With Week 7 of the 2012 NFL regular season out of the way, it is time again to break down the power rankings and find out where every team in the league will land this week.
Bye weeks, big wins and tough losses have scattered themselves across the league this week, and this is the ultimate list of where each organization falls after seven weeks of NFL action!
1. Atlanta Falcons (6-0): With the week off to reflect, the Atlanta Falcons will return to action in Week 8, beat the Philadelphia Eagles in their building and retain their spot atop the power rankings.
2. Houston Texans (6-1): The team’s tough loss in Week 6 to the Green Bay Packers woke the Houston Texans up, and their beating of the Baltimore Ravens in Week 7 showed they are still one of the most dangerous teams in the league.
3. San Francisco 49ers (5-2): Not every win will be convincing, but the San Francisco 49ers narrow victory over the Seattle Seahawks could be a sign of trouble for the team on the horizon. Keep an eye on San Fran moving forward.
4. New York Giants (5-2): While the New York Giants defense hasn’t been as stellar as the organization would like, Eli Manning continues to win close games in the waning seconds just like he did against the Washington Redskins in Week 7. New York is moving on up!
Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images
5. Chicago Bears (5-1): The tough divisional victory over the Detroit Lions on Monday Night Football proves the Chicago bears are for real. The NFC North is theirs to lose.
6. Baltimore Ravens (5-2): Even with a bad game and a plethora of key injuries, the Ravens still showed fight and didn’t give up. They will need Joe Flacco to step up in Week 8 and going forward if they want a chance at making the playoffs.
7. Green Bay Packers (4-3): With a 30-20 win over the surprisingly tough St. Louis Rams, it has become blatantly clear that star QB Aaron Rodgers and the vaunted Green Bay Packers passing game is back on the right track.
8. New England Patriots (4-3): The New England Patriots continue to find themselves in close games, but they have yet to find their mark consistently on either side of the ball. As good as the Pats have been, their time of domination appears to be over.
9. Minnesota Vikings (5-2): Of all the shocking events this season so far, the continued success of the Minnesota Vikings led by the stellar play of Adrian Peterson and his surgically repaired knee is flat-out amazing.
Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images
10. Seattle Seahawks (4-3): Despite a tough loss to the San Francisco 49ers in Week 7, the Seattle Seahawks have proven their defense is the real deal and their rushing attack will keep them in any game. If they can get their pass offense going with any efficiency, they’ll be dangerous.
11. Denver Broncos (3-3): With Denver sitting at 3-3 and coming off a bye week, Peyton Manning and the Denver Broncos will round into shape and steal the AFC West division outright.
12. Washington Redskins (3-4): No matter what the experts said before the season began, Washington Redskins QB Robert Griffin III has begun to flourish into one of the best players in the league.
13. Arizona Cardinals (4-3): As the quarterback issues continue to derail the offensive unit in Arizona, the Cardinals' defensive success will continue to be masked by the team's inability to score points.
14. Miami Dolphins (3-3): The Miami Dolphins must show more consistency on both sides of the ball before they can climb any higher on the power rankings list. With a tough matchup against the Jets in Week 8, the Dolphins may be dropping once again.
Rich Schultz/Getty Images
15. Philadelphia Eagles (3-3): If itwasn’t for the bye week, we would be talking about how Michael Vick needs to stop turning the ball over. Instead, we’re talking about the team’s new defensive coordinator and Vick’s inability to protect the football.
16. Dallas Cowboys (3-3): While a win at any cost is the name of the game, this was the second straight game for the Dallas Cowboys that ended in an ugly fashion. Dallas better figure out its issues fast or fear dropping down the power rankings and out of playoff contention.
17. Pittsburgh Steelers (3-3): There are few teams in the league facing the amount of injuries the Pittsburgh Steelers have so far this season, but Pittsburgh will continue to hang around and somehow sneak into the playoffs; they always do.
18. San Diego Chargers (3-3): After a bye week to sit and think about the epic Monday Night Football meltdown in Week 6, the San Diego Chargers will either come out in Week 8 better than ever or they will fold under the pressure.
19. St. Louis Rams (3-4): The St. Louis Rams have a great defensive unit that is still learning to succeed under Jeff Fisher and the new coaching staff, but if they can get the offensive unit playing just as well, the Rams could be a dangerous send half team.
Matt Sullivan/Getty Images
20. Cincinnati Bengals (3-4):Despite a strong start to the season, the Cincinnati Bengals are falling apart and doing everything in their power to cost themselves wins. It appears the Bungles are back indeed.
21. New York Jets (3-4): While the loss to the New England Patriots was a heartbreaker, the fact that the team pushed the game into overtime proves they are back on the right track despite their injury woes.
22. Tennessee Titans (3-4): The Tennessee Titans are excited to finally have Chris Johnson back with the team after mailing in his effort for the first seven weeks, but the team shouldn’t count their chickens before they hatch; let’s see if CJ2K keeps it up.
23. Buffalo Bills (3-4): Despite having a potent offense of their own, the Buffalo Bills defense is terrible and they will never string together any kind of winning streak until their defenders stiffen up.
24. Detroit Lions (2-4): The wheels have completely fallen off the Detroit Lions cart. As bad as the defense has looked at times, the offense hasn’t been able to get on the same page and Calvin Johnson has been almost irrelevant.
J. Meric/Getty Images
25. New Orleans Saints (2-4): As long as Drew Brees is on the field for the New Orleans Saints, they will always have a chance at winning the game. Brees is a bona fide stud.
26. Indianapolis Colts (3-3): With Andrew Luck finding his rhythm in the Colts' offense, the first-year struggles are starting to subside and the No. 1 pick’s excellence is beginning to show.
27. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2-4): The Tampa Bay Buccaneers offense continues to churn out huge yardage, but the defense can’t stop anything. If the Bucs don’t get their defensive woes in order, their talented team will falter even more.
28. Oakland Raiders (2-4): With Carson Palmer finally starting to look like the star that helped lead the Bengals to the playoffs, the Oakland Raiders just need their defense to stiffen up and their running game to get going.
29. Carolina Panthers (1-5): I don’t have any ideas for Cam Newton’s suggestion box, but the Carolina Panthers must figure out what’s wrong with their team and fast. Otherwise, they’ll be falling even farther down the power rankings.
Sam Greenwood/Getty Images
30. Jacksonville Jaguars (1-5): With the loss of Maurice Jones-Drew to a foot injury and Blaine Gabbert to a shoulder injury, the Jacksonville Jaguars are in serious trouble.
31. Kansas City Chiefs (1-5): When a team chooses Brady Quinn over Matt Cassel for the starting job after Week 7, there is little-to-no hope left for the Kansas City Chiefs.
32. Cleveland Browns (1-6): With rookie Trent Richardson possibly missing games with a nagging rib injury, the Cleveland Browns hopes of getting out of the basement will not be coming to fruition anytime soon
Bye weeks, big wins and tough losses have scattered themselves across the league this week, and this is the ultimate list of where each organization falls after seven weeks of NFL action!
1. Atlanta Falcons (6-0): With the week off to reflect, the Atlanta Falcons will return to action in Week 8, beat the Philadelphia Eagles in their building and retain their spot atop the power rankings.
2. Houston Texans (6-1): The team’s tough loss in Week 6 to the Green Bay Packers woke the Houston Texans up, and their beating of the Baltimore Ravens in Week 7 showed they are still one of the most dangerous teams in the league.
3. San Francisco 49ers (5-2): Not every win will be convincing, but the San Francisco 49ers narrow victory over the Seattle Seahawks could be a sign of trouble for the team on the horizon. Keep an eye on San Fran moving forward.
4. New York Giants (5-2): While the New York Giants defense hasn’t been as stellar as the organization would like, Eli Manning continues to win close games in the waning seconds just like he did against the Washington Redskins in Week 7. New York is moving on up!
Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images
5. Chicago Bears (5-1): The tough divisional victory over the Detroit Lions on Monday Night Football proves the Chicago bears are for real. The NFC North is theirs to lose.
6. Baltimore Ravens (5-2): Even with a bad game and a plethora of key injuries, the Ravens still showed fight and didn’t give up. They will need Joe Flacco to step up in Week 8 and going forward if they want a chance at making the playoffs.
7. Green Bay Packers (4-3): With a 30-20 win over the surprisingly tough St. Louis Rams, it has become blatantly clear that star QB Aaron Rodgers and the vaunted Green Bay Packers passing game is back on the right track.
8. New England Patriots (4-3): The New England Patriots continue to find themselves in close games, but they have yet to find their mark consistently on either side of the ball. As good as the Pats have been, their time of domination appears to be over.
9. Minnesota Vikings (5-2): Of all the shocking events this season so far, the continued success of the Minnesota Vikings led by the stellar play of Adrian Peterson and his surgically repaired knee is flat-out amazing.
Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images
10. Seattle Seahawks (4-3): Despite a tough loss to the San Francisco 49ers in Week 7, the Seattle Seahawks have proven their defense is the real deal and their rushing attack will keep them in any game. If they can get their pass offense going with any efficiency, they’ll be dangerous.
11. Denver Broncos (3-3): With Denver sitting at 3-3 and coming off a bye week, Peyton Manning and the Denver Broncos will round into shape and steal the AFC West division outright.
12. Washington Redskins (3-4): No matter what the experts said before the season began, Washington Redskins QB Robert Griffin III has begun to flourish into one of the best players in the league.
13. Arizona Cardinals (4-3): As the quarterback issues continue to derail the offensive unit in Arizona, the Cardinals' defensive success will continue to be masked by the team's inability to score points.
14. Miami Dolphins (3-3): The Miami Dolphins must show more consistency on both sides of the ball before they can climb any higher on the power rankings list. With a tough matchup against the Jets in Week 8, the Dolphins may be dropping once again.
Rich Schultz/Getty Images
15. Philadelphia Eagles (3-3): If itwasn’t for the bye week, we would be talking about how Michael Vick needs to stop turning the ball over. Instead, we’re talking about the team’s new defensive coordinator and Vick’s inability to protect the football.
16. Dallas Cowboys (3-3): While a win at any cost is the name of the game, this was the second straight game for the Dallas Cowboys that ended in an ugly fashion. Dallas better figure out its issues fast or fear dropping down the power rankings and out of playoff contention.
17. Pittsburgh Steelers (3-3): There are few teams in the league facing the amount of injuries the Pittsburgh Steelers have so far this season, but Pittsburgh will continue to hang around and somehow sneak into the playoffs; they always do.
18. San Diego Chargers (3-3): After a bye week to sit and think about the epic Monday Night Football meltdown in Week 6, the San Diego Chargers will either come out in Week 8 better than ever or they will fold under the pressure.
19. St. Louis Rams (3-4): The St. Louis Rams have a great defensive unit that is still learning to succeed under Jeff Fisher and the new coaching staff, but if they can get the offensive unit playing just as well, the Rams could be a dangerous send half team.
Matt Sullivan/Getty Images
20. Cincinnati Bengals (3-4):Despite a strong start to the season, the Cincinnati Bengals are falling apart and doing everything in their power to cost themselves wins. It appears the Bungles are back indeed.
21. New York Jets (3-4): While the loss to the New England Patriots was a heartbreaker, the fact that the team pushed the game into overtime proves they are back on the right track despite their injury woes.
22. Tennessee Titans (3-4): The Tennessee Titans are excited to finally have Chris Johnson back with the team after mailing in his effort for the first seven weeks, but the team shouldn’t count their chickens before they hatch; let’s see if CJ2K keeps it up.
23. Buffalo Bills (3-4): Despite having a potent offense of their own, the Buffalo Bills defense is terrible and they will never string together any kind of winning streak until their defenders stiffen up.
24. Detroit Lions (2-4): The wheels have completely fallen off the Detroit Lions cart. As bad as the defense has looked at times, the offense hasn’t been able to get on the same page and Calvin Johnson has been almost irrelevant.
J. Meric/Getty Images
25. New Orleans Saints (2-4): As long as Drew Brees is on the field for the New Orleans Saints, they will always have a chance at winning the game. Brees is a bona fide stud.
26. Indianapolis Colts (3-3): With Andrew Luck finding his rhythm in the Colts' offense, the first-year struggles are starting to subside and the No. 1 pick’s excellence is beginning to show.
27. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2-4): The Tampa Bay Buccaneers offense continues to churn out huge yardage, but the defense can’t stop anything. If the Bucs don’t get their defensive woes in order, their talented team will falter even more.
28. Oakland Raiders (2-4): With Carson Palmer finally starting to look like the star that helped lead the Bengals to the playoffs, the Oakland Raiders just need their defense to stiffen up and their running game to get going.
29. Carolina Panthers (1-5): I don’t have any ideas for Cam Newton’s suggestion box, but the Carolina Panthers must figure out what’s wrong with their team and fast. Otherwise, they’ll be falling even farther down the power rankings.
Sam Greenwood/Getty Images
30. Jacksonville Jaguars (1-5): With the loss of Maurice Jones-Drew to a foot injury and Blaine Gabbert to a shoulder injury, the Jacksonville Jaguars are in serious trouble.
31. Kansas City Chiefs (1-5): When a team chooses Brady Quinn over Matt Cassel for the starting job after Week 7, there is little-to-no hope left for the Kansas City Chiefs.
32. Cleveland Browns (1-6): With rookie Trent Richardson possibly missing games with a nagging rib injury, the Cleveland Browns hopes of getting out of the basement will not be coming to fruition anytime soon