2009 NFL Week 7 Power Rankings

The 2009 NFL Week 7 Power Rankings have changed dramatically after the Saints found a way to make the Giants look very mediocre. New York is no longer the top team in our 2009 NFL Week 7 Power Rankings.
So with that in mind, here are the top 10 teams through week 6 of the 2009 NFL Regular Season.

1. New Orleans Saints-Undefeated and just fresh off a pounding of visiting New York, the Saints are no longer the Aints. Drew Brees and New Orleans deserve many kudos for their blowout win over the visiting Giants. The blowout win knocks the Giants off the pedestal they were on as the top Power Ranking NFL team in 2009. The Saints belong here and they certainly looked like the best team in the NFL this past Sunday. Can they live up to the hype? The NFC will be tough come playoff time with several teams making a bid for a Super Bowl type run but right now the Saints are at the top of the class. We could just have a rematch in the playoffs.

2. Indianapolis Colts-The Colts are undefeated after dismantling Tennessee and then resting during a much needed bye week. Indianapolis is always a contender when they have Peyton Manning on the field. Take him away and this team might not even be in the top 10 of the 2009 NFL Week 7 Power Rankings. But Peyton is there and that's something that every team in the NFL dreads when they have to suit up against the Colts. If they get homefield advantage in the AFC then look out.

3. Minnesota Vikings-Brett Favre and his magical season continues in Minnesota where the Vikings are moving up the charts of the 2009 NFL Week 7 Power Rankings. Favre is on a mission and the Vikings just always figure out a way to win when they need to. Perhaps they don't belong this high but right now they seem to be on a collission course with destiny. Or colliding with something like old age, anyway. The Defense for the Vikings is certainly legitimate and Adrian Peterson is hands down the best running back in football week in and week out. He doesn't ever seem to take a play off.

4. New York Giants-The Mighty have fallen with a loss at New Orleans. Yes, it's just one loss but the Giants offensive line didn't look so hot. The Giants defensive line never could get to Drew Brees which is a problem in itself. The Giants have some questions to answer but they will be answered, no doubt in time for the playoffs. If any team can go on the road and win in the playoffs it's definitely New York.

5. New England Patriots-Did the Patriots not prove they are for real with a lopsided blowout of Tennessee? Or are the Titans just that bad? New England is getting their act together very quickly and in position for a great run down the stretch. They might have to win at Indianapolis or Denver though to get to the Super Bowl if things continue the way they are now. The Patriots are always a top 5 NFL Power Ranking team with a healthy Tom Brady at the helm. Even if Denver is undefeated.

6. Denver Broncos-Denver fans hate me for keeping the Broncos outside of the realm of the top 5 of my Power Rankings. But it's just brutal honesty. Sure, they've whacked some of the best teams in the AFC when they beat Pittsburgh and New England at home. But I compare this team to the Tennessee Titans last season who won 13 of 16 and then lost in the playoffs. Something is just not there for the Broncos and I can't imagine they'll finish with more than 11-12 wins for the season. But that being said, that's a heck of a first year for a first year head coach and the Broncos should easily make the playoffs. The Broncos still aren't really undefeated in my mind after a very lucky miracle in Cincinnati. They've edged some great teams at Invesco and if the season ended today they might have home field advantage for the playoffs. But the season doesn't end today and the Broncos have a lot of tough tests on down the road. Tests that may prove they belong right here at number 6 in the 2009 NFL Week 7 Power Rankings.

7. Pittsburgh Steelers-If the Steelers ever get completely healthy then they'll move back up the charts of the 2009 NFL Week 7 Power Rankings. But in week 7, they're just suitable for number 7. They are the defending Super Bowl Champs but as the Broncos continue to roll we have to let Pittsburgh fall back a few notches since they lost head to head on the road to Denver. Pittsburgh is still Pittsburgh, though. Big Ben is still clutch and nobody wants to play this team in the playoffs. The AFC is shaping up to be a rock solid battle for the path to the Super Bowl and Pittsburgh is always in the mix as long as they still have this Terrible Towel team together.

8. Atlanta Falcons-It's another NFC team in the top 10 of the 2009 NFL Week 7 Power Rankings. The Falcons picked up another convincing win disposing of Chicago in the final seconds at home on Sunday. Atlanta is a tough team for anyone to battle these days and they deserve a spot on the 2009 NFL week 7 Power Rankings. Atlanta has a great young quarterback and a tough defense. They have some intangibles that make you think they might just absolutely wreck the already going to be very interesting NFC Playoffs.

9. Chicago Bears-They lost by an inch in Atlanta. But minus one goal line fumble the Bears might have been kicking the game winning field goal instead. Chicago is definitely a strong playoff possibility even without Brian Urlacher. The Bears and Jay Cutler are a great fit and they'll reap rewards as the season progresses and the timing becomes locked in for the new signal caller. The Bears are a top 5 Power Ranking team in the near future.

10. Arizona Cardinals-The Cardinals are gaining a little momentum and they should win the division fairly easily when it's all said and done. Sure, they don't seem to have the magic of one year ago yet. But don't count out the arm of Kurt Warner when he gets hot. The Cardinals may just be 3-2 now but in the playoffs everyone enters with the exact same record.

That's it for my 2009 NFL Week 7 Power Rankings. We'll be back with more changes and rankings in week 8 of the 2009 NFL season.