Every week of the NFL season, The Baltimore Solar will rank all 32 NFL groups. The rankings will take into consideration not simply weekly efficiency, accidents and roster depth, however how effectively every staff measures up as Tremendous Bowl contenders.
Listed below are the rankings heading into Week 7:
Tremendous Bowl favorites
1. Buffalo Payments (5-1, No. 1 final week)
2. Philadelphia Eagles (6-0, No. 2)
3. Kansas Metropolis Chiefs (4-2, No. 3)
Spherical 1 within the AFC title battle goes to Buffalo. The Payments received some measure of revenge after final season’s divisional-round time beyond regulation loss, beating Kansas Metropolis, 24-20, on Josh Allen’s 14-yard landing move to tight finish Dawson Knox with 1:04 left. That appeared like loads of time for Patrick Mahomes to guide a game-winning drive, however cornerback Taron Johnson picked off a move supposed for JuJu Smith-Schuster on the second play to seal the victory. Allen seems to be just like the early favourite for Most Beneficial Participant, throwing for 329 yards and three touchdowns and hurdling a defender to arrange the go-ahead rating. Much more encouraging is the play of the Buffalo protection, which additionally intercepted Mahomes ultimately zone within the first quarter and sacked him 3 times, together with two by star edge rusher Von Miller. If the Payments can safe the No. 1 seed and home-field benefit within the postseason, they is likely to be again within the Tremendous Bowl for the primary time since 1993.
The final staff Buffalo faces to win that elusive title is likely to be Philadelphia. In a battle for NFC supremacy, the Eagles held off the Cowboys, 26-17, to stay the one unbeaten staff. Quarterback Jalen Hurts delivered in opposition to one of many league’s finest defenses, throwing two landing passes and choosing up essential first downs together with his legs to halt Dallas’ comeback bid after the Eagles took a 20-0 lead. Philadelphia continued to impress on protection, choosing off backup quarterback Cooper Rush 3 times to extend its league-leading turnover differential to plus-12. If there’s one trigger for concern, it’s the Eagles’ continued struggles within the second half, the place they’ve been outscored 57-35 this season. They’ll have to scrub that up earlier than making a deep postseason run, however there aren’t many NFC contenders standing of their means.
The flawed contenders
4. Minnesota Vikings (5-1, No. 7)
5. New York Giants (5-1, No. 12)
6. Los Angeles Chargers (4-2, No. 10)
7. Baltimore Ravens (3-3, No. 4)
8. Dallas Cowboys (4-2, No. 6)
9. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3-3, No. 5)
The Eagles, Vikings and Giants are the category of the NFC, identical to everybody predicted, proper? Minnesota’s Kevin O’Connell and New York’s Brian Daboll are making robust Coach of the 12 months circumstances of their first seasons, and whereas few of their victories have been convincing, the information converse for themselves. Each the Vikings’ and Giants’ offenses struggled for lengthy stretches Sunday, as each groups entered the fourth quarter with simply 10 factors, however they discovered a option to win by forcing turnovers and ending drives. Minnesota recovered a fumble by Dolphins huge receiver Jaylen Waddle and intercepted a move by backup quarterback Teddy Bridgewater within the last 5 minutes in a 24-16 win, whereas New York picked off Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson on a damaged play with 3:04 to go and compelled the 2019 MVP to fumble on the potential go-ahead drive in a 24-20 victory. That turnover luck in all probability received’t proceed all season, however there’s sufficient expertise and rising confidence on each sidelines to maintain postseason aspirations.
What are we to make of the Ravens after one more blown second-half lead? They might simply be 6-0 with wins over a number of the finest groups within the league, but they sit 3-3. Jackson is little doubt top-of-the-line quarterbacks within the league and the primary motive the Ravens are thought-about Tremendous Bowl contenders, however his expensive turnovers within the last minutes Sunday present why there’s such a fierce debate about his subsequent contract. Every recreation shouldn't be a referendum on Jackson’s value — there’s an excessive amount of variance in such a small pattern dimension — however you may perceive the hesitancy to make him the highest-paid participant within the league, if that’s what he needs. He’s nonetheless a tier beneath Allen and Mahomes, and the numbers say so. This season, Jackson ranks fifth in Whole QBR, twenty fourth in completion proportion over expectation and seventh in anticipated factors added per play. He’s a high speeding offense by himself, rating fifth within the league in speeding yards (451), however that hasn’t been sufficient to complete shut video games of late. There’s loads of blame to go round, from the shortage of playmakers exterior of tight finish Mark Andrews and huge receiver Rashod Bateman to the irritating play-calling of offensive coordinator Greg Roman to a banged-up protection that hasn’t been capable of make essential cease, however Jackson no less than deserves a number of the blame for the Ravens’ failures this yr.
On the cusp of rivalry
10. Cincinnati Bengals (3-3, No. 13)
11. New York Jets (4-2, No. 17)
12. Los Angeles Rams (3-3, No. 14)
13. Inexperienced Bay Packers (3-3, No. 9)
14. San Francisco 49ers (3-3, No. 8)
The Jets — the Jets! — is likely to be the most popular staff within the NFL exterior of Philadelphia. An thrilling rookie class led by cornerback Sauce Gardner and working again Breece Corridor has breathed new life right into a franchise that hasn’t been to the playoffs in additional than a decade. In a 27-10 win over the Packers, Gardner performed lockdown protection and Corridor rushed for 116 yards and a landing, propelling New York to its first three-game successful streak since 2019. Second-year quarterback Zach Wilson hasn’t thrown a landing move since Week 4, nevertheless it’s hardly mattered. Coach Robert Saleh’s protection has been dominant, sacking Aaron Rodgers 4 instances Sunday and holding Inexperienced Bay to 4 yards per play, and the particular groups got here up massive with a blocked field-goal try and a blocked punt for a landing. The Jets are for actual, and it’s time to take them significantly.
The wild playing cards
15. New England Patriots (3-3, No. 23)
16. Tennessee Titans (3-2, No. 15)
17. Miami Dolphins (3-3, No. 11)
18. Atlanta Falcons (3-3, No. 22)
19. Seattle Seahawks (3-3, No. 26)
20. Indianapolis Colts (3-2-1, No. 24)
Two weeks in the past, the Patriots had been 1-3 and turning to fourth-round rookie quarterback Bailey Zappe in what seemed to be a misplaced season. Two dominant wins later, it’s time to reevaluate coach Invoice Belichick’s staff. Zappe threw for 309 yards and two touchdowns, Rhamondre Stevenson rushed for 2 scores and the protection pressured 4 turnovers in a 38-15 win over Cleveland every week after New England shut out Detroit’s high-scoring offense. Between Stevenson, receivers DeVante Parker, Jakobi Meyers and Tyquan Thornton and tight ends Jonnu Smith and Hunter Henry, the Patriots have a well-rounded group of ability gamers. Quarterback Mac Jones is likely to be near coming back from his ankle damage, which ought to solely assist if he can take one other step ahead after a stable rookie season. Whereas the vaunted AFC East is not the mediocre division it was, rely out Belichick and the Patriots at your personal peril.
Not completed but
21. Jacksonville Jaguars (2-4, No. 18)
22. Denver Broncos (2-4, No. 20)
23. Arizona Cardinals (2-4, No. 16)
24. Las Vegas Raiders (1-4, No. 21)
25. Cleveland Browns (2-4, No. 25)
The Jaguars blew an opportunity to take management of the AFC South with back-to-back losses to Houston and Indianapolis, however there have been encouraging indicators of progress for the staff that ended final yr because the league’s laughingstock. Trevor Lawrence already seems to be like one of many league’s finest quarterbacks in simply his second season, and working again Travis Etienne Jr. has emerged because the dynamic playmaker he was anticipated to be when Jacksonville drafted him within the first spherical in 2021, speeding for 157 yards on 20 carries and catching 5 passes for 63 yards within the final two video games. By way of anticipated factors added on offense and protection, the Jaguars are within the third tier of rivals alongside the Bengals, Patriots and Buccaneers. They should begin turning that potential into wins, however this 2-4 begin isn't as discouraging because it might sound.
The basement
26. Pittsburgh Steelers (2-4, No. 30)
27. New Orleans Saints (2-4, No. 19)
28. Detroit Lions (1-4, No. 27)
29. Washington Commanders (2-4, No. 29)
30. Chicago Bears (2-4, No. 28)
31. Houston Texans (1-3-1, No. 31)
32. Carolina Panthers (1-5, No. 32)
Perhaps the Steelers aren’t that unhealthy? A patchwork protection with out star security Minkah Fitzpatrick and out of doors linebacker T.J. Watt held Tom Brady and the Buccaneers to 4.5 yards per play and 4-for-14 on third down in a 20-18 win, saving a season that was teetering on the sting of catastrophe. Rookie quarterback Kenny Pickett’s concussion thrusts Mitch Trubisky again within the beginning lineup for now, however Pittsburgh is clearly not happening and not using a battle. A reinvigorated Chase Claypool, who had seven catches for 96 yards and a landing after being held to only eight complete receptions within the earlier three video games, is likely to be what the offense must shake out of its funk. The subsequent two video games in opposition to the Dolphins and Eagles ought to present if the Steelers are adequate to show this season round.
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