NFL Power Rankings: Week 7

Top 10 NFL Teams: Week 7

Boston Mountain Publishing, Wednesday. October 19, 2022 3:51 PM

We have ranked the Top 10 NFL teams through Week 6 and discuss their outlooks going forward.

NFL TEAM POWER RANKINGS

Heading into Week 7 of the 2022 NFL season, we already have several teams in a position to start talking about playoff appearances. The Philadelphia Eagles, Buffalo Bills, and Minnesota Vikings have at least 5 wins and all have a decent chance at securing a playoff spot before December.

The AFC North, AFC South, NFC West, and the NFC South have the tightest divisions to date and picking a leader will be up in the air over the next few weeks before we see separation between any of these teams competing in those divisions.

#10 - BALTIMORE RAVENS 3-3

AFC NORTH

QB Lamar Jackson is the 5th best rusher in the league with 451 yards on the ground while adding 2 TDs for the Ravens. He is also 3rd in the league in passing TDs with 13 on the year, but in contrast, he is also 3rd in the league in thrown INTs with 6. The offense revolves around his decisions.

The Raven's running game is ranked 6th in the league with 934 yards on the ground and they are averaging 6 yards per carry, 1st in the NFL. RB Kenyon Drake is 2nd on the team with 184 rushing yards.

TE Mark Andrews has been the top target of Jackson, catching 39 passes for the Ravens to go with 5 TDs.

The Ravens D has 8 INTs on the year (S Marcus Williams has 3) ranking 3rd in the league. They rank 7th in the league giving up only 623 yards on the ground. They have forced 6 fumbles on the year while recovering 3. Safety Chuck Clark is leading the team with 40 tackles.

Their schedule through the last 11 games in the regular season consists of all teams with the same or worse records through Week 6. Out of 11 games remaining, 5 are against divisional teams with 2 at home and 3 on the road.

The next three games before their BYE week will offer an opportunity to gain some separation in the division and it starts this weekend taking on divisional rival the Cleveland Browns (2-4) at home.

Upcoming Games:

Sunday October 23

Cleveland Browns (2-4)

@ Baltimore Ravens

Sunday October 27

Baltimore Ravens

@ Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3-3)

#9 - LOS ANGELES CHARGERS 4-2

AFC WEST

QB Justin Herbert has thrown for 1,716 yards ranking 4th in the league through the first 6 games. He has completed 66.1% of his passes, throwing 10 TDs against 3 INTs.

WR Mike Williams and RB Austin Ekler are the top targets for Herbert, and both have 2 receiving TDs.

Ekeler is also the lead running back and is averaging 4.7 yards per carry with 4 TDs on the ground.

The Chargers defense is led by S Derwin James Jr. who is leading the team with 55 tackles on the year. CB Bryce Callahan is leading the defense with 2 INTs.

The Charges D has given up 11 TDs through the air, 5th most in the league. and have given up the 10th most yards on the ground through Week 6. They also rank 1st in the league giving up 5.6 yards per carry on the ground. In contrast, their rushing defense only allows opposing teams a 1 in 5 chance of completing a first-down when running the ball.

The next 4 games for the Chargers will be crucial in their success as every team they play has the same or a better record through the first 1/3 of the season. (2 at home, 2 on the road)

Upcoming Games:

Sunday October 23

Seattle Seahawks (3-3)

@ Los Angeles Chargers

Sunday October 30

BYE

#8 - CINCINATTI BENGALS 3-3

AFC NORTH

QB Joe Burrow leads the Bengals offense and is currently ranked 5th in the league with 1,616 passing yards with 12 TDs and 5 interceptions on the year. He has a 66.7% completion rate for Cincinnati and his top target is WR Ja'Maar Chase who leads the Bengals and is 7th in the NFL with 39 receptions and 4 TDs to date.

RB Joe Mixon gets the majority of snaps out of the backfield and is averaging 3.3 yards per carry for 347 yards on the ground to go along with 1 TD.

The offense has completed 153 passes and they have run the ball 152 times.

They have converted 48.5% of their 3rd downs.

LB Germaine Pratt leads the team with 44 tackles, and S Vonn Bell has 3 INTs on the year. The Bengals have only allowed 2 rushing TDs but give up an average of 4.8 yards per carry.

They have only given up 5 TDs through the air, and they give up 5.8 yards per catch which currently ranks 6th in the league.

Cincinatti has 2 divisional games over the next 4 games, and they will be critical to if they want to remain at the top of the division.

Upcoming Games:

Sunday October 23

Atlanta Falcons (3-3)

@ Cincinatti Bengals

Sunday October 31

Cincinatti Bengals

@ Cleveland Browns (2-4)

#7 - DALLAS COWBOYS 4-2

NFC EAST

When is Dak coming back? Soon, maybe this weekend. His replacement at QB has been Cooper Rush who has come in and led this team to 4 wins over the last 5 games in Prescott's absence. His worst game was last week against the Eagles in which he threw 3 INTs to their division rival in the loss.

RB Ezekiel Elliott has led the rushing attack, currently ranked 15th in the league with 386 yards and 2 TDs on the ground.

WR CeeDee Lamb is leading the team and is ranked 15th in the league with 409 yards and 2 TDs.

The Cowboys passing defense is ranked 3rd in the league, only allowing 5.2 yards per catch to go with 5 INTs. They have only given up 2 rushing TDs and are giving up 4.4 yards per carry.

Their next 4 games are all against teams in the NFC North division. Ironically, this stretch starts with the worst team in the division and ends with the best team in the division. Every game matters if you are playing in the NFC East this year and the Cowboys will need to run the North if they want to compete for the East.

Upcoming Games:

Sunday October 23

Detroit Lions (1-4)

@ Dallas Cowboys

Sunday October 30

Chicago Bears (2-4)

@ Dallas Cowboys

#6 - NEW YORK JETS 4-2

AFC EAST

Been awhile for the Jets to be in the conversation.

The Jets are currently led by QB Zach Wilson who started Game 4 of the year for New York taking over for Joe Flacco. The 2nd year QB has bounced back in his return from a rocky rookie season. He is 3-0 in his starts and has quietly led his team to some key wins.

RB Breece Hall leads the team with 391 yards (14th in NFL) and 3 TDs. He is averaging 5.1 yards per carry.

WR Corey Davis is leading the team in receptions with 19 on the year, gaining 351 yards with 2 TDs. He is averaging 18.5 yards per catch with is currently ranked 2nd in the league.

The Jets D is led by LB C.J. Mosley who has 62 tackles on the year, currently ranked 4th in the league. New York has 7 INTs and 14 sacks through the first 6 games.

The defense has allowed 8 passing TDs and 7 rushing TDs to date.

Their next game is at Denver, then their next 3 games are against division rivals. The next 4 games will be crucial to remain relevant in the East division.

Upcoming Games:

Sunday October 23

New York Jets

@ Denver Broncos (2-4)

Sunday October 30

New England Patriots (3-3)

@ New York Jets

#5 - NEW YORK GIANTS 5-1

NFC EAST

The Giants do not throw the ball very much having attempted the 4th fewest passes in the league, but when QB Daniel Jones gets the call to throw the ball, he completes 66.7% of his passes. He has thrown 5 TDs through the air and has 2 rushing TDs as well.

RB Saquon Barkley is leading the team with 21 receptions for 155 yards receiving. He is also leading their rushing attack, ranked 2nd in the league with 616 rushing yards while adding 4 rushing TDs.

WR Richie James is leading the receivers with 189 yards, followed by WR Sterling Shepard with 154 yards and a TD.

New York has made 12 field goals this year, tied for 4th most in the NFL.

The Giants defense is ranked in the middle of the league in passing yards allowed.

They are giving up the 3rd most rushing yards to opposing running backs who are averaging 5.6 yards per carry against them.

Interestingly, the New York defense has recovered 7 fumbles which is the most in the league.