1. Arizona Cardinals (6-0)
Last Week: 2
The Cardinals have been hit by covid pretty hard recently, but it doesn’t seem to matter much. Even without Chandler Jones and head coach Kliff Kingsbury, the Cardinals went into Cleveland and beat the Browns by 23. Arizona has 24 active cases entering week 7, but their next matchup is the Texans so I’m betting on them to be just fine.
2. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (5-1) Last Week: 3
The Buccaneers are able to consistently stay in the top-3 through pure consistency. Even though the game in Philly ended with a 6 point win, Tampa was up 28-7 through most of three quarters and had control of this entire game.
3. Los Angeles Rams (5-1)
Last Week: 4
Two teams from the dominant NFC West division make it into the top-3. Cooper Kupp once again added to his career year with 9 catches, 130 yards, and 2 touchdowns in the 38-11 win in Metlife. In the last 35 years, there are only two players with 600+ receiving yards and 7+ receiving touchdowns through week 6: Randy Moss and Cooper Kupp.
4. Baltimore Ravens (5-1) Last Week: 9
The Ravens put the league on notice with a blowout win against the Chargers in a game where Lamar Jackson didn’t need to shine. Jackson only threw for 167 yards and had 2 picks as well as only 51 yards on the ground. But Devonta Freeman, Latavius Murray, and Le’Veon Bell did what they needed to do, all finding the endzone. The Baltimore defense also held the Chargers offense to only 26 rushing yards.
5. Buffalo Bills (4-2) Last Week: 1
Risk-taking has begun to trump conservative play calling in the NFL, and I think that’s great. But Sean McDermott and the Bills got a little ahead of themselves going for it on fourth-and-1 instead of kicking an easy field goal to send it into OT with just seconds left in the game. The Buffalo offense failed to convert, and they lost as a result.
6. Dallas Cowboys (5-1)
Last Week: 6
More of the same for Dallas this week. Dak Prescott went off with 445 passing yards, the most ever against a Bill Belichick Patriots team, Trevon Diggs had an interception, and the Cowboys found a way to win when things got close.
7. Green Bay Packers (5-1)
Last Week: 8
This team has talent and swagger. After rushing in for a touchdown in Chicago, Aaron Rodgers yelled, “I still own you!” Judging by his 22-5 record against the Bears, he isn’t exactly wrong. Rodgers threw 17/23 with a pair of touchdowns and Aaron Jones and AJ Dillion played as a great two-back combo, each averaging over 5 yards a rush.
8. Los Angeles Chargers (4-2) Last Week: 5
The Chargers hot streak comes to an end with a 34-6 blowout loss in Baltimore. Justin had a Quarterback Rating of 67.8, Austin Ekeler was held to 7 yards, and LA couldn’t find a way to be efficient on offense. The Chargers were 4 for 16 on third and fourth down conversions.
9. Kansas City Chiefs (3-3) Last Week: 10
It looked like more of the same for the Chiefs in the first half in Washington, finishing with three turnovers in the first two quarters. But they cleaned it up in the second and didn’t commit another one. Mahomes had 2 touchdowns and 0 interceptions in the second half. It looks like the Chiefs clicked and found their swagger back in the 21-0 second half against the Football Team.
10. Cleveland Browns (3-3) Last Week: 7
The Browns were missing Nick Chubb, but that’s no excuse to lose 37-14 at home. Baker Mayfield had a rough game, throwing an interception and fumbling twice, but being sacked 5 times doesn’t help. To add onto it, Kareem Hunt who had 66 rushing yards and currently leads the team in receptions is expected to be out 4-6 weeks and Baker Mayfield aggravated his shoulder injury.
11. Cincinnati Bengals (4-2)
Last Week: 11
The Bengals went into Ford Field and did just about whatever they wanted on Sunday, taking a big 34-11 win behind Joe Burrow’s three touchdowns and Joe Mixon’s 94 yards. Ja’Marr Chase continues to look like the Offensive Rookie of the Year with 97 yards.
12. Tennessee Titans (4-2)
Last Week: 12
The best running back in the league is Derrick Henry and the second best is Derrick Henry after contact. Henry once again ran for 3 touchdowns against the Bills and had 143 rushing yards with it on Monday Night Football. Henry has a league-leading 783 rushing yards and 587 of them come after contact. Nick Chubb has the second most rushing yards in the NFL with 523.
13. Minnesota Vikings (3-3) Last Week: 15
The Vikings once again escaped a blown game this week in Carolina. But they were able to hold onto an OT win with Dalvin Cook's 140 yards. Kirk Cousins has been quietly putting together a great start to the season; he had 373 yards and 3 touchdowns on Sunday.
14. San Francisco 49ers (2-3) Last Week: 13
This was the perfect moment for a bye week for San Fran. It gives time for Jimmy G to get off his calf another week, in which he says feels great. We’ll see if that stands as they play the Colts on Sunday Night Football.
15. Carolina Panthers (3-3) Last Week: 12
Sam Darnold has 4 touchdowns and 6 interceptions over his last three games, Carolina has a bottom five offensive line, the offense has become one dimensional without CMC, and the defense that typically bails the Panthers out gave up 571 yards to the Vikings on Sunday. Luckily there’s a good opportunity for a bounce back game against the Giants where Stephon Gilmore is expected to make his Carolina debut.
16. New Orleans Saints (3-2) Last Week: 16
Coming off the bye, the Saints will get a chance to start again on the right foot against a Russell Wilson lacking Seahawks team. The Saints have a bottom 10 defense and bottom 5 offense right now, but still manage to win games with an above .500 record.
17. Philadelphia Eagles (2-4) Last Week: 18
The Eagles offense expects Jalen Hurts to make miracles and they lose when he doesn’t. Nick Sirianni and the Philly coaching staff evidently still doesn’t know that they have a good running back in Miles Sanders, who they once again abandoned despite efficient play.
18. Indianapolis Colts (2-4)
Last Week: 19
The Colts seem to finally have everything back together and working like a well-oiled machine. Jonathan Taylor went off against the Texans for 145 yards and 2 touchdowns. Carson Wentz seems to be enjoying Indy with 1,545 yards, 9 touchdowns, and 1 INT.
19. Pittsburgh Steelers (3-3)
Last Week: 20
Mike Tomlin is back to winning, but it hasn’t come easy. Big Ben hasn’t been terrible over the past couple games (big win) and the defense has been carrying the team, led by T.J. Watt.
20. Seattle Seahawks (2-4) Last Week: 17
Geno Smith didn’t necessarily have a bad game in Pittsburgh on Sunday Night Football. But it wasn’t very good either and he once again turned the ball over during the most important possession of the game.
21. Chicago Bears (3-3) Last Week: 21
The Bears defense has looked good recently and did again at home against Aaron Rodgers and the Packers, but the offense can’t match it. Justin Fields had as many interceptions as he did touchdowns and was sacked four times.
22. Las Vegas Raiders (4-2)
Last Week: 22
In their first game without Jon Gruden, the Raiders had a nice win in Denver. Henry Ruggs III continues to have some sophomore shine, catching the ball three times four 97 yards and a touchdown. The defense also got into Teddy’s face, sacking him five times and forcing four turnovers.
23. New England Patriots (2-4) Last Week: 24
This team is one of the most confusing in the NFL-and that’s saying a lot. They nearly beat Tom Brady, almost lose to a terrible Texans team, and then give the Cowboys all they could handle. I want to say they’re better than their record shows, but I just don’t know. Either way, they need a season saving win against the Jets next week, who they beat 25-6 last time they faced off.
24. Atlanta Falcons (2-3) Last Week: 26
The Falcons move up two spots in a bye week because of how terrible the teams below them have been. Calvin Ridley is set and ready to go and Kyle Pitts is looking good so Atlanta finally has something to look forward to.
25. Denver Broncos (3-3) Last Week: 23
Despite the hot start against bad teams, the Broncos are not good. Bridgewater had three interceptions and a fumble while being sacked five times against the Raiders. The defense also gave up 34 points at home.
26. Washington Football Team (2-4) Last Week: 25
Right when it looked like Washington was going to turn a corner with a big first half at home against the Chiefs, they fell apart in the second and lost by 18. This organization is a mess, and it starts at the top.
27. New York Jets (1-4) Last Week: 29
Hopefully the Jets did some big-time prep for the Pats over their bye week. Last time they played New England, Zach Wilson threw four picks and had a Rating of 37.
28. Jacksonville Jaguars (1-5)
Last Week: 32
After 20 losses in a row, the Jags finally got a win! Matthew Wright, who was just recently signed to the practice squad, hit two huge field goals to win the game in London. Trevor Lawrence has fought through a lot of adversity this season and finally sees another regular season win.
29. New York Giants (1-5) Last Week: 28
Some things just don’t change. Daniel Jones fumbled the ball again. He also threw three interceptions against a suffocating LA Rams defense. It’s tough to get wins when the majority of your offensive roster is out with injuries.
30. Miami Dolphins (1-5) Last Week: 27
It’s been a steep fall for the Dolphins. They continue to hurt Tua’s confidence by first pulling him after any mistake he made last season and now once again attempting to take a chance on getting Deshaun Watson. Things just keep getting worse for a team that was expected to make a huge improvement this year.
31. Detroit Lions (0-6) Last Week: 30
After being demolished by the Bengals 34-11, the Jared Goff train (if there ever was one) continues to halt. It looks like Detroit is going to go after a quarterback in next year's draft, even when there’s a lot of work to do elsewhere.
32. Houston Texans (1-5) Last Week: 31
The Texans are the worst team in the NFL. They’ve lost five games in a row and have been outscored 71-3 in their last two road games. Davis Mills threw two interceptions and it will be interesting to see if they put in Tyrod Taylor in a few weeks or if they decide to tank and keep him on the bench when he’s healthy.
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