Tuesday, October 31, 2023

Buffalo Bills Week 9 NFL Power Rankings Roundup

Throughout the 2023 NFL season, we will compile a consensus NFL Power Rankings that averages the rankings of all 32 NFL teams.

Below you will find a Week 9 roundup for the Buffalo Bills in our consensus 2023 NFL Power Rankings.

ESPN -- Rank: 9

It has been up and down for Josh Allen, and correspondingly, the Bills' offense, but Allen is leading the league in completion percentage (71.7%), is fourth in passing yards (2,165) and third in touchdowns (17), and remains one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL. Allen has looked like an MVP candidate at times -- specifically, in a three-game stretch from Weeks 2 to 4, when he completed 76.6% of his passes and had eight touchdowns to one interception. At other times, Allen has looked out of sync, notably from Weeks 5 to 7 (65.8% completion percentage, six passing touchdowns to three interceptions). Allen and the Bills are making an effort to reduce hits, and against the Buccaneers last Thursday, Allen rushed seven times for 41 yards and a touchdown in an improved offensive performance. -- Alaina Getzenberg

NFL.com -- Rank: 9

After a closer-than-it-shoulda-been win over the Buccaneers, the proving-ground portion of the schedule kicks off, starting with Sunday Night Football in Cincinnati against the scorching-hot Bengals, who thumped the Bills in the playoffs this past January. It feels like a game that will come with a playoff-like atmosphere, as could some other big roadies down the stretch: at Philly in Week 12, at Kansas City in Week 14 and at Miami in Week 18. Josh Allen's big outing against the Bucs -- though it was accompanied by a few scary moments -- helped steady Buffalo's ship a bit, but there is plenty to clean up before this gauntlet. You'd like to see the Bills close the door better in fourth quarters. With the defense as shorthanded as it is, can they do it against even better teams?

CBS Sports -- Rank: 7

They got the offense back on track against the Bucs, but now they face a tough road prime-time game against the Bengals. That will be another proving game for this inconsistent group.

USA Today -- Rank: 8

Now it's back to Cincinnati for a Sunday nighter, 10 months after S Damar Hamlin's frightening cardiac event on a Monday night ultimately took the starch out of this squad at the end of the 2022 season. Hopefully Week 9 provides a nice forum to celebrate Hamlin's medical saviors and offers some closure for a team that seems to need a lift.

The Athletic -- Rank: 11

Something scary (for them): The injuries

Since Week 5, when linebacker Matt Milano was lost for the season with a knee injury, Buffalo is 25th in the league in defensive EPA per play (minus-.02). In Weeks 1-4, the Bills were fourth in the league in defensive EPA per play (.20). It's not just Milano who's gone either. All-Pro cornerback Tre'Davious White (Achilles) is also out for the year, and defensive tackle Daquan Jones (pectoral) probably is, too.

FOX -- Rank: 10

Rarely will you see a team nearly lose a game it had dominated so thoroughly. Thursday's win against the Buccaneers never felt close — right up until Tampa Bay almost completed a game-winning Hail Mary. It was nice to see the Bills' offense fire on all cylinders for a few quarters, but maybe don't take your foot off the gas so early next time.

Yahoo! -- Rank: 9

The Bills looked good against the Buccaneers, though the way they let up in the fourth quarter almost cost them a win. A Week 9 game at Cincinnati should let us know if the Bills can still be a Super Bowl contender this season.

PFT -- Rank: 10

They're going to have their hands full in Cincinnati.

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Saturday, October 21, 2023

San Francisco 49ers Week 7 NFL Power Rankings Roundup

Throughout the 2023 NFL season, we will compile a consensus NFL Power Rankings that averages the rankings of all 32 NFL teams.

Below you will find a Week 7 roundup for the San Francisco 49ers in our consensus 2023 NFL Power Rankings.

ESPN -- Rank: 1

Lesson learned: The 49ers' defense is going to be just fine.

The Niners' biggest offseason change came at defensive coordinator: DeMeco Ryans left to become the Houston Texans' head coach, and Steve Wilks took over in San Francisco. There have been a few hiccups in the first six weeks, but Wilks' group has largely held its standing as one of the best units in the league. San Francisco is third in points allowed (87), fourth in defensive efficiency (74.5) and third in defensive expected points added (43.31). There's room for improvement, particularly when it comes to sacks and run defense, but the defense is still a strength for a 5-1 team. -- Nick Wagoner

NFL.com -- Rank: 1

Sunday's loss to the Browns was easily Brock Purdy's worst game of the season, and his struggles shouldn't be glossed over, but I bet a lot of people ready to cut him down don't realize just how good Cleveland's defense is. Anyone who watched that game realized how tough a spot he was put in. Brandon Aiyuk dropped a would-be TD, the offense committed six penalties (12 total by San Francisco) and there were big injuries to Christian McCaffrey, Deebo Samuel and Trent Williams. Purdy also drove the 49ers to a spot where the game would have been won if not for Jake Moody's errant field-goal attempt. The penalties are a big issue (the Niners lead the league with 45), but the most surprising development was seeing the Browns clearly winning the physical battle up front. San Francisco stays on top for now, given how the rest of the week played out in the NFL.

CBS Sports -- Rank: 4

The offense didn't do much of anything against the Browns, which is a worry. Brock Purdy sure didn't look like Joe Montana in that one.

USA Today -- Rank: 1

Way too premature to suggest they got exposed against the league's No. 1 defense — especially amid circumstances when you'd expect QB Brock Purdy to have his worst professional game given the staggered absences Sunday of injured Pro Bowlers Christian McCaffrey, Deebo Samuel and Trent Williams around him. Depending on the injuries, there could be an extended setback here, but almost certainly not one that signals the Niners are in major jeopardy.

The Athletic -- Rank: 2

Serious question: How much would Jim Schwartz be worth for a two-week consulting fee for any team that met San Francisco in the Super Bowl? The Browns' defensive coordinator kind of owns Kyle Shanahan, who fell to 0-3 as 49ers head coach against teams whose defenses are coordinated by Schwartz. In that span, San Francisco has averaged nine fewer points per game and 0.9 fewer points per drive against Schwartz than against everyone else.

On Sunday, the 49ers scored 16 points lower than their average coming into the game. Dating to Shanahan's time as an offensive coordinator, he is 1-9 when he goes against Schwartz. Of course, Deebo Samuel and Christian McCaffrey both missed chunks of this game because of injury.

FOX -- Rank: 2

Sure, we saw an aberrant Brock Purdy performance in the first poor game of his NFL career. But the vaunted San Francisco defense looked mortal against the P.J. Walker-led Browns and Cleveland's defense was more prepared for Kyle Shanahan's scheme than Dallas (or anyone else) has been. The 49ers are still a juggernaut, but if their star players miss time, like anyone else, they're vulnerable.

Yahoo! -- Rank: 1

Jake Moody missing a field goal that would have won the game led everyone to point out that Moody was the 99th pick of the NFL Draft, the highest-drafted kicker since the infamous Roberto Aguayo. It's unfair; Moody has been pretty good. He has hit 10 of 12 field-goal attempts. He hadn't missed a kick shorter than 50 yards all season. But he was drafted to hit big kicks like Sunday, not some 36-yarder in the fourth quarter of a blowout against the Giants.

PFT -- Rank: 4

Constant physicality eventually takes a toll.

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Kansas City Chiefs Week 7 NFL Power Rankings Roundup

Throughout the 2023 NFL season, we will compile a consensus NFL Power Rankings that averages the rankings of all 32 NFL teams.

Below you will find a Week 7 roundup for the Kansas City Chiefs in our consensus 2023 NFL Power Rankings.

ESPN -- Rank: 2

Lesson learned: The Chiefs have a top-10 defense.

Through six games, the Chiefs are second in points allowed per game (14.7), sixth in yards allowed per game (284) and fifth in defensive efficiency (74.3), according to ESPN Analytics' Football Power Index. The schedule gets more difficult from here as the Chiefs will face five teams currently in the top seven in scoring. But what they've accomplished when Patrick Mahomes is not on the field doesn't look like a mirage. -- Adam Teicher

NFL.com -- Rank: 2

The Chiefs have won five straight, but four of those contests were grinders, and the offense remains hamstrung a bit by middling red-zone production and too many turnovers. They would rather be in the position they are now than where they were in 2021, when the defense struggled early before getting back on track. Don't forget that that team opened the season at 3-4, yet still made the AFC Championship Game (and led 21-3 before ultimately falling to the Bengals). The most concerning part about this team is its inability to slam the door shut. The Chiefs have only 12 fourth-quarter points this season -- all Harrison Butker field goals. There's no reason to freak out, but the lack of crunch-time production is out of character, and if it continues, it will come back to bite them against better opponents.

CBS Sports -- Rank: 1

They haven't clicked on offense, but that defense is playing well. The offense will get there, but it does need to quit being so cute with its play-calling at times.

USA Today -- Rank: 3

Including postseason, QB Patrick Mahomes has now started 100 NFL games ... and won 80 of them. Crazy. Fifteen percent of his career victories, or 12, have come against Denver — a team that will be back in Kansas City's crosshairs in Week 8.

The Athletic -- Rank: 5

Thanks to losses by the Eagles and 49ers, the Chiefs now have the longest active winning streak in the league. Still, everything just feels harder than usual on offense. Patrick Mahomes is 31st in the league in air yards per attempt (6.4), and the Chiefs are 29th in air yards per reception (4.6). Kansas City's explosive play percentage (9.7) is 19th in the league, the worst of the Andy Reid era, and the Chiefs have only one win against a team with a winning record.

FOX -- Rank: 3

Keep tinkering, Chiefs. I don't care how many trick plays you try or how unconvincing you look in these wins. It would take a lot to convince me that Kansas City won't be one of the last teams standing in January. It is worth pointing out, though, that the five teams the Chiefs have beaten have a combined record of 11-19. The level of play we've seen recently might get them beaten when they step up the level of competition.

Yahoo! -- Rank: 3

The Chiefs need a receiver to step forward, and the one who keeps popping up is rookie Rashee Rice. He had 72 yards on Thursday night. The Chiefs' passing game hasn't been great yet. KC needs to expand Rice's role and see where it leads.

PFT -- Rank: 2

They're winning, but something is off.

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Dallas Cowboys Week 7 NFL Power Rankings Roundup

Throughout the 2023 NFL season, we will compile a consensus NFL Power Rankings that averages the rankings of all 32 NFL teams.

Below you will find a Week 7 roundup for the Dallas Cowboys in our consensus 2023 NFL Power Rankings.

ESPN -- Rank: 7

Lesson learned: We can't trust them.

They are either outstanding (see the blowout wins against the Giants, Jets and Patriots) or poor (see the losses at the Cardinals and 49ers). For a team that won 12 games in each of the two previous seasons, that inconsistency was unexpected. The defense can create turnovers (it has forced 12 so far), but the offense is still searching for an identity. This bye week might be coming at a good time even if the Cowboys will not get a lot of on-field work done. It will allow them to catch their breath after an up-and-down start. -- Todd Archer

NFL.com -- Rank: 8

After getting steamrolled by the 49ers, the Cowboys' defense ratcheted up its performance Monday night, particularly at winning time. Immediately after I typed "Where is Micah?" and "Where are the big plays?" in my notes, both questions were answered in style. Micah Parsons delivered a huge sack to put the Chargers on the ropes, then Stephon Gilmore provided the knockout blow with a pick on the very next play. Dak Prescott had some much-needed big moments in the win, and the Cowboys weathered a late storm -- another crucial test passed. Los Angeles controlled the third quarter, but Dallas responded with an impressive touchdown drive and a much-needed stop ... until the muffed punt that led to the Bolts' game-tying TD. That's when Prescott willed the 'Boys back, and "Mr. Perfect" Brandon Aubrey hit another big kick. Impressive resilience that'll make the bye week sweeter in Big D.

CBS Sports -- Rank: 6

It wasn't pretty, and there were a lot of mistakes, but they found a way to win Monday night against the Chargers. They head into the bye week feeling a lot better than a week ago.

USA Today -- Rank: 8

Scratching out a win in LA against the Chargers — in front of legions of Dallas fans — salvaged a bye week that was on the verge of ruination, especially pitted against former OC Kellen Moore and coming on the heels of the blowout in San Francisco. WR Brandin Cooks' TD catch Monday means he's reached the end zone with five NFL teams.

The Athletic -- Rank: 9

Are the Cowboys for real or not? Wins against the quartet of teams they have beaten don't exactly tell us a lot, but at least Mike McCarthy can spend his bye week thinking how smart he was to send Kellen Moore out of town. Dallas held Moore (the Chargers' offensive coordinator) and Los Angeles to 53 rushing yards Monday night.

FOX -- Rank: 8

They had to have it, and they got it. Don't mistake the win in L.A. for a classic. The only thing that worked for the Dallas offense was Dak Prescott bailing them out on third down, and the Cowboys were penalized 11 times. But it's a gritty win after a rough week, and Prescott responded admirably after a nightmare against San Francisco.

Yahoo! -- Rank: 7

Seeing Brandin Cooks show up with a touchdown and a big third-down catch on Dallas' long drive to take the lead was a good sign. The Cowboys' offense has not been good this season, but if Cooks emerges that would help.

PFT -- Rank: 7

The season goes from hopeless to hopeful again in the span of eight days.

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Las Vegas Raiders Week 7 NFL Power Rankings Roundup

Throughout the 2023 NFL season, we will compile a consensus NFL Power Rankings that averages the rankings of all 32 NFL teams.

Below you will find a Week 7 roundup for the Las Vegas Raiders in our consensus 2023 NFL Power Rankings.

ESPN -- Rank: 24

Lesson learned: All three quarterbacks need to be ready on a weekly basis.

Jimmy Garoppolo's injury history predicted this and, after Garoppolo missed Week 4 with a concussion and left Sunday's game against the Patriots with a back injury, both rookie Aidan O'Connell and 15th-year vet Brian Hoyer have already appeared in games. And with Garoppolo's availability for Sunday's Week 7 game at Chicago in question, Hoyer would already be the third QB to start for Las Vegas this season should he get the call. -- Paul Gutierrez

NFL.com -- Rank: 23

The defense has won two straight games for this team, which is a tremendous development, and the apparently positive news on the back injury Jimmy Garoppolo suffered in the win over New England keeps hope alive. If Garoppolo only ends up missing one game, the contest he misses will be against the Bears, who also have QB issues, with Justin Fields likely to be out for a spell. So that's another tremendous break. This team has been in every game save for Week 2, when the Bills just outclassed the Raiders. Still, a group featuring Davante Adams and Josh Jacobs needs to score more than 19 offensive points in a game.

CBS Sports -- Rank: 23

They've won two straight thanks to the defense. But now they might be without Jimmy Garoppolo for a bit, although Brian Hoyer played well in relief against the Pats.

USA Today -- Rank: 20

A win at Chicago on Sunday puts Las Vegas above .500 ... which wouldn't be bad at all for a team tied for the AFC lead with 12 turnovers.

The Athletic -- Rank: 24

The Raiders have won two in a row, but they didn't top the 20-point ceiling this season until they recorded a safety in the final two minutes against New England on Sunday. So let's focus on the defense. Maxx Crosby has played more snaps (357) than any defensive lineman in the league this season. That's more than 95 percent of the Raiders' defensive snaps. Crosby is fourth in the league in sacks (5 1/2) and seventh in pressure percentage (18.4).

FOX -- Rank: 25

The Raiders are not a good team, but I hope people are paying attention to Maxx Crosby. End-of-year awards tend to go to guys on playoff squads, but Crosby is looking like he'll have quite a case for NFL Defensive Player of the Year, regardless of what the Raiders' record is. He leads the league in pressures, he's got 5.5 sacks in six games, and his safety of Mac Jones basically clinched the win for Las Vegas.

Yahoo! -- Rank: 23

Part of head coach Josh McDaniels needing to get former Patriots QB Jimmy Garoppolo should have been accounting for Garoppolo's lengthy injury history. It's just Week 6 and Garoppolo has dealt with a foot ailment, a concussion and now a back injury that caused him to be taken to the hospital. Garoppolo might miss time with the back injury. That might derail the Raiders' little bit of momentum.

PFT -- Rank: 20

They're gradually learning how to win games they would have lost in recent years.

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Minnesota Vikings Week 7 NFL Power Rankings Roundup

Throughout the 2023 NFL season, we will compile a consensus NFL Power Rankings that averages the rankings of all 32 NFL teams.

Below you will find a Week 7 roundup for the Minnesota Vikings in our consensus 2023 NFL Power Rankings.

ESPN -- Rank: 25

Lesson learned: The pendulum swings on one-score games.

During the 2022 regular season, the Vikings were famously 11-0 in one-score games. This season, they are 2-4. And yet there's reason to believe the quality of the two teams has been roughly the same, at least before receiver Justin Jefferson's hamstring injury last week. ESPN's FPI ranks the 2023 Vikings at No. 15 in the NFL. Their 2022 FPI ranking was No. 16. In truth, the 2022-23 Vikings have been an extreme example of the difference a handful of plays can make on a game and a season. They ranked No. 5 last year in the NFL's "luck metric," a measure of win probability added by plays such as dropped interceptions and fumble recoveries. Through six weeks of 2023, the Vikings rank No. 32. -- Kevin Seifert

NFL.com -- Rank: 25

The good news is that the Vikings are now 1-0 without Justin Jefferson this season. The bad news: The offense didn't really have much to do with Sunday's 19-13 win in Chicago. The hope was that Jordan Addison, T.J. Hockenson and maybe Alexander Mattison could each help absorb some of Jefferson's production, and they did, at least to some extent -- but the offense really labored outside of the impressive touchdown drive right before halftime. In six second-half possessions, Minnesota gained a grand total of 36 yards. That left the team's fate in the hands of the defense. Say the words "backup QB" to a Vikings fan and watch the color leave that face. Chase Daniel, Cooper Rush and Matt Moore are recent QB2s who have beaten Minnesota, and it looked for a second like Tyson Bagent would join the illustrious club before the defense forced two critical second-half turnovers.

CBS Sports -- Rank: 26

Winning at Chicago may delay any of that talk of selling off parts at the trade deadline. They face a tough one against the 49ers this week.

USA Today -- Rank: 22

Another week and another key injury (LB Marcus Davenport, ankle) for a struggling team apparently determined not to have a fire sale.

The Athletic -- Rank: 26

The Vikings' victims have a combined record of 1-11. That kind of sums it up. And the Bears ended Sunday's game with backup quarterback Tyson Bagent. Kirk Cousins is second in the league in passing yards (1,679), but it hasn't mattered. Justin Jefferson is out until at least the Nov. 12 game against New Orleans and could be out a lot longer. Every Minnesota game has been decided by one possession, but that shouldn't change the fact that this team should be a seller at the trade deadline.

FOX -- Rank: 23

Not a memorable win, but it was fun to see Brian Flores draw up such a stifling game plan against an offense that had been red-hot the previous two weeks. I'm just not sure I buy that the Vikings can maintain their current level of play and expect to win most weeks — particularly not against their next opponent, the 49ers.

Yahoo! -- Rank: 22

The Vikings' season was possibly saved by Creed. That might be the ultimate "desperate times call for desperate measures" story.

PFT -- Rank: 25

Next Monday night vs. the 49ers could get ugly.

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Los Angeles Rams Week 7 NFL Power Rankings Roundup

Throughout the 2023 NFL season, we will compile a consensus NFL Power Rankings that averages the rankings of all 32 NFL teams.

Below you will find a Week 7 roundup for the Los Angeles Rams in our consensus 2023 NFL Power Rankings.

ESPN -- Rank: 18

Lesson learned: Cooper Kupp is still the same star receiver despite injuries.

Kupp has been back for two games after missing the final eight of the 2022 season with an ankle injury and the first four of the 2023 season with a hamstring injury. In those two games, he has a combined 15 catches for 266 yards and one touchdown and has left no doubt he is still one of the best receivers in the NFL. Kupp has now had 18 games in the past three seasons with at least 100 receiving yards, trailing only the Minnesota Vikings' Justin Jefferson in that span. -- Sarah Barshop

NFL.com -- Rank: 17

The Rams called three run plays and dropped back 17 times in the first half on Sunday against Arizona. On the opening drive of the second half, Sean McVay flipped the script on its head -- he opened with eight straight called runs, with Kyren Williams and Ronnie Rivers sharing the load. The day belonged to Williams (who finished with a career-high 158 yards) and Cooper Kupp, who amassed most of his 148 receiving yards early on. That kind of night-and-day approach to the game plan might not work against every opponent, and the Rams haven't been able to play a lot of complete games offensively this season. There's plenty to clean up from this one, such as the third-down offense (they went 4-for-11 in conversions and took two of their three sacks on the money down), with a tough Steelers defense on tap in Week 7. And unfortunately, Williams and Rivers both left Sunday's win with injuries.

CBS Sports -- Rank: 12

At 3-3, Sean McVay is doing a heck of a job with this team. The Rams have also been in every game they lost against three good teams.

USA Today -- Rank: 13

WR Puka Nacua's production has unsurprisingly downshifted with the return of Cooper Kupp, but he's still carved out a nice piece of historical real estate. The rookie's 50 catches for 598 yards are both records in the Super Bowl era for a player through six career games.

The Athletic -- Rank: 16

The Rams have a couple of division wins, but their losses might be just as telling. Los Angeles has been beaten by San Francisco, Cincinnati and Philadelphia and has been competitive in all those games. Running back Kyren Williams has topped 100 rushing yards in two of the past three weeks. Wide receiver Cooper Kupp has topped 100 yards receiving in both games since his return from a hamstring injury.

FOX -- Rank: 16

I'm a big, big fan of Kyren Williams — 314 yards and three touchdowns in the last three weeks. It's a bummer to hear he might miss time due to injury. I was somewhat surprised the Rams were favored by seven points against Arizona, but they looked every bit like a big favorite in an easy win.

Yahoo! -- Rank: 17

Here's the argument against Cooper Kupp as a Hall of Fame candidate: He has just two 1,000-yard seasons and he's already 30 years old. Here's the argument for Kupp getting some consideration for the Hall of Fame: just watch him play. Only a few receivers in NFL history can get open practically whenever they want like Kupp can.

PFT -- Rank: 19

If they sneak into the playoffs, none of the elite teams will want to cross paths with them.

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Detroit Lions Week 7 NFL Power Rankings Roundup

Throughout the 2023 NFL season, we will compile a consensus NFL Power Rankings that averages the rankings of all 32 NFL teams.

Below you will find a Week 7 roundup for the Detroit Lions in our consensus 2023 NFL Power Rankings.

ESPN -- Rank: 5

Lesson learned: The Lions might be for real.

There was a ton of hype surrounding this team entering the season, based on how the Lions finished last season winning eight of their final 10 regular-season games, and they have picked up right where they left off. Detroit has started 5-1 for the first time since 2011, winning four consecutive games by double digits for the first time since 1991. The offense is averaging the fourth-most points per game (28) and the defense is allowing the seventh-fewest yards per game (285.5). The team is looking to change the losing narrative surrounding this franchise, and coach Dan Campbell has a lot to do with that. -- Eric Woodyard

NFL.com -- Rank: 4

It feels like the Lions suffer a "Wow, they can't afford to lose that guy" type of injury every game or two. In the win over Tampa on Sunday, it was David Montgomery. With Jahmyr Gibbs already inactive, that meant Detroit went the distance with Craig Reynolds and Devine Ozigbo in the backfield. But the Lions just sort of figure out games like puzzles, and they're getting good at it. Jared Goff is such a trusted caretaker -- and playmaker -- at this point that Detroit was still able to forge three scoring drives after Montgomery left. And the defense! Aaron Glenn's group has been dealt a few tough injuries, but continues to deliver statement performances. My guess is the unit's effort on Sunday more than atoned for any irritation Dan Campbell felt over allowing two fourth-quarter touchdowns to the Panthers in Week 5.

CBS Sports -- Rank: 3

Going on the road and limiting Tampa Bay to no touchdowns is a big day for their defense. This team is for real.

USA Today -- Rank: 2

They're indeed in rare air — one more win would make them 6-1 for the first time in the Super Bowl era (since 1966). And while it can be dangerous to look too far ahead, even for a team on a four-game heater, there don't appear to be many losses on the other side of Detroit's Week 9 bye. And if their RB room gets healthy, and WR Jameson Williams continues morphing into the weapon he was intended to be? Roar.

The Athletic -- Rank: 3

The Lions, who are 13-3 in their past 16 games, have won four consecutive games by 14 or more points, which is their longest such streak since 1969. The offense is leading the way, but the run defense is sneaky good (second in the NFL, allowing just 3.3 yards per carry).

Detroit jumped Philadelphia this week because its win against the Chiefs is more impressive than anything the Eagles have done this year. (For now, we're willing to overlook the fact that Detroit's win against Kansas City came with both Travis Kelce and Chris Jones out.)

FOX -- Rank: 5

I'm ready to give the Lions heavyweight status, as evidenced by the top-five ranking. They're 5-1, Jared Goff is playing like a Pro Bowler, their defense is only allowing 19 points per game and their win at Arrowhead is one of the most impressive so far this year. They're not just a cool story; they're for real.

Yahoo! -- Rank: 2

The Lions got one big play out of Jameson Williams. But it was a huge one, a 45-yard touchdown on third-and-10 that put the Lions in control of the game. They're deep enough that they don't need anything else from Williams, a 2022 first-round draft pick. They need him to be a threat and make an occasional big play. If he can do that, the Lions' offense can go to an even higher level.

PFT -- Rank: 3

Super Bowl contenders? Super Bowl contenders.

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Pittsburgh Steelers Week 7 NFL Power Rankings Roundup

Throughout the 2023 NFL season, we will compile a consensus NFL Power Rankings that averages the rankings of all 32 NFL teams.

Below you will find a Week 7 roundup for the Pittsburgh Steelers in our consensus 2023 NFL Power Rankings.

ESPN -- Rank: 15

Lesson learned: Alex Highsmith and T.J. Watt are worth their contracts.

We get it, the Steelers' offense is bad. But what isn't is the pass rush tandem of Watt and Highsmith, the latter of whom got a four-year, $68 million contract in the offseason. While Watt's eight sacks is tied for the most in the NFL through six weeks, Highsmith is also putting up solid numbers. Against the Ravens, Highsmith generated a career-high 11 pressures on 35 pass rushes, tied for the most pressures generated by any player in a game this season, according to NFL Next Gen Stats. The pair also scored two of the Steelers' seven total touchdowns this season. -- Brooke Pryor

NFL.com -- Rank: 19

With no indication the Steelers are replacing play-caller Matt Canada or QB Kenny Pickett any time soon, they must find internal solutions to get the offense on track -- like, say, an anything-goes self-scouting mission during the Week 6 bye. No group needed that more than the offensive line. I thought Broderick Jones played well against Baltimore; continued improvement would be huge. So would the interior getting better, and Chukwuma Okorafor cutting down on penalties. If they fix those problems, the Steelers might have an offense that can win games.

CBS Sports -- Rank: 22

They come off their bye week hoping the offense found some life during it. They have to score more points.

USA Today -- Rank: 9

A team that's won three of four coming out of its bye week is also about to get WR Diontae Johnson back on an offense that needs a spark.

The Athletic -- Rank: 13

Two of three wins coming against division rivals is keeping Pittsburgh alive in the AFC North despite an offense that ranks 30th in scoring (15.8). Defensively, it's been business as usual for the Steelers. T.J. Watt is on pace for 27 sacks, which would break the league's single-season record he shares with Michael Strahan (22 1/2).

FOX -- Rank: 19

The Steelers managed to get to their bye week atop the AFC North, but hopefully, they did some work on the offense during their downtime. Their season high for total yardage is 333, and they haven't had a 400-yard day since Week 2 of 2020. It's got to improve if they're going to stay in the conversation.

Yahoo! -- Rank: 16

Diontae Johnson is returning to practice this week. Pat Freiermuth said he'll play this weekend. We can finally see how the Steelers' offense looks with a mostly healthy lineup. If the offense still looks terrible, then it's time to panic.

PFT -- Rank: 11

It was a bad bye for the 'Burgh, with all three AFC North rivals winning.

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Houston Texans Week 7 NFL Power Rankings Roundup

Throughout the 2023 NFL season, we will compile a consensus NFL Power Rankings that averages the rankings of all 32 NFL teams.

Below you will find a Week 7 roundup for the Houston Texans in our consensus 2023 NFL Power Rankings.

ESPN -- Rank: 17

Lesson learned: The defense has certainly improved.

After six weeks, the Texans are tied for 10th in points allowed per game (18.8) after finishing 27th in 2022, allowing 24.7 points per game. Their pressure rate ranks second (41%) while they're tied for 12th in red zone defense (50%). They've improved their run defense, allowing 651 yards through six games this season (ranked 17th in the NFL). Last year, they allowed the sixth-most rushing yards in NFL history (2,894). -- DJ Bien-Aime

NFL.com -- Rank: 16

Some of the more pleasant early developments against the Saints were a run game that showed life and the Texans winning up front. Devin Singletary gave Houston's ground game a boost and could take carries away from Dameon Pierce, which is something to watch. Both lines of scrimmage were won by Houston early, with the Texans' defensive line dominating the Saints most of the game. After being worn out late against Atlanta, DeMeco Ryans' defense stood tall even while letting the Saints move the ball throughout the second half. My prediction is that the Texans will enter the offseason as a popular darling -- but given the steady hand with which C.J. Stroud is leading this team, I might need to shorten my timeline.

CBS Sports -- Rank: 16

DeMeco Ryans has this team 3-3 as they head to the bye week. That's coach-of-the-year stuff.

USA Today -- Rank: 16

They have two players with at least three TD catches ... same as the entirety of Houston's 2022 season. No team has fewer giveaways than their three.

The Athletic -- Rank: 17

C.J. Stroud finally threw an interception, but the Saints fumbled it back to Houston right away. Stroud, who had an NFL-record 191 pass attempts without an interception to start his career, is fourth in the league with 1,660 passing yards. Speaking of Houston rookies, edge rusher Will Anderson, who had seven pressures Sunday, has only one sack but is 13th in the league in quarterback hurries (16).

FOX -- Rank: 12

The AFC isn't looking any easier, and the Jags are emerging as a quality team at the top of the division. But even if true contention isn't going to happen in 2023, the Texans are such a harder out than I initially thought they'd be. It's got to feel nice in Houston that the vibes around this team are good — even fun.

Yahoo! -- Rank: 18

It's hard to proclaim anything six games into a season or career, but I feel confident in this: C.J. Stroud is a future star. He might already be a star. It's very, very rare to see a rookie quarterback look this polished. Something good is cooking in Houston.

PFT -- Rank: 14

They're the only real threat to Jacksonville in the AFC South.

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Friday, October 20, 2023

New England Patriots Week 7 NFL Power Rankings Roundup

Throughout the 2023 NFL season, we will compile a consensus NFL Power Rankings that averages the rankings of all 32 NFL teams.

Below you will find a Week 7 roundup for the New England Patriots in our consensus 2023 NFL Power Rankings.

ESPN -- Rank: 30

Lesson learned: The offense is holding them back.

The Patriots are the only team in the NFL not to score more than 20 points in a game this season. A combination of shaky offensive line play (31st in pass-block win rate, 44.1%), receivers not coming through when the opportunity presents itself (e.g. DeVante Parker's drop on a beautiful deep ball late in Sunday's loss) and Mac Jones' turnover struggles (three returned for touchdowns in blowout losses in Weeks 4 and 5) has put the defense in a tough spot -- especially early in games. -- Mike Reiss

NFL.com -- Rank: 29

It's broken-record time, as the Patriots once again fell in an early (double-digit) hole they couldn't pull themselves out of, stricken by too many mistakes. At least the Pats showed some fight, as they gave themselves a remote chance to pull off a comeback against the Raiders. Following the blowout losses to Dallas and New Orleans, it's progress. But for anyone holding out hope that there's some untapped Bill Belichick magic, I'd remind them that the roster is in incredibly tough shape. Even in August, with nearly everyone healthy, the personnel (especially on offense) felt thin compared to the other AFC East teams. Now, with so much of the defense banged up, it's not pretty. Oh, and the Bills and Dolphins are up next.

CBS Sports -- Rank: 29

They competed against the Raiders, which is progress. It's hard to believe it's come down to that for this group.

USA Today -- Rank: 31

Among their many, many failings? No team has fewer takeaways (3). And no team has a higher percentage of drives (81.7%) that end without points.

The Athletic -- Rank: 28

The Patriots are the second-highest power-ranked one-win team only because of their victory against the Jets. Outside of that, New England has very little going for it. The Patriots are 31st in the league in point differential (minus-80). Quarterback Mac Jones is 30th in passer rating (74.4) and yards per attempt (6) and has more interceptions than touchdowns (seven to five). The Patriots defense is fourth in the league in success rate (63.4 percent) and eighth in yards per play allowed (4.8).

And New England is still this bad.

FOX -- Rank: 31

I guess it's a step in the right direction that the Patriots were competitive in Vegas, but it's still a loss to a Raider team that lost Jimmy Garoppolo in the second quarter and hadn't scored 20 points all season prior to Sunday.

Yahoo! -- Rank: 31

The Patriots' next two games are against the Bills and Dolphins. This could continue to spiral downward for New England. The next question is how long Mac Jones can keep his starting job if the Patriots continue to look this bad.

PFT -- Rank: 32

Bill Belichick will own the all-time record for losses before setting the all-time record for wins (if he ever does).

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