NFL Power Rankings, Week 7: Baker Mayfield-led Buccaneers hit No. 1, while Seahawks crack top 3

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Who is the best team in the NFL?

It’s a question I asked myself multiple times over the past week. After the Eagles were stomped by the Giants on Thursday. Again on Sunday, when the Chiefs definitively beat the Lions. And then, once more for good measure on Monday, after the Falcons choked out the Bills.

The truth-serum answer: I honestly don’t believe there’s a clear-cut front-runner.

Everyone has flaws. There are no unbeatens, and only four teams have one loss. The Bills and Eagles have each lost two straight. And let’s not even talk about the Ravens, Bengals and a few other faded preseason darlings.

For now, my Buccaneers are tenuously manning the top spot after another strong victory. They’re certainly No. 1 in the Fun Rankings. Do they have enough receivers to hold on? Raising them days before a trip to Detroit for a prime-time bout against the Lions couldn’t possibly backfire on me … But yeah, for now, I am backing Baker Mayfield.

Flexibility is the key this season. Favorites will emerge. Pretenders will fade. Perhaps even a few teams we’ve left for dead will have a second coming.

The NFL is wide open, folks.

NOTE: Up/down arrows below reflect movement from the Week 6 Power Rankings.

Every single Sunday, Baker Mayfield seems to make one hellacious play with his legs, completely flummoxing the defense and invariably inspiring his teammates. Sunday’s offering was a ridiculous scramble to move the chains on third-and-14. Two snaps later, he delivered a bomb to rookie WR Tez Johnson, who made a fingertip grab for one of the most aesthetically pleasing touchdowns of the season. Johnson and second-year pro Kameron Johnson — no relation, though they are similarly diminutive — might have to be the newest breakout receivers, with Emeka Egbuka the latest one to get hurt (joining Mike Evans, Chris Godwin and Jalen McMillan). The WR ranks remain painfully thin, but with Mayfield under center, the Buccaneers always have a chance. Tampa Bay faces a tough road game this coming Monday night in Detroit, but the Bucs have shown they’ll go into any lion’s den and compete.

The Lions have struggled to slow down explosive offenses this season. They had issues at times with Green Bay in Week 1, Baltimore (with a healthy Lamar Jackson) in Week 3 and were stung several times by Patrick Mahomes on Sunday night. Now the high-flying Bucs come to Detroit this coming Monday night in another huge test for the defense. Allowing more yards and points to that caliber of offense is understandable, but the Lions must produce more splash plays defensively. Against the Packers, Ravens and Chiefs, they forced only one total turnover; they had eight turnovers forced in the other three games. The Chiefs essentially made it an eight-possession game for the Lions, limiting the visitors’ chances to score.

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