project to play the hardest schedules the rest of the way. The Bills, meanwhile, project to have the 4th-easiest schedule, behind only the Jets, Dolphins and Steelers.

STRENGTH OF SCHEDULE (Weeks 6-16)
Team W L T Pct
NY Jets 19 34 0 .358
Miami 19 34 0 .358
Pittsburgh 17 30 1 .365
Buffalo 18 30 0 .375
Jacksonville 20 29 0 .408
Cleveland 20 28 1 .418
Indianapolis 21 28 0 .429
Oakland 21 26 1 .448
Cincinnati 22 26 0 .458
New Orleans 22 26 1 .459
NY Giants 21 24 2 .468
New England 24 25 0 .490
Detroit 27 28 0 .491
San Francisco 27 26 2 .509
Carolina 25 24 0 .510
LA Rams 24 23 1 .510
LA Chargers 26 24 0 .520
Seattle 25 23 1 .520
Baltimore 25 23 0 .521
Tampa Bay 25 22 2 .531
Tennessee 27 23 0 .540
Kansas City 27 23 0 .540
Minnesota 25 21 2 .542
Philadelphia 27 22 0 .551
Green Bay 26 21 1 .552
Washington 25 20 1 .554
Houston 28 22 0 .560
Arizona 27 21 0 .563
Dallas 28 19 1 .594
Denver 29 19 1 .602
Atlanta 30 18 1 .622
Chicago 29 17 2 .625

 

[knowyourenemy]

I dont put much stock into power rankings, but @knowyourenemy your power rankings are one of the better ones I have read. if I were to critique I think you let a little homerism seep in when ranking the eagles. but other than that pretty solid. they have only one game they did well in (jets) up til then they are all barely winning or losing. makes me think they should be in the teens.
While I cant argue with your ranking of the giants, I do think in your comments you were a lil hard on the beav (Danny Dimes) playing the #1 NE defense with all of your offensive guys not playing, I would give him a pass.

All in all though, really good job.

Cheers.

 

[knowyourenemy]

We're still here. Fuck you. You guys suck too

Do you live in the northeast or just acknowledging that all of that also applies to you?

In all seriousness, I think this Sunday night game is going to have everyone overreacting. The losers will say season over and the winners will act like the division is wrapped up, and neither could be farther from the truth. I don’t think either team, right now, is good enough to run away with the division. But we’ll see.

 

[Cedrique]

Let me put it this way, would you rather have the meaningless gushing on power rankings all season, putting the 49ers at #1 for the entire year and then choke in the playoffs and come away with nothing. Or remain under the radar at like #4 to #8 and win the whole damn thing. I personally like the underestimating of my team. I don't wanna be put on a pedestal, that paints a big ass target on your back. And make no mistake, you guys are playing great, but the niners will not even sniff the NFC Championship game, let alone the Super Bowl.

Excellent point. Teams often use the Knowyourenemy Power Rankings as bulletin board material. I hold him responsible for the Chiefs sudden losing streak after holding the number 1 spot in week 4 ish

 

[jarntt]

Do you live in the northeast or just acknowledging that all of that also applies to you?

In all seriousness, I think this Sunday night game is going to have everyone overreacting. The losers will say season over and the winners will act like the division is wrapped up, and neither could be farther from the truth. I don’t think either team, right now, is good enough to run away with the division. But we’ll see.

NE baby and getting ready for the rain!!!

I think coming off of 3 straight losses and with a considerably harder schedule down the stretch and this being a home game if Dallas loses and is significantly outplayed Philly is clearly in the driver's seat even though it is early. For Dallas to say the same they probably need to have a really dominant effort.

 

[jarntt]

Let me put it this way, would you rather have the meaningless gushing on power rankings all season, putting the 49ers at #1 for the entire year and then choke in the playoffs and come away with nothing. Or remain under the radar at like #4 to #8 and win the whole damn thing. I personally like the underestimating of my team. I don't wanna be put on a pedestal, that paints a big ass target on your back. And make no mistake, you guys are playing great, but the niners will not even sniff the NFC Championship game, let alone the Super Bowl.

and @knowyourenemy 's power ranking is read Nationally so this should help!!!

 

[Shane_O_Mac812]

Excellent point. Teams often use the Knowyourenemy Power Rankings as bulletin board material. I hold him responsible for the Chiefs sudden losing streak after holding the number 1 spot in week 4 ish

I was referring to all power rankings, he has thrown a fit over everyone "disrespecting" the niners when the fact is they haven't been relevant for going on three decades.

 

[knowyourenemy]

Excellent point. Teams often use the Knowyourenemy Power Rankings as bulletin board material. I hold him responsible for the Chiefs sudden losing streak after holding the number 1 spot in week 4 ish

and @knowyourenemy 's power ranking is read Nationally so this should help!!!

My readership is growing. The Hoop may need to switch to a better server to handle all the increased traffic that I’m generating.

 

[knowyourenemy]

NE baby and getting ready for the rain!!!

I think coming off of 3 straight losses and with a considerably harder schedule down the stretch and this being a home game if Dallas loses and is significantly outplayed Philly is clearly in the driver's seat even though it is early. For Dallas to say the same they probably need to have a really dominant effort.

That schedule is a bit rough after the Bye. With Saquon coming back, even the game in New York may not be a gimme.

 

[TP76]

UPDATED STRENGTH OF SCHEDULE
Schedule could lift Bills into postseason
The Bills are 4-1, and looking at the schedules, I can’t help but think they’re going to be in the playoffs. They’ve still got two games left against Miami, as well as home games against the Jets, Washington and Denver. Hard to see them not being a wild card.

Things appear to be slipping away, meanwhile, for the Bears and Falcons. They’ll play two of the hardest schedules over the rest of the season.

Most fantasy leagues don’t use Week 17. If we set that one aside, Chicago, Atlanta and Denver project to play the hardest schedules the rest of the way. The Bills, meanwhile, project to have the 4th-easiest schedule, behind only the Jets, Dolphins and Steelers.

STRENGTH OF SCHEDULE (Weeks 6-16)
Team W L T Pct
NY Jets 19 34 0 .358
Miami 19 34 0 .358
Pittsburgh 17 30 1 .365
Buffalo 18 30 0 .375
Jacksonville 20 29 0 .408
Cleveland 20 28 1 .418
Indianapolis 21 28 0 .429
Oakland 21 26 1 .448
Cincinnati 22 26 0 .458
New Orleans 22 26 1 .459
NY Giants 21 24 2 .468
New England 24 25 0 .490
Detroit 27 28 0 .491
San Francisco 27 26 2 .509
Carolina 25 24 0 .510
LA Rams 24 23 1 .510
LA Chargers 26 24 0 .520
Seattle 25 23 1 .520
Baltimore 25 23 0 .521
Tampa Bay 25 22 2 .531
Tennessee 27 23 0 .540
Kansas City 27 23 0 .540
Minnesota 25 21 2 .542
Philadelphia 27 22 0 .551
Green Bay 26 21 1 .552
Washington 25 20 1 .554
Houston 28 22 0 .560
Arizona 27 21 0 .563
Dallas 28 19 1 .594
Denver 29 19 1 .602
Atlanta 30 18 1 .622
Chicago 29 17 2 .625

Interesting - the Pats may be in for a tough divisional fight with Buffalo right on their tail and such a easy slate remaining (for the Bills). Pats will need to beat the Bills in Foxboro IMO, looks to be a must win, else their grip on the division may just end.

 

[knowyourenemy]

Interesting - the Pats may be in for a tough divisional fight with Buffalo right on their tail and such a easy slate remaining (for the Bills). Pats will need to beat the Bills in Foxboro IMO, looks to be a must win, else their grip on the division may just end.

Is there any reason to think they can’t do that?

 

[TP76]

Is there any reason to think they can’t do that?

Bills defense is for real and the Pats are really banged-up and struggling on offense. They could drop one in Jersey Monday night, Jets also have a decent defense.

 

[Yo Tee]

Team Name, W-L record (prior ranking)

32. Miami Dolphins, 0-5 (32): Every time that Kalen Ballage plays a snap, it’s confirmation to me that the Dolphins really are trying to lose.

31. Washington Redskins, 1-5 (31): Congratulations to the Redskins on missing out on the 1st pick.

30. Cincinnati Bengals, 0-6 (27): Should the Bengals trade Andy Dalton to a quarterback-needy team that is ready to win now? He would make an excellent backup for many teams.

29. New York Giants, 2-4 (26): It appears that the hype around Daniel Jones was a bit premature.

28. Atlanta Falcons, 1-5 (24): Obviously, this team has some talent since they were able to defeat one of the best teams in the league...but the defense is really bad and they basically can’t run the ball against good defenses. I’d love to see Dan Quinn lose his job and become the defensive coordinator for someone. Perhaps a team with a defensive coordinator that recently won a super bowl but who is wearing out his welcome by constantly leaving bad cornerbacks on islands.

27. Tennessee Titans, 2-4 (18): Remember when their was talk about Mariota getting extended by the Titans? Remember even further back when an analyst who I shall not name was lobbying the Eagles to “do the deal” and trade a shit ton of draft picks to trade up and take Mariota? Some times the best move is the one you didn’t make.

26. Arizona Cardinals, 2-3-1 (30): I have to admit, I thought the Cardinals were dumb as hell for hiring Kliff Kingsbury as their head coach and, actually, I still feel that way.

25. Los Angeles Chargers, 2-4 (12): This team sucks right now but nothing excuses Philip Rivers grabbing a Steelers defender by the jersey and acting like he was walking him down to the principal’s office. If the Chargers keep it up, I think Rivers’ face is going to hit a new shade of red this season.

24. Cleveland Browns, 2-4 (20): The Browns gonna Brown. Not sure what else to say.

23. Pittsburgh Steelers, 2-4 (28): I wish I hadn’t heard Duck Hodges post-game interview because this guy looks and sounds like someone with an IQ in the single digits. But even if Samford isn’t quite the Stanford of the South, he’s 1-0 as a starter and played a hell of a game. Hard not to root for the guy.

22. New York Jets, 1-4 (29): This Sam Darnold guy looks like he could be pretty good. The 1-4 start might bury their playoff hopes but this team is capable of beating some good teams.

21. Denver Broncos, 2-4 (25): Let’s talk about Courtland Sutton again. Built like a god at 6’4 and 216 pounds, Sutton is having a great season and was a brilliant pickup by me for my fantasy team.

20. Jacksonville Jaguars, 2-4 (15): If the Jaguars don’t trade Jalen Ramsey to the Eagles for whatever Howie Roseman is offering, then it’ll be a complete travesty. It’s time that this team stops being selfish and starts looking for ways to make the Eagles better.

19. Los Angeles Rams, 3-3 (10): Their 3 wins have come against the Panthers (without Kyle Allen), the Saints (without Drew Brees), and the Browns (unfortunately, with Baker Mayfield). Between the emergence of the 49ers and Russell Wilson playing out of his mind, I don’t think this team makes the playoffs.

18. Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 2-4 (22): Suddenly that week 1 loss to the 49ers doesn’t look so bad. And while we can’t overlook the embarrassing loss to the Giants, the Bucs are in the middle of a 5-game stretch where they don’t play a home game until November 10th, which means they’re probably a little better than the record might indicate.

17. Baltimore Ravens, 4-2 (23): Remember when Lamar Jackson got salty for being called a running back? He’s got 33 rushes for 222 yards the last two weeks. That puts him 8th in rushing yards on the season. He will keep them in games but this team is toast against any team that’s half decent.

16. Dallas Cowboys, 3-3 (5): Cowboys fans were puffing out their chest and talking shit on Philly sports radio during the first 3 weeks of the season. Suddenly, those pussies have gone silent over the last 3 weeks. Cowboys fans who are from the northeast are cowards and generally terrible people.

15. Houston Texans, 4-2 (21): Houston can thank the Colts for the blueprint on how to beat the Chiefs. Reality is that this team is not that good and expect that to show over the course of the season.

14. Carolina Panthers, 4-2 (19): 4-0 without Cam. It’s time for Cam to hang up the scarf and retire. He can save face and blame it on his foot “injury.”

13. Chicago Bears, 3-2 (9): Does Mitch get his job back once he’s healthy? Consider this - C.J. Beathard, who was drafted 102 spots after Trubisky in the 2017 draft and who completely sucks, has thrown for more yards per game in his career than good ol’ Mitch.

12. Oakland Raiders, 3-2 (17): The Raiders made a sneaky good move during their bye week and traded for 3rd year WR Zay Jones. Jones had struggled in Buffalo but don’t be surprised if Gruden gets the most out of him in Oakland, probably some time in 2022 or later, since we know that Gruden never gets production out of talented young receivers (see Amari Cooper, Jerry Porter, and a long list of old ass receivers that Gruden has brought in to play for him rather than developing young talent).

11. Indianapolis Colts, 3-2 (13): Impressive win over the Chiefs before their bye week. The coaching staff here is incredible. Frank Reich easily wins coach of the year if he keeps Jacoby Brissett and this team playing well.

10. Green Bay Packers, 4-2 (7): I’m going to go ahead and just say it - the cheesehead is stupid and Aaron Rodgers might be the most overrated QB of all-time. I’m talking Joe Namath level.

9. Detroit Lions, 3-1-1 (8): What an impressive victory over the Packers in Lambeau this week. Matt Patricia has his team playing very well, with two wins over two top 10 teams so far.

8. Philadelphia Eagles, 3-3 (4): For the second straight season, an obscure linebacker from the Eagles was not able to back up his trash talk. Maybe they should try not doing that?

7. Seattle Seahawks, 5-1 (11): Possibly the weakest 5-1 team in NFL history, the Seahawks have 1-point wins over the Bengals (ranked 30th) and the Rams (ranked 19th), a 2-point win over the Steelers (ranked 23rd), and a 4-point win over the Browns (ranked 24th). Literally any of those games could have gone the other way. This team is a classic example, though, of the old adage that no one asks “How?” only “How many?”

6. Minnesota Vikings, 4-2 (16): If Kirk Cousins, who threw for 333 yards and 4 touchdowns on Sunday, is the weakest part of this offense, then the NFL better start worrying about Minnesota.

5. Kansas City Chiefs, 4-2 (1): We knew that the Chiefs had some problems on defense but if we’re being honest, it’s better to have those flaws come out now so that the team has a chance to correct them before the playoffs. This team still probably wins 11+ games.

4. Buffalo Bills, 4-1 (6): The next 6 games for the Bills are against teams with a combined 8-28 record. 3 of those wins come from the Super Bowl LII Champion Philadelphia Eagles. So even if they predictably lose to that incredible team, they should still have 4 or 5 wins coming in the next few weeks.

3. San Francisco 49ers, 5-0 (14): Thanks to Bill Belichick, the 49ers were able to figure out Jared Goff, holding the lovable loser to 78 yards passing.

2. New Orleans Saints, 5-1 (3): The Saints would probably be undefeated if not for the Drew Brees injury in week 2. Does anyone think the Saints (with Brees) would have lost to the lowly Rams?

1. New England Patriots, 6-0 (2): The only 6-0 team in the league and one of only two remaining undefeated teams. Sure, they’ve faced pretty much no one, but you can only play the teams on your schedule. That said, I’d bet money that Belichick has figured out a way to hack the NFL scheduling program to make sure the Patriots have the easiest schedule possible. It’s the Patriot Way.

How is a winless team better than a team that has a win? The Vikings are the 3rd best team in the NFC?! Lastly, you have the .500 Philadelphia Eagles, who couldn't beat a 1-5 Falcons team, ahead of a Panthers team that has won 4 straight, a Colts team that beat the Chiefs in Primetime and the Lions who have beaten the Eagles!