Arizona Sports Week 7 NFL Power Rankings: Vikings still on top; Cardinals rise

Oct 18, 2016, 5:15 PM | Updated: Oct 19, 2016, 11:34 am

Arizona Cardinals defensive end Calais Campbell (93) prior to an NFL football game against the New York Jets, Monday, Oct. 17, 2016, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

(AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

BY VINCE MAROTTA

Arizona Sports

Another week in the books in the NFL, and for the second straight time, the Minnesota Vikings top the Arizona Sports Power Rankings.

The Vikings had the week off and now travel to Philadelphia to take on an Eagles team that looks rather average after jumping out to a 3-0 start. Minnesota quarterback and early MVP candidate Sam Bradford makes his return to Lincoln Financial Field — a place where he wasn’t treated well by Philly’s normally patient fan base (sarcasm alert).

New England, Seattle, Dallas and Pittsburgh round out our top five this week.

On the local front, the Arizona Cardinals jumped a spot after crushing the New York Jets 28-3 on Monday Night Football.

Here’s our complete Week 7 Power Rankings…

vikings75 1. Minnesota Vikings (5-0)

High: 1 (Marotta, Grialou, Morgan, Green)
Low: 2 (Dimakos, Burns, Lapinski)
Movement: —
Comment: D allowed as many points on the bye week as they do on a game week. — Lapinski
Next: at Philadelphia

patriots75 2. New England Patriots (5-1)

High: 1 (Dimakos, Burns, Lapinski)
Low: 2 (Marotta, Grialou, Morgan, Green)
Movement: —
Comment: Gronk smash Bengals. With Big Ben injury, can anyone in AFC challenge them? — Burns
Next: at Pittsburgh

seahawks75 3. Seattle Seahawks (4-1)

High: 3 (Marotta, Grialou, Burns, Lapinski)
Low: 4 (Morgan, Green, Dimakos)
Movement: ▲ 1
Comment: It’s only pass interference if it’s called. — Grialou
Next: at Arizona

cowboys75 4. Dallas Cowboys (5-1)

High: 3 (Morgan, Green, Dimakos)
Low: 4 (Marotta, Grialou, Burns, Lapinski)
Movement: ▲ 4
Comment: Rookie QB heads to Lambeau, gets road win…no big deal. — Marotta
Next: Bye week

steelers75 5. Pittsburgh Steelers (4-2)

High: 5 (Grialou, Morgan)
Low: 8 (Dimakos, Burns)
Movement: ▼ 2
Comment: Big Ben’s torn meniscus is a big blow. The Steelers will drop from this spot. — Morgan
Next: vs. New England

falcons75 6. Atlanta Falcons (4-2)

High: 5 (Marotta, Green, Dimakos, Burns, Lapinski)
Low: 11 (Grialou)
Movement: ▲ 1
Comment: Tough to buy into, but they should have won in Seattle, and that counts for something. — Green
Next: vs. San Diego

packers75 7. Green Bay Packers (3-2)

High: 6 (Grialou)
Low: 11 (Lapinski)
Movement: ▼ 2
Comment: Rodgers hasn’t been the same since he tried to kill that fly with a golf club. — Marotta
Next: vs. Chicago

broncos75 T-8. Denver Broncos (4-2)

High: 6 (Burns)
Low: 11 (Marotta)
Movement: ▼ 2
Comment: I think they are finally going back to where we thought they’d be. A little above average. — Dimakos
Next: vs. Houston

bills75 T-8. Buffalo Bills (4-2)

High: 6 (Marotta, Morgan)
Low: 13 (Lapinski)
Movement: ▲ 3
Comment: Shady running wild…three 100-yard games vs. NFC West teams. — Marotta
Next: at Miami

Cardinals75 10. Arizona Cardinals (3-3)

High: 6 (Dimakos)
Low: 15 (Morgan)
Movement: ▲ 1
Comment: Climbing back up. Real clarity comes in the next two weeks. — Burns
Next: vs. Seattle

redskins75 11. Washington Redskins (4-2)

High: 7 (Grialou, Green)
Low: 12 (Marotta, Morgan, Dimakos, Burns, Lapinski)
Movement: ▲ 5
Comment: Win streak hasn’t come against NFL’s best, but four in-a-row is four in-a-row. — Green
Next: at Detroit

raiders75 12. Oakland Raiders (4-2)

High: 9 (Morgan)
Low: 14 (Burns)
Movement: ▼ 3
Comment: 30th-ranked rush defense — and it showed vs. KC. — Lapinski
Next: at Jacksonville

chiefs75 13. Kansas City Chiefs (3-2)

High: 9 (Marotta, Lapinski)
Low: 15 (Morgan)
Movement: ▲ 1
Comment: Dominated a good team in the Raiders. — Burns
Next: vs. New Orleans

eagles75 14. Philadelphia Eagles (3-2)

High: 11 (Morgan)
Low: 15 (Marotta, Burns)
Movement: ▼ 4
Comment: Some of the shine has come off Carson Wentz, perhaps. — Grialou
Next: vs. Minnesota

texans75 15. Houston Texans (4-2)

High: 14 (Marotta, Morgan)
Low: 18 (Burns)
Movement: ▲ 2
Comment: Osweiler overcame a -9 yard first quarter to rally past Indy. — Morgan
Next: at Denver

giants75 16. New York Giants (3-3)

High: 13 (Burns)
Low: 21 (Green)
Movement: ▲ 3
Comment: Odell Beckham is engaged to a kicking net. Still better than dating a Kardashian. — Marotta
Next: vs. Los Angeles (London)

bengals75 T-17. Cincinnati Bengals (2-4)

High: 13 (Grialou)
Low: 22 (Marotta, Dimakos)
Movement: ▼ 4
Comment: Four losses to really good teams. When schedule softens, watch them make a run. — Green
Next: vs. Cleveland

ravens75 T-17. Baltimore Ravens (3-3)

High: 16 (Green, Dimakos, Lapinski)
Low: 21 (Grialou)
Movement: ▼ 2
Comment: Meh — that’s how I feel about this team. — Dimakos
Next: at New York Jets

lions75 19. Detroit Lions (3-3)

High: 17 (Marotta)
Low: 21 (Burns)
Movement: ▲ 3
Comment: They’ve found the perfect mix of average and average. — Lapinski
Next: vs. Washington

rams75 20. Los Angeles Rams (3-3)

High: 16 (Grialou)
Low: 29 (Burns)
Movement: ▼ 2
Comment: Maybe Jeff Fisher is going 7-9 after all? — Burns
Next: vs. New York Giants (London)

saints75 21. New Orleans Saints (2-3)

High: 19 (Marotta, Burns)
Low: 25 (Morgan)
Movement: ▲ 4
Comment: Looks like Brees has the Saints on the way back. — Grialou
Next: at Kansas City

titans75 22. Tennessee Titans (3-3)

High: 21 (Morgan)
Low: 25 (Dimakos)
Movement: ▲ 2
Comment: It’s fun watching Marcus Mariota be good. — Green
Next: vs. Indianapolis

chargers75 23. San Diego Chargers (2-4)

High: 17 (Burns)
Low: 26 (Grialou, Morgan)
Movement: ▲ 4
Comment: How exactly did this team win with all the injuries they’ve had? — Dimakos
Next: at Atlanta

buccaneers75 24. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2-3)

High: 19 (Grialou)
Low: 27 (Morgan, Burns)
Movement: ▼ 3
Comment: Bucs have a shot to come out of the bye at 3-3 with a road game at San Francisco. — Morgan
Next: at San Francisco

jaguars75 25. Jacksonville Jaguars (2-3)

High: 23 (Dimakos)
Low: 26 (Burns, Lapinski)
Movement: ▲ 3
Comment: If wins over Chicago and Indy don’t scream “contender,” what does? – Lapinski
Next: vs. Oakland

dolphins75 26. Miami Dolphins (2-4)

High: 22 (Green)
Low: 29 (Dimakos)
Movement: ▲ 4
Comment: Ajayi running like he’s trying to get away from those Color Rush unis they wore in Week 4! — Lapinski
Next: vs. Buffalo

colts75 27. Indianapolis Colts (2-4)

High: 22 (Grialou, Morgan)
Low: 29 (Lapinski)
Movement: ▼ 4
Comment: The ship is sinking on Chuck Pagano. — Burns
Next: at Tennessee

panthers75 28. Carolina Panthers (1-5)

High: 23 (Burns)
Low: 29 (Marotta)
Movement: ▼ 4
Comment: From 7-8-1 to 15-1 and now this. Panthers had a nice one-year run of actually being good. — Green
Next: Bye week

jets75 29. New York Jets (1-5)

High: 27 (Dimakos)
Low: 29 (Grialou, Morgan, Green)
Movement: ▼ 3
Comment: It’s not all on the QB — this team is a disorganized mess. — Marotta
Next: vs. Baltimore

bears75 30. Chicago Bears (1-5)

High: 30 (Marotta, Grialou, Morgan, Dimakos, Burns, Lapinski)
Low: 29 (Green)
Movement: ▼ 1
Comment: With games at Green Bay and Minnesota next, the Bears will be 1-7 at midway point. — Morgan
Next: at Green Bay

49ers75 31. San Francisco 49ers (1-5)

High: 30 (Marotta, Grialou, Morgan, Dimakos, Burns, Lapinski)
Low: 29 (Green)
Movement: ▼ 1
Comment: Kaepernick made no difference. — Dimakos
Next: vs. Tampa Bay

browns75 32. Cleveland Browns (0-6)

High: 32 (Unanimous)
Low: 32 (Unanimous)
Movement: —
Comment: 0-16 beckons. — Burns
Next: at Cincinnati

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New York Jets wide receiver Brandon Marshall (15) makes the catch as Arizona Cardinals cornerback Patrick Peterson defends during the first half of an NFL football game, Monday, Oct. 17, 2016, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Arizona Cardinals outside linebacker Deone Bucannon (20) pressures New York Jets quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick (14) during the first half of an NFL football game, Monday, Oct. 17, 2016, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Arizona Cardinals running back David Johnson (31) scores a touchdown against the New York Jets during the second half of an NFL football game, Monday, Oct. 17, 2016, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Arizona Cardinals running back David Johnson (31) celebrates his touchdown with teammate Jaron Brown (13) during the second half of an NFL football game against the New York Jets, Monday, Oct. 17, 2016, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

New York Jets quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick (14) throws against the Arizona Cardinals during the second half of an NFL football game, Monday, Oct. 17, 2016, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Arizona Cardinals running back David Johnson is tackled by New York Jets cornerback Darrelle Revis (24), rear,during the second half of an NFL football game, Monday, Oct. 17, 2016, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

Arizona Cardinals defensive back D.J. Swearinger (36) celebrates his interception against the New York Jets with teammate Patrick Peterson (21) during the second half of an NFL football game, Monday, Oct. 17, 2016, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

New York Jets wide receiver Robby Anderson (11) pulls in a catch as Arizona Cardinals cornerback Tharold Simon (29) defends during the second half of an NFL football game, Monday, Oct. 17, 2016, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

Arizona Cardinals defensive back D.J. Swearinger (36) celebrates his interception against the New York Jets with teammate atrick Peterson (21) as New York Jets wide receiver Robby Anderson (11) looks on during the second half of an NFL football game, Monday, Oct. 17, 2016, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

New York Jets wide receiver Robby Anderson, center, is hit by Arizona Cardinals defensive end Frostee Rucker (92) and cornerback Tharold Simon (29) during the second half of an NFL football game, Monday, Oct. 17, 2016, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Michael Floyd (15) pulls in a touchdown pass as New York Jets cornerback Darryl Roberts defends during the second half of an NFL football game, Monday, Oct. 17, 2016, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Michael Floyd (15) celebrates his touchdown catch with teammates Larry Fitzgerald (11) and D.J. Humphries during the second half of an NFL football game against the New York Jets, Monday, Oct. 17, 2016, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

New York Jets outside linebacker Jordan Jenkins (48) helps Arizona Cardinals quarterback Carson Palmer (3) up after a hit during the second half of an NFL football game, Monday, Oct. 17, 2016, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Arizona Cardinals quarterback Carson Palmer (3) throws against the New York Jets during the second half of an NFL football game, Monday, Oct. 17, 2016, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Arizona Cardinals head coach Bruce Arians, right, greets New York Jets head coach Todd Bowles after an NFL football game, Monday, Oct. 17, 2016, in Glendale, Ariz. The Cardinals won 28-3. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Arizona Cardinals quarterback Carson Palmer (3) greets New York Jets quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick (14) after an NFL football game, Monday, Oct. 17, 2016, in Glendale, Ariz. The Cardinals won 28-3. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

Arizona Cardinals fans with Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton masks cheer during the second half of an NFL football game against the New York Jets, Monday, Oct. 17, 2016, in Glendale, Ariz. The Cardinals won 28-3. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

Arizona Cardinals defensive end Calais Campbell (93) talks with New York Jets quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick (14) after an NFL football game, Monday, Oct. 17, 2016, in Glendale, Ariz. The Cardinals won 28-3. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

Arizona Cardinals cornerback Patrick Peterson catches a pass while dressed as a dinosaur prior to an NFL football game against the New York Jets, Monday, Oct. 17, 2016 in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rob Schumacher, Arizona Republic via AP)

New York Jets head coach Todd Bowles watches his team prior to an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals, Monday, Oct. 17, 2016, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

New York Jets defensive tackle Leonard Williams (92) yells prior to an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals, Monday, Oct. 17, 2016, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Arizona Cardinals head coach Bruce Arians watches his team prior to an NFL football game against the New York Jets, Monday, Oct. 17, 2016, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

New York Jets cheer prior to an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals, Monday, Oct. 17, 2016, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Arizona Cardinals quarterback Carson Palmer (3) warms up prior to an NFL football game against the New York Jets, Monday, Oct. 17, 2016, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

New York Jets quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick (14) warms up prior to an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals, Monday, Oct. 17, 2016, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

New York Jets running back Matt Forte (22) is hit by Arizona Cardinals nose tackle Josh Mauro (97) during the first half of an NFL football game, Monday, Oct. 17, 2016, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

Arizona Cardinals quarterback Carson Palmer (3) is pressured by New York Jets defensive end Muhammad Wilkerson (96) during the first half of an NFL football game, Monday, Oct. 17, 2016, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

Arizona Cardinals running back David Johnson (31) runs for a touchdown against the New York Jets as teammate Larry Fitzgerald (11) follows during the first half of an NFL football game, Monday, Oct. 17, 2016, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

Arizona Cardinals running back David Johnson (31) runs for a touchdown against the New York Jets during the first half of an NFL football game, Monday, Oct. 17, 2016, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

Arizona Cardinals running back David Johnson, center, celebrates his touchdown run with guard Earl Watford (78) and tight end Darren Fells (85) during the first half of an NFL football game against the New York Jets, Monday, Oct. 17, 2016, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

New York Jets quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick (14) looks to pass against the Arizona Cardinals during the first half of an NFL football game, Monday, Oct. 17, 2016, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

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