NFL Power Rankings Week 7: AFC Domination
By Evan Chronis | October 20, 2020 | Super Bowl
Six weeks into the season and it looks like the AFC might become a slugfest.
While several of the preseason’s top NFC teams have tried to find their footing early in the season, the AFC teams have had no problem with lofty expectations.
This week’s Power Rankings see the Pittsburgh Steelers make a big jump after an emphatic win over Cleveland as well as the Tennessee Titans joining the top five for the first time this season.
Here are the official Power Rankings for Week 7 of the 2020-21 NFL season.
WEEK 7 POWER RANKINGS
1. SEATTLE SEAHAWKS (5-0)
LAST WEEK RANKING: 1
WEEK 7: @ ARIZONA CARDINALS (4-2)
A Bye Week gives the Seahawks a chance to catch their breath and rest up following an undefeated start to the season.
The off week comes at a good time, as the Seahawks face their toughest stretch of the season over the next month. Over the next five weeks, Seattle will face the Cardinals twice, the Buffalo Bills, Los Angeles Rams and San Francisco 49ers.
2. KANSAS CITY CHIEFS (5-1)
LAST WEEK RANKING: 3
WEEK 7: @ DENVER BRONCOS (2-3)
The Kansas City rushing attack has just as much potential as their passing game.
The Chiefs combined for 245 total rushing yards in their 26-17 win over the Buffalo Bills on Monday night, spearheaded by 161 yards on 26 carries from Clyde Edwards-Helaire.
Patrick Mahomes was still Patrick Mahomes, throwing for 225 yards and two touchdowns on 21-for-26 passing, but the story was the Chiefs proving that they can win tough games on the ground.
On the defensive side of the ball, Kansas City stifled Josh Allen, holding the strong-armed quarterback to just 122 passing yards and picking him off on Buffalo’s final possession of the game.
3. PITTSBURGH STEELERS (5-0)
LAST WEEK RANKING: 5
WEEK 7: @ TENNESSEE TITANS (5-0)
The Steelers stopped the Cleveland Browns hype train right in its tracks in Week 6 while also adding fuel to their own.
Pittsburgh decimated the Browns on Sunday, 38-7, behind three rushing touchdowns and a pick-six by Minkah Fitzpatrick.
The Pittsburgh rushing attack was captained by James Conner, who led all rushers in the game with 101 yards and one touchdown. Chase Claypool continued his meteoric rise to fame, going for 74 yards on four receptions and scoring on a rushing play for the second straight week.
After a season of uncertainty without Big Ben last year, the Steelers have reemerged as a true contender in the AFC.
4. BALTIMORE RAVENS (5-1)
LAST WEEK RANKING: 4
WEEK 7: BYE WEEK
The best teams know how to survive, especially when the stakes are heightened in the postseason.
Baltimore got a taste of that on Sunday, surviving a fourth quarter comeback from the Eagles to sneak out a 30-28 win.
The Ravens led 30-14 with seven minutes left in the fourth quarter, but two straight Philadelphia touchdown drives gave the Eagles a chance to tie the game with a two-point conversion with less than two minutes to play. The Ravens stopped the conversion attempt, leading to a big exhale and another W in the win column after almost sacrificing their lead.
Baltimore has a tough road ahead, including two games against Pittsburgh and a matchup with the Titans before we hit December.
5. TENNESSEE TITANS (5-0)
LAST WEEK RANKING: NR
WEEK 7: VS PITTSBURGH STEELERS (5-0)
The Titans have made it impossible to ignore them any longer.
Tennessee produced an offensive explosion in their 42-36 overtime win over Houston with 364 passing yards from Ryan Tannehill and 212 rushing yards from Derrick Henry. The duo scored all six of Tennessee’s touchdowns in the win as the Titans accumulated 601 yards of total offense.
Even with second highest scoring offense in the league (32.8 ppg), the Titans defense has yet to prove consistent. They have allowed at least 30 points in three of their first five games and allowed 412 yards to what had been a fledgling Houston offense.
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