With a third of the 2023 NFL season officially completed following the Los Angeles Chargers’ deflating defeat to the Dallas Cowboys on Monday, the standings continue to flip-flop between the good, the bad and the downright ugly. As we review the Week 7 NFL Power Rankings, we will be assigning each team a ‘hopeful’, ‘hopeful-ish’, or ‘hopeless’ tag depending on if their season has the potential to for play-off contention.
It is too early to assign a ‘tank’ tag to a team, despite the best efforts of the New England Patriots and Carolina Panthers. Therefore, we want to look at the general direction, mood and injuries of a team that could dictate their whereabouts come January.
1. San Francisco 49ers (5-1)
Sunday: Lost to Cleveland Browns 19-17.
Brock Purdy may have endured a dismal day at the Cleveland Browns Stadium, registering just 125 yards off 12 completions, but the 49ers will grow stronger from the loss. Mr Irrelevant had been due a bad game since his emergence last season and even-so, the loss of Christian McCaffrey and Deebo Samuel factored in unforeseen issues. With a roster still teeming with talent under the guidance of Kyle Shanahan, the 49ers remain the team to beat in the NFL.
Season Aspirations: Hopeful
2. Kansas City Chiefs (5-1)
Thursday: Beat the Denver Broncos 19-8
Chiefs coach Andy Reid can be somewhat thankful for the Travis Kelce x Taylor Swift media buzz overshadowing a limp Chiefs offence. It would take consecutive poor seasons to knock Patrick Mahomes off his perch as the league’s undisputed number one quarterback, but there is no denying that his five interceptions are down to recklessness so far. Still, the Chiefs are 5-1 on the season, with their sole loss coming in the season opener against a strong Lions side – oh, and they were missing Travis Kelce and Chris Jones.
Season Aspirations: Hopeful
3. Miami Dolphins (5-1)
Sunday: Beat the Carolina Panthers 42-21
For a brief moment on Sunday, Bryce Young had ventured into the Hard Rock Stadium and dropped a 14-0 score line on Mike McDaniel’s head. Then the league’s top scoring offence kicked into gear and scored an unanswered 28 points either side of the half. It is too early to anoint them as the top dogs after the Buffalo humbling, though.
Season Aspirations: Hopeful
4. Philadelphia Eagles (5-1)
Sunday: Lost to the New York Jets 20-14
Signs of a spluttering Eagles offence had reared throughout the early season, however, an undefeated 5-0 start had masked the issues. A loss to a Zach Wilson-led Jets (admittedly, attached to a comically strong defence) isn’t yet reason enough to ring major alarm bells, but it is a wake-up call for coach Nick Sirianni to expand beyond Tush-Push and A.J. Brown-ball.
Season Aspirations: Hopeful
5. Buffalo Bills (4-2)
Sunday: Beat the New York Giants 19-14
Despite a disaster class in London last week, the Bills, led by Josh Allen, always have a reason to back them. Rookie Dorian Williams has big shoes to fill in place of injured linebacker Matt Milano, but the 22-year-old out of Tulane helped the Bills edge out the Giants in a weather-impacted affair.
Season Aspirations: Hopeful
6. Detroit Lions (5-1)
Sunday: Beat the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 20-6
The Lions had already collected the scalps of the Chiefs and Packers before Sunday night’s easy road victory over the Buccaneers. Former first round pick Jared Goff may not yet be on course to threaten for MVP status, but the 29-year-old is successfully puppeteering an offence that sits at the top of the NFC North. More than anything, coach Dan Campbell has been instrumental in clearing the long-established doom and gloom that has hung over Detroit the past decade.
Season Aspirations: Hopeful
7. Cleveland Browns (3-2)
Sunday: Beat the San Francisco 49ers 19-17
It turns out that the league’s most efficient defence can shut down the league’s most glittering offence. At least, that is if you overlook the 49ers injury misfortunes. There remain question marks over the Browns’ offence with Deshaun Watson’s extended spell on the sidelines, but they remain strong candidates to top the AFC North for as long as Myles Garrett bullies quarterbacks.
Season Aspirations: Hopeful
8. Dallas Cowboys (4-2)
Monday: Beat the Los Angeles Chargers 20-17
Although the Cowboys continue to blow hot and cold, they possess the individual talent to make the play-offs and surprise stronger opposition. Quarterback Dak Prescott still caps the ceiling over how deep the Cowboys can progress, but their pass rush and ability to create turnovers will keep the offence on the field long enough to win games.
Season Aspirations: Hopeful
9. Jacksonville Jaguars (4-2)
Monday: Beat the Indianapolis Colts 20-17
Beating the Colts doesn’t count for much these days, but the Jaguars stock remains high following their successful beatdown of the Bills in London last Sunday. Trevor Lawrence continues his gradual development under coach Doug Pederson and is slowly living up to the fanfare that followed him during his Clemsom days. The true Jaguar superstar is Travis Etienne Jr, however – no other running back in the league has been called upon as frequently as Etienne’s 113 attempted rushes.
Season Aspirations: Hopeful
10. Baltimore Ravens (4-2)
Sunday: Beat the Tennessee Titans 24-16
Performances in London are often a tough benchmark to assess a team. Thankfully, Baltimore played in the same manner as they have all season – spluttering peaks and troughs. Lamar Jackson is balling through the air but has so far has received little help from his teammates. The Ravens fortunes will pick up as soon as the team improves on their eighth rank in dropped passes across the NFL.
Season Aspirations: Hopeful
11. Cincinnati Bengals (3-3)
Sunday: Beat the Seattle Seahawks 17-13
A road win to the Seahawks keeps the Bengals season alive. Currently sitting at 3-3, last year’s AFC Championship contenders have now picked up back-to-back wins since their humbling at home to the Titans. Joe Burrows still isn’t firing on all cylinders but when the pieces click together, as we saw against the Cardinals, this Bengals side can outscore anyone.
Season Aspirations: Hopeful
12. Seattle Seahawks (3-2)
Monday: Lost to the Cincinnati Bengals 17-20
Geno Smith ball may have faltered in the dying minutes of Sunday’s match, but the Seahawk’s youthful team is taking strides with every coming week. Despite a banged up O-Line, running back Kenneth Walker is enjoying a solid start to his second campaign after his 1,000 yard rookie season.
Season Aspirations: Hopeful
13. New York Jets (3-3)
Monday: Beat the Philadelphia Eagles 20-14
The Jets were a dodgy call away from holding claims to wins over both the Chiefs and the Eagles. How much the recent success can be attributed to Zach Wilson’s recent surge to be the 31st best quarterback in the league is debatable.
Season Aspirations: Hopeful-ish
14. Pittsburgh Steelers (3-2)
Bye week
For such a putrid offence, the Steelers look well set to claw their way to another winning record in a hotly contested AFC North. Unsurprisingly, it is Mike Tomlin’s formiddable defence that leads the way for the Steelers with pass rush duo TJ Watt and Alex Highsmith dominating games.
Season Aspirations: Hopeful
15. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3-2)
Sunday: Lost to the Detroit Lions 20-6
Aside from a comprehensive victory over the New Orleans Saints, the Baker Mayfield-led Buccaneers have struggled against meaningful competition. Without a run game, Baker appears to be reverting back to form with increasing inaccuracy – they remain a team to keep a keen eye on.
Season Aspirations: Hopeful-ish
16. Houston Texans (3-3)
Sunday: Beat the New Orleans Saints 20-13
News may have centred on rookie quarterback CJ Stroud throwing his first interception, but it took little shine off another impressive Texans’ win. Their defensive numbers may have benefitted from facing softer opposition, but their resurgence under coach DeMeco Ryans has been impressive.
Season Aspirations: Hopeful-ish
17. Los Angeles Chargers (2-3)
Sunday: Lost to the Dallas Cowboys 20-17
A team dripping with talent from every corner of the roster has no excuse to be sat third in a woeful AFC West. Coach Brandon Staley is burning on the hotseat with each passing week as he wastes Justin Herbert’s talents. The Chargers can still be carried to occasional wins by standout individual performers, but the fundamental coaching flaws marks the Chargers as our first hopeless team.
Season Aspirations: Hopeless
18. Los Angeles Rams (3-3)
Monday: Beat the Arizona Cardinals 26-9
For a team so heavily written off ahead of the 2023 season, the Rams have proven the NFL’s surprise package. Despite going .500 through their first six games, all three of their losses have come against the top dogs – San Francisco, Cincinnati and Philadelphia. As familiar faces continue to shine in Aaron Donald and Cooper Kupp, the Rams fans have also been treated to Kyren Williams’ thumping rushes and Puka Nacua’s safe hands.
Season Aspirations: Hopeful-ish
19. Washington Commanders (3-3)
Sunday: Beat the Atlanta Falcons 24-16
Sam Howell is yet to stamp his mark as the franchise quarterback for the Commanders. His deep-ball slanging approach, however, is a joy to watch for neutrals. Coupled with a fearsome defensive line that is slowly simmering, and the Commanders could yet drag their way to the playoffs.
Season Aspirations: Hopeful-ish
20. Atlanta Falcons (3-3)
Sunday: Lost to the Washington Commanders 24-16
While it is unlikely that we will see backup quarterback Taylor Heinicke drafted in for Desmond Ridder, there are still silver linings in the Falcons’ current predicament. They sit second in an extremely weak NFC South, possess two stud running backs and will face the division leading Bucs next week just as their quarterback’s form appears to be cooling.
Season Aspirations: Hopeful-ish
21. New Orleans Saints (3-3)
Sunday: Lost to the Houston Texans 20-13
Derek Carr has been hampered with a shoulder injury since playing the Packers, but the team was enduring an identity crisis long before. The late loss on the road at Green Bay has derailed the previously undefeated Saints, having regressed further since Alvin Kamara’s return from suspension.
Season Aspirations: Hopeful-ish
22. Green Bay Packers (2-3)
Bye week
The Packers should treat the rest of the season as a bleeding ground for the vastly inexperienced Jordan Love. Taking over from Aaron Rodgers is a thankless job, more-so without any real receiving weapons and a consistently injured running back in Aaron Jones. With an unforgiving stretch of matches on the horizon, they fall to be our second hopeless team.
Season Aspirations: Hopeless
23. Indianapolis Colts (3-3)
Sunday: Lost to Jacksonville Jaguars 37-20
Losing Anthony Richardson to a shoulder injury for the rest of the season is a painful blow to any lingering playoff hopes. Gardner Minshew is a solid replacement and retains belief in his starting quarterback calibre, but it looks like another disappointing season for Indianapolis fans.
Season Aspirations: Hopeful-ish
24. Minnesota Vikings (2-4)
Sunday: Beat the Chicago Bears 19-13
While rankings may well change dependant on last-minute trade deadline moves, the Vikings’ bad run of luck should eventually even out later in the season. Justin Jefferson’s injury until mid-November is a serious blow, however, especially with Kirk Cousins cooking.
Season Aspirations: Hopeful-ish
25. Las Vegas Raiders (3-3)
Sunday: Beat the New England Patriots 21-17
Maxx Crosby is a monstrous leader for the Raiders’ defence, featuring in 357 snaps this season – the most of any defensive lineman. Jimmy Garoppolo’s back injury seems less serious than first reported, although the Raiders will need to juggle rookie Aidan O’Connell or 15-year veteran Brian Hoyer in the meantime.
Season Aspirations: (barely) Hopeful-ish
26. Tennessee Titans (2-4)
Sunday: Lost to the Baltimore Ravens 24-16
With Ryan Tannehill looking increasingly washed every game, a high ankle sprain sustained at the weekend may prove to be a blessing for coach Mike Vrabel. Back-up QB Malik Willis has the opportunity to spark some life into the slumbering side, but for the Titans to have any realistic chance at the playoffs, it will likely have to come through a miraculous emergence of rookie Will Levis.
Season Aspirations: Hopeless
27. Arizona Cardinals (1-5)
Sunday: Lost to the Los Angeles Rams 26-9
The Joshua Dobbs-led Cardinals may be every neutral fan’s team, but their season is likely to be remembered solely as the ‘shocked the Cowboys’ year. Kyler Murray’s return from injury remains without a pencilled date, while the loss of James Conner has proven fatal to the offence so far.
Season Aspirations: Hopeless
28. New York Giants (1-5)
Sunday: Lost to the Buffalo Bills 14-9
How have the Giants ended up as the New York team to feature the worst quarterback? Even so, without Daniel Jones, the Giants’ offence has is toothless in the air and on the ground. Brian Daboll’s goodwill was signed over when Danny Dimes’ inked his blockbuster contract.
Season Aspirations: Hopeless
29. New England Patriots (1-5)
Sunday: Lost to the Las Vegas Raiders 21-17
There is little reason to pour more fuel on the dumpster fire that is the New England Patriots. Coach Bill Belichick appears to have checked out from the Pats, but the wisened veteran could still arise to spoil some other team’s parties.
Season Aspirations: Hopeless
30. Denver Broncos (1-5)
Thursday: Lost to the Kansas City Chiefs 19-8
The good news for Broncos fans is that their defence finally made an appearance on Thursday night against the Chiefs – holding Patrick Mahomes to just one touchdown. On the flip side, Russell Wilson stank out the joint in a performance that may have lost any remaining hope in the changing room.
Season Aspirations: Hopeless
31. Chicago Bears (1-5)
Sunday: Lost to the Minnesota Vikings 19-13
Losing to the Vikings feels like a missed opportunity, but the result would have hardly surprised many Bears fans before the match. More worryingly, a dislocated thumb for Justin Fields has killed the Bears’ season as well as ending the quarterback’s future in Chicago.
Season Aspirations: Hopeless
32. Carolina Panthers (0-6)
Sunday: Lost to the Miami Dolphins 42-21
As the only remaining winless team in the NFL, the Carolina Panthers are left to sit and rue their costly decision to trade up for Bryce Young. Nobody is placing the blame solely on the rookie quarterback, however, there is scant evidence that the Panthers’ fortunes will change any time soon.
Season Aspirations: Hopeless
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