NFL Power Rankings - Week 7: Cowboys force their way into top 5; Seahawks drop from No. 1

The NFL Power Rankings are selected by a panel of theScore's NFL Editors, including David P. Woods, Michael Amato, Caitlyn Holroyd and Gino Bottero.

1. Denver Broncos

Previous Rank: 2nd

Peyton Manning has been lighting it up again this season, yet there doesn't seem to be much, if any, MVP chatter. Ronnie Hillman looks like he'll be just fine as the Broncos' lead back for the time being. - Gino Bottero

2. San Diego Chargers

Previous Rank: 3rd

Seems fair that the Chargers can get away with a close call in Oakland after weeks of blowing out lesser competition. After last year's problems in the secondary, giving up four touchdowns to Derek Carr is concerning, though, it's hard to get up for games against the Raiders. - Gino Bottero

3. Seattle Seahawks

Previous Rank: 1st

Losing at home to the Cowboys was a tough blow for the Seahawks, but it doesn't change the fact that they have been among the NFL's top teams so far this season. They'll have an opportunity to rebound Sunday against the struggling Rams. - Caitlyn Holroyd

4. Dallas Cowboys

Previous Rank: 11th

A victory in Seattle should put to rest any doubts that this team is for real. They have balance on offense, an opportunistic defense and arguably the best kicker in the game right now. That's a recipe for success. - Michael Amato

5. Cincinnati Bengals

Previous Rank: 4th

The Bengals have hung their hats on their ability to dominate at home, so head coach Marvin Lewis is surely hoping Sunday's performance was just a case of running into a great quarterback at the wrong time and not a harbinger of things to come. They really needed to put forth a better effort after getting blown out by the Patriots. - Gino Bottero

6. Philadelphia Eagles

Previous Rank: 6th

The Eagles finally put together a full 60 minutes of football and completely shut down a Giants offense that looked dominant the previous three weeks. If you include special teams, there's an argument to be made that Philly is the most balanced team in the NFC. - Michael Amato

7. Green Bay Packers

Previous Rank: 5th

With their third win a row, the Packers early-season struggles are well behind them. With Aaron Rodgers at quarterback, this team is never out of a game and they proved it on Sunday against Miami. - Michael Amato

8. Arizona Cardinals

Previous Rank: 10th

Carson Palmer was solid in his return, passing for 250 yards and two touchdowns in a 30-20 victory over the Redskins. Arizona is running like a well-oiled machine right now and is showing no signs of slowing down. - Caitlyn Holroyd

9. San Francisco 49ers

Previous Rank: 7th

If the 49ers can continue to play like they did against the Rams, they'll be in good shape. Monday's victory wasn't without consequence, though, as Patrick Willis, Mike Iupati and Jimmie Ward all exited with various injuries. That could spell trouble for this week's game in Denver. - Caitlyn Holroyd

10. Indianapolis Colts

Previous Rank: 8th

It's remarkable how quickly Andrew Luck assumed Peyton Manning's habit of making everyone around him better, even (somehow) on defense. As most predicted before the season, the Colts will cruise to an AFC South title. How far they go after that is up to Luck. - David P. Woods

11. New England Patriots

Previous Rank: 9th

The Patriots took another step forward in the win column, but a bigger step back overall with season-ending injuries to Jerod Mayo and Stevan Ridley. New England's lack of depth has contributed to its undoing in recent seasons. It's set up to happen again. - David P. Woods

12. Baltimore Ravens

Previous Rank: 13th

Joe Flacco threw for five touchdowns. That happened. The team searched long and hard for a play-caller that suited the talents on the roster and Gary Kubiak is clearly the guy they've been looking for all along. - Gino Bottero

13. Detroit Lions

Previous Rank: 14th

The Lions' defense will have to carry this team while Calvin Johnson is sidelined, and they're certainly playing well enough to do it. As long as the kicking game doesn't derail them, the Lions should be fine until Megatron returns.  - Michael Amato

14. Carolina Panthers

Previous Rank: 12th

Coming out of Cincinnati with a tie isn't a bad thing, especially when your quarterback racks up 284 yards and two touchdowns against one of the NFL's better defenses. The Panthers appear to be back on track, but they aren't in the clear just yet, as they have the Packers, Seahawks, Saints and Eagles to contend with over the next four weeks. - Caitlyn Holroyd

15. New Orleans Saints

Previous Rank: 16th

After a much-needed Week 6 bye, the Saints head to Detroit to take on the Lions. This will be a big test for New Orleans, which has yet to win on the road this season and could be without one of its biggest offensive weapons in Jimmy Graham. - Caitlyn Holroyd

16. Chicago Bears

Previous Rank: 18th

Despite a road win over Atlanta last week, Chicago still hasn't shown any consistency this season. How it handles the next three games against Miami, New England and Green Bay will define its season. - Michael Amato

17. Cleveland Browns

Previous Rank: 21st

The Browns have been sneaky good this year and the Steelers learned that the hard way this past weekend. If the offensive line can continue to open holes for Ben Tate and Isaiah Crowell, watch out. - Gino Bottero

18. Kansas City Chiefs

Previous Rank: 17th

Things won't get any easier for the Chiefs as they continue to navigate a tricky schedule, visiting San Diego to take on a Chargers team that's won five in a row. Andy Reid's track record off the bye will be put to the test. - Gino Bottero

19. Pittsburgh Steelers

Previous Rank: 15th

It's tough to pinpoint exactly what's wrong with the Steelers at the moment. The defense has been consistently awful, but the offense seems to show up some weeks and not others. Time's running out for Mike Tomlin to right the ship. - Gino Bottero

20. Houston Texans

Previous Rank: 23rd

J.J. Watt is human - barely - and he can only carry this team so far. Ryan Fitzpatrick is undermining Watt's all-time great season. It's time to see what Ryan Mallett has. If he can't handle being under the microscope this soon, he'll never be able to handle it. - David P. Woods

21. Buffalo Bills

Previous Rank: 22nd

The Bills have assembled a defense teams fear playing. Everything else remains a work in progress. C.J. Spiller's play stands out as particularly disappointing, especially considering how badly this team needs a spark to take the pressure off the passing game. - David P. Woods

22. Miami Dolphins

Previous Rank: 24th

If Ryan Tannehill could play with any consistency, this team would be a contender. He can't, and so the Dolphins aren't. - David P. Woods

23. New York Giants

Previous Rank: 19th

The loss of Victor Cruz is a big blow. With the Cowboys and Eagles playing so well in the NFC East, it may be too much to overcome. A loss in Dallas this week will leave New York's season hanging by a thread. - Michael Amato

24. Atlanta Falcons

Previous Rank: 20th

The Falcons will need to pull themselves out of this funk fast, as they're in serious danger of having their season slip away. They won't be handed any favors this week with a matchup against the Ravens. - Caitlyn Holroyd

25. Minnesota Vikings

Previous Rank: 25th

Teddy Bridgewater came back down to earth after his impressive opening start. It's going to take some time before he becomes a consistent NFL passer, which should make the 2014 season a frustrating one for Vikings fans. - Michael Amato

26. St. Louis Rams

Previous Rank: 28th

After finishing last season with the third-most sacks in the NFL, the Rams have managed just a single sack through their first five games. Austin Davis is emerging as a promising quarterback, but that alone isn't enough to get the Rams out of the hole they've dug. - Caitlyn Holroyd

27. Washington Redskins

Previous Rank: 26th

There was a point where Kirk Cousins looked like he may steal the quarterback job away from an injured Robert Griffin. However, Cousins now leads the league in second-half interceptions with eight. - Michael Amato

28. Tennessee Titans

Previous Rank: 30th

When is a win not really a win? When it's a narrow and perhaps undeserved victory over the league's worst team - and when it pushes you further from a chance to draft the franchise quarterback you desperately need. - David P. Woods

29. New York Jets

Previous Rank: 29th

The over-matched Jets held tough against the Broncos, proving Rex Ryan still has what it takes to make a tasty meal from bland ingredients. However, not even Vince Lombardi himself could coax a win from this roster on the road in New England on a short week. - David P. Woods

30. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Previous Rank: 27th

The Bucs took a big step back with their blowout loss to the Ravens in Week 6, and have now surrendered 165 points in their past four games. They can take solace in the fact that they aren't the only team struggling in the NFC South. - Caitlyn Holroyd

31. Oakland Raiders

Previous Rank: 32nd

Derek Carr threw for four touchdowns this week, so that's something. Oakland just isn't an imposing place to go and play football right now, which is a shame. - Gino Bottero

32. Jacksonville Jaguars

Previous Rank: 31st

Can one call it rebuilding if all that emerges from the pile of rubble is more rubble? Blake Bortles looks like the real deal, but it's fair to worry he'll be irreparably damaged by this team - if not physically, then emotionally. - David P. Woods