I stopped writing NFL Power Rankings a couple of seasons ago ’cause nobody was reading ’em. You know – every sports media website in the world has some form of these power rankings up, so there’s a lot of competition, and the little guys like us lose out in those scenarios. It makes it somewhat pointless to do stuff like this, but whatever happened with Google’s core web vitals update back in May seems to have kicked our traffic into another gear. I guess they like us? Anyway, it made me think that maybe it was worth giving these bad boys another try. So, like I said before I stopped writing these, my NFL Power Rankings are based solely on what has happened on the field so far. I’m not taking preseason expectations or projections into consideration. These rankings are based strictly on what I’ve seen so far this season. Let’s get to it.
NFL POWER RANKINGS: WEEK 7, 2021
1. Arizona Cardinals (7-0) – Business as usual for the Cardinals. None of us expected much resistance from the Houston Texans, and we were proven right, as the Cardinals rocked ’em 31-5. Kyler Murray continues to make his case for MVP, but we’ll see where this team is in a true measuring stick game against the Packers on Thursday Night Football’s biggest match-up yet.
2. Green Bay Packers (6-1) – Make it six straight for the Packers as they rolled the Football Team on Sunday. They had to place Davante Adams on the covid list, and knowing how those things go, you hope this doesn’t turn into a full-blown ordeal. They’ve got to turn it around quick, because they have the opportunity to knock off the best team in football on Thursday night.
3. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (6-1) – Is it obscene to ask whether or not this is the best that Tom Brady has ever played?? I mean, this Bucs offense is an absolute menace. The Bears never had a chance on Sunday. The Bucs travel to New Orleans for a date with the Saints Sunday afternoon.
4. Los Angeles Rams (6-1) – Man, let’s give Dan Campbell his due…these Lions are sure as hell not 0-7 because of their spirit. They’re fighting hard. They’re competing. They’re just not figuring out how to win. They were 16.5-point underdogs going into the game against the Rams and yet they fought hard. For the Rams, it was a good opportunity to eek out a win when maybe you weren’t playing your best football. They travel to Houston and should beat up on the lowly Texans on Sunday.
5. Dallas Cowboys (5-1) – The Cowboys were one of six teams on a bye this week, so they ain’t movin’ nowhere! They’re back in action on a Halloween night special of Sunday Night Football in Minnesota.
6. Cincinnati Bengals (5-2) – The NFC is top heavy and it damn sure looks like all of the most likely Super Bowl winners are in that conference, but the AFC is WIDE OPEN. The top of the conference seems to change on a weekly basis, so I have absolutely no problem with giving the Bengals their flowers this week. They’re the current #1 seed in the AFC because of an underrated defense and an offense that is just loaded with talent. Joe Burrow is playing out of his gourd, and Ja’Marr Chase is starting to *literally* run away with the ‘Rookie of the Year’ award. This team looks legit. They travel to play the New York Jets on Sunday.
He said he was going to break records.
— Cincinnati Bengals (@Bengals) October 24, 2021
Watch on CBS pic.twitter.com/xQWFlrj3YC
7. Tennessee Titans (5-2) – Look – it’s neck and neck for who’s been the most impressive over the last couple of weeks, but I give the Bengals the edge this week because the Ravens are a better quality opponent than the Chiefs. And, before you ream me, Titans fans, just remember that NFL Power Rankings mean absolutely nothing and it’ll probably change next week. If this team can string together complete games like the one they played against the Chiefs, then their schedule sets up for them to go on a hell of a run. They can put a stranglehold on the AFC South this Sunday when they play the Colts.
8. Buffalo Bills (4-2) – Buffalo had a bye this week, but I expect them to get right and come back to brutalize the Miami Dolphins on Sunday.
9. Baltimore Ravens (5-2) – Shit happens. The Ravens were the golden child of the AFC a week ago, and now they’re soul-searching. But, this is week to week in the NFL. It’s not like the wheels have fallen off after a loss to the Bengals. They have a bye week to get right.
10. Las Vegas Raiders (5-2) – This is a tough one between the Raiders and the 4-2 Saints, but I’m leaning Vegas because of just how dynamic that offense is with Derek Carr at the helm. With the organization in complete disarray, the Raiders came out and smacked the Eagles around like it was nothing. At 5-2, they’re the current #2 seed in the AFC. We talk about the Bengals and Titans….it’s time to say the Raiders are for real, too. They catch a bye this week as well.
IF THE SEASON ENDED TODAY…
AFC
- (1) Cincinnati Bengals (BYE)
- (7) Cleveland Browns @ (2) Las Vegas Raiders
- (6) Los Angeles Chargers @ (3) Tennessee Titans
- (5) Baltimore Ravens @ (4) Buffalo Bills
NFC
- (1) Arizona Cardinals (BYE)
- (7) Minnesota Vikings @ (2) Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- (6) New Orleans Saints @ (3) Green Bay Packers
- (5) Los Angeles Rams @ (4) Dallas Cowboys
PREDICTIONS
- Top 5 NFL Draft order: 1. Texans, 2. Lions, 3. Dolphins, 4. Jaguars, 5. Jets
- AFC Championship: Bengals @ Titans
- NFC Championship: Packers @ Cardinals
- Super Bowl: Titans vs. Cardinals
Stoney Keeley is the Editor in Chief of The SoBros Network, and a Dogs Playing Poker on velvet connoisseur. He is a strong supporter of Team GSD, #BeBetter, and ‘Minds right, asses tight.’ “Big Natural” covers the Tennessee Titans, Nashville, Yankee Candle, and a whole wealth of nonsense. Follow on Twitter @StoneyKeeley
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