Welcome to Week 7 of the Pro Football Network company-wide NFL power rankings. While Dalton Miller ably provides his own power rankings, following the conclusion of each Sunday’s action, we’ll be polling each of PFN’s NFL contributors to assemble our list.
Each week, we’ll combine rankings from yours truly, Chief Content Officer David Bearman, NFL Director Adam Beasley, Betting Director Brian Blewis, Audience Engagement Director Mike Gambardella, COO Matt Infante, NFL Analyst Dalton Miller, Bengals Reporter Jay Morrison, Cowboys Reporter Jess Nevarez, and Fantasy Director Kyle Yates.
Which teams are too high or too low as we enter Week 7 of the 2023 NFL season?
From the current NFL standings to team depth charts to coverage of every game in the 18-week NFL schedule, we have all the news from around the league to keep you up to speed!
Pro Football Network’s Week 7 NFL Power Rankings
32) Carolina Panthers
Week 6 Ranking: 32
After starting 0-5, HC Frank Reich said his conversations with owner David Tepper were “not fun.” Wonder what they were like after the Panthers fell to 0-6 on Sunday?
Rookie QB Bryce Young looked more comfortable than he had in previous outings and played turnover-free football for the first time this season. WR Adam Thielen is on pace for an absurd 138-1,442-11 line. Those are the positives.
Carolina still got blown out by the Miami Dolphins in Week 6, could sell off numerous pieces at the trade deadline, and may have drafted the wrong quarterback with the first overall pick. Those are the not-so-positives.
31) Denver Broncos
Week 6 Ranking: 30
The Broncos’ defense played its best game of the year, holding QB Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs to just 17 points on Thursday night. Of course, that effort isn’t beneficial when Denver QB Russell Wilson passes for just 95 yards, and the Broncos’ offense only puts up eight points.
Like the Panthers, the 1-5 Broncos appear primed to be active sellers before the NFL’s Oct. 31 trade deadline. Wilson won’t be traded, but don’t be surprised if Denver eventually benches him to prevent future injury guarantees.
30) New England Patriots
Week 6 Ranking: 29
The Patriots are borderline unwatchable. OC Bill O’Brien wouldn’t have had to do much to represent an upgrade over 2022 offensive play-caller Matt Patricia, but he hasn’t done it. New England is dead last in offensive EPA per play through six weeks.
QB Mac Jones isn’t the answer under center, but HC Bill Belichick seems reticent to turn the Patriots’ offense over to backup signal-callers Malik Cunningham, Will Grier, or Bailey Zappe, even in what looks like a lost season.
Now that New England’s once-elite defense has lost contributors such as LB Matthew Judon and CB Christian Gonzalez, it’s fair to wonder about Belichick’s future as head coach.
29) New York Giants
Week 6 Ranking: 31
DC Wink Martindale’s defense was outstanding against the Buffalo Bills on Sunday night. The Giants’ defense held QB Josh Allen to 169 passing yards and intercepted him once, putting New York’s offense in a position to defeat a superior opponent.
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Still, backup QB Tyrod Taylor’s time management blunder at the end of the first half cost “Big Blue” points and, ultimately, the game.
The Giants are more banged up than any team in the league, and things won’t begin to turn around until that changes. Even then, deep-rooted issues along the offensive line and in the secondary will keep New York near the bottom of the power rankings.
28) Chicago Bears
Week 6 Ranking: 28
Welcome to the NFL, Tyson Bagent. The former Division II Sheperd University QB thrived during the preseason, saw his first regular-season action as Justin Fields’ (dislocated thumb) replacement on Sunday, and seems likely to start against the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 7.
Things were finally starting to click for Fields, but he’s already doubtful for Week 7 and doesn’t have a timetable for return. It’s certainly not his fault he got injured, but Fields can’t afford to miss time in a make-or-break campaign.
Even a lukewarm Fields season could convince the Bears to use their ample 2024 draft capital to find their next franchise quarterback.
27) Arizona Cardinals
Week 6 Ranking: 27
Some of the shine has begun to wear off of the Cardinals, who are still playing hard and competing in games but not seeing results.
Arizona’s defense has fallen to 30th in efficiency, ahead of only the Broncos and Bears. On the other side of the ball, the offense couldn’t get in the end zone against a Los Angeles Rams defense that was supposed to be as anonymous as the Cardinals’.
26) Tennessee Titans
Week 6 Ranking: T-22
Now that QB Ryan Tannehill appears likely to miss time with a high ankle sprain, the Titans’ outlook for the rest of the year looks much different. Backup Malik Willis looked entirely overwhelmed at the end of Tennssee’s loss to the Baltimore Ravens, but the club can get an extended look at either him or rookie second-rounder Will Levis if Tannehill is out.
25) Las Vegas Raiders
Week 6 Ranking: 25
If the Raiders beat the Bears on Sunday, they’ll somewhat incredibly have a 4-3 record through seven games. Does this feel like a 4-3 team to anyone?
QB Jimmy Garoppolo (back) might be able to return for Week 7, which could give Las Vegas’ offense a chance to develop some cohesion. Meanwhile, the Raiders’ defense has limited its past two opponents — the admittedly unformidable Green Bay Packers and Patriots — to 36 total points. Still, it’s hard to get excited about much involving this team.
24) Minnesota Vikings
Week 6 Ranking: 26
While the Vikings managed to win in their first WR Justin Jefferson-less game, Minnesota’s offense only scored one touchdown against a Bears defense that shouldn’t scare anyone.
The Vikings are already three games back of the Detroit Lions in the NFC North. Although they could still threaten for a Wild Card berth, Minnesota seems closer to selling off parts at the deadline than making a real run. But QB Kirk Cousins — who doesn’t plan to waive his no-trade clause — won’t be going anywhere.
23) Green Bay Packers
Week 6 Ranking: T-22
Speaking of NFC North teams slowly drifting out of the mix, the Packers could see the return of RB Aaron Jones after their Week 6 bye. He could help get Green Bay’s running game going and help alleviate the pressure on QB Jordan Love, who owns the NFL’s lowest completion percentage and fourth-worst interception rate.
22) Washington Commanders
Week 6 Ranking: 24
The Commanders got extremely lucky to pull out a win in Week 6. The Atlanta Falcons more than doubled Washington’s offensive yardage, but QB Desmond Ridder’s three interceptions allowed QB Sam Howell and Co. to walk away victorious.
Given Howell’s play, Washington could be a fringe playoff contender if its defense weren’t playing so poorly. A Commanders unit that finished third in yards allowed and seventh in scoring last season now ranks third-worst in points allowed per drive.
21) Indianapolis Colts
Week 6 Ranking: 17
Colts owner Jim Irsay said rookie QB Anthony Richardson will “probably” miss the remainder of the season after suffering a shoulder injury in Week 6. Indy can still be an interesting team if that’s the case, but backup signal-caller Gardner Minshew can’t create the sort of jaw-dropping plays that Richardson can turn in.
That doesn’t mean the Colts can’t be competitive with Minshew — who worked with Indy head coach Shane Steichen in Philadelphia — under center. They’ll just need significant contributions from their defense and recently returned RB Jonathan Taylor.
20) Atlanta Falcons
Week 6 Ranking: 18
How do you solve a problem like Ridder? The 2022 third-rounder posted the best performance of his career in Week 5 but followed that up by tossing three picks against the Commanders on Sunday. All three interceptions came in the second half, and the latter two (both inside Washington’s 40) were back-breaking.
HC Arthur Smith hasn’t yet signaled that he’s ready to turn things over to backup QB Taylor Heinicke, but another Ridder meltdown could make that course of action a necessity.
19) Houston Texans
Week 6 Ranking: 21
If the season ended today, HC DeMeco Ryans should be the favorite for Coach of the Year. He’s taken a Texans team that most projected as a bottom-three club and has them at .500 entering their bye week.
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OC Bobby Slowik will garner head-coaching consideration for his work with rookie QB C.J. Stroud, who finally threw the first pick of his NFL career on Sunday, but remains atop the Offensive Rookie of the Year race.
Houston will hang around as a contender all season and might even be able to challenge the Jacksonville Jaguars for the AFC South crown.
18) New Orleans Saints
Week 6 Ranking: T-14
The Saints’ defense has allowed more than 20 points once this season, but QB Derek Carr and the offense can’t get anything going. New Orleans might already regret the four-year, $150 million deal it handed Carr this offseason.
The Saints are tied to the veteran through at least 2024, but they received similar production from journeyman QB Andy Dalton in 2022 at a fraction of the price.
17) Pittsburgh Steelers
Week 6 Ranking: 16
WR Diontae Johnson is eligible to return from injured reserve in Week 7, which should give the Steelers’ offense an added dimension moving forward, but it’s hard to imagine much will change as long as Matt Canada is still calling plays. Still, HC Mike Tomlin hasn’t suggested he’s open to replacing Pittsburgh’s OC.
The Steelers’ pass rush will keep them in most games, but the team’s overall upside is severely limited.
16) New York Jets
Week 6 Ranking: 20
“Gang Green” pulled off one of the season’s most surprising upsets by handing the Philadelphia Eagles their first loss of the season. The Jets’ defense constantly harassed QB Jalen Hurts, forcing him into just the second three-interception game of his career.
Did we mention New York did this with cornerbacks Sauce Gardner and D.J. Reed sidelined by concussions? The Jets’ defense gives the club a solid baseline level of performance each week, so QB Zach Wilson’s ability to limit mistakes will determine the team’s upside.
15) Los Angeles Rams
Week 6 Ranking: 19
The Rams’ four-spot bump in our power rankings represented one of the most significant leaps in an otherwise stagnant week. It’s also worth remembering that Los Angeles was tied for 28th in these rankings heading into Week 1. The fact that the Rams are at .500 — even given WR Cooper Kupp’s four-game absence — is a testament to HC Sean McVay.
14) Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Week 6 Ranking: T-11
If Rams HC McVay deserves a shout-out, then so does Tampa Bay HC Todd Bowles. Few observers gave the Tom Brady-less Buccaneers much of a chance this season. They were even lower than the Rams in our power rankings coming into the year.
Tampa Bay lost to the Detroit Lions on Sunday but remains atop the NFC South standings. The Bucs’ defense still has enough veteran talent to limit opposing offenses, but if QB Baker Mayfield continues to play like he did against the Lions, it won’t matter.
13) Los Angeles Chargers
Week 6 Ranking: 13
It’s still challenging to know what to make of the Chargers after six weeks. They barely beat the Vikings and Raiders — two teams we have much lower in our power rankings — for their only two wins. But Los Angeles also held tough against the Miami Dolphins and Dallas Cowboys — clubs we still view in the NFL’s first or second tier.
The Chargers’ defense, which has been among the league’s worst, let Dallas QB Dak Prescott complete 70% of his passes and allowed three critical third-down conversions on the Cowboys’ go-ahead drive. They also limited the Cowboys to 20 points and consistently harassed Prescott, sacking him five times while generating pressure on nearly 40% of his dropbacks.
12) Cincinnati Bengals
Week 6 Ranking: T-14
QB Joe Burrow and the Bengals’ offense cratered in the second half of Sunday’s game, but the team’s defense was there to pick up the slack.
The Seattle Seahawks had six second-half possessions. One ended with a punt, two ended with interceptions, and the final two ended on downs, including a game-winning, goal-line stand.
Cincinnati still has plenty of questions to answer and will face a gauntlet after its Week 7 bye, but it feels like the Bengals have had the opportunity to reset after their disastrous 1-3 start.
11) Seattle Seahawks
Week 6 Ranking: 8
The Seahawks entered the red zone four times in the second half of Sunday’s loss to the Bengals, and they only scored three points.
That’s not going to happen very often for Seattle’s offense, and the fact that QB Geno Smith and Co. were able to move the ball on a Cincinnati defense that stepped up when it counted was encouraging. Meanwhile, the Seahawks’ defense shut down Joe Burrow in the second half, slowing a passing attack that looked like it had returned to its previous heights the week prior.
10) Cleveland Browns
Week 6 Ranking: T-11
Even with QB Deshaun Watson missing his second-straight game with a shoulder injury, the Browns were able to take down the previously undefeated San Francisco 49ers — and it was all thanks to DC Jim Schwartz’s defense, which is performing at a historic clip.
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Cleveland has allowed just 1,002 total yards through five games. That’s the fewest total yards an NFL team has given up through five contests in over 50 years. Since the merger, only two clubs, the 1971 Baltimore Ravens (836) and the 1970 Vikings (945), allowed fewer.
9) Jacksonville Jaguars
Week 6 Ranking: 9
While the Jaguars have won three straight games and rounded into the team we all thought they would be, they’ve done so while QB Trevor Lawrence has been league-average, at least from a statistical standpoint. Lawrence, who injured his knee against the Colts on Sunday, appears likely to play against the Saints on Thursday night.
Jacksonville’s defense has morphed into a solid unit during this three-game stretch against the Falcons, Buffalo Bills, and Colts. The Jags allowed only 15.6 points per game and generated nine turnovers. Meanwhile, Lawrence and the offense gave the ball away just three times during their win streak.
8) Baltimore Ravens
Week 6 Ranking: 10
While Baltimore hasn’t played the most difficult slate of opposing offenses, its defense has been dominant through six weeks. Only the Browns rank better in defensive EPA and yards per play, while the Ravens have given up the fourth-fewest points per game.
They’ve been doing this at less than full strength. Contributors like CB Marlon Humphrey, S Marcus Williams, and EDGEs Odafe Oweh, Tyus Bowser, and David Ojabo have all missed time. As Baltimore continues to get healthy, they’ll remain among the AFC’s true contenders.
7) Dallas Cowboys
Week 6 Ranking: 7
The Cowboys rank first in “variance,” as measured by Aaron Schatz’s DVOA, and that’s hardly surprising when you look at their results. Heading into Week 6, Dallas had won games by scores of 40-0, 30-10, and 38-3 and lost games by scores of 28-16 and 42-10.
Monday night’s win over the Chargers was much closer, and it was a game the Cowboys very well could have lost. Still, we’ll credit Prescott for making enough plays — both with his arm and his legs — and Dallas’ defense for picking off Chargers QB Justin Herbert in crunch time.
6) Buffalo Bills
Week 6 Ranking: 5
Week 6 marked the second time the Bills had scored less than 17 points this season, which doesn’t even seem possible for a team rostering QB Josh Allen and WR Stefon Diggs. Scoring just 16 points against the Jets in Week 1 was unexpected but explainable — putting up 14 against the Giants made far less sense.
Still, Buffalo’s most significant concern isn’t even on offense — it’s on defense, where stalwarts CB Tre’Davious White, LB Matt Milano, and DL DaQuan Jones are out for the year. Those absences might not matter against the Patriots and Bucs over the next two weeks, but they probably will when the Bills face the Philadelphia Eagles, Kansas City Chiefs, Cowboys, and Miami Dolphins in late-season matchups.
5) Detroit Lions
Week 6 Ranking: 6
We already knew the Lions’ offense was a well-oiled machine. Even when they’ve been missing starters or playing at less than full strength, points have rarely been an issue over the past season and change.
Still, Detroit’s defense has leaped into another stratosphere. DC Aaron Glenn’s unit has given up just 14 points per game over the last four weeks. EDGE Aidan Hutchinson looks like an absolute star, while the secondary should get rookie phenom DB Brian Branch back shortly.
The Lions have lived up to the hype and then some. They’re one of the most well-rounded teams in the NFL.
4) Philadelphia Eagles
Week 6 Ranking: 2
The Eagles are working with new coordinators on both sides of the ball. And through six weeks, they’ve looked exactly like a highly talented team that’s working with new coordinators on both sides of the ball.
QB Jalen Hurts has had his moments, but he hasn’t looked like the quarterback who was in the thick of the MVP race a year ago. Philadelphia’s defensive front can still get after opposing OLs, but the club’s spine is still compromised.
Regardless, the Eagles are one of the best teams in the NFL, but nothing feels as effortless as it did last season.
3) Miami Dolphins
Week 6 Ranking: 4
Things might not look smooth for the Eagles, but they are for the Dolphins — at least on offense. Only four teams since the merger scored more points than Miami (223) through the first six games of a season: Peyton Manning’s 2013 Broncos (265), the 2000 Rams (262), the Super Bowl-winning 2009 Saints (238), and the undefeated 2007 Patriots (23).
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QB Tua Tagovailoa would be an MVP finalist if the season ended today — and not just because he plays in Mike McDaniel’s offense. Tagovailoa is connecting on shots most NFL quarterbacks could not hit, and he’s sixth in completion percentage over expectation.
2) Kansas City Chiefs
Week 6 Ranking: 3
Nothing looks easy for the Chiefs, who are now 5-1, but the team has primarily relied on their defense instead of their offense, a strange turn of events for a QB Patrick Mahomes-led team. Kansas City’s only real offensive explosion came against the Bears in Week 3 — they’re averaging just 21 points per game outside of that win versus Chicago.
Still, those offensive struggles haven’t mattered because Steve Spagnuolo’s defense has ascended to a near-elite level. The Chiefs rank sixth in defensive EPA, seventh in yards allowed per play, and haven’t given up more than 21 points all season.
1) San Francisco 49ers
Week 6 Ranking: 1
The 49ers finally lost their first game of the season on Sunday, but it took the NFL’s best defense — and multiple offensive injuries — to slow them down. QB Brock Purdy suffered the first regular-season loss of his career on a day when RB Christian McCaffrey, WR Deebo Samuel, and OL Trent Williams all went down.
Fortunately, none of those players is believed to be dealing with long-term concerns. McCaffrey, Samuel, and Williams could all be available for what should be a Monday night cakewalk against the Vikings’ porous defense.