Week 7 Power Rankings
Week six restored a sense of normalcy across the league. The favorites won all but one game and there were only five games decided by one score or less.
Of course, we’d rather watch 10-point underdogs pull up improbable upsets in last-second fashion, but for the sake of writing the power rankings, this week was much-needed in order to understand which teams are real, which are fake, and which are downright terrible.
For this week seven edition of the ATA power rankings, I decided to highlight something that every team’s fanbase is complaining about. So, if you were in a good mood before reading this article, hopefully you’re in a complaining mood when it’s all set and done.
Let’s jump into it.
32. New England Patriots (down 1)
Record: 1-5
What Their Fanbase Is Complaining About: An Unwatchable Offense
From a resident Patriots fan: “The Patriots only have three 35+ yard touchdowns in the last five seasons. One from Cam Newton, one from Mac Jones, and now one from Drake Maye. We have no deep passing and it’s torturous to watch.” Personally, I can’t tell if the Patriots offense makes me more infuriated or sleepy. Either way, I’d rather do my homework than watch the Patriots offense which doesn’t feel right.
31. Carolina Panthers (up 1)
Record: 1-5
What Their Fanbase Is Complaining About: Owner David Tepper
It’s impossible to win in any league with an owner like Tepper at the helm. His “trust me” sales pitch to his fans has not worked out from hiring and firing Frank Reich in the same season, trading the entirety of Rome to draft Bryce Young, and consistently dirtying his reputation in press conferences with absolutely blasphemous statements.
30. Cleveland Browns (no change)
Record: 1-5
What Their Fanbase Is Complaining About: QB Deshaun Watson
I’m sick of Deshaun Watson, so I can’t imagine how Browns fans are feeling about paying $60M to the worst starting quarterback in the league with an organization that refuses to bench him for their own pride. Watson is last in QBR this season, 27th in completion percentage, 30th in yards per game, and has only thrown five touchdowns in six games.
29. Jacksonville Jaguars (down 2)
Record: 1-5
What Their Fanbase Is Complaining About: HC Doug Pederson
Mark my words: If the Jaguars lose to the Patriots this week, Shad Khan is firing Doug Pederson faster than you can say "DUUUVAL.” Whether or not they’ll leave him behind in London is beyond me, but what I do know is that their bench looks miserable during every game, Trevor Lawrence appeared timid on every snap, and Pederson sounded absolutely hopeless in his halftime interview against the Bears.
28. Las Vegas Raiders (no change)
Record: 2-4
What Their Fanbase Is Complaining About: Everything on Offense
The Raiders’ quarterback situation might be the worst in the entire league outside of what the Browns have going on in Cleveland. Both Gardner Minshew and Aidan O’Connell could pass as minimum-wage landscapers but neither can pass a football. Vegas has scored just 15.5 PPG in their last two games, their running game is one of the worst, and Antonio Pierce seems like a deer in highlights on offense. Oh, and they just traded the best receiver of the last decade to the Jets for a draft pick.
27. Tennessee Titans (up 2)
Record: 1-4
What Their Fanbase Is Complaining About: QB Will Levis
Will Levis is a lot of things. He is a walking, flailing meme, he is the grim reaper for ball boys, he is seemingly a crybaby, and he is part of one of the most awkward mayonnaise ads I’ve ever seen. What Levis isn’t is a starting NFL quarterback. He’s 0-4 this year and passed for 95 yards against a weak secondary the other day. He’s managing terrible production with a solid receiver core too. The Titans boast Calvin Ridley, DeAndre Hopkins, Tyler Boyd, and Treylon Burks at wideout.
26. Miami Dolphins (no change)
Record: 2-3
What Their Fanbase Is Complaining About: HC Mike McDaniel Not Stepping Up
Mike McDaniel’s aura has officially worn off. Once the dry-humored football genius who coached a dynamic offense, McDaniel has lost his mystique and has me questioning if he’ll be on the hot seat by the end of the season. He has been unable to replicate Tua Tagovailoa’s success with any other quarterback and at the moment, the Dolphins are last in points per game this year at 12.0.
25. New Orleans Saints (down 5)
Record: 2-4
What Their Fanbase Is Complaining About: False Hope From Weeks 1-2 and HC Dennis Allen
No fanbase was more miserable last season than New Orleans’ who are stuck in neutral, although the operation looks to be headed in reverse after giving up 51 points in their fourth straight loss. Bewildered fans are wondering how on earth Dennis Allen and Derek Carr managed to cook up the 2-0 start that they did, outscoring their opponents 91-29. Who Dat nation feels they were led on only to be painfully dumped.
24. Los Angeles Rams (no change)
Record: 1-4
What Their Fanbase Is Complaining About: Most Injuries in the League
Headed into the season, the Rams were a fun dark horse to win it all. Matthew Stafford is somehow ascending, and both their offense and defense were very talented. However, their season’s outlook has taken a 180° since week one when they lost virtually their entire offense due to injury. “What if?” has turned into “What could have been?” after just six weeks for Rams fans.
23. Arizona Cardinals (down 1)
Record: 2-4
What Their Fanbase Is Complaining About: Inconsistency and Defense
It’s not hard to see that at their best, the Cardinals have a special offensive unit. When Kyler Murray, James Conner, and Marvin Harrison have been at their best, the Cards are good for 30 points per game, but Harrison has disappeared for long stretches and Arizona has struggled to get off to fast starts—they’ve given up 21 PPG in the first half in their last four games. The only game they won was when they shut out San Francisco in the second half.
22. New York Giants (up 1)
Record: 2-4
What Their Fanbase Is Complaining About: QB Daniel Jones
Jones creates up a slight buzz around the league every once in a while—“Is Danny Dimes a top-20 QB?,” or “Should the Giants feel good about Jones’ contract?” The answers to those questions are often yes until he lets you down in the worst way possible. After good performances in wins against Cleveland and Seattle, Jones has followed up with disastrous performances in primetime against Dallas and Cincinnati where he hasn’t thrown a TD and the Giants have scored 11 PPG.
21. Indianapolis Colts (up 4)
Record: 3-3
What Their Fanbase Is Complaining About: Taking No Steps From Last Year
The Colts had a chance to take off from a surprising 9-8 season with Anthony Richardson re-instated as the starting QB and a developing young core, but they have stalled and are frankly lucky to be 3-3. Richardson isn’t even playing, neither is Jonathan Taylor, and their secondary has looked awful. Their O-Line which was so instrumental in the Colts’ success last season has struggled too.
20. Denver Broncos (down 4)
Record: 3-3
What Their Fanbase Is Complaining About: Offensive Ups and Downs
At times, Bo Nix looks like Denver’s franchise guy and at other times, he makes me want to turn off NFL RedZone as I watch his scramble for his life down two scores as the sun sets on Mile High Stadium. The Broncos looked flawless while scoring 34 points against Las Vegas in week five, but in weeks four and six barely managed any offense.
19. Dallas Cowboys (down 5)
Record: 3-3
What Their Fanbase Is Complaining About: Literally Everything
While Denver fans are rejoicing over being 3-3, Dallas fans might as well jump off the Reunion Tower together given how they’re treating their team’s 38-point schlacking from Detroit. Jerry’s 82nd birthday was the only thing more miserable than hanging out with a Cowboys fan which frankly should count as a paid therapy session considering the unprecedented level of hate that Cowboys fans have for this team.
18. New York Jets (up 1)
Record: 2-4
What Their Fanbase Is Complaining About: Being the Same Old Jets
Every year, Jets fans get on the same rollercoaster and for some reason assume that the same nuts and bolts that unscrew the ride from the rollercoaster every year will somehow fix themselves. It turns out Aaron Rodgers isn’t even a good enough engineer to fix the ride because the same old bad offensive line, stupid penalties, and ugly primetime losses are plaguing the Jets yet again.
17. Cincinnati Bengals (up 4)
Record: 2-4
What Their Fanbase Is Complaining About: Their Defense
Prior to last Monday Night, the Bengals had the widest discrepancy between offensive and defensive production. Their offense had averaged 28 PPG and their defense had allowed 29 PPG. If Joe Burrow had a half-decent defense to work with, the Bengals would be contenders, but instead, they are wasting away his prime while sitting at 2-4.
16. Seattle Seahawks (down 3)
Record: 3-3
What Their Fanbase Is Complaining About: Their Offensive Line and Turnovers
Geno Smith is running for his life behind one of the worst offensive lines in football which has led to very sloppy play on offense and Seattle has lost three straight as a result. In the losing streak, Smith is averaging a pick per game on a whopping 49.3 attempts per game. Their opponents averaged just 26.7 attempts in those games.
15. Philadelphia Eagles (up 3)
Record: 3-2
What Their Fanbase Is Complaining About: HC Nick Sirianni
It doesn’t take much to get on an Eagles fan’s bad side and Nick Sirianni yelling “I CAN’T HEAR YOU!!!” after being booed all game is certainly cause enough to infuriate the Philly faithful who are already sick of Sirianni’s antics and poor execution. While they’re happy to move to 3-2, a fan with any sense would tell Sirianni, “Relax buddy. It’s the Browns.”
14. Los Angeles Chargers (up 3)
Record: 3-2
What Their Fanbase Is Complaining About: QB Justin Herbert Refusing to Breakout
How much longer can Chargers fans continue to defend Herbert as one of the best quarterbacks in the league? “It goes beyond counting stats!” say the pundits, but when it took him six weeks to clear 180 yards, I have a tough time saying the former Offensive Rookie of the Year is an elite QB. I live with a Chargers fan and even he is tired of Herbert’s lack of ability to take over a game like the big five QBs in the AFC consistently prove they can.
13. Pittsburgh Steelers (up 2)
Record: 4-2
What Their Fanbase Is Complaining About: Continued Quarterback Mediocrity
Since midway through the 2020-2021 season, the Steelers have had low to mid-level QB play and fans are starting to get sick of it. If they had somebody behind center who actually elevated the players around him as opposed to barely getting by, the Steelers could be perennial Super Bowl contenders with Mike Tomlin as their head coach, a great defense, and decent skill position players.
12. Atlanta Falcons (down 2)
Record: 4-2
What Their Fanbase Is Complaining About: Non-Existent Pass Rush
Matthew Judon seemed like the final piece of the puzzle when the Falcons acquired him in late July from New England, but their front line has subceeded expectations. Atlanta is averaging the fewest sacks per game at just 0.8 which has allowed several quarterbacks to put up above average performances by their standards such as Justin Hurts, Derek Carr, and Baker Mayfield.
11. Chicago Bears (no change)
Record: 4-2
What Their Fanbase Is Complaining About: Their Offensive Line
To be honest, Bears fans aren’t complaining about much right now because they finally have a quarterback who is better than Jay Cutler. However, once they face a real defense, their complaints of a bad offensive line will resurface. In the first three weeks of the season, Caleb Williams was awful because he had no time to throw and allowed 13 sacks including seven against Houston.
10. San Francisco 49ers (up 2)
Record: 3-3
What Their Fanbase Is Complaining About: Not Being Healthy
I’m sick and tired of 49ers fans whining about being without Christian McCaffrey. We’ve all got problems. However, he is a huge loss. As are Talanoa Hufanga, Dre Greenlaw, and Javon Hargrave, who are all still listed as out or on injured reserve. If the Niners get any of these guys back, they can rise back up to their usual level of contention.
9. Buffalo Bills (down 1)
Record: 4-2
What Their Fanbase Is Complaining About: Their Defense
After acquiring Amari Cooper and watching Ray Davis on Monday Night, the Bills’ offense has no more excuses. But Bills fans are still skeptical about a defense whose leading snap-getter was dead on the field two years ago. Almost every opponent’s starting runningback has had one of their best games against the Bills. Derrick Henry and Breece Hall went off, and Travis Etienne and DeVon Achane both had good games. Buffalo is last in the NFL in opponent yards per carry (5.3).
8. Washington Commanders (down 3)
Record: 4-2
What Their Fanbase Is Complaining About: CB Benjamin St. Juste and the Whole Secondary
Specifically St. Juste because he got cooked by Zay Flowers (perfectly acceptable) and Rashod Bateman (who I know to be frustratingly average) against the Ravens. The entire Washington secondary is hanging on by a thread and on any given day is capable of no-shows resembling their games against Tampa Bay and Cincinnati, where their QBs posted passer ratings of 146.9 and 127.5, respectively.
7. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (no change)
Record: 4-2
What Their Fanbase Is Complaining About: Defensive Inconsistencies
Todd Bowles is supposed to be a defensive whisperer, but at times this season, that has not appeared to be the case. Kirk Cousins passed for 509 yards on the Bucs and Spencer Rattler looked very comfortable last week, but at other times, Jared Goff and Jalen Hurts have been put in the torture chamber by this Bucs D. If Tampa wants to contend for a Super Bowl, they need to tighten up on that side of the football.
6. Green Bay Packers (up 3)
Record: 4-2
What Their Fanbase Is Complaining About: DC Jeff Hafley
Like their NFC Rival, the Bears, Packers fans are pretty high on life right about now, but Hafley is who they’ll be complaining about after C.J. Stroud gives them the work this week. After Joe Berry tortured fans with his mindless schemes last year, Hafley was brought in to clean up the mess. But Hafley has a terrible resume, and the defense has folded against the two playoff teams they’ve faced (I excluded the Rams because they have been absolutely bludgeoned by injuries).
5. Houston Texans (up 1)
Record: 5-1
What Their Fanbase Is Complaining About: Nico Collins’ Injury
Houston truly has something special brewing here with C.J. Stroud leading a stacked receiving core. Collins’ injury prevents him and Stroud from piecing together one of the best single-season quarterback-to-receiver connections we’ve ever seen which is what they were on pace for. Through four games, Collins had 30 catches for 489 yards and two touchdowns.
4. Minnesota Vikings (down 2)
Record: 5-0
What Their Fanbase Is Complaining About: Lack of Respect for Sam Darnold
The general perception around Darnold is that he will soon go Pumpkin Mode and the Vikings offense will fall apart. Vikings fans would like to inform the rest of the league that Darnold’s play is sustainable thanks to Kevin O’Connell’s offensive system that has led Minnesota to a 5-0 record to this point.
3. Detroit Lions (up 1)
Record: 4-1
What Their Fanbase Is Complaining About: Aidan Hutchinson’s Injury
Detroit looked like they had the perfect roster after three quarters against the Cowboys until Aidan Hutchinson’s leg audibly snapped in a gruesome, likely season-ending injury. Lions fans—who have been tortured for decades—are pleading, “Why us?” Detroit now has a huge hole in their roster, making their championship path more difficult. Maxx Crosby, I hope you’re reading this.
2. Baltimore Ravens (up 1)
Record: 4-2
What Their Fanbase Is Complaining About: Fourth Quarter Choke Jobs
This fanbase is 100% behind their players aside from Marlon Humphrey’s antics. If there’s anything that ticks them off, it’s John Harbaugh’s tendency to not make any play-calling adjustments when the Ravens are in the midst of their patented 4th quarter chokes. They have the most blown 10+ point leads since the start of last season and would appreciate a few stress-free wins every now and then.
1. Kansas City Chiefs (no change)
Record: 5-0
What Their Fanbase Is Complaining About: People Blaming Refs for Their Wins
As long as the referees make one questionable call, fans who are envious of the Chiefs for their endless dominance over the league will blame the league for rigging games for KC to win. All Chiefs fans want is for people to call it how it is. The Chiefs are currently the best team in the league and don’t need the refs to win.
