Last Word On Pro Football, Ryan Smith
As crazy as it seems, the 2016 NFL season is almost halfway over. As sad as it is, we only get seventeen weeks of regular season football, and next week will be week eight! Ryan Smith gave us his power rankings last week, but how much have things changed? With multiple losses in the top ten, who dropped the furthest? Are the Cleveland Browns still dead last? Did anyone unseat the Minnesota Vikings? And how much parity is there in the NFL? Could a team drop six spots? What about rising seven?
Week Seven NFL Power Rankings
32. Cleveland Browns
Another week, another loss by the Cleveland Browns. This shouldn’t surprise anyone. The Browns were one of the worst teams in football last year and opted to trade their valuable first round pick away this year. They drafted a ton of talented young wide receivers, but it’s been converted quarterback Terrelle Pryor that has been their biggest play-maker. The Browns might stay at rock bottom all year.
31. Chicago Bears
It’s a good thing that the Cubs are good, because the Bears aren’t giving the good people of Chicago much to root for. Da Bears held the lead for most of the game, but ultimately, the Jacksonville Jaguars were able to steal the win. Honestly, it feels like someone just needs to hit the reset button in Chicago. The Bears lack serious talent on either side of the ball, and it’s hard to see when they’ll ever return to form.
30. San Francisco 49ers (-1)
Chip Kelly believed that starting Colin Kaepernick against the Buffalo Bills might shock some life back into this team. He was right, for all of five seconds. The most controversial Colin had a miserable game in the 45-16 loss, and the San Francisco 49ers continue to be one of the worst teams in football.
29. New York Jets (-5)
The New York Jets looked hopelessly lost Monday Night. Are you really surprised? Ryan Fitzpatrick, Matt Forte, and Brandon Marshall are a combined 95 years old. Maybe it’s time for Todd Bowles to start looking towards a youth movement, or he may find himself looking for a new job.
28. Carolina Panthers (-5)
The Carolina Panthers almost made it interesting. They overcome a 21-point deficit at the end of the game against the New Orleans Saints, and then they missed the extra point. They managed to tie the game up, but ultimately, it was too late. The Panthers are 1-5 and the defending NFC Champions might already have to start thinking about 2017.
27. Indianapolis Colts (-6)
What happened to the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday Night Football was just embarrassing. How any team with Andrew Luck at quarterback could blow such a massive lead defies all logic and reason. Chuck Pagano should start packing his bags, and Jim Irsay better start looking for a competent coach.
26. New Orleans Saints
As guilty as the Panthers are for failing to complete the upset, the New Orleans Saints are just as guilty for almost blowing the lead. With a 21-point lead and Drew Brees at quarterback, the game should’ve been over. The commissioner himself should call the stadium and tell them to prepare to give out refunds. They made the plays when it counted, but the Saints should have lost that game.
25. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (-3)
It’s unfortunate that the Tampa Bay Buccaneers lost their spot on a bye week, but this week six was insane. Good teams lost to bad teams, bad teams upset great teams, and while Mike Evans and company sat at home, they fell behind.
24. Miami Dolphins (+6)
The Miami Dolphins didn’t just win a game they were supposed to lose. They blew out a team in the Pittsburgh Steelers that was supposed to destroy them. The Dolphins showed heart and life that fans have been looking for all season. It’ll be interesting to see if they can keep it up this week when the Bills come to town.
23. Cincinnati Bengals (-5)
The Cincinnati Bengals almost put the New England Patriots on upset alert. They fought valiantly for about thirty minutes in the cool Foxborough air. Then they remembered that they were the Bengals and proceeded to get blown out.
22. San Diego Chargers (+6)
The San Diego Chargers should be 6-0 right now. They’ve fought hard, and played well, and just completely collapsed in the worst possible moments. However, last Thursday night, they actually pulled it off against the Broncos. They made it interesting, and for a moment, it looked like they were gonna blow it again, but this time, Philip Rivers and company got the win.
21. Jacksonville Jaguars (+4)
The Jacksonville Jaguars might be the favorites in the AFC South. At 2-3, they could be considered the team that can make a run and steal the division. Simply because no other team in the division seems to know what they’re doing… Except for maybe the next one.
20. Tennessee Titans (+7)
After Indianapolis’ meltdown, the Tennessee Titans are actually in second place in the AFC South. Marcus Mariota has quietly had a productive season, and the Titans managed to skip past the Cleveland Browns, who are becoming everyone’s weekly trap game.
19. Baltimore Ravens (-5)
The Baltimore Ravens are in trouble. After starting the season with three straight wins, they’ve now lost three in a row. The offense can’t seem to get anything going, John Harbaugh has no concept of risk and reward, and now the injuries are mounting.
18. New York Giants (+1)
Survey Time! Is anyone else getting tired of the relationship between Odell Beckham Jr. and the net? The two get more airtime than the Kardashians, and that’s saying something. In all seriousness, the New York Giants almost got screwed by a ghost pass interference call, but they still managed to eek out the win against the Ravens, remaining relevant in a wildly competitive NFC East.
17. Los Angeles Rams (-5)
You can’t blame the Los Angeles Rams for losing Sunday in Detroit. It was a really fun, back-and-forth bout, and they just came out on the losing end. However, with an increasingly difficult schedule ahead, this loss may be what ultimately does them in.
16. Detroit Lions (+4)
It was good to see Matthew Stafford and the Detroit Lions finally win a game. They barely trail Aaron Rodgers and company, and if they want to make the playoffs, they’ll have to keep playing like they did against the Rams. They didn’t give up, and they played a full sixty minutes.
15. Arizona Cardinals
From the moment they kicked off, the Arizona Cardinals were in control of the New York Jets. The defense crushed Ryan Fitzpatrick, shut down the run game, and could’ve taken the night off.
14. Houston Texans (+2)
Give the Houston Texans respect, because most of America turned that game off, assuming the Colts had won. The Texans however, didn’t get the memo, as Brock Osweiler led them on an improbable comeback and earned some breathing room in the AFC South.
13. Philadelphia Eagles (-3)
Carson Wentz and the Philadelphia Eagles lost an ugly game. Wentz in particular had a really ugly Sunday against Josh Norman and a Washington secondary that came to play. It’ll be interesting to see how the team rebounds.
12. Oakland Raiders (-4)
As a fan of the Oakland Raiders, Sunday afternoon was ugly. After a first half that saw Amari Cooper snatch ten passes for 100 yards, the offense went to slepp. The defense played poorly, as they have all year, but this time, Derek Carr and company couldn’t bail them out.
11. Kansas City Chiefs (+6)
Andy Reid is 16-2 after a bye week, and after what he did to the Raiders, it’s obviously not a coincidence. His team looked sharp, motivated, and prepared in the Black Hole, and they embarrassed a team that has playoff aspirations. This team will only get better as the season moves on.
10. Washington Redskins (+3)
The Washington Redskins have woken up. After a groggy start, the defense has gotten itself together. They frustrated Philadelphia’s Carson Wentz last week, and Kirk Cousins made the plays that mattered. They’re still second in the division, but they’ve got a chance at the playoffs if they keep this up.
9. Buffalo Bills (+2)
The Buffalo Bills are in the top ten of a power ranking. Would you have believed that after week two? It’s ridiculous, but the team has won four straight, and seeing as they face the Miami Dolphins this week, they may well be 5-2.
8. Green Bay Packers (-1)
What is wrong with the Green Bay Packers? Aaron Rodgers‘ struggles are one thing, but getting blown out, at home, by a rookie quarterback? That’s just embarrassing. The Packers have all the tools to reload and make a run, but if they don’t do it soon, they’re out of luck. The NFC North is almost locked up and the season isn’t even half way over.
7. Pittsburgh Steelers (-1)
The Pittsburgh Steelers are number seven this week, but they probably won’t be this high next week. After an embarrassing loss to the Dolphins, it looks like they’re going to face the yearly quarterback drama. Ben Roethlisberger has to have surgery, and will miss next week’s game against another team in the top ten.
6. Denver Broncos (-2)
The Denver Broncos did not look good on Thursday Night. Their defense was able to shut San Diego down in the redzone, but the offense just couldn’t get it together. Even when Mike McCoy called a timeout, giving Denver a second onside kick, which they recovered, they just didn’t have it in them. However, this team still plays great defense and can’t fall too far.
5. Atlanta Falcons (-2)
The Atlanta Falcons got screwed. There’s no other way to put it. They traveled to the Pacific Northwest, faced off against the best secondary in football, and ultimately, the refs let them down when it counted. However, this team shouldn’t be down and out for too long. The rest of the division is an absolute dumpster fire, and Matt Ryan‘s offense should continue to tear the league up.
4. Dallas Cowboys (+5)
The Dallas Cowboys went into Green Bay and proved that they are for real. Whether or not you believe in Dak Prescott, “America’s Team” is one to watch out for. They’re 5-1, and in an NFC East that refuses to settle, this team could go a long way.
3. Seattle Seahawks (+2)
Let’s get one thing out of the way. The Seattle Seahawks got away with a monster pass interference at the end of the game. Watching it live, it was 50/50, but once they showed the replay, Richard Sherman clearly grabbed Julio Jones‘ arm. Having said that, the better team has sixty minutes to win a football game, and the refs are only human. The only thing holding Seattle back is Russell Wilson‘s injury. Once he gets healthy, this team could be scary.
2. New England Patriots
For a second, it looked like the Cincinnati Bengals might be able to upset the New England Patriots. Then New England’s starting quarterback caught his reflection in the mirror and remembered, “Oh yeah, I’m Tom Brady” and proceeded to not only take the lead, but run up the score.
1. Minnesota Vikings
To answer the question at the top of the article, no, nobody was able to unseat the Minnesota Vikings. The Purple People Eaters had the week off, and as such, remain the NFL’s only undefeated team. Next week, they travel to Philadelphia to face Carson Wentz and the Eagles.
