It was not a pretty Week 7 performance by the San Francisco 49ers, and with the week now a wrap, it's time for more NFL power rankings from yours truly. I'm sure plenty will disagree with most of what I put together, so feel free to fire away in the comments.
I dropped the 49ers from No. 5 to No. 12, and the Seattle Seahawks from No. 3 to No. 11. It probably was unfair to drop the 49ers that far given all their injuries, and you could consider such an argument for the Seahawks. But I figured those two losses allowed me to do some adjusting to the power rankings. I think both teams end up in the top five before too long, but both have enough question marks that I'm going to get a little conservative with them. Both the 49ers and Seahawks are dealing with various injuries. The 49ers are heading into their bye with a chance to get healthy. The bodies returning don't guarantee anything in terms of production, but bringing back so many high caliber players is reason enough for optimism in my mind.
I've bumped the Dallas Cowboys all the way up to No. 2, behind the Denver Broncos. Some will disagree, but the Cowboys are handling their business. They very well could fall apart between now and the end of the season, but with DeMarco Murray playing out of his mind, and the defense holding its own, they're a very good team. Murray's health the rest of the season will be something to track, but if he can stay healthy, this is a very dangerous team.
I left the Arizona Cardinals in the No. 4 spot, with the Cowboys and Eagles leap-frogging them. We'll get some clarification about that grouping this Sunday when the Cardinals and Eagles square off in Glendale, Arizona. I could see the Cardinals winning this game, but I am still not 100 percent sold on them.
Rank | Team | LW |
1 | Denver Broncos (5-1) | 1 |
2 | Dallas Cowboys (6-1) | 7 |
3 | Philadelphia Eagles (5-1) | 6 |
4 | Arizona Cardinals (5-1) | 4 |
5 | Indianapolis Colts (5-2) | 9 |
6 | San Diego Chargers (5-2) | 2 |
7 | Baltimore Ravens (5-2) | 10 |
8 | Detroit Lions (5-2) | 11 |
9 | Green Bay Packers (5-2) | 12 |
10 | New England Patriots (5-2) | 13 |
11 | Seattle Seahawks (3-3) | 3 |
12 | San Francisco 49ers (4-3) | 5 |
13 | Cincinnati Bengals (3-2-1) | 8 |
14 | Buffalo Bills (4-3) | 16 |
15 | Pittsburgh Steelers (4-3) | 19 |
16 | Carolina Panthers (3-3-1) | 14 |
17 | Cleveland Browns (3-3) | 15 |
18 | Kansas City Chiefs (3-3) | 23 |
19 | Houston Texans (3-4) | 17 |
20 | Miami Dolphins (3-3) | 24 |
21 | Chicago Bears (3-4) | 18 |
22 | New York Giants (3-4) | 20 |
23 | Atlanta Falcons (2-5) | 21 |
24 | New Orleans Saints (2-4) | 22 |
25 | St. Louis Rams (2-4) | 27 |
26 | Washington (2-5) | 28 |
27 | Minnesota Vikings (2-5) | 26 |
28 | Tennessee Titans (2-5) | 25 |
29 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1-5) | 29 |
30 | Jacksonville Jaguars (1-6) | 32 |
31 | New York Jets (1-6) | 31 |
32 | Oakland Raiders (0-6) | 30 |