Week 7 NFL Power Rankings Roundup: Bye-Week Blues for Packers

In our survey of 10 national power rankings, the Packers fell in eight last week – even while enjoying their bye. Here’s a look at the Packers and the Broncos, this week’s opponent.

GREEN BAY, Wis. – NFL power rankings, obviously, are irrelevant. This isn’t old-school college football in which the rankings were used to decide national championships.

Nonetheless, in our weekly survey of 10 national power rankings, it’s at least interesting to note the Green Bay Packers fell in eight of them even while on a bye last week.

The Packers are universally ranked 20th or worse, with their average ranking 25.5. The good news is they’ll play at Denver this week. The Broncos are 1-5, with their only win coming against the Chicago Bears. Their high-water mark in this week’s rankings is 28th.

Here’s where you’ll find the Packers in our 10-rankings panel. A longer analysis is available by clicking the links.

NFL.com: 20th

Last week: 18th

Eric Edholm noted the Packers’ pathetic first-half performances. The team can’t turn around its season without turning around that fatal flaw. “They must find ways to get going offensively earlier in games. In their three defeats, they've logged 16 first-half points -- and only six in the past two losses. Green Bay's last first-half TD in any game came in Week 2 at Atlanta, and the team has been outscored 69-26 in first halves this season.”

ESPN.com: 20th

Last week: 19th.

The theme for this week’s ESPN power rankings is lesson learned. Packers beat writer Rob Demovsky says quarterback Jordan Love needs more time. Not time in the pocket – though that’s the case, as well – but time to show whether he’s up for the job after throwing one touchdown pass against five interceptions the past two weeks. “Love threw seven touchdowns and just one interception in his first three games, and with a 2-1 record, it looked like the transition period from Aaron Rodgers would be minimal. Then reality hit in Games 4 and 5 – the reality that Love is still inexperienced and is surrounded by even less experience.”

Pro Football Network: 20th

Last week: 19th.

Dalton Miller said, “The week off couldn’t have come at a better (or worse) time for Jordan Love. Throwing three interceptions against a team that had only accumulated seven in the previous 21 games is less than ideal. The team is a mess defensively, as well.” Joe Barry’s unit has too much talent to be so mediocre.

Sports Illustrated: 21st

Last week: 20th

Conor Orr is interested to see the Packers’ offense facing the defenses of the Broncos and Vikings the next two weeks. Statistically, both are among the NFL’s worst though they’re coming off strong performances vs. Kansas City and Chicago, respectively.

“The Packers come out of the bye nowhere near reaching their potential. This is both troubling and liberating,” Orr wrote. “Two of their three losses came by four or fewer points, and they emerge from their hibernation with the Broncos and the Vikings on tap. Seriously, is there anything better for a slump?”

USA Today: 21st

Last week: 24th.

Nate Davis’ rankings are the one and only in which the Packers actually improved after their week off. A cushy schedule after their bye of games at Denver and home against the Vikings and Rams could jump-start the season. “Assuming they're revitalized coming out of their bye, could be time to go on a run given they're not scheduled to see an opponent currently sporting a winning record until Week 10.”

Amik Robertson intercepts the Packers' last-gasp chance at the Raiders :: Photo by Stephen R. Sylvanie/USA Today Sports Images

Pro Football Talk: 24th

Last week: 24th

Wrote Mike Florio: “They need to start faster, or they’ll be done by Thanksgiving.”

CBS Sports: 24th

Last week: 23rd

The Packers were sixth in Pete Prisco’s rankings three weeks ago. Not anymore. “They come off their bye with a lot of guys getting healthy. That's important. Jordan Love needs to be better.

Yahoo: 25th

Last week: 20th.

Frank Schwab sees opportunity with the Broncos, Vikings, Rams and Steelers on the second-quarter-of-the-season docket. “If the Packers are going to be any good this season, we'll find out over the next four games. Based on how they've looked the past couple weeks, maybe none of those games is winnable.”

The Athletic: 25th

Last week: 23rd

The Packers needed an “improbable” comeback to beat the Saints in Week 3. After back-to-back losses, maybe Aaron Jones’ return will provide a lift, Josh Kendall wrote. “Green Bay is averaging 3.6 yards per play and 5.2 points in the first half of games. Both rank next to last in the league. Jordan Love is last in the league in completion percentage (55.6). The good news is the Broncos are up next.”

The 33rd Team: 25th

Last week: 24th

Ryan Reynolds sees the ingredients for a rebound. “Coming off a bye, Jordan Love draws three beatable defenses in three winnable games. On top of that, the Packers have the better defense in all three of those matchups.”

Next Opponent: Denver Broncos

The Packers will visit the Denver Broncos on Sunday. With a 1-5 record, the Broncos’ average mark in our 10-rankings survey is 29.5. They range from 28th at NFL.com (among others) to 31st at ESPN.com (among others).

Denver is 30th at Sports Illustrated. SI’s Orr noted that the Broncos have the worst defense in the NFL and a mediocre offense. Even with the high-profile duo of quarterback Russell Wilson and coach Sean Payton, Denver is in the No. 3 position for the 2024 NFL Draft.

“I would assume that the value in proving you can ‘fix’ Russell Wilson vs. the value of simply figuring out who can play on this roster and would be worth holding onto is the key question to answer,” Orr wrote.

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If you're still wondering about Davante Adams vs. Preston Smith, I asked #Packers defensive coordinator Joe Barry about it yesterday. ⬇️https://t.co/IjbGh9SqRC

— Bill Huber (@BillHuberNFL) October 17, 2023

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