Sayre’s Week Seven NFL Power Rankings
It’s starting to simply look easy for the Packers. I feel sorry for the team that faces them on a weekly basis.
2. New England Patriots
New England faced a tough test against Dallas and their defense showed it is not as soft as some people have been saying it is.
3. Baltimore Ravens
The Ravens are one of the few teams in the NFL winning with a great defense. That will be huge come playoff time.
4. San Francisco 49ers
Jim Harbaugh’s crew might be over-achieving, but I am convinced that they are legit. Their front four is as good as any in the NFL, and I say that with 100 percent confidence. I thought Aldon Smith was a reach in the draft, but he has been a fine addition.
5. Detroit Lions
Detroit lost its first game of the season against a very good team. They are one fourth down play from being undefeated. This is still a team that is going to make waves this season.
6. San Diego Chargers
San Diego is 4-1. Usually at this point they are 2-3. Based on the way they finish seasons, you do the math.
7. Pittsburgh Steelers
Pittsburgh is still capable of being a dominant team. It might not be pretty at all times, but they make you work for every yard and they are efficient offensively.
8. New Orleans Saints
The Saints need to figure out how to beat Josh Freeman. Drew Brees and Jimmy Graham have been a great duo this season, but it’s time for the defense to step up.
9. Oakland Raiders
I am consistently shocked by the Oakland Raiders. Now that they have guys who can move the ball up and down the field despite all the penalties, their special teams weapons are even more dangerous. We will see how long they hold this ranking with Jason Campbell out.
10. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Lose to the 49ers by 1,000 one week and beat the Saints the next? Color me confused about the Bucs.
11. New York Giants
The Giants should be 5-1, plain and simple. They have gone through as much if not more than any team, and are still racking up W’s. Kudos to coach Coughlin and the leadership on that team.
12. Buffalo Bills
Buffalo has dropped two straight, but they have been competitive in both contests. They have a good enough offense, but is their defense deteriorating?
13. Cincinnati Bengals
Andy Dalton is playing like a veteran QB. I think he could be a keeper for this team, and if they keep playing defense like they have been, they are going to be a dark-horse even in the tough AFC North.
14. Houston Texans
Oh Houston, where art thou? Andre Johnson needs to get back quickly before this gets out of hand.
15. Chicago Bears
Chicago’s offense looked capable of greatness on Sunday night. But how long can Jay Cutler continue to throw that well to guys like Devin Hester? Perhaps that was a sign that Roy Williams is finally going to start playing ball.
16. Atlanta Falcons
Atlanta should be ten spots higher, but they are underachieving. They got a big home win against Carolina, and face another tough test this week with Detroit.
17. Tennessee Titans
The Titans are playing good football and have a huge game against Houston this week. If their defense can hold up, I think they have a shot to take this division over.
18. Dallas Cowboys
Dallas is just like Atlanta right now. They are capable of being so much better. Time for this team to forget that they are constantly in the spotlight and blow someone out next week.
19. Philadelphia Eagles
Philly got a huge road win against the Redskins, who are a pretender in my opinion. Their offense needs to be more efficient on third down and they need to score more TD’s in the red zone than they did against Shanny’s squad.
20. New York Jets
Big win on Monday night for the Jets, doesn’t change the fact that they haven’t won a big game yet this season.
21. Kansas City Chiefs
Will the real Matt Cassel please stand up? If he continues to play out of his mind, the Chiefs just might not be in contention for Andrew Luck.
22. Washington Redskins
Well, the Redskins proved they are pretenders on Sunday. A big home game against a division rival who was desperate, and I think they just turned the ball over again. Shanahan flinched at the first sign of struggle for Rex, which is not a good sign to the fans.
23. Seattle Seahawks
Seattle better start winning games, because they pretty much took themselves out of the Andrew Luck sweepstakes. That is, unless Pete Carroll wants Matt Barkley bad enough.
24. Denver Broncos
I think Denver will start to climb the rankings after this week. It’s Tebow Time for the Broncos, and trading Brandon Lloyd is a sign that this is a youth movement for Denver. 2010 1st round pick Demaryius Thomas will play his first game of the season on Sunday.
25. Cleveland Browns
There are big problems in Cleveland right now. I get the sense that Peyton Hillis doesn’t want to play or is being advised to take it easy, and Montario Hardesty can’t catch a cold.
26. Carolina Panthers
Cam Newton is putting up big numbers. He had three interceptions last week, but he’s been impressive and it’s time for the rest of the Carolina crew to step up with him.
27. Minnesota Vikings
The Vikings are flat out terrible this season, which is odd because their roster indicates that they shouldn’t be. I think it’s time for Frazier to pull the plug on the Donovan McNabb experiment and let Christian Ponder finish out the season.
28. Jacksonville Jaguars
Blaine Gabbert has not impressed me at all this season, but Maurice Jones-Drew constantly keeps this team in games.
29. Arizona Cardinals
Arizona has a lot to prove after their bye week. Is Kolb the real deal? Can the defense show up?
30. Indianapolis Colts
Indy is 0-6 but they have played their butts off to get there. Would be fitting to see them land Andrew Luck after this season to groom as a Manning replacement.
31. St. Louis Rams
The Rams acquired Brandon Lloyd, but that won’t help their awful defense. One of the most disappointing teams in 2011.
32. Miami Dolphins
You saw it on national television, and you’ll hear all about it next weekend when they host Tim Tebow and the Broncos on Gator appreciation day.