Don’t look now, but the NFL looks to have officially righted itself in Week 6. Teams everyone expected to be good when the year began that stumbled in September have pulled out of it. Other squads that looked like they could be in for promising, and maybe coach-saving seasons, have fallen back to earth. We track all that with the Power Rankings, factoring in each team’s performance against the spread to add a little science to the proceedings. Here are your Against the Spread Power Rankings for Week 7:
1. Los Angeles Rams (6-0, ATS: 4-2): How long can the Rams stay perfect? History is not on their side this week. The last three times they opened 6-0, they never made it to 7-0. Last week: 1
2. New England Patriots (4-2, ATS: 3-3): The Patriots provided the first real bump in the Patrick Mahomes story. I have a feeling these two teams will meet again before it’s over. Last week: 4
3. New Orleans Saints (4-1, ATS: 3-2): With Mahomes looking at least somewhat mortal, suddenly Drew Brees is very much in the MVP conversation. Last week: 5
Related: NFL Betting Guide
4. Kansas City Chiefs (5-1, ATS 6-0): Losing to the Patriots by three isn’t bad, but if the Bengals make it two in a row, the defense will prove it’s more than a weakness, it’s an Achilles heel. Last week: 2
5. Cincinnati Bengals (4-2, ATS: 4-2): I can’t drop the Bengals too much since they nearly pulled it off against the Steelers. Plus, it doesn’t seem fair to slide them under the Ravens after they dominated Baltimore back in Week 3. Last week: 3
6. Baltimore Ravens (4-2, ATS: 4-2): If the Ravens really want to show that they’re Super Bowl contenders, beating the Saints at M&T Bank Stadium will do it. Last week: 13
7. Minnesota Vikings (3-2-1,ATS: 3-3): The Vikings finally look more like the team we all thought they’d be in August. Good for them that the NFC North is still there for the taking. Last week: 9
8. Philadelphia Eagles (3-3 ATS: 2-4): It gets no easier for the Eagles this week when they host the Panthers coming off a loss. Last week: 10
9. Pittsburgh Steelers (3-2-1, ATS: 3-3): Nothing like facing the Bengals to make the Steelers feel A-OK again. Since Marvin Lewis was hired in Cincy, Pittsburgh is 25-8 against the striped ones. Last week: 17
10. Los Angeles Chargers (4-2, ATS: 3-3): Are the Chargers actually good or is the rest of the AFC just garbage outside of Kansas City and New England? Last week: 11
11 Washington Redskins (3-2, ATS: 3-2): Great bounce-back win against a solid Carolina team in Week 6, Skins. Now you’ve got to do the same against a Cowboys squad that just might have figured out offensive football. Last week: 12
12. Chicago Bears (3-2, ATS: 3-2): As exciting as it’s been in Chicago, the reality is that this is still a middle-of-the-pack team. They can get out of that bracket with an upset victory over the Patriots Sunday. Last week: 6
13. Jacksonville Jaguars (3-3,ATS: 3-3): Somebody asked on Twitter last week if Blake Borltes’ last name was a verb. I absolutely think it is, but it can’t be translated here due to the site’s profanity restrictions. Last week: 7
14. Carolina Panthers (3-2, ATS: 2-3): The only thing that can put the taste of that Washington loss out of the Panthers’ mouths is an upset victory over the defending Super Bowl champs. Last week: 8
15. Green Bay Packers (3-2-1 ATS: 2-4): When your offense is all determined by Aaron Rodgers and his magic, eventually the magic is going to run out. Last week: 15
16. Miami Dolphins (4-2, ATS: 4-2): The Dolphins, because of their weak schedule, are a serious danger to win 10 games this season. Last week: 16
17. Houston Texans (3-3, ATS: 1-5): The Texans are two blown overtime calls by the opposing team away from being 1-5. Sleep tight, Bill O’Brien. We all know what’s coming. Last week: 18
18. New York Jets (3-3, ATS: 3-3): I don’t think that the Jets are good, but I do know they’re not bad and considering where they should be, that’s an accomplishment. Last week: 19
19. Dallas Cowboys (3-3, ATS: 3-3): Have Jason Garrett and the Cowboys rediscovered how to run an offense? Let’s see them do it two weeks in a row. Last week: 20
20. Seattle Seahawks (3-3, ATS: 4-2): This Seahawks team is looking very Wild Card-y and no one should be excited to play Russell Wilson in January. Last week: 23
21. Tennessee Titans (3-3, ATS: 3-3): Last week Marcus Mariota completed 10 passes. He was sacked 11 times. Last week: 14
22. Atlanta Falcons (2-4, ATS: 2-4): The Falcons are a dribbled lateral to DeSean Jackson away from being in the conversation for the 2019 No. 1 draft pick. Last week: 22
23. Denver Broncos (2-4, ATS: 1-5): On the bright side, if the Broncos keep playing this bad on offense they should have no trouble selecting a quarterback atop the 2019 NFL Draft. Last week: 21
24. Cleveland Browns (2-3-1, ATS: 4-2): You’ve got a chance to get back to .500 against a terrible Tampa Bay team this week. Don’t blow it. Last week: 24
25. Indianapolis Colts (1-5, ATS: 2-4): For weeks I’ve said you shouldn’t sleep on the Colts. Meanwhile, they’ve been piping lullabies through their PA speakers. Last week: 25
26. Detroit Lions (2-3, ATS:4-1): The Lions have beaten two potential playoff teams, the Packers and Patriots, and lost to everyone else. Perhaps if they defeat the Dolphins this weekend that bodes well for the team from Miami. Last week: 28
27. Buffalo Bills (2-4, ATS: 3-3): This is the worst roster in the league and, yet, they’ve not only won two games, but they’re 3-3 against the spread. And they’re actually improving every week. Those three spread beats all came in the last four weeks. Last week: 26
28. San Francisco 49ers (1-5, ATS: 2-4): C.J. Beathard might not be the future of any franchise, but if he keeps playing like this, he’ll have a long, and lucrative, career as an NFL back up. Last week: 32
29. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2-3, ATS: 2-3): A loss to the Browns this week and Jameis Winston might as well split a U-Haul with Dirk Koetter. Last week: 29
30. Oakland Raiders (1-5, ATS: 2-4): There’s supposedly a fire sale happening with the Raiders roster right now, with Amari Cooper and Derek Carr, both on the block. Last week: 30
31. New York Giants (1-5, ATS: 2-4): I still think drafting Saquon Barkley was the right move back in April. If Eli Manning continues to struggle, you’ll have your pick of quarterbacks in the 2019 draft since you’ll likely be selecting No. 1. Last week: 31
32. Arizona Cardinals (1-5, ATS: 3-3): The Cardinals won’t be looking for a quarterback in next year’s draft, but that won’t stop them from being terrible this season. Last Week: 27
