NFL Power Rankings - Week of October 18, 2019

Friday, October 18, 2019

John Crowe GoLocal Sports Contributor

 

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As we head into week 7 of the 2019 season, there’s plenty of movement around the NFL. After a tumultuous Tuesday in which we saw the Rams trade for CB Jalen Ramsey, jettison CB Marcus Peters to Baltimore and rumors of a Trent Williams and/or Michael Bennett trade abound on the horizon, the buzz is rising around the league. 

But before we get into the moves, let’s stack up the contenders in our latest power rankings, where a familiar face reigns at the top for a seventh straight week.

Patriots - Despite a somewhat struggling offense, yet still good for 8th in the league at 31 points per game (NFL.com), the Patriots remain dominant. It's all about that top-ranked defense that scored once again on Thursday night against the Giants. If they can keep it up, Super Bowl Championship #7 could be in the offing. Plus, now they must navigate the one-game suspension of DE Michael Bennett for battling against assistant coach Brett Bielema last Friday after taking only 11 snaps, as first reported by Jordan Schultz of ESPN.

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The question seems to be what move, not will they make a move (WR, OL?) before the October 29th trade deadline. After a Monday nighter at the Jets, it home to the Browns, at Ravens, at Eagles, vs. Cowboys, at Texans, and vs. Chiefs. A tough stretch indeed that starts with the Jets, according to head coach Bill Belichick at Thursday’s press conference:

"Jets are a very talented team. Monday night is always a high energy game," said Belichick. 

The NFC West – Seahawks, 49ers, Rams – This just might be the toughest division in football. Russell Wilson (14 TD passes, 3 TD rushing) is playing his best ball since the Seahawks went to back-to-back Super Bowls and finally, they’re running an offense where he doesn’t have to do EVERYTHING thanks to Chris Carson’s fifth-best 504 yards from the backfield. The 49ers are still undefeated thanks to a 20-7 upset at the Rams last Sunday. Old school football reigns by the Bay with a stout defense controlling LA while the 2nd ranked rushing combo of Matt Brieda and Tevin Coleman (NFL.com) grind it leaving Jimmy Garoppolo to just have to do enough. Now, about the Rams.

LA’s lost three in a row, RB Todd Gurley is hurt again (quad) and the team spent Tuesday revamping their secondary with CB Aqib Talib on IR with a rib injury. Ramsey comes in from Jacksonville in a deal that nets the Jags a haul of two first-round picks (2020, 2021) and a fourth-round pick (2021), replaces Peters and gets WR Julio Jones as a welcome gift Sunday in Atlanta.

"Anytime an opportunity presents itself, as an organization you've got to determine, hey, should we seize that opportunity? Is it the right time for us? Is it a better time for someone else?" So you always reach out and keep tabs," Rams General Manager Les Snead told the team’s website.

If the Wonderkid Sean McVay is to remain as such, he’ll have to mesh the new fits with some urgency just to make the NFC Playoffs. And oh yeah, don’t sleep on the Cardinals QB Kyler Murray, who’s figuring things out after back-to-back victories over the Bengals and Falcons.

The Saints – Who thought that losing QB Drew Brees could be a good thing for New Orleans. Sean Payton's crew is surging, not falling off without Brees (thumb), who could be back in a week or two. How are they doing it? DE Cam Jordan and CB Marshon Lattimore lead the way that’s limiting opponents (Cowboys, Jags) to just one TD in the past two weeks. Now, can QB Teddy Bridgewater navigate RB Alvin Kamara’s latest high ankle sprain which forced him to miss Wednesday’s practice, as reported on the Saints’ team website, well enough to score enough points if that staunch defense isn’t at its best?

The rest - Houston tops KC in a head-to-head battle at Arrowhead while the Bills could be ready to move into the #2 spot in the AFC with the Dolphins, Eagles, Redskins, and Browns ahead.

The question in Baltimore is can the Ravens beat a team over .500? Wins over Dolphins, Cardinals, Steelers, and Bengals. Losses to Chiefs and Browns.

The team to watch could be in Carolina as Cam Newton is getting healthier but is really better than Kyle Allen, who all he does is win (4-0 as a starter in 2019). They’ll enjoy the bye this week with a showdown in SF against the 49ers on tap in week 8.

Ponder this – the folks in Detroit must be thinking their Lions are snake-bitten. After blowing a 24-6 lead in week 1 to tie the Cardinals, the Lions were a drive away from beating the Chiefs and a couple of questionable calls (and non-calls) by the refs in Lambeau Field Monday night away from defeating the Packers. Instead of 5-0, Detroit’s at the bottom of the NFC North at 2-2-1.

This Week's Power Ranking:

1. Patriots (6-0)
2. Saints (5-1)
3. 49ers (5-0)
4. Seahawks (5-1)
5. Packers (5-1)
6. Texans (4-2)
7. Chiefs (4-2)
8. Bills (4-1)
9. Vikings (4-2)
10. Panthers (4-2)

Outside looking in: Lions (2-2-1), Rams (3-3), Ravens (4-2)

The week ahead:

Saints (5-1) at Bears (3-2) – Toughest test yet for the Saints against Khalil Mack and Bears defense coming off a bye looking to take down the top team in the NFC.

Ravens (4-2) at Seahawks (5-1) – Newly acquired CB Marcus Peters gets to play his first game for the Ravens back where he played college at Washington. Can he lockdown Tyler Lockett?

Raiders (3-2) at Packers (5-1) – A surprisingly entertaining matchup here as Oakland returns from London winners of two straight and running the rock to the tune of nearly 135 yards a game. Green Bay’s defense – just 29th against the run (NFL.com).

Texans (4-2) at Colts (3-2) – Will the Texans kryptonite continue to cripple them as the Colts go for the top spot in a battle for top spot in the AFC South. Indy holds a 27-8 edge including winning four of the last five in this series. Now get this – the Texans are converting on third down at a staggering rate of 51%, good for tops in the AFC (NFL.com).

Eagles (3-3) at Cowboys (3-3) – How about ‘dem Cowboys! Losers of three straight, including a loss to the then winless Jets and injuries to WRs Amari Cooper (quad) and Randall Cobb (back). The Eagles can stop the run (I see you Ezekiel Elliott), but can cover a cold (I see you Stefon Diggs and his 3 TD’s last Sunday).

See the Power Rankings in the Slideshow Below

 

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