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NFL Power Rankings Week 7 - Final Edition

Schadenfreude - A malicious delight in other peoples' misfortunes.

Here's a look at the various power rankings out there heading into week 7. Special guest this week: The Atlanta Falcons.

I've beefed up the computer/statistically based rankings: Whatifsports and Covers.com — though I’m not 100% sure about this one - are now joined by FootballOutsiders, the Sagarin Ratings and AdvancedNFLstats.

Star-divide

[Update] Top spot this week (and the main reason they're included here in the first place) goes to AdvancedNFLstats.com who keep us unchanged at No. 7. Their ranking model includes offensive and defensive passing and running efficiency, offensive turnover rates, defensive interception rates, and team penalty rates.

The NationalFootballPost.com ranks us 11th (+3). "The Cowboys get back to work and we get to see if Miles Austin can continue his big-game production."

FootballOutsiders.com rank us 12th (-1), with the offense at No. 4, defense at No. 25 and Special Teams at No. 17. Of note, while they drop the Giants, they keep the Eagles at No. 2 behind the Saints.

Pete Prisco at CBSSports.com ranks us 12th (+4)."They come off the bye with a lot of questions. Who's the main pass catcher? Will the secondary play better? How about Tony Romo?"

[Update] ColdHardFootballFacts.com see us in 13th (+2)."Owner Jerry Jones spent the week off trying to punt the ball into the Jumbotron, failing, then muttering "Raise it, my ass" to himself. On another note, the Cowboys average an awesome 5.92 YPA on the ground this year, which puts them on pace to become the greatest running team in NFL history. The current record is held by the Jim Brown-led 1963 Browns (5.74 YPA). They failed to reach the postseason."

SportingNews.com have us at 13th (+3). "They must've enjoyed their bye week, watching Giants, Eagles and Redskins all lose." Indeed!

WhatIfSports has us climbing to 13th (+4). This weeks hot potato are the Eagles who drop 9 spots (and the Bengals who drop 10 - but who cares?)

Michael Silver at Yahoo Sports moves us up to 14th (+2). "Is it just me, or was the most offensive thing about that Tony Romo/Jessica Simpson-themed Burger King commercial how stupendously unfunny it was?"

ProFootballWeekly rank us unchanged at 15th. "Offense won't have any excuses with Williams, Jones due back."

Mike Florio at ProFootballTalk.com sees us in 15th (+1). "The official Week Six rallying cry of the NFC East was, "If you ain't playin', you ain't losin'."

[Update] Our very own SBNation ranking has us in 15th (+2). "Sometimes the bye is good to you..."

[Update] Don Banks at SI.com keeps us in 16th."How 'bout them Cowboys, gaining on every other NFC East team last week without ever getting off the couch? It might have been the best Sunday Dallas will have all season. I actually like Wade Phillips' club this week at home against the Falcons, but I'm not exactly sure the rationale for my optimism. And it's good that we finally get to see what a day game looks like in the new Cowboys Stadium. Any of those famed Texas Stadium shadows in the offing?"

Fox Sports move us to 16th (+1). "RPI UPDATE: Pretty clear why the 'Boys are in the middle of the rankings: 3-0 vs. teams with losing records, 0-2 vs. teams with winning records. LOOKING AHEAD: Dallas must make a run with four of their next six at home, because they finish with a rough final five games highlighted by road games against the Giants (Week 13) and Saints (Week 15), before another season finale vs. Philly." Biggest loser in their ratings: The Eagles, who drop 9 spots.

NFL.com's Brain Trust of Experts rank us 16th (+2).

Zac Wassink at AssociatedContent drops us to 17th (-2). "Statement game coming up for the Cowboys as they face the Falcons."

[Update] Covers.com drop us to 18th (-2)."The Cowboys had the week off following that near disaster against the Chiefs and host the hot Falcons. The best news was that all three division foes lost in Week 6." Redskins crack the 30's, Eagles crack the 20's.

Jeff Sagarin's NFL rankings place us in 19th (-3), but two spots ahead of the Eagles.

ESPN drops us to 19th (-2). "The Cowboys had a quiet bye week to reflect upon where they are as a team. (Clayton)"

Weii.com keep us in 20th: "The Cowboys might see a light at the end of the tunnel with the Giants, Eagles and Redskins all losing in Week 6, but I certainly do not. The Cowboys’ mediocre defense will face the Falcons’ Matt Ryan, Michael Turner and Tony Gonzalez next."

Walter Football drop us to 22nd (-1). No comments provided, but they rank us behind all other teams with a .500 or better record, and behind three teams with losing records (MIA, SD, SEA).

Here's how the NFC East - and our next opponent, the Falcons - fared:


Dal_medium
Phi_medium
Nyg_medium
Was_medium
Atl_medium

  This Week
Last Week This Week Last Week This Week
Last Week This Week
Last Week This Week
Advancednflstats
7 7 11 5 4 3 25 22 13
NFP
11 14 12 6 5 1 28 24 7
FootballOutsiders
12
11 2
2 5
3 22
19 10
CBSsports
12
16 10
7 6
1 27
24 5
CHFF 13
15 12
6 5
1 23
21 8
SportingNews 13 16 14 6 5 1 29 27 7
Whatifsports
13 17 14 5 7 2 27 27 10
Yahoosports 14 16 12 3 6 2 27 24 5
ProFootballWeekly
15 15 9 6 5 1 25 24 11
ProFootballTalk
15 16 11 10 4 1 27 24 8
SBNation
15 17 13 6 5 2 28 24 7
SI.com 16
16 9
7 5
2 26
24 7
Foxsports 16 17 13 4 5 1 29 25 7
NFL.com
16 18 9 6 5 1 29 25 6
Assoc. Content
17 15 12 11 5 2 29 23 7
Covers.com 18
16 20
13 7
5 30
26
6
Sagarin Ratings
19 16 21 12 11 6 30 26 4
ESPN 19 17 12 7 5 2 27 24 7
Weii.com
20 20 16 8 5 3 26 25 7
Walter Football
22 21 17 13 3 1 29 26 8
Average 15.2 15.8 12.5
7.2 5.4 2.1 27.2
24.2 7.5

For a summary of all NFL teams using some of the same rankings, go to NFLpowerranks.com

Another user-created commentary provided by a BTB reader.

2 recs  |  Comment 36 comments

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Comments

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We weren't...

Who we thought we were. SO WE LET EM OFF THE HOOK!

"With the game on the line. I want the ball in my hands."
-E

by tito (eight and oh) on Oct 20, 2009 2:31 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Eagles – The Raiders?!? The Oakland Raiders?!? Really???
Giants – The Saints are obviously a great offense, but… Ew. The defense looked like they had their feet in cement.
Cowboys – Not much to be happy about with their 3 wins (all were very unconvincing efforts against horrific teams), and the 2 losses were ugly.

And last but not least…

Redskins – GOD AWFUL.

Still, the Giants are 5-1, and the Eagles and Cowboys are both 3-2, but every single team in this division isn’t playing as well I as thought they would before the season began.

by Bye, Dawk :( on Oct 20, 2009 2:49 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

We're certianly not meeting expectations...

But I think that just means we’ll all be poised for big second halfs. I mean do you really see San Fran or Seattle taking a Wild Card spot from someone (other than Washington) in the BEAST, I refuse accept that.

"With the game on the line. I want the ball in my hands."
-E

by tito (eight and oh) on Oct 20, 2009 2:52 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Well right now, Atlanta is better than Dallas and Philly, and Green Bay and Chicago are right there too.

Thank God the Phillies are the best team on the planet.

by Bye, Dawk :( on Oct 20, 2009 3:13 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

and BTW, Cowboys are 3 pt favorites to beat them

so they can’t be considered that much better.

In Romo we Trust

by Terry on Oct 20, 2009 3:27 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Really?

Awesome. I’ll be banging that line hard on Sunday.

by Bye, Dawk :( on Oct 21, 2009 11:03 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Oh I agree with that...

Which is why I pretty much gave them a Wild Card spot. Leaving the other one to whoever plays best out of SF, GB, CHI, PHI, and DAL (assuming the Giants win the division, which is in no way a given). Right now I think SF has looked the best, I’m just saying I don’t think they will last.

And I’m pullin’ for the Phillies hard man, I can’t stand the Yankees. So best of luck in taking down the 140 Million Dollar Men.

"With the game on the line. I want the ball in my hands."
-E

by tito (eight and oh) on Oct 20, 2009 3:32 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

I think it’s well over 200 mil.

by Bye, Dawk :( on Oct 21, 2009 11:04 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

our two losses weren't ugly

they were self inflicted, if we can stop beating ourselves, we’ll be okay.

In Romo we Trust

by Terry on Oct 20, 2009 3:21 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Way off on the Cowboys as usual Bye Dawk
Not much to be happy about with their 3 wins (all were very unconvincing efforts against horrific teams

I’ll give you the Chefs win wasn’t convincing, but we won on the road against a AFC west opponent, unlike someone’s favorite team.
The other 2 wins were pretty convincing, and the 2 losses were against good teams that they should have beaten.

The stinkbomb that the Iggles pulled off out in OAK was almost as funny as WAS losing to DET. Maybe more, since the Iggles have been overrated all season.

3-2 headed for the bye week.

by APerfectStar on Oct 21, 2009 12:18 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

I’ve seen all 5 Dallas games this year. Are you trying to say you’re pleased with the way they’ve played so far this year? If so, you must have had some really low expectations.

I know I’m certainly not pleased with my Eagles.

It’s time to get real, brother.

by Bye, Dawk :( on Oct 21, 2009 11:01 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Pleased? Nope
Seen reasons for optimism? Some for sure
Seen reasons for cynicism? Seen those too

If I had a nickel for every Super Bowl the Eagles have won, I would have zero nickels.

by Cowboyfan729 on Oct 21, 2009 11:44 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Right. Didn’t mean to get into a whole thing here – Was just saying that every single NFC East team thus far has under-achieved so far.

by Bye, Dawk :( on Oct 21, 2009 11:57 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

except for the Redskins - I'm actually surprised that they won some games :)

Winning takes talent, to repeat takes character. - John Wooden

by BishopWest on Oct 21, 2009 12:02 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

NFC Least

You may not have noticed this, but through week six our whole division has managed only one win against a quality opponent (better than .500 record through wk 6). Ironically, that was an intradivision game (NYG vs DAL).

The division in total is 1-5 vs. quality opponents. The Broncos on the other hand are 3-0.

Even if the the Giants (vs. Cardinals ) and Redskins (vs. Eagles) were to win this weekend, our divisional record against quality opponents won’t change, as firstly, the Cards and Eagles would both drop to 3-3 and secondly, none of the teams we’ve beaten as a division so far can improve to above .500 this weekend.

But rest at ease, the Cowboys will get a win against the Falcons, so the divisional record will improve to 2-5.

by One.Cool.Customer on Oct 22, 2009 7:19 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Can we put the Redskins into the conversation as the worst team in the league?

Talent-wise, I think they’re better than teams like the Browns and Rams, but the Redskins’ front office is making them worse on a daily basis. The owner hires a guy (Sherman Lewis) as a “consultant” a couple weeks ago, strip the the head coach of his play-calling duties, and hands them over to said consultant the week of a matchup against a division rival, who by the way, has a great defense and blitzes the hell out of teams when they smell blood? (Clapping) I love making fun of Jerry Jones for his questionable moves, but Snyder has him beat by a longshot. Hope you stay in DC forever Mr. Snyder.

by Bye, Dawk :( on Oct 22, 2009 9:49 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

I think so

In Romo we Trust

by Terry on Oct 22, 2009 10:55 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

+1

The Knights season may have just ended, but the Cowboys year is just begining!

by aussie_cowboy on Oct 23, 2009 2:36 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Strangely enough - the Skins have the 5th highest rated defense in the league?!?

Which lets you know that it takes more than a good defense to win ball games.

Winning takes talent, to repeat takes character. - John Wooden

by BishopWest on Oct 22, 2009 8:42 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

If you can't pass the ball in this league

you simply can’t win, it’s that simple. This is not your father’s NFL anymore where a great defense and running game can take you deep into the playoffs.

In Romo we Trust

by Terry on Oct 23, 2009 9:49 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

The Giants did it.

by Bye, Dawk :( on Oct 23, 2009 1:55 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

no they didn't

Eli made a lot of big plays in the passing game during that playoff run, don’t kid yourself.

How did the GMen score the game winning TD in the SB?? It wasn’t their running game, it was Manning hitting Tyree and Burress.

And wasn’t Eli the MVP in that game??

In Romo we Trust

by Terry on Oct 23, 2009 2:11 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Stop it… We both know the Giants won with defense and the run game.

by Bye, Dawk :( on Oct 24, 2009 9:59 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

I'm still busy wiping the egg off my face

By same insane reasoning I actually had them down as a contender for a wildcard this year. Man, am I clueless.

by One.Cool.Customer on Oct 23, 2009 2:24 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Broncos = last years titans

and why does everybody constantly overrate the chargers

Texas Stadium has a hole in the roof so God can watch his favorite team play football.

by iCowboy on Oct 20, 2009 6:04 PM CDT via mobile reply actions   0 recs

Chargers

Well..I’m in SD and so I see all the games and hear all the analysis I can stand (yes I am a hater..tired of hearing how good they “could be”. They seem to be a product of their 13-3 season a few years back…at that point they had a dominant tight end, RB, defense, and an emerging QB. What holds true now is they have a great QB (yes if you haven’t seen it…Phillip Rivers is certainly the real deal) and an emerging set of receivers in Vincent Jackson, Na Nee (sp?), and Malcom Floyd. But.. really..

 Their O-Line is horrendous. They have an absolutely Non-existent running game. They get little to no pressure on the D-Line (They really miss Pro-bowl NT Jamall Williams). Their Secondary gets toasted over and over again and they can’t stop the run.

  So, when they get behind Rivers has a good opportunity to keep them in the game or mount a good comeback. This is why they have been a great 4th quarter team and a miserable first half team. But, their supposed “great talent” is aging/fading quickly. Gates, LT, Louis Castillo, Merriman (yes I said it, watch the film), Chambers etc. have all sort of lost a bit of their big play ability and it really shows in their games. They also have a bit of Cowboy-itous seeing as they seem to play up for big games (other than the steelers) and down to lesser teams (Raiders)

Wade Phillips has never won a playoff game as a head coach..he has lost 4 home playoff games.
His longest tenure as head coach was 3 years.
Only once did his record as a HC improve from one year to the next (by 1 game)

Wade Phillips for DC

by SDTrueblue on Oct 20, 2009 8:21 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Thanks again..

Thanks OCC. This amount of effort isn’t often seen in Fanposts and it’s always a highlight of the week on here. Much appreciated sir.

Wade Phillips has never won a playoff game as a head coach..he has lost 4 home playoff games.
His longest tenure as head coach was 3 years.
Only once did his record as a HC improve from one year to the next (by 1 game)

Wade Phillips for DC

by SDTrueblue on Oct 20, 2009 8:22 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

+1

Much appreciated.

3-2 headed for the bye week.

by APerfectStar on Oct 21, 2009 12:18 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Thank you both

I started this whole effort to see the slow and steady climb of the Boys to the top. Man, have I been disappointed so far.

But what really freaks me out is that after every game we’ve played so far this season, our average rank dropped a little. Then comes the bye week, we don’t play, and our average rank finally turns upwards. Go figure.

by One.Cool.Customer on Oct 21, 2009 10:19 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Football Outsiders consistently overvalues the Eagles

Their DVOA system LOVES the Eagles every year, disproportionately so compared to other teams. I don’t get it. Seems to be one of the wrinkles they still need to work out.

Larry Allen benched 700 pounds. That is Leonard Davis times two.

by Tim Wilson on Oct 21, 2009 1:38 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

DVOA Isn't a Good Measure

Of much of anything, to be blunt.

And the poor use of statistics would make someone familiar with that subject gag.

by kindablue on Oct 23, 2009 4:58 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

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