NFL

2017 NFL Power Rankings: Week 7

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Teams Ranked 32nd to 23rd

Some fans may be surprised to see the Jets ranked so low, but a quick look at the numbers shows their rating is warranted.

Rank Team nERD Rec Playoff Odds Off. NEP Rank Def. NEP Rank Change
32 Indianapolis Colts -13.24 2-4 1.50% 31 32 0
31 Cleveland Browns -9.97 0-6 0.00% 25 30 -1
30 San Francisco 49ers -8.84 0-6 0.00% 26 26 +1
29 New York Jets -6.89 3-3 5.10% 21 24 -1
28 Oakland Raiders -4.84 2-4 2.40% 17 28 -4
27 Arizona Cardinals -4.7 3-3 12.50% 28 21 -1
26 Miami Dolphins -4.62 3-2 14.10% 32 10 +1
25 Chicago Bears -4.15 2-4 2.30% 27 17 4
24 Tennessee Titans -3.94 3-3 26.40% 15 27 +1
23 Baltimore Ravens -3.16 3-3 27.60% 30 11 -3


Yes, the Jets have won three games and gave New England a challenge. They have indeed exceeded their incredibly modest preseason expectations; there was talk before the season about whether or not they would even win a game.

Still, here are there wins -- a 14-point home win over the hapless Dolphins, an overtime home victory against Jacksonville in which Blake Bortles reminded us he was still Blake Bortles (42.8% completion percentage, 9.3 yards per completion) and a 3-point road win over Cleveland, fueled largely by the Browns' special teams blunders.

Overall, the Jets have a negative point differential and a second-half schedule that promises to be a lot less forgiving.

Elsewhere, analytics-minded NFL fans may want to start stretching, because it is looking more and more likely they will be able to take a victory lap regarding the Raiders.

Last season, Oakland did not outscore its opponents by much but thrived in close games, which is hardly a recipe for long-term success. We projected that they would go 8-8 before the season, but thanks to their current four-game losing streak, the Raiders will need to play at a 10-win pace the rest of the way just to meet this middling projection and would have to win out to match last season’s improbable 12-4 mark.

In terms of NEP, Oakland’s offense has been about average this season, and that has not been nearly good enough to compensate for a defense that has been one of the league’s worst.