Look, if you told me in August that Baker Mayfield would be the frontrunner for MVP by October, I’d have probably asked you to pass whatever you were drinking. But here we are. It is the middle of the 2025 season, and the NFL rankings week 7 edition looks absolutely nothing like the preseason magazines predicted.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are sitting at the top of the mountain. It feels weird to say, doesn't it? But they are 5-1, and they just went into Levi’s Stadium and handled a dangerous—albeit banged-up—49ers team 30-9. Baker is playing out of his mind. Even with injuries to Mike Evans and Chris Godwin, he’s finding guys like Tez Johnson and Kameron Johnson to keep the chains moving. It’s not just "scrappy" anymore; it’s a high-functioning, terrifying offense.
The AFC West Chaos and the Chiefs' Resurrection
While everyone was busy writing obituaries for the Kansas City Chiefs after their sluggish 0-2 start, Patrick Mahomes reminded everyone why you never bet against the guy with three rings. They absolutely dismantled the Raiders 31-0 this week. Geno Smith couldn't get anything going for Las Vegas—literally. The Raiders didn't score a single point.
Kansas City is back to .500 at 3-3, and the scary part is they get Rashee Rice back next week. They aren't the best team in the league yet, but they’ve climbed back into the top 10 of most power rankings. Meanwhile, the Denver Broncos are the weirdest 5-2 team I’ve ever seen. They were getting shut out 19-0 by the Giants entering the fourth quarter. Then Bo Nix happened.
Denver put up 33 points in the fourth quarter alone. 33! That is a league record for a team that was scoreless through three periods. It was the definition of "winning ugly," but Sean Payton won't care. They’re sitting at 5-2 and currently hold a playoff spot, even if their EPA per play numbers make offensive coordinators want to weep.
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Why the Buffalo Bills are in Trouble
If you’re a Bills fan, the panic button isn't just being pressed; it’s being smashed. Buffalo is 4-2, which looks fine on paper, but they’ve lost two straight and just don't look disciplined. Josh Allen threw picks late in both halves against Atlanta. The defense got gushed for 24 points.
Here is the kicker: their four wins have come against teams with a combined record of 3-21. Basically, they’ve been beating up on the JV squad and folding the moment they face a real varsity team. They have a bye this week, which is lucky for them, because the operation looks broken.
NFC Power Shifts: The Lions and the "IcyHot Bowl"
The Detroit Lions are still a powerhouse, but they took a weird loss to the Chiefs recently that seems to have left a hangover. Brian Branch getting suspended for a post-game altercation didn't help. They did bounce back by silencing the Baker Mayfield hype train slightly, beating the Bucs 24-9 on Monday night. It was a physical, "kneecap-biting" kind of game that Dan Campbell loves.
Over in the AFC North, we had the "IcyHot Bowl." That's what social media called the Bengals vs. Steelers game because Joe Flacco (40) and Aaron Rodgers (41) were under center. Honestly, it was a classic. Flacco led a 52-yard drive to set up Evan McPherson for a 36-yard game-winner. Bengals won 33-31. Rodgers played well, but the Steelers' defense—which had been the backbone of their 4-1 start—finally cracked.
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The Rookie King: Drake Maye
We have to talk about what’s happening in New England. Drake Maye didn't just beat the Titans; he erased a Tom Brady record. He finished 21-of-23 (91.3% completion rate). He threw for 222 yards and ran for 62. He is the first player in the Super Bowl era to hit 90% completion, 200 yards passing, and 50 yards rushing in one game.
The Patriots are 4-2 and suddenly look like they’ve found the heir to the throne. It’s early, but the kid looks like the real deal. Mike Vrabel’s return to Tennessee was a success, and the Titans are now 4-19 since they fired him. Talk about a "how do you like me now" moment.
NFL Rankings Week 7: The Top 10 Reality Check
If you're looking at the current landscape, here is how the top of the league actually shakes out after the chaos of Sunday and Monday.
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers (5-1): Still the most consistent team despite the Monday night loss to Detroit. Baker is the MVP favorite for a reason.
- Detroit Lions (5-2): That defense is legit when they aren't losing their cool.
- Indianapolis Colts (6-1): The biggest surprise of the year. They just keep winning games they shouldn't.
- Green Bay Packers (4-1-1): Micah Parsons is earning every penny of that trade. Three sacks this week to save the game against Arizona.
- Seattle Seahawks (5-2): Mike Macdonald has this defense playing like the Legion of Boom 2.0. Jaxon Smith-Njigba is a Tier 1 receiver now.
- Philadelphia Eagles (5-2): Jalen Hurts is finally airing it out. Five of five on deep balls over 20 yards this week.
- Kansas City Chiefs (3-3): Don't look at the record. Look at the momentum. They are coming.
- Los Angeles Rams (5-2): Matthew Stafford just threw 5 TDs. When healthy, they can outscore anyone.
- Denver Broncos (5-2): The "Cardiac Kids." They aren't pretty, but they are effective.
- Buffalo Bills (4-2): Barely hanging on here. They need to fix the turnovers during the bye week.
The Bottom Feeders and the 2026 Draft
It’s getting ugly at the bottom. The New York Jets are 0-6. Tyrod Taylor is likely taking over for Aaron Rodgers soon if things don't change. The Saints and Titans are both 1-5 and look completely lost. The "Shedeur Sanders Sweepstakes" are officially in full swing.
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The Cleveland Browns managed to beat the Dolphins 31-6, but that says more about Tua's struggles than Cleveland's success. Tua turned the ball over three times. At this point, the Dolphins might be looking at a total housecleaning by the end of the year.
Actionable Insights for Week 8
If you are following the NFL rankings week 7 trends for your fantasy team or just for bragging rights, keep these things in mind:
- Sell High on the Broncos Defense: They are playing over their heads. The 33-point fourth quarter was a fluke that won't happen again.
- Buy Low on the Chiefs Offense: With Rashee Rice returning, Mahomes is about to go on a tear.
- Watch the Waiver Wire for Tez Johnson: Mayfield trusts the kid. In Tampa’s system, that means 10 targets a game.
- Ignore the Bills for a week: They are on a bye. Let the market cool down before you decide if they are "done" or not.
The 2025 season has been a fever dream. Between 40-year-old quarterbacks winning shootouts and rookies breaking Brady's records, the only thing we know for sure is that nobody knows anything.
Check the injury reports for Fred Warner in San Francisco; if he’s out for a long stretch, the 49ers might tumble right out of the playoff picture. For now, enjoy the chaos. It’s the only thing the NFL has in abundance this year.