"NFL Power Rankings: Week Seven, Say Less"

As the classic Nintendo video game character Mario says: "Here we go! 
Just what I needed!" We're heading into week seven of your 2025 NFL 
season; as rankings have been up and down with a lot of teams. 
There's been some strong cases for top spots; while others have shown 
their incapability to stay ahead of everyone else. Buckle up and say 
less...

1. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 5-1 (Wk 6 ranking: 3rd) 
Tampa Bay sails into first place as my top team of week seven. MVP 
frontrunner quarterback Baker Mayfield guided this team with a big win 
over visiting San Francisco without his fellow pirates on board. 
Comeback wins and playing with high awareness without turning the 
ball over. Which brings me to this point: a team nobody is talking about 
is sailing under the radar and Mayfield is starting to make fans believe in 
what this season can be. Now, I worry about their defense for a myriad 
of reasons. Can they eliminate big plays with high potent offenses? A 
big test this coming Sunday in Detroit; as the Lions will roar out the 
gates on a mission. Will Mayfield keep his play afloat against a very 
good Lions defense?

2. Indianapolis Colts: 5-1 (Wk 6 ranking: 9th) 
The biggest surprise so far is Indianapolis and it's not even close. A 
team who should be 6-0 if it weren't for a bonehead mistake in Los 
Angeles versus the Rams. Big wins over Denver and Arizona, 
Indianapolis is among under the radar teams in my humble opinion. 
Head coach Shane Steichen has unleashed castaway quarterback 
Daniel Jones to lead and everyone follows. Running back Johnathan 
Taylor is among the best backs nobody talks about. Jones has found a 
coach and team which believes in his playmaking abilities. Colts 

defense is bend but don't break and can hold their own. Rookie tight 
end Tyler Warren is showing flashes of being a great player. If I had a 
vote for Coach of The Year, it's Shane Steichen. With a gauntlet of 
games on deck, can they run miles and shock the LA Chargers Sunday 
in SoFi Stadium? In a weak division, Indianapolis' chances are very high 
to win.

3. Los Ángeles Rams: 4-2 (Wk 6 ranking: 4th) 
A bounce back game versus Baltimore is what the doctor ordered for 
LA. Not the prettiest of games, you'll take a 17-3 win and move on to 
week seven. A big sigh of relief is wide receiver Puka Nacua avoided a 
serious ankle injury. It would've been a travesty and derailed any 
chances of making a playoff push. I still like this Rams defense led by 
Jared Verse and having Sean McVay calling the offensive plays is still 
reason to put this team in 3rd. Sitting in a three-way tie, LA's trip to 
Wembley Stadium to face the Jacksonville Jaguars will test the waters. 
Every game will matter in order to rise above the NFC West. 

4. Detroit Lions: 4-2 (Wk 6 ranking: 1st)
No kneecaps were bitten Sunday night, but bodies were bloodied in a 
bad loss to Kansas City. Detroit couldn't find any turf to run wild and 
made them look average. The biggest story out this: defensive back 
Brian Branch put hands on Chiefs wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster 
and found himself suspended a game. Credit, this Detroit team can be 
among the highest scoring teams; but fail to play to their standards in 
primetime games. With the NFC North becoming a battlefield, Detroit 
need to regain their mojo. A gauntlet which includes Tampa Bay, 
Minnesota, Washington, Philadelphia, New York Giants and Green Bay, 
there's very little room for error. 

5. Pittsburgh Steelers: 4-1 (Wk 6 ranking: 7th)

Whatever it takes right? Pittsburgh is staying the course of playing
Steelers football. A good two weeks off and resetting, this team is
gearing up for a tough stretch of football. Quarterback Aaron Rodgers
has been good and not crashing out on teammates in years past. The
connection with receiver DK Metcalf is heating up right on schedule. Still
some concerns as we hit late-October regarding if winning big games
could derail the season. Defensively, I know what they bring but can this
offense keep a strong pace and space between their lowly divisional
teams? With a daunting stretch of Cincinnati, Green Bay (Rodgers'
former team on Sunday Night Football), Indianapolis and LA Chargers,
Pittsburgh needs to win three of four.

6. Buffalo Bills: 4-2 (Wk 6 ranking: 6th)
Back to back losses in primetime slots, Buffalo may have peaked too
soon. Reigning MVP Josh Allen didn't play his best game; as
interceptions reared its ugly head in Atlanta Monday night. Struggling to
accumulate points, red zone turnovers were an issue. Allen has cleaned
those up in the previous seasons, but it validates Buffalo's reliance on
his playmaking abilities. Maybe it was the flight to Atlanta or crowd
noise, the Bills didn't look like the potent offense by their standards. This
defense I have plenty of concerns. Falcons running back Bijan
Robinson had himself a game as Buffalo's run defense couldn't make
any type of tackles. To win in this league, stopping the run is a must. For
Buffalo, two winnable games at Carolina and Miami. The big game
everyone is looking forward: home to Kansas City on November 2nd,
primetime slot. Could it be an AFC title game preview?

7. Seattle Seahawks: 4-2 (Wk 6 ranking: N/A)
I had a little bit of a tough time trying to rank the Seahawks for week
seven. Quarterback Sam Darnold has been very good through six
games, including a road win in Jacksonville Sunday afternoon. A bounce
back game after a high scoring affair versus Tampa Bay, this defense to

me is very good. With a strong running attack and wide receiver JSN
emerging as a top seven player, Seattle's offense will stay in games.
Now, my biggest concern is the divisional play. Tied with San Francisco
and Los Angeles, the best opportunity is to win as many games possible
and stay within reach. A very interesting stretch of games including
home to Houston on Monday Night Football, then a much needed bye
week before flying to the east coast and play Washington on Sunday
Night Football. Afterwards, back to back divisional games against
Arizona and Los Angeles, Tennessee and Minnesota.

8. San Francisco 49ers: 4-2 (Wk 6 ranking: 2nd)
After a big win over the LA Rams, San Francisco dug themselves a hole
in Tampa Bay this past Sunday. Not what Niners fans were expecting, it
was little to be desired. Quarterback Mac Jones went from super to
looper against Tampa Bay. CMC played good, but the Niners defense
suffered another devastating injury to linebacker Fred Warner. It's been
the story in 2025, as each week becomes a greater challenge. You can
replace pass rushers, but not Warner. The schedule plays into their
favor: Atlanta, Houston, New York Giants, LA Rams, a stretch which can
find them sitting cushioned in the NFC West.

9. Philadelphia Eagles: 4-2 (Wk 6 ranking: 5th)
Cry Eagles cry, on the road to misery! Yes, the defending Super Bowl
champions have fell slowly but surely in my rankings. Turmoil continues
as tension rises with Jalen Hurts, Saquon Barkley and AJ Brown. Was
there a meeting between the three players? Or a false report from
media outlets? Starting 4-0 and two bad losses including a Thursday
night embarrassing performance in MetLife, the Eagles find themselves
questioning their morale. Brown's subliminal jabs at Hurts is only getting
louder and now Devonta Smith enters the fray. The play calling is how I
like ice cream: "vanilla" and players are looking confused as to who
should dominate. For this defense... biggest issue is the secondary. It's

been troublesome and getting exposed week by week. Opposing teams
are attacking second year corners Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper
DeJean; along with Kelee Ringo. A gauntlet schedule on the horizons
with a trip to Minnesota, home to New York before the bye. Then... play
four games in a two week span including Green Bay, Detroit, Dallas and
Chicago.

10. New England Patriots: 4-2 (Wk 6 ranking: 10th)
Back to back wins for New England, as the Patriots find themselves
sitting atop of the AFC East division for the first time in six years. A good
win over New Orleans after making their stamp of approval in Buffalo,
New England is primed to get humming. Quarterback Drake Maye is
improving and building confidence in this offense called by Josh
McDaniels. Defensively, a top ten defense who'll punch you in the
mouth; taking back after head coach Mike Vrabel. With a favorable
schedule against Tennessee (Vrabel's homecoming), Cleveland, Atlanta
and Tampa Bay, the Patriots can go 2-2 and still be in a good spot.