NFL Rankings: Handshakes All Around

After 60 minutes of well-played football, all anyone remembers from the Lions-49ers battle was the post-game handshake. Getting a road victory against a 5-0 team was enough to vault the 49ers into our top three, while the Lions see themselves fall to fifth in our rankings. Maybe if coach Jim Schwartz had thrown a punch once he caught up with coach John Harbaugh, we would have ranked them higher. Meanwhile, the Packers are holding strong at the top of the list, while the Dolphins are certainly doing enough to remain the No. 1 choice for the No. 1 pick. How does everyone else shake out?

Rank	Previous	Team	Record	Week 6	Week 7
1	1	Green Bay Packers	6-0	W, STL 24-3	at MIN
The Packers just keep rolling, winning this week despite not bothering to come out the locker rooms for the second half.
2	4	Baltimore Ravens	4-1	W, HOU 29-14	at JAC
The Texans are less imposing with their injuries, but the Ravens still scored a dominant win. This defense don’t play.
3	8	San Francisco 49ers	5-1	W, DET 25-19	Bye
Huge win for a San Francisco team that is very much “for real.” I’d shake Jim Harbaugh’s hand, but, you know …
4	5	New England Patriots	5-1	W, DAL 20-16	Bye
They stopped scoring points for one week, but still managed a fourth-quarter comeback, which was all Romo’s fault.
5	2	Detroit Lions	5-1	L, SF 19-25	vs. ATL
The Lions have finally been punched in the mouth (or slapped on the back), and now it’s time to respond against Atlanta.
6	6	San Diego Chargers	4-1	Bye	at NYJ
The Chargers follow up a week off with a tough road game — will Antonio Gates return in time to help his team win?
7	3	New Orleans Saints	4-2	L, TB 20-26	vs. IND
The injury to Sean Payton surely cost this team a win in Week 6, which is something you don’t get to read often.
8	10	Pittsburgh Steelers	4-2	W, JAC 17-13	at ARI
The Steelers have quietly emerged as one of the power teams in the AFC once again thanks to Max Starks and the line.
9	7	Buffalo Bills	4-2	L, NYG 24-27	Bye
Ryan Fitzpatrick threw away a game that would have kept Buffalo rolling into a bye. Now they have two weeks to stew.
10	11	Oakland Raiders	4-2	W, CLE 24-17	vs. KC
This team wasn’t winning because of Jason Campbell, and I seriously doubt Carson Palmer will make any difference good or bad.
11	14	Cincinnati Bengals	4-2	W, IND 27-17	Bye
Don’t look now (OK, you can look), but the upstart Bengals are 4-2 and looking to keep the momentum after a week off.
12	16	Tampa Bay Buccaneers	4-2	W, NO 26-20	vs. CHI
Big win for the Buccaneers, as they now hold a tiebreaker over the Saints for what could be a No. 2 or No. 3 seed.
13	9	Washington Redskins	3-2	L, PHI 13-20	at CAR
This team was due to collapse, and Rex Grossman finally did what Rex Grossman does: throw picks, and get benched.
14	15	Tennessee Titans	3-2	Bye	vs. HOU
The Titans are flirting with adding a big-name WR like Terrell Owens, because that’s never backfired in the past.
15	17	Atlanta Falcons	3-3	W, CAR 31-17	at DET
The Falcons earned a nice win against the Panthers, but they have to face an actual NFL defense this week in Detroit.
16	18	Chicago Bears	3-3	W, MIN 39-10	at TB
The hot-and-cold Bears are hot once again, but it’s past time to think about giving Matt Forte an extension already.
17	20	New York Giants	4-2	W, BUF 27-24	Bye
Nice win for the Giants, but a home loss to the Seahawks still lingers over the team. They need a week off to regroup.
18	13	Dallas Cowboys	2-3	L, NE 16-20	vs. STL
After five straight close games, the Cowboys should find their way into an easy win this week when the Rams come to town.
19	21	New York Jets	3-3	W, MIA 24-6	vs. SD
Beating up the Matt Moore-led Dolphins gets the Jets a “ho-hum,” but a win against the Chargers would mean something.
20	12	Houston Texans	3-3	L, BAL 14-29	at TEN
This team has a tough task ahead: rebounding without their best defensive player. This Tennessee game is critical for them.
21	24	Philadelphia Eagles	2-4	W, WAS 20-13	Bye
The Eagles finally took a small step in the right direction with a win, but this should have been a blowout with four INTs.
22	19	Seattle Seahawks	2-3	Bye	at CLE
Will this team survive if Tarvaris Jackson can’t go? And yes, I’m totally kidding. The defense could certainly get another win here.
23	25	Kansas City Chiefs	2-3	Bye	at OAK
The Chiefs are getting lucky with two easy matchups and then a game against a rusty Carson Palmer. Can they win on the road?
24	22	Cleveland Browns	2-3	L, OAK 17-24	vs. SEA
Greg Little is emerging as a No. 1 receiver, but that’s about the only thing going right for the Browns right now.
25	27	Denver Broncos	1-4	Bye	at MIA
OK, Tim Tebow. You have the hopes of an absurdly large amount of people resting on your shoulders. But no pressure.
26	28	Arizona Cardinals	1-4	Bye	vs. PIT
The only solution the Cardinals have to avoid another losing week is to get a lot more byes scheduled in ASAP.
27	23	Carolina Panthers	1-5	L, ATL 17-31	vs. WAS
Last year, the offense tanked while the defense was solid. Those roles have flipped this year. Cam can’t do it all (or can he)?
28	26	Minnesota Vikings	1-5	L, CHI 10-39	vs. GB
The Vikings were drawing buzz as a sneaky good team after playing well in three early losses. That’s now out the window.
29	29	Jacksonville Jaguars	1-5	L, PIT 13-17	vs. BAL
Jacksonville is a team stuck on celebrating “moral victories,” like last week’s four-point loss to the Steelers, their fifth straight loss.
30	30	St. Louis Rams	0-5	L, GB 3-24	at DAL
No wins and five losses? Brandon Lloyd to the rescue! Watch the Rams finish 8-8 and somehow win the NFC West.
31	31	Indianapolis Colts	0-6	L, CIN 17-27	at NO
Curtis Painter is playing decent enough, I guess, but is there any question now that Peyton Manning is the MVP of the league?
32	32	Miami Dolphins	0-5	L, NYJ 6-24	vs. DEN
The Dolphins are home against a one-win team this week — if they can’t win this one, they can’t win any. Which is good for them.

R.J. White is the head editor at the Cafe, writes for FanDuel and Razzball and has previously written for FanHouse. Catch up with him in the forums under the name daullaz. Follow him on Twitter; don't follow him in real life.

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