Week 6 of the 2021 NFL season is in the books, some notable changes in the top 10 and a new number 32 in our week 7 power rankings.
32. Detroit Lions — last time's ranking 31.
The Lions are the only winless team remaining, so they're an easy place to start things off even after Dan Campbell's teary press conference, the players still came out with a very uninspiring home effort against the Cincinnati Bengals in week six, and it all starts with Jared Goff, rookie Penei Sewell hasn't been great either with four sacks and five penalties allowed per Pro Football Focus.
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31. Houston Texans — last time's ranking 30.
well, the Texans are among the least surprising teams of 2021 that is they're just as awful as everyone expected them to be on the bright side, rookie Davis Mills is showing some potential despite a lackluster supporting cast, but it's hard to imagine the Texans sticking with him beyond this season especially with a top 5 pick in the next year's draft all but wrapped up at this point.
30. Jacksonville Jaguars — last time's ranking 32.
The Jaguars finally got their first win of the season, and it also happens to be their first win since week one of the 2020 campaign that's a 20-game losing skid finished sure they only beat up a banged up one-win Miami Dolphins team on a last-second field goal but given how brutal the first five weeks have been Urban Meyer and company will take this, now let's see if they can build off it.
29. Miami Dolphins — last time's ranking 28.
Miami just couldn't survive all the injuries in the loss to Jacksonville and there's not much time to mope around the one in five, Dolphins don't even have a bye week even though they just played in London instead they're coming back home to face the Atlanta Falcons this Sunday, now it's probably a good time to remind everyone that the Philadelphia Eagles own Miami's 2022 first rounder which looks poised to be a top five pick.
28. New York Jets — last time's ranking 29.
The Jets were on the bye week following their week 5 loss to Atlanta and London they only move up a spot because the Dolphins were that bad, but that's not really worth celebrating now is it up next the Jets visit the New England Patriots, a team they haven't beat since week 16 of the 2015 season. Zach Wilson threw four interceptions in week two against Belichick's defense, let's hope he's better prepared this time around.
27. New York Giants — last time's ranking
27.
yes they were blown out 38 to 11 by the Los Angeles Rams at home, the defense was atrocious, and Daniel Jones racked up the turnovers but let's be honest who didn't expect this at this point, you have to think we're seeing the end of the Jones judge and Gettleman era in New York.
26. Atlanta Falcons — last time's ranking 26.
The Falcons were also on a bye, and we prefer not to get too carried away here, but they're just half a game out of the final wild card spot in the NFC and the one win Dolphins and slumping Carolina Panthers are up next on their schedule, Calvin Ridley is back too. Can the Falcons take advantage and insert themselves into the playoff picture.
25. Washington Football Team — last time's ranking 25.
For three quarters it looked like Washington might drop the Kansas City Chiefs to two and four on the year then Patrick Mahomes rebounded the Washington d imploded and the Kansas City defense prevented any Taylor Heinicke heroics and so Washington is now two and four three games out of the first in the NFC east, a wild card spot is their only realistic path to the postseason and even that seems like a pipe dream right now.
24. Philadelphia Eagles — last time's ranking 22.
The Eagles made things interesting falling to the defending champions by just six points, an admirable effort by Jonathan Gannon's defense but Jalen Hurts his accuracy issues and the lack of playmakers on offense led to a second consecutive loss for Philly. It's starting to look like Hurts may not be the long-term answer here, he couldn't get much of anything going against the NFL's worst past defense with two possible top 10 picks in next year's draft. Philly may want to consider taking another shot at drafting their next franchise QB.
23. Seattle Seahawks — last time's ranking 18.
Gotta credit Geno Smith and the Seahawks for really hanging in there,, but we knew this team would be fighting an uphill battle so long as Russell Wilson is out of the lineup the overtime loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers drops Seattle to two and four on the year, Pete Carroll says the team has talked to Cam Newton but unless he can play defense it's hard to see him improving this team much if at all.
22. Indianapolis Colts — last time's ranking 24.
as expected, the Colts took care of business at home against a lowly Houston team they are two and four and very much alive in the race for the completely winnable AFC south, the Colts will visit the struggling San Francisco 49ers in week 7 followed by tilts with the division-leading Titans and struggling Jets and Jaguars so if they can run the table over these next four weeks we could be talking about them as a legit contender once again.
21. New England Patriots — last time's ranking 19.
Tom Brady is really starting to run away with the uh who meant more to the Patriots' dynasty argument, Bill Belichick's defense was uncharacteristically awful against the explosive Dallas Cowboys unit and this came a week after the pats barely survived the one win Texans. Mac Jones looks all right there's certainly potential there but Patriots fans had high expectations for their team, and yet, they sit at two and four through six games for the second straight season.
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20. San Francisco 49ers — last time's ranking 21.
Considering all the injuries amid a three-game losing skid, the 49ers buy came at the perfect time, it's a wide open race for the final two wild card spots in the NFC given the 49ers overall talent, you have to like their chances more than say the Chicago Bears and Minnesota Vikings, but that's only if the 49ers find their groove on both sides of the ball, the schedule doesn't get any easier though starting with a home tilt this Sunday against the resurging Colts.
19. Denver Broncos — last time's ranking 17.
Why did some of us think the Broncos might be for real following their three and zero start, they beat the Giants, Jaguars and Jets, sure enough the Broncos are back to 0.500 after playing some competent teams, Teddy Bridgewater suddenly can't protect the football and this stingy defense isn't so stingy any more boy do they miss Bradley Chubb number
18. Chicago Bears — last time's ranking 16.
The bear's defense kept Aaron Rodgers and Davante Adams in check for mostly game, but they just couldn't contain the rushing attack and in the end Justin Fields just couldn't keep pace the good news is their defense still has them in the wild card hunt, so anything is possible.
17. Carolina Panthers — last time's ranking 13.
Broncos and Panthers fans can cry together, both teams enjoyed perfect 3-0 starts but defensive breakdowns and costly turnovers have moved the two clubs back to point 500. Sam Darnold is turning back to the Jets' version of himself. Christian McCaffrey is out for several more games so it's time to be concerned in Carolina.
16. Pittsburgh Steelers — last time's ranking 20.
That was a potential season-saving overtime win over Seattle, thanks to the heroics of T.J. Watt then Roethlisberger has looked decent in consecutive weeks, Harris is developing into an impact player, but it's Pittsburgh's opportunistic defense that is once again leading the charge, the Steelers now enter a bye before they visit the banged up Cleveland Browns in week 8, then they host the Bears and Lions, so things are looking up for Mike Tomlin's club.
15. Minnesota Vikings — last time's ranking, 23.
This is a big time jump for the Vikings who have not won three of their last four and to think they were just a couple of bounces away from being five and one, yes this team and their starting quarterback have a long history of underachieving but a healthy Dalvin Cook makes all the difference in the world and Mike Zimmer's defense has enjoyed a significant turnaround following a horrific 2020 showing.
14. Cleveland Browns — last time's ranking 9.
That's now two straight losses for the Browns who were ravaged with injuries once again they were already without Jarvis Landry, Nick Chubb, Jack Conklin and Jedrick Wills Jr. in week six, now Kareem Hunt and Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah are out for multiple weeks. Odell Beckham Jr. and Baker Mayfield are banged up, they'll try playing through the injuries, but it won't be easy on a short week as the browns host the Broncos on Thursday Night, the depth of this team will be tested over the coming weeks to say the least.
13. Cincinnati Bengals — last time's ranking 14.
Time to take the Bengals seriously, destroying the Lions was expected, but it was still great to see them bounce back after their heartbreaking loss to the Packers last week. Joe Burrow and Ja'Marr Chase are something else it's as if they're still on LSU playing against college secondaries together, but it's a defense that deserves more respect, they're only allowing 18.5 points per game and free agent signing Trey Hendrickson has 5.5 sacks already looks like his 2020 breakout year wasn't a mirage after all.
12. New Orleans Saints — last time's ranking 10.
Sean Payton's group entered the bye week with a 3-2 record, they're at worst a playoff contender, but what if they defeat the bucs at home in week 8. Just like that, Brady and company will have some serious competition for the NFC south for now their focus is on the Russell Wilson-less Seahawks whom New Orleans will face off against on Monday Night.
11. Las Vegas Raiders — last time's ranking 15.
That was a statement win for the Raiders, all the distractions in Jon Gruden drama couldn't stop Derek Carr in the Raiders' offense which lit up the Broncos defense for 34 points, major congratulations to Rich Bisaccia on winning his first game as a head coach and guess what Raiders fans, the eagles are next then a bye then a road game against the Giants, six and two is looking like a real possibility in Sin City.
10. Kansas City Chiefs — last time's ranking 12.
They survived to scare against Washington and are back to point 500. The next five contests are at Titans vs Giants vs Packers at Raiders and versus Cowboys, there's four legitimate playoff contenders in that stretch, so we'll really find out what the Chiefs are made of are they still the team to beat in the AFC or just another victim of the Super Bowl finalist hangover.
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9. Los Angeles Chargers — last time's ranking 7.
A humiliating loss to the Ravens coupled with wins by the Chiefs and Raiders, and it's safe to say that week six couldn't have gone much worse for Brandon Staley's club, the good news is their next five opponents are all 0.500 or worse, so we wouldn't panic too much in La La Land.
8. Buffalo Bills — last time's ranking 1.
It wasn't the worst loss for the Bills, Sean McDermott put the game in his star quarterback's hands instead of taking it to overtime and in this instance it turned out to be the wrong call, you win some, and you lose some, I guess unfortunately they suffer a pretty big fall here as all the teams ahead of them are coming off very impressive wins and have equally impressive records.
7. Tennessee Titans — last time's ranking 11.
Speaking of teams coming off impressive wins, how about the team that just beat those Bills when this team has their full arsenal of weapons on the field, they're almost impossible to stop even for the best defenses in the league as we witnessed during Monday's 34-31 win, Tannehill flag is out, Tannehill will throw down the field off the helmet Julio Jones catches it.
6. Dallas Cowboys — last time's ranking 8.
Dak Prescott had 445 passing yards against a Bill Belichick coach defense, that is the most New England has allowed during his 22-year, Trevon Diggs has seven interceptions on the year tied with Hall of Famer Ron Woodson for the most in the Super Bowl era through a team's first six games of a season, what we're trying to say here is these Cowboys are for real.
5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers — last time's ranking 5.
The bucs survived a scare and got past the Eagles on Thursday night, that's three straight w's for Tom Brady and company who continue to roll, thanks to a virtually unstoppable passing game, their secondary is a major concern however especially with all the injuries adding up then again they had that same issue last season and well we all remember how that turned out.
4. Green Bay Packers — last time's ranking 4.
Rodgers wasn't at his best and the Packers still got past the Bears without too many problems that's a sign of a legitimate Super Bowl contender, we're about to see what this team can do against some tougher competition, though after they host Washington this Sunday the Packers visit the Cardinals and then the Chiefs.
3. Los Angeles Rams — last time's ranking 3.
After demolishing the Giants, the Rams will now have to take on the Lions and Texans seriously did the Rams front office get to make their schedule this season, those are two guaranteed wins right there hope all you folks still have them in your survivor pools.
2. Baltimore Ravens — last time's ranking 6.
Yet another statement victory for the Ravens, they annihilated the Chargers six days after an epic comeback against the Colts on Monday Night Football and this team also has a week 2 win over the Chiefs on their resume Lamar Jackson is proving to be an elite passer which is scary because he's already the game's best rushing quarterback by a landslide.
1. Arizona Cardinals last time's ranking 2.
There shouldn't be any more doubting to the Cardinals even without Chandler Jones, they went into Cleveland and pummeled the Browns two weeks after crushing the Rams on the road this offense has so many playmakers that they can't even get them all on the field at the same time, and now they added Zach Ertz in a trade, we're sorry for doubting you Arizona and taking you out of the top spot last week please forgive us we just want to make things right.
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Who do you think is the NFL's best team through six weeks, join us in the comments' section below if you liked this article and learned a thing.