2013 Week 7 NFL Power Rankings

Dallas Cowboys: 2013 Week 7 NFL Power Rankings (#11)

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Last week: 10 (-1)

Record: 3-3

The Cowboys would be higher on this list if it wasn’t for the sheer volume of injuries they’ve suffered. DeMarcus Ware, Jay Ratliff, Jason Hatcher, and Anthony Spencer were supposed to be their starters on the defensive line this season. Spencer is out for the season. Ratliff has yet to play this season and has all but been ruled out for the remainder of the season. DeMarcus Ware, meanwhile, is now dealing with an injury that could cost him anywhere from a week to a month. Offensively, DeMarco Murray is now hurt (surprise) and will miss multiple weeks probably, which threatens to ruin a ground game that had thus far been one of the best in the NFL.

Week 6 Studs

DT Jason Hatcher

MLB Sean Lee

CB Brandon Carr

Week 6 Duds

QB Tony Romo

TE James Hanna

LE Caeser Rayford

FS Barry Church

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Baltimore Ravens: 2013 Week 7 NFL Power Rankings (#12)

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Last week: 12 (+0)

Record: 3-3

Despite the loss of veteran leaders Ray Lewis and Ed Reed, the Ravens have not missed a beat defensively. The value of Lewis and Reed was mostly intangible towards the end of their time with the Ravens, as they became ineffective on the field. Guys like Daryl Smith and James Ihedigbo have filled their voids very well and the return to full health for Lardarius Webb and Terrell Suggs, as well as the addition of Elvis Dumveril, have made this one of the best stop units in the NFL, allowing opponents to move the chains on 65% of opportunities and stifling Aaron Rodgers and the Packers last week. Unfortunately, they lost last week because their offense remains incompetent. They move the chains on 67% of chances on the season and there was a point against the Packers where they had 4 first downs, 9 punts, 1 turnover, and a failed 4th down. Ray Rice and the running game have randomly become awful, forcing Joe Flacco to do more of the work, despite missing 2 of his best receivers from last year.

Week 6 Studs

LE Arthur Jones

LOLB Elvis Dumervil

Week 6 Duds

RB Ray Rice

SS James Ihedigbo

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Chicago Bears: 2013 Week 7 NFL Power Rankings (#13)

stevenlourie 2013 NFL Power Rankings, 2013 Week 7 NFL Power Rankings, Bears, Uncategorized

Last week: 13 (+0)

It was obvious to anyone watching a depleted Giants team move the chains with ease against them, but the Bears defense is a shell of its former self. Last season, it was a dominant unit that could also take the ball away from you. Now if they can’t take the ball away from you, they generally can’t stop you from scoring, forcing just 19 punts in 6 games. Injuries and age are a huge part of it, as well as the departure of defensive minds Lovie Smith and Rod Marinelli.

Week 6 Studs

WR Brandon Marshall

LT Jermon Bushrod

DT Corey Wootton

Week 6 Duds

RE Julius Peppers

LE Shea McClellin

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Tennessee Titans: 2013 Week 7 NFL Power Rankings (#14)

stevenlourie 2013 NFL Power Rankings, 2013 Week 7 NFL Power Rankings, Titans, Uncategorized

Last week: 15 (+1)

Record: 3-3

The Titans hung tough in Seattle and were just the 2nd team to cover the spread there over the past 2 seasons. Ryan Fitzpatrick is obviously a limiting factor for this team and, to be fair, Jake Locker probably would have been as well once his interception rate increased from 0.0%. However, they have plenty of defensive talent and can frustrate opponents, holding them to a 72% rate of moving the chains. They’re in an unbelievable tough part of their schedule right now with Kansas City, Seattle, and now San Francisco back-to-back, but once they get through that, they have a chance to rip off some wins and compete for a playoff spot.

Week 6 Studs

DT Karl Klug

Week 6 Duds

QB Ryan Fitzpatrick

LG Andy Levitre

RG Chance Warmack

C Robert Turner

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Carolina Panthers: 2013 Week 7 NFL Power Rankings (#15)

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Last week: 17 (+2)

Record: 2-3

The Panthers seem to make a habit out of blowing out bad teams and suffering gut wrenching losses to solid or better teams. There’s plenty of talent on this football team. They’re moving the chains at a 79% rate, while their opponents are doing so at a 72% rate, the 6th best differential in football. And they get three easier games on their schedule coming up, as they host St. Louis and Atlanta and then go to Tampa Bay. They could easily be 5-3 in a few weeks. I’m not going to predict a playoff spot for this team, but if they can ever figure out how to win close games (2-14 in games decided by a touchdown or less over the past 2+ seasons) they’re going to challenge for 10 wins.

Week 6 Studs

FB Mike Tolbert

LG Travelle Wharton

TE Greg Olsen

CB Captain Munnerlyn

Week 6 Duds

None

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Houston Texans: 2013 Week 7 NFL Power Rankings (#16)

stevenlourie 2013 NFL Power Rankings, 2013 Week 7 NFL Power Rankings, Texans, Uncategorized

Last week: 14 (+2)

Record: 2-4

Do Texans fans still think TJ Yates is better than Matt Schaub? I never argued Matt Schaub was great or anything, but the switch to TJ Yates was obviously not going to provide an upgrade and he proved that as he completed 12 of 17 for 98 yards and 2 interceptions (including a pick six) in relief of an injured Matt Schaub against the Rams. Also, and I need to preface this by saying that this is not the majority of Texans fans, but the Texans fans who cheered when Schaub got hurt and Yates came in were not only incorrect, but deplorable. I really don’t think the Texans are going to be in position to get a real upgrade over Schaub any time soon unless they completely tank this season. Texans fans should just learn to accept him and his flaws. He’s going through a rough patch right now, but I don’t think this is indicative of the type of quarterback he is.

Week 6 Studs

WR Andre Johnson

RG Brandon Brooks

C Chris Myers

Week 6 Duds

QB TJ Yates

LG Wade Smith

MLB Brian Cushing

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Arizona Cardinals: 2013 Week 7 NFL Power Rankings (#19)

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Last week: 20 (+1)

Record: 3-3

The Cardinals are in an interesting spot this off-season quarterback wise. Carson Palmer has been as advertised. Unfortunately, that advertisement said “will move the chains, but kills you with turnovers.” Palmer is completing 59.3% of his passes for an average of 6.7 YPA, 7 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions this season and he’ll be owed 8 million in an age 35 season in 2014. The Cardinals, however, probably won’t have a high pick to spend on a quarterback and they don’t have an internal developmental option unless you count Ryan Lindley (don’t count Ryan Lindley).

Week 6 Studs

RB Andre Ellington

CB Patrick Peterson

FS Yeremiah Bell

Week 6 Duds

QB Carson Palmer

LT Bradley Sowell

DT Alameda Ta’amu

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New York Jets: 2013 Week 7 NFL Power Rankings (#20)

stevenlourie 2013 NFL Power Rankings, 2013 Week 7 NFL Power Rankings, Jets, Uncategorized

Last week: 18 (-2)

Record: 3-3

Geno Smith was on the cover of the New York Daily News with the headline “A Star is Born,” after Geno completed 16 of 20 for 199 yards and 3 touchdowns in an upset road win over the Falcons on Monday Night Football. Apparently this is bad luck because Mark Sanchez was on the cover of the same magazine with the same headline as a rookie in 2009 and we all know how that ended. A week after the cover was published, Geno laid a dud at home against the previously winless Steelers. In all seriousness, people were way too conveniently forgetting Geno’s stinker in a blowout loss to the Titans the week before. He’s an inconsistent rookie quarterback and will remain that this season. It’s why I took Pittsburgh this week and why the line shifted to Pittsburgh -1 before the game.

Week 6 Studs

RE Sheldon Richardson

DT Damon Harrison

SS Antonio Allen

Week 6 Duds

QB Geno Smith

CB Antonio Cromartie

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