NFL Power Ranks: Week 7

We have a new number 1 this week, and it is none other than Ryan's favorite, the Indianapolis Colts. The Colts slipped by the Saints this week after blowing out the Rams while the Saints defense gave up a bunch of points to Miami. Idle Denver moves up to #3 after Minnesota's loss to Pittsburgh, who slips to #5 (and have a huge matchup with #6 Green Bay this week). The Patriots have been so hot lately that they moved above Minnesota, taking the #4 spot.

The bad teams stayed bad this week, and stayed exactly where they were. The Titans didn't have to play this week, but their 59-0 loss last week covers the blowout losses that each of the other 4 bottom 5 teams faced this week.

The biggest gainers this week were the Chargers and Bills (+6), who are a quiet 3-4, and the Steelers and Cowboys (+5), who both got nice wins over good teams. The biggest loser was the Bears, who dropped 12 spots all the way to #21 after getting crushed by the Bengals, and the Falcons, who got surprisingly blown out by Dallas a week after I put them in the "playoff lock" category...oops. The 49ers' free fall from #1 continues, as they drop 6 spots to #20.

Last year I did projected playoff matchups. I think it could be fun to start them a little earlier this year:

NFC
1st Round Byes: #2 Saints, #5 Vikings
#6 Packers @ #12 Cardinals
#10 Cowboys @ #7 Eagles
Top 3 Out of Playoffs: #11 Giants, #13 Falcons, #20 49ers

AFC
1st Round Byes: #1 Colts, #3 Broncos
#9 Bengals @ #8 Steelers
#14 Texans @ #4 Patriots
Top 3 Out of Playoffs: #15 Chargers, #16 Jaguars, #17 Jets

Full Ranks:
1. Colts - 85.81 - +2
2. Saints - 83.11 - -1
3. Broncos - 82.96 - +1
4. Patriots - 73.99 - +3
5. Vikings - 73.46 - -3
6. Packers - 71.10 - +2
7. Eagles - 68.93 - +3
8. Steelers - 66.64 - +5
9. Bengals - 65.96 - +3
10. Cowboys - 62.54 - +5
11. Giants - 61.78 - -5
12. Cardinals - 61.76 - -1
13. Falcons - 60.81 - -8
14. Texans - 59.84 - +3
15. Chargers - 53.37 - +6
16. Jaguars - 50.59 - Even
17. Jets - 50.26 - +3
18. Ravens - 49.77 - Even
19. Bills - 47.73 - +6
20. 49ers - 45.89 - -6
21. Bears - 45.47 - -12
22. Dolphins - 45.14 - -3
23. Seahawks - 38.11 - -1
24. Panthers - 34.45 - -1
25. Redskins - 33.11 - -1
26. Lions - 28.19 - +1
27. Chiefs - 27.54 - -1
28. Raiders - 27.12 - Even
29. Browns - 25.42 - Even
30. Buccaneers - 16.33 - Even
31. Titans - 14.38 - Even
32. Rams - 10.84 - Even