(Near) Mid Season NFL Power Rankings

Week 7 ended with a classic Chicago Bears win (just scoring enough to support a strong defensive performance) and its about time to issue my power rankings. My rankings are no solely based on record or performance so far, but rather a teams chances to win the Super Bowl. So here they are:

1. Green Bay Packers (4-3): Beat up a dominant Texans team and reversing their momentum after a terrible start. Rodgers is still the best QB in football and that alone gives them a great shot at the Super Bowl. The Defense is vastly improved and while injuries are starting to pile up with Jennings, Woodson and MLB Smith our, this team has more than enough talent to get it done.

2. Houston Texans (6-1): Their defense and run game will ensure they beat bad and mediocre teams, but they clearly need to work on defending the pass and injuries are starting to pile up. Schaub needs to reconnect with Andre Johnson to regain a 2nd dimension on offense. They should win the AFC and get a shot at the superbowl, but you would have to think the passing attacks of New England, Pittsburgh and Denver could knock them out in the 2nd round.

3. New York Giants (5-2): The Giants and Packers have taught us one thing in this decade, a pass rush and a great quarterback is all it takes to win a Super Bowl. The Giants have shown this year that they have both of those and with the running game starting to show some serious life, they have a great chance to win another Super Bowl. They have the deepest roster on the offensive side of the ball and if they can get a healthy secondary, they will be tough to beat.

4. San Francisco 49ers (5-2): The 49ers have a dominant front 7 that hasn't nearly peaked this season, as Aldon Smith and Justin Smith still haven't produced like they did in 2011. The secondary has holes when that front 7 gives the QB enough time to drop back and deliver, which makes them vulnerable to teams with a good offensive line. Alex Smith is a great game manager, but unless they start completing some throws down the field and to the sidelines, defenses will fill the middle of the field and give them problems.

5. New England (4-3): Great balanced offense that will only get better as o-line + hernandez get healthy and lloyd get more involved. The defense is still a concern, as they lean heavily on their outside pass rush and patrick chung making big plays in the secondary, when healthy. They match up well against Houston and very well could be the AFC champs...yet again.

Biggest Surprise:

Easy...This guy is the most dynamic quarterback in the league and he is a rookie. He throws well in the pocket and this gives him more opportunities to open up defenses for his legs. Defenses load the box and he throws on them, they drop into a zone and he runs on them. 70% passing is INCREDIBLE for anyone, let alone a rookie who throws the ball deep. Defenses will adjust in the 2nd half...and so will RG3. Expect some grand passing totals, especially when Garcon comes back healthy. I knew he would be good, but I thought it would take a lot longer than 1 season for him to play like a top 5 QB.

Biggest Let Down:

Team went 8-8 in 2011 and fired their first year coach. While this roster isn't stacked, with a former top 10 QB, expected top 10 RB and young WR core were supposed to elevate this team to winning the AFC west. What we have seen from them is no running game, a inability to score TD's (even with blazing speed at WR and DMC) and an inconsistent offense. I was optimistic that this team would win the AFC west and now they are 2 games back from mediocrity.