NFL Power Rankings

            Heading to the halfway point of the 2018-19 NFL season, teams are starting to figure out whether they are contenders or pretenders. Here are the ten best teams through Week 7:

1. Los Angeles Rams (7-0): Todd Gurley is producing an MVP caliber season as LA is producing one of the team’s best runs since the“Greatest Show on Turf” years. His nine rushing touchdowns so far have the Rams standing alone as the last undefeated team in the NFL.
2. New England Patriots (5-2): How can Tom Brady get even better?Give him a healthy Julian Edelman, Rob Gronkowski, and revitalized Josh Gordon.While the defense still needs some work, wins against the Chiefs and Bears lets the rest of the league know: The Pats aren’t going anywhere anytime soon.
3. Kansas City Chiefs (6-1): Patrick Mahomes had his first hiccup of his young career against New England, but rebounded with a nice performance against the Bengals. With the Chargers on their heels in the AFCWest, the Chiefs need strong contributions from their two speedsters of KareemHunt and Tyreek Hill to maintain their lead.
4. New Orleans Saints (5-1): While everyone is distracted byDrew Brees breaking record after record, the Saints are off to their best start since 2013 when they started 6-1. Alvin Kamara and Michael Thomas are making this Brees’ best chance to get a second ring.
5. Minnesota Vikings (4-2-1): Normally the defense would be what drives the Vikings, but Kirk Cousins is proving he’s worth the monster contract he signed this past offseason. The connection between him, Adam Thielen, and Stefon Diggs should make for a very interesting race in the NFC North.
6. Green Bay Packers (3-2-1): Don’t get it twisted: Aaron Rodgers is a really good quarterback, but Davante Adams is making him even better. Half of Rodgers’ twelve touchdown passes have gone to Adams and Rodgers looks like the all-time great we know he is, but a trip to LA to face the Rams will really put the Packers to the test.
7. Los Angeles Chargers (5-2): Just like his entire year, PhilipRivers and the Chargers are flying quietly under the radar. Some may argue though that wins against teams like Cleveland, Oakland, and San Francisco don’t make them legit. We’ll find out if they keep this pace, but for now MelvinGordon will continue his best season in his career.
8. Carolina Panthers (4-2): Before you mention Cam Newton leading the comeback against the Eagles, can we admire how great the defense has been? Luke Keuchly leads the 4^th best defense overall into shutting down a prolific Carson Wentz and setting up a heavyweight defensive showdown against the Ravens in Week 8.
9. Pittsburgh Steelers (3-2-1): James Connor is no Le’veon Bell, but he’s been a nice substitute with seven rushing touchdowns so far. Conner has been a solid compliment of the air attack of the Steelers with AntonioBrown and Juju Smith-Schuster making Pittsburgh the threat everyone expected them to be.
10. Baltimore Ravens (4-3): Despite one of the toughest losses one can remember, the Ravens are still poised for a return to the playoffs. Anew revamped offense for Joe Flacco and a stifling defense have Baltimore sitting pretty, but it won’t get any easier as they have to try and control CamNewton and the Panthers in Week 8.