Power Rankings: Streaky play in N.Y. shakes things up
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ESPN.com
Let's talk streaks. Specifically, let's talk about the two teams from New York. While the Giants and Jets play in the same stadium, those two clubs find themselves headed in entirely opposite directions.
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The Giants are on a four-game win streak after roughing up the Falcons on Monday night and trail the Cowboys by only one game in the NFC East. ESPN.com's John Clayton thinks the Giants will make a return trip 
to the playoffs this season.
The Giants aren't the only team that has caught fire after an early stumble. The Jaguars have won four straight, which sets them up nicely for Monday's AFC South showdown at home against the 5-0 Colts.
The Jets, meanwhile, have lost three straight; the only reason they're not residing in the AFC East cellar is because the worst team in football -- and in our Power Rankings -- just happens to be in the same division.
Even so, the Jets are now the worst one-win team in the NFL, according to our voters. That's right, even worse than the Falcons, whose one win (over the Texans) is at least respectable. The Jets' lone win came against the Dolphins, and just barely (by three points).
Other teams -- besides the winless Dolphins and Rams, of course -- on a cold streak include the Bengals (four straight losses) and the 49ers and Broncos (three straight). Consequently, those teams have dropped significantly in the rankings the past few weeks.
So how would you rank the teams after Week 6? Click here to access SportsNation's ranking tool.
BIGGEST RISE: Kansas City Chiefs from 25th to 16th. BIGGEST DROP: Chicago Bears from 15th to 23rd.
(Editor's note: LW indicates each team's ranking last week.)
| 2007 Power Rankings: Week 7 | ||||
| RK (LW) | TEAM | REC | COMMENT | |
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1 (1) | Patriots | 6-0-0 | The Patriots have played 360 minutes of football this season -- and have trailed for just 18 of those minutes. New England gets the first of its three bye weeks this season when it plays at Miami on Sunday. |
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2 (2) | Colts | 5-0-0 | The last time the Colts faced the Jags, Indy gave up 375 rushing yards in a 44-17 loss last December. The Colts are allowing 105.4 yards rushing this season, a figure they'll need to get close to in order to maintain their spotless record. |
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3 (4) | Steelers | 4-1-0 | Willie Parker is one of just four running backs in the league to average more than 100 yards per game this season. Parker's 101.4 trails the Vikes' Adrian Peterson (121.4), the Eagles' Brian Westbrook (102.8) and the Colts' Joseph Addai (101.8). |
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4 (3) | Cowboys | 5-1-0 | Don't expect the Cowboys to suffer a crisis of confidence in losing to the Patriots. In fact, if Wade Phillips plays his cards right, the reality check might be the best thing to happen to his team. |
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5 (6) | Jaguars | 4-1-0 | The Jags gave up 282 rushing yards in losing their opener -- and have given up a combined total of 200 rushing yards in their next four games, all wins. But the big test comes at home Monday night against the Colts. |
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6 (5) | Packers | 5-1-0 | Some offenses are explosive. The Packers were definitely not against the Redskins. Green Bay had just one play of more than 18 yards. Yet, the Pack still found a way to win, which has become this team's theme. |
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7 (9) | Ravens | 4-2-0 | The Ravens offense reached the end zone for the first time in 19 drives and the defense has allowed just 10 points in the last two games. The Nov. 5 Monday nighter at Pittsburgh should give us an accurate read on this team. |
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8 (11) | Buccaneers | 4-2-0 | Dating back to his days in Philadelphia last year, QB Jeff Garcia has now thrown 164 consecutive regular-season passes without an interception. It's the longest active streak in the NFL and the longest of his career. |
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9 (14) | Giants | 4-2-0 | Just like last season, the Giants are riding a hot streak in the first half of the season, having won four straight following their win in Atlanta. But will they avoid the kind of collapse they suffered in the second half last year? |
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10 (13) | Chargers | 3-3-0 | LaDainian Tomlinson continues to make the Raiders his own personal punching bag. LT's 4-TD, 198-yard day on Sunday now gives him 1,653 yards and 18 touchdowns in 13 games against the Raiders. |
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11 (8) | Redskins | 3-2-0 | The Redskins are having trouble putting teams away. Sunday's loss at Green Bay was the sixth time in the last year they've lost a game after leading at the half. "I guess we ain't learning our lesson," Clinton Portis told the Washington Post. |
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12 (7) | Titans | 3-2-0 | Even if Vince Young misses time with a right leg injury, the Titans might be able to survive. Backup Kerry Collins directed a nice 86-yard drive to tie the score, only to see the Bucs win on a late field goal. |
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13 (17) | Panthers | 4-2-0 | So, when will we see The Vinny Testaverde Story on the Hallmark channel? Almost 44 years old, Testaverde showed he can still win a game in the NFL. If he keeps putting the ball in Steve Smith's hands, he can win several more. |
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14 (10) | Seahawks | 3-3-0 | In his last two games, Shaun Alexander has rushed for 60 yards on 25 carries, his worst two-game stretch in five years. Even Alexander couldn't find fault in Seahawks fans booing him during the loss to the Saints. |
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15 (18) | Lions | 3-2-0 | Jeff Garcia, as noted above, hasn't thrown an interception all season, but perhaps his former team (from 2005) will know how to force him into a miscue. Only Dallas (10) has intercepted more passes this season than Detroit (nine). |
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16 (25) | Chiefs | 3-3-0 | Good news for Larry Johnson: He rushed for 119 yards and his first TD of the season in the win over Cincinnati. The bad news: He fumbled for the first time in 470 touches going back to more than a year ago. |
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17 (22) | Eagles | 2-3-0 | It was a nice bend-but-don't-break effort for the banged-up Eagles defense in the win against the Jets. On four of their 10 drives, N.Y. drove inside the 13-yard line but failed to reach the end zone. |
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18 (13) | Cardinals | 3-3-0 | Depending on the severity of Kurt Warner's injured left elbow, the Cardinals may threaten to make a playoff push or will quickly fall off the pace. Tim Rattay is not the answer at QB. |
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19 (24) | Browns | 3-3-0 | In the five games with Derek Anderson as the starting QB, the Browns have averaged 32 points. The last time the Browns have averaged that many points in a five-game stretch? That would be the 1968 season. |
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20 (16) | Texans | 3-3-0 | Let's see, there are problems with the red-zone offense. Problems with the running game. Dumb penalties. Missed blocks. That shine on the Texans' season is starting to fade. |
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21 (19) | Broncos | 2-3-0 | It's not inconceivable to think the Broncos, who've lost three straight, might not win again until December. They come off the bye week with home games against Pittsburgh and Green Bay, then play three of four November games on the road. |
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22 (27) | Vikings | 2-3-0 | Adrian Peterson's 224 rushing yards on Sunday is the best single-game performance in Vikings' history. Even more impressive? It's the most allowed by the Bears in the 88 years of that franchise. |
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23 (15) | Bears | 2-4-0 | Funny how a team with an offense that's brutal to watch might have the league's most exciting player. Hopefully, the Bears coaches will have the good sense to put the ball in Devin Hester's hands as much as possible. |
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24 (21) | 49ers | 2-3-0 | If Alex Smith returns from injury, expect the 49ers to use more shotgun formations on offense in order to combat the Giants' pass rush. Only two teams have allowed more than the 18 sacks given up by the 49ers. |
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25 (20) | Raiders | 2-3-0 | Daunte Culpepper threw two interceptions, lost a fumble and was sacked six times in the Raiders' eighth consecutive loss to San Diego. Are we getting closer to the JaMarcus Russell era? |
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26 (30) | Saints | 1-4-0 | This is what a desperate team does: Goes for it on a fourth-and-one from its own 29. This is what a skilled team does; Converts it. Saints finally showed signs of life in winning at Seattle. |
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27 (23) | Bengals | 1-4-0 | The Bengals have lost four straight for the first time in the 69 games with Marvin Lewis as the head coach. It might help if they could convert a third down -- they're just 1 for the last 18 attempts. |
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28 (26) | Bills | 1-4-0 | QB J.P. Losman may be healthy enough to play, but there's no guarantees that he'll regain his starting spot. Head coach Dick Jauron says he won't announce his starter (either Losman or Trent Edwards) until Wednesday. |
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29 (29) | Falcons | 1-5-0 | The Falcons have appeared on 'Monday Night Football' six times since Michael Vick was drafted in 2001. Considering the plight of the Falcons without Vick, it may be awhile before they see another Monday night. |
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30 (28) | Jets | 1-5-0 | It'll be the battle of underachievers when the Jets travel to Cincinnati on Sunday. Oh, and speaking of underachievers -- is there anybody in the tri-state area who still thinks Chad Pennington should start at QB? |
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31 (31) | Rams | 0-6-0 | Relief is on the way. Injured quarterback Marc Bulger says he will be back in the lineup Sunday against Seattle. WR Isaac Bruce is also expected to return, and RB Steven Jackson has an outside shot of playing. |
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32 (32) | Dolphins | 0-6-0 | The Dolphins will extend their franchise-record losing streak to 10 games when they host the Patriots on Sunday. The point spread favors the Pats by 17. Doesn't that seem a tad low? |
| Glossary |
| TG - Tim Graham (AFC East); JW - James Walker (AFC North); PK - Paul Kuharsky (AFC South); BW - Bill Williamson (AFC West); MM - Matt Mosley (NFC East); KS - Kevin Seifert (NFC North); PY - Pat Yasinskas (NFC South); MS - Mike Sando (NFC West) |
