Ranking All of the NFL’s Six and Seven-Win Teams

By Akiva Wienerkur   November 7, 2021 

Ranking All of the NFL’s Six and Seven-Win Teams

The NFL season is at the halfway point and several teams still have legitimate shots at home-field advantage in the playoffs.  

Currently, six teams in the league have six or more wins. Here is our attempt at ranking them based on their chances at getting to the Super Bowl. 

Los Angeles Rams

Oct 31, 2021; Houston, Texas, USA; Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford (9) attempts a pass during the first quarter against the Houston Texans at NRG Stadium. Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

One big acquisition already has the Rams rolling at 7-1. The team acquired Matthew Stafford to be their quarterback in the offseason, and he’s delivered, completing 69 percent of his passes for nearly 2,500 yards and 22 touchdowns with just four interceptions.

The team kept up its push for a championship by being aggressive at the trade deadline. They added a second former Defensive Player of the Year by trading for Denver’s Von Miller. They also have one of the best cornerbacks in the league in Jalen Ramsey. The team’s pass rush should be absolutely ferocious down the stretch with Miller and Donald chasing quarterbacks.

Their only loss so far this season was against Arizona, and they own a win over the defending Super Bowl champion Buccaneers. The Rams have played a pretty easy schedule so far, though. Their stretch coming up with games against the Titans, 49ers, and Packers will go a long way in determining how strong of contenders they truly are.

Green Bay Packers

Oct 28, 2021; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (12) rolls out against the Arizona Cardinals during the second half at State Farm Stadium. Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports

Few would’ve expected the Packers to be tied for the best record in the league at 7-1 at this point. Their offseason was filled with rumors that star quarterback Aaron Rodgers wanted out, and reports indicated he very nearly didn’t return to the team. Then, they opened the season with a poor showing in a loss to New Orleans.

They’ve since rallied, though, with seven straight wins, including knocking the previously perfect Cardinals from the undefeated ranks in their last game. Rodgers is once again playing like a potential MVP, the team has found some success with its running game, and they look like a sure bet to win the NFC North title once again.

Arizona Cardinals

Oct 28, 2021; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray (1) against the Green Bay Packers at State Farm Stadium. Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

The Cardinals were the last remaining undefeated team in the NFL before a close loss to the Packers in week eight gave them their first loss.

Kyler Murray is a favorite for MVP, and they added former All-Pro tight end Zach Ertz to a potent group of receivers that also includes DeAndre Hopkins and A.J. Green.  

The Cardinals have impressive wins over the Rams and Titans this season, but the knock on them until they prove it in the playoffs will simply be experience. Murray has never been to the playoffs in his young career, so the more experienced quarterbacks leading other contending teams will have the experience advantage over him down the stretch as teams jockey for position.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Oct 24, 2021; Tampa, Florida, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady (12) calls an audible at the line in the second half against the Chicago Bears at Raymond James Stadium. Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports

At 6-2, Tampa Bay has shown no real reason to believe they won’t be able to defend their Super Bowl championship this season. 

Their two losses have been against the Rams and the Saints, with only that Saints game looking like a bad loss. New Orleans was playing their backup quarterback with starter Jameis Winston injured and Tom Brady through an interception that was returned for a touchdown in the fourth quarter of the 9-point loss. They have a strong win over the Cowboys early in the season, though.

The Bucs are dealing with an injury to tight end Rob Gronkowski, who left the New Orleans game with back spasms. Antonio Brown has also dealt with an injury for much of the season and the team’s secondary has been banged up, so the defense hasn’t been quite as ferocious as it was during their Super Bowl run.

Still, the Bucs have an experienced roster led by the greatest quarterback of all-time who is still playing at a high level. Brady is completing 67 percent of his passes with 25 touchdowns and five interceptions. He’s currently on pace to equal his career-high in touchdowns when he threw 50 in 2007. Brady and the Bucs began peaking in the second half of last season, so if that trend continues again this season, they’ll be hard to bet against.

Dallas Cowboys

Oct 17, 2021; Foxborough, Massachusetts, USA; Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott (4) throws a pass against the New England Patriots in the fourth quarter at Gillette Stadium. David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports

With Dak Prescott back and healthy this season, Dallas is doing what most expected them to do last season as well – breeze through the underperforming NFC East.

The Cowboys have solid wins over two decent AFC teams, the Patriots and Chargers, but the biggest knock on them as the season progresses will be their schedule. With several division games against sub-.500 teams, it’s going to be hard to prepare for the sort of competition they’ll see in the playoffs.

But the flip side of that is their easy division schedule should also be huge advantage for them in the race for home field advantage.

Tennessee Titans

Oct 31, 2021; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Tennessee Titans running back Derrick Henry (22) runs the ball in the second half against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium. Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports

Defense was an issue for the Titans last season, and they still give up a lot of points. But they’ve been able to overcome that flaw and win six of their first eight games.

Their biggest problem now, though, is that they’ve lost star running back Derrick Henry for the season. They brought in veteran Adrian Peterson to try and replace him, but Henry was one of the most heavily used backs in the league the last three seasons. It will take several players to try and take on his workload in the running game and passing game, and even then, is unlikely they can produce what he did. 

Henry’s absence puts even more pressure on the passing game to make plays. If they’re going to stay near the top of the AFC standings, Ryan Tannehill, A.J. Brown, and Julio Jones all need to have huge second halves of the season. Tannehill, in particular, needs to be much better and re-find the magic he had the last two seasons.

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