2009 NFL Barometer: Week 7

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At the beginning of the season, who could have imagined the Broncos would head into their bye week 6-0? Give a ton of credit to Josh McDaniels for turning the franchise around in a hurry. But remember, this team had the AFC West title safely in their grasp in December last year and still found a way to miss the playoffs. 6-0 is obviously a great start, but there’s plenty of season to go.

In other news, what looked like the Game of the Year turned into a showcase for Drew Brees and the New Orleans offense. They completely had their way with a banged up Giants defense in the first half of Sunday’s game, and the Elis didn’t have a chance of keeping up. Will the good times keep rolling in New Orleans, or will the Miami Wildcats put a stop to the Saints’ great start?

On to our Week 7 Rankings …

Rank	Change	TEAM	Avg Rank	D Z	D N	B C	U H
1		Indianapolis Colts (5-0)	1.5	1	2	2	1
Last week: Bye. The best QB in the league just had a week to regroup. Look out, St. Louis.
2		New Orleans Saints (5-0)	1.5	2	1	1	2
Last week: Win 48-27 vs. NYG. They just knocked out the Barometer’s former No. 1 team, and now they’re tied for No. 1.
3		Minnesota Vikings (6-0)	3	3	3	3	3
Last week: Win 33-31 vs. BAL. Baltimore didn’t deserve to be in this game, yet Minny didn’t deserve the win in the end.
4		Denver Broncos (6-0)	4	4	4	4	4
Last week: Win 34-23 at SD. Put your feet up, Denver Broncos. You’ve earned the break.
5		New York Giants (5-1)	5.75	7	5	6	5
Last week: Loss 27-48 at NO. We thought they had depth heading into the season, but the lack of it was exposed in NO.
6		New England Patriots (4-2)	5.75	5	6	5	7
Last week: Win 59-0 vs. TEN. No, they didn’t play the Volunteeers. Next up is a football match in Wembley.
7		Atlanta Falcons (4-1)	6.75	6	8	7	6
Last week: Win 21-14 vs. CHI. Great teams win the kind of game that was on display Sunday night. Sneaky SB team?
8		Pittsburgh Steelers (4-2)	8	8	7	9	8
Last week: Win 27-14 vs. CLE. Hope you had fun with the dregs. Now you get two undefeateds (with a bye in the middle).
9		Cincinnati Bengals (4-2)	10	12	9	8	11
Last week: Loss 17-28 vs. HOU. This team knows how to win ugly … and lose ugly. Just exposed as pretenders.
10		Baltimore Ravens (3-3)	11.25	9	10	13	13
Last week: Loss 31-33 at MIN. This team really could be 5-1 — or 6-0. Don’t sleep on them in the second half.
11		Chicago Bears (3-2)	11.5	13	14	10	9
Last week: Loss 14-21 at ATL. 3-0 in non-Sunday night games. There’s one more left on the schedule (vs. Philly).
12		Philadelphia Eagles (3-2)	12	10	11	11	16
Last week: Loss 9-13 at OAK. Speaking of Philly, what on Earth was that? You can’t beat the Raiders? Really?!?
13		San Francisco 49ers (3-2)	12.75	11	13	12	15
Last week: Bye. Perfect bye timing for the 49ers. Gore is back, Crabtree is ready, embarrassing Week 5 is ancient history.
14		Arizona Cardinals (3-2)	13.25	14	12	17	10
Last week: Win 27-3 at Seattle. Went to their rival’s home stadium and laid a whooping down. NFC West a two-team race.
15		Green Bay Packers (3-2)	14.75	15	18	14	12
Last week: Win 26-0 vs. DET. Sure, they blanked the Lions. But it was at home. Does this game tell us anything about GB?
16		Dallas Cowboys (3-2)	16.5	18	15	19	14
Last week: Bye. Felix is back as a bit player. Roy is back as a No. 2 WR. Let’s see how Romo responds against a good team.
17		Houston Texans (3-3)	17.25	17	17	16	19
Last week: Win 28-17 at CIN. Great win for the Texans on the road against a 4-1 team. Squarely in the Wild Card hunt.
18		New York Jets (3-3)	17.5	19	19	15	17
Last week: Loss 16-13 vs. BUF (OT). How many QBs have thrown five INTs to a 1-4 team and went on to become successful?
19		Miami Dolphins (2-3)	17.75	16	16	18	21
Last week: Bye. New Wildcat wrinkles: Backup guard in the Ricky role, nine O-Lineman on the field at one, Henne as center?
20		Jacksonville Jaguars (3-3)	19.75	20	20	21	18
Last week: Win 23-20 vs. STL (OT). Hard-fought win at home … against the Rams. Sorry, doesn’t count.
21		San Diego Chargers (2-3)	20.5	21	21	20	20
Last week: Loss 23-34 vs. DEN. With so many great coaching candidates out there, it’s time to pack your bags, Norv.
22		Seattle Seahawks (2-4)	22.5	22	23	23	22
Last week: Loss 3-27 vs. ARI. LBs injured left and right, and Matt Hasselbeck looked terrible in this one.
23		Carolina Panthers (2-3)	22.75	24	22	22	23
Last week: Win 28-21 at TB. DeAngelo Williams and The Daily Show could combine for 1,000 yards … in this game against BUF.
24		Buffalo Bills (2-4)	23.75	23	24	24	24
Last week: Win 16-13 (OT). Signature win for the season, which tells you all you need to know about the Buffalo Bills.
25		Washington Redskins (2-4)	25.5	25	25	25	27
Last week: Loss 6-14 vs. KC. Six games against winless teams, and nothing but a 2-4 record to show. Just terrible.
26		Oakland Raiders (2-4)	26	26	26	26	26
Last week: Win 13-9 vs. PHI. I know Zach Miller caught the TD, but Louis Murphy earned this win with his blocking.
27		Kansas City Chiefs (1-5)	26.75	27	27	28	25
Last week: Win 14-6 at WAS. Wait, how are they under the Redskins? Bah, only utility-hook got this one right.
28		Detroit Lions (1-5)	27.75	28	28	27	28
Last week: Loss 0-26 at GB. Sure, they were shut out in a division game, but they’re still better than the next four teams.
29		Cleveland Browns (1-5)	29.75	30	29	29	31
Last week: Loss 14-27 at PIT. If things weren’t bad enough, the team just lost their best LB, D’Qwell Jackson.
30		Tennessee Titans (0-6)	29.75	29	31	30	29
Last week: Loss 0-59 at NE. This team has quit on the season, and it’s embarrassing for the next two that TEN is No. 30.
31		Tampa Bay Buccaneers (0-6)	30.5	31	30	31	30
Last week: Loss 21-28 vs. CAR. C’mon. Carolina is a bad team, and you have to beat bad teams at home. You just do.
32		St. Louis Rams (0-6)	32	32	32	32	32
Last week: Loss 20-23 at JAC (OT). Next chance for a W: Week 8 at DET. I’m practically on the edge of my seat for that one.