NFL Power Rankings, Week 7: Cowboys Plummet To Bottom-Feeders; Jets Hold Strong At Top

We've completed Week 6 of the 2010 NFL season and we're starting to see some trends with the NFL power rankings. A team like the Cowboys no longer gets preseason favoritism for me because they were supposed to been good. They're 1-4 and ranked in the bottom half of the league. The Texans on the other hand are showing they're legit, so they're in the top 10 now.

You've got your normal bottom feeders -- Bills, Raiders and Browns -- as well as your the usual folks at the top -- Patriots, Steelers and Saints.

Question marks that remain:

• Chargers: Are they really that bad?
• Rams: Are they going to keep winning in the weak NFC West?
• Vikings: What kind of team are they?

Those questions will be answered over the next month. Now onto our Week 7 NFL power rankings:

32. Buffalo Bills (0-5)

Last week's rank: 32

Last game: Bye

SB Nation: Buffalo Rumblings

The Bills don't go anywhere on their bye. They've clearly shown they deserve this spot. Carolina is catching up to them though.

31. Carolina Panthers (0-5)

Last week's rank: 31

Last game: Bye

SB Nation: Cat Scratch Reader

Matt Moore played so poorly they went to Jimmy Clausen. Then Clausen plays so poorly they go back to Moore. This is already a long season.

30. Cleveland Browns (1-5)

Last week's rank: 29

Last game: Steelers (lost)

SB Nation: Dawgs By Nature

The Steelers didn't give Colt McCoy and the Browns much of a chance. The Browns may be going back to McCoy again.

29. San Francisco 49ers (1-5)

Last week's rank: 30

Last game: Raiders (won)

SB Nation: Niners Nation

Yeah it's the Raiders but a win is a win. The 49ers are likely out of it but they also play in arguably the worst division. Eight wins could do it.

28. Oakland Raiders (2-4)

Last week's rank: 27

Last game:49ers (lost)

SB Nation: Silver And Black Pride

Is it Jason Campbell? Or Bruce Gradkowski? Or a 2011 draft pick? This team is spinning.

27. Detroit Lions (1-5)

Last week's rank: 26

Last game: Giants (lost)

SB Nation: Pride Of Detroit

Detroit is just missing a few key parts. I can see their offense is there and the defense is getting closer. They just can't put it all togther.

26. Denver Broncos (2-4)

Last week's rank: 25

Last game: Jets (lost)

SB Nation: Mile High Report

Yeah they're killing it in passing yards but what good is it doing? Playing the Jets tough isn't too bad, I suppose.

25. Dallas Cowboys (1-4)

Last week's rank: 23

Last game: Vikings (lost)

SB Nation: Blogging The Boys

It's pretty close to it being over for the Cowboys. The ray of shining light is that they play the division leading Giants twice in the next month.

24. St. Louis Rams (3-3)

Last week's rank: 28

Last game: Chargers (lost)

SB Nation: Turf Show Times

It's time to move the Rams up. Sam Bradford has as many wins this year as they've had in the last two years combined. Beating a team like San Diego is a great start.

23. Jacksonville Jaguars (3-3)

Last week's rank:17

Last game: Titans (lost)

SB Nation: Big Cat Country

Ugh. What an ugly game against the Titans. They lost QB David Garrard to a concussion and may play QB Trent Edwards against the Chiefs next week.

22. San Diego Chargers (2-4)

Last week's rank: 19

Last game: Rams (lost)

SB Nation: Bolts From The Blue

Wow. The Rams? The Chargers need to get it together. Yeah, the AFC West is weak but the Chiefs are holding a strong 1.5 game lead on everyone.

21. Cincinnati Bengals (2-3)

Last week's rank: 21

Last game: Bye

SB Nation: Cincy Jungle

It's hard to get a read on Cincinnati. They should be able to run the ball and play good defense which is a solid formula. Now it's just a matter of actually doing it.

20. Seattle Seahawks (3-2)

Last week's rank: 24

Last game: Bears (won)

SB Nation: Field Gulls

The Seahawks are tied for first place in the NFC West. That's a long way to come in a year. We'll see if Marshawn Lynch and Co. can keep it up.

19. Arizona Cardinals (3-2)

Last week's rank: 18

Last game:  Bye

SB Nation: Revenge Of The Birds

Max Hall is the starting QB. It's hard to rally around this team but they are in the weakest division in football.

18. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3-2)

Last week's rank: 16

Last game: Saints (lost)

SB Nation: Bucs Nation

They were dominated against the Saints but I don't think anyone expected them to win that. They're playing solid this year and clearly aren't an easy out for all teams anymore.

17. Miami Dolphins (3-2)

Last week's rank: 20

Last game: Packers (won)

SB Nation: The Phinsider

Going into Lambeau and getting a win is no joke. In their two losses, they've given up over 30 points. In their three wins, they've given up 20 or less. The next test might be the toughest against the Steelers.

16.  Minnesota Vikings (2-3)

Last week's rank: 22

Last game: Cowboys (won)

SB Nation: Daily Norseman

Big victory against the Cowboys on Sunday. Obviously this team has the talent but it's just a matter of putting it together. Having Brett Favre the rest of the season would help.

15. Kansas City Chiefs (3-2)

Last week's rank: 15

Last game: Texans (lost)

SB Nation: Arrowhead Pride

The Chiefs played yet another good road opponent very tough. They have a stretch of seven games against .500ish teams so they may be able to make a dent in the division moving forward.

14. Washington Redskins (3-3)

Last week's rank: 14

Last game: Colts (lost)

SB Nation: Hogs Haven

Playing the Colts tough is a good sign for the Redskins, but they need wins in the competitive NFC East. They're sitting a game out of first place right now.

13. Chicago Bears (4-2)

Last week's rank: 10

Last game: Seahawks (lost)

SB Nation: Windy City Gridiron

Tough loss to the Seahawks. The Bears offense is finally putting up some points and they're in first place. Life is still good in Chicago.

12. Green Bay Packers (3-3)

Last week's rank:  8

Last game: Dolphins (lost)

SB Nation: Acme Packing Company

They've lost three of four and this is what they have coming up: Minnesota, at New York Jets, Dallas, at Minnesota, at Atlanta.

11. Atlanta Falcons (4-2)

Last week's rank:  6

Last game: Eagles (lost)

SB Nation: The Falcoholic

The Falcons lost last week bu they still have the formula for success down. They can run the ball well and they have a competent quarterback.

10. Philadelphia Eagles (3-2)

Last week's rank: 13

Last game: Falcons (won)

SB Nation: Bleeding Green Nation

A two-score victory over a likely playoff team is a nice victory. The Eagles are sitting in a good spot with two good QBs on the roster.

9. New York Giants (4-2)

Last week's rank: 12

Last game: Lions (won)

SB Nation: Big Blue View

Just a few weeks ago I thought New York fans were going to explode and Tom Coughlin was on the hot seat. Now? They're in the hunt for best in the NFC.

8. Tennessee Titans (4-2)

Last week's rank: 11

Last game: Jaguars (won)

SB Nation: Music City Miracles

Big victory on MNF against the Jaguars. They throttled Jacksonville 30-3 on national TV. Vince Young appears to be OK.

7. Houston Texans (4-2)

Last week's rank: 9

Last game: Chiefs (won)

SB Nation: Battle Red Blog

The Texans needed 59 and a half minutes to beat the Chiefs last week. That offense is very, very good. They can run and pass efficiently.

6. Baltimore Ravens (4-2)

Last week's rank: 2

Last game: Patriots (lost)

SB Nation: Baltimore Beatdown

You can't blame them too much for an overtime road loss to the Patriots. The Ravens are going to be a very difficult team to beat moving forward.

5. New Orleans Saints (4-2)

Last week's rank: 7

Last game: Bucs (won)

SB Nation: Canal Street Chronicles

The Saints offense finally looked like the 2009 Saints offense last week. The NFC South is no joke this year so they'll need more strong offensive performances.

4. Indianapolis Colts (4-2)

Last week's rank: 5

Last game: Redskins (won)

SB Nation: Stampede Blue

The Colts have company in the AFC South this year. They're tied for first place along with the Titans and Texans while the Jags sit just one game back. The Colts better go on one of their ridiculous runs if they want to win this division.

3. Pittsburgh Steelers (4-1)

Last week's rank: 4

Last game: Browns (won)

SB Nation: Behind The Steel Curtain

Ben Roethlisberger threw three TDs in his return to the field. It's hard to believe that this team actually got better in Week 6 with his return.

2. New England Patriots (4-1)

Last week's rank:  3

Last game: Ravens (won)

SB Nation: Pats Pulpit

The Patriots avenged their 2009 playoff loss to the Ravens with a victory last Sunday. As usual, this team looks very tough to beat.

1. New York Jets (5-1)

Last week's rank: 1

Last game: Broncos (won)

SB Nation: Gang Green Nation

Rex Ryan was right. This is the best team in football.