NFL Power Rankings - Week 7: Every team's best play of the season so far
The NFL Power Rankings are selected by a panel of theScore's football editors.
Here, we select every team's best play of the season six weeks into the 2021 campaign.
1. Arizona Cardinals (6-0)
Previous Rank: 2
Although Arizona leads the NFC with 20 plays of at least 25 yards, the debate over the Cardinals' best play so far in 2021 was quick.
Happy Victory Monday!!!!
— Andy Kwong (@akwong31) October 11, 2021
Watch this 33-yard catch by Rondale Moore thrown by K1. Moore has been such a blessing/gift for the #AZCardinals offense. A match made in heaven for Kliff Kingsbury. What concentration by No. 4!
Had 97 total scrimmage yards in the W! 5-0 BABY!#RedSea pic.twitter.com/zc8Wpr0Iqj
2. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (5-1)
Previous Rank: 3
Antonio Brown made a 62-yard touchdown reception look easy in Week 5. He went untouched on the Bucs' longest scoring play of the year.
Tom Brady with a 62-yard touchdown to Antonio Brown.
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) October 10, 2021
Brown became the fastest player to catch 900 passes earlier in this game, did it in 143 games. Marvin Harrison did it in 149.pic.twitter.com/9LK36lkhOr
3. Los Angeles Rams (5-1)
Previous Rank: 4
Granted, the Bucs' secondary could've done a better job on the play, but Matthew Stafford and DeSean Jackson deserve credit for their 75-yard touchdown that helped the Rams earn their biggest win of the year.
DESEAN JACKSON. 75 YARDS ✌️
— FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) September 26, 2021
(via @NFL) pic.twitter.com/THpPGNjkGx
4. Baltimore Ravens (5-1)
Previous Rank: 7
A record-setting walk-off field goal made by the greatest kicker in the game? Justin Tucker's game-winner versus the Lions is arguably the best play of the entire 2021 campaign.
66 YARDS. GAME-WINNER. NFL RECORD.
— NFL UK (@NFLUK) September 26, 2021
Justin Tucker, take a bow.
📺 NFL Game Pass | @Ravens pic.twitter.com/DnPxpo31yD
5. Buffalo Bills (4-2)
Previous Rank: 1
Josh Allen has had several touchdown dimes this season, but Emmanuel Sanders' tough reception in Week 3 against Washington takes the cake.
What a beaut.
— Buffalo Bills (@BuffaloBills) September 26, 2021
📺 #WASvsBUF: FOX pic.twitter.com/OzSX80nrG3
6. Green Bay Packers (5-1)
Previous Rank: 5
The Packers shockingly have yet to score a touchdown of more than 25 yards in 2021, so their No. 1 play is Aaron Rodgers' spectacular throw to Davante Adams that helped set up Green Bay's improbable comeback versus the 49ers.
Rodgers not done yet. #GoPackGo
— NFL (@NFL) September 27, 2021
📺: #GBvsSF on NBC
📱: https://t.co/KgHDqDkg0d pic.twitter.com/zl8KXCTham
7. Dallas Cowboys (5-1)
Previous Rank: 8
There are too many factors that make CeeDee Lamb's touchdown in Week 6 the Cowboys' best play of the season. Here, we have an overtime game-winner with Dak Prescott tossing the ball on basically one foot.
Cowboys QB Dak Prescott to CeeDee Lamb for game-winning TD in overtime.
— Jori Epstein (@JoriEpstein) October 17, 2021
Cowboys 35, Patriots 29pic.twitter.com/njz8cWi1cB
(via @NFL)
8. Los Angeles Chargers (4-2)
Previous Rank: 6
Asante Samuel Jr. not only picked off Mahomes in his third career NFL game, but the rookie corner did it in spectacular fashion.
🗣 TIP DRILL
— Sports Illustrated (@SInow) September 26, 2021
What a play by Asante Samuel Jr. to pick off Patrick Mahomes 🔥
(via @NFL)pic.twitter.com/AqpGgRHL9l
9. Kansas City Chiefs (3-3)
Previous Rank: 10
Patrick Mahomes and Tyreek Hill are a highlight machine together, and their 75-yard touchdown connection in Week 1 was as good as any other play we'll see this year.
Patrick Mahomes 75-yard touchdown pass to Tyreek Hill. Buckle up.
— Billy Heyen (@BillyHeyen) September 12, 2021
(Mahomes is a cheat code)pic.twitter.com/LGyfqyFdMB
10. Tennessee Titans (4-2)
Previous Rank: 12
We're running out of words to describe Derrick Henry's highlights, but a 76-yard touchdown - against the NFL's No. 1 scoring defense - isn't supposed to look this easy.
76-YARD DERRICK HENRY HOUSE CALL!!! 😤🏠 #Titans
— Sports Illustrated (@SInow) October 19, 2021
(via @NFL)pic.twitter.com/FpMpd1sTrQ
11. New Orleans Saints (3-2)
Previous Rank: 11
Anytime a Hail Mary results in a touchdown - even if the play doesn't happen at the end of the game - it becomes an instant play of the year candidate.
HAIL MAR...QUEZ! 🙏
— New Orleans Saints (@Saints) October 10, 2021
Winston launches a hail mary to Callaway for a 49-yd TD at the end of the half - WOW! #WASvsNO | 📺: CBS pic.twitter.com/IR7AttiRpT
12. Cleveland Browns (3-3)
Previous Rank: 9
Following New Orleans' Hail Mary touchdown is ... another Hail Mary score. Baker Mayfield stunned the Cardinals in Week 6 with his 57-yard touchdown throw to Donovan Peoples-Jones to end the first half.
HAIL MAYFIELD!!!!! #Browns
— NFL (@NFL) October 17, 2021
📺: #AZvsCLE on FOX
📱: NFL app pic.twitter.com/Kr1f55hJQT
13. Cincinnati Bengals (4-2)
Previous Rank: 13
Big plays have become natural for rookie Ja'Marr Chase, and his 70-yard touchdown versus the Packers sums up how he's performed in 2021.
UNO HAS DONE IT AGAIN!
— Cincinnati Bengals (@Bengals) October 10, 2021
Watch on FOX | #BudLightCelly pic.twitter.com/b3lZK0VX5R
14. Las Vegas Raiders (4-2)
Previous Rank: 20
Zay Jones' walk-off touchdown may not have been Las Vegas' most impressive play of the year, but it capped off an overtime win Raiders fans will never forget.
ZAY. JONES. BALL GAME. GOOD NIGHT VEGAS! #RaiderNation pic.twitter.com/LJrn4EURp0
— NFL Network (@nflnetwork) September 14, 2021
15. Chicago Bears (3-3)
Previous Rank: 15
Picking Chicago's best play was a relatively easy task since its offense has recorded only four plays of 25-plus yards in 2021 - the fewest in the NFL.
ROQUAN SMITH PICK SIX‼️
— ESPN (@espn) September 19, 2021
Joe Burrow tried to tackle him on the goal line.
(via @NFLBrasil) pic.twitter.com/eWeUJ1n11L
16. San Francisco 49ers (2-3)
Previous Rank: 16
Deebo Samuel is on pace for a breakout year, and his best highlight came in the first week of the season.
This 79-yard pass to Deebo Samuel is the longest of Jimmy Garoppolo's career and the longest passing TD by a 49er since 2018.
— The Athletic (@TheAthletic) September 12, 2021
🎥 @49ers | H/T @ESPNStatsInfo pic.twitter.com/oquwO9dKzB
17. Pittsburgh Steelers (3-3)
Previous Rank: 24
The Steelers earned their best win in Week 1 versus the Bills, and that probably wouldn't have happened if it wasn't for Pittsburgh's special teams touchdown in the fourth quarter.
Steelers with a blocked punt and the score!
— The Athletic (@TheAthletic) September 12, 2021
Pittsburgh is looking to upset the Bills in Buffalo.
🎥 @NFL pic.twitter.com/DtySCHo4CD
18. Minnesota Vikings (3-3)
Previous Rank: 23
K.J. Osborn's game-winning touchdown in Week 6 over the Panthers was exciting but not enough to beat Nick Vigil's pick-6 off MVP favorite Kyler Murray.
Kyler Murray had a perfect QB Rating of 158.3 in the first half.
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) September 19, 2021
He opens the second half with a pick-6.pic.twitter.com/MynQqxRYCe
19. Indianapolis Colts (2-4)
Previous Rank: 21
The Colts' offense woke up over the last three weeks. Among the team's recent eye-popping plays is Michael Pittman's 42-yard touchdown grab while drawing a pass interference penalty.
MICHAEL PITTMAN JR. #ForTheShoe
— NFL (@NFL) October 12, 2021
📺: #INDvsBAL on ESPN
📱: https://t.co/cpgwIpWHHN pic.twitter.com/CMkT1gLtV9
20. New England Patriots (2-4)
Previous Rank: 19
New England's offense has lacked big plays, but Damien Harris stole the show early in the year after breaking several tackles en route to the end zone.
Damien Harris making the Jets defense look like high-schoolers 😤pic.twitter.com/ir1Lc2Iazm
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPointsApp) September 19, 2021
21. Denver Broncos (3-3)
Previous Rank: 18
Melvin Gordon put the Giants to bed in Denver's season opener after completing the Broncos' longest scoring play of the campaign thus far.
Melvin Gordon with a 70-yard touchdown.
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) September 12, 2021
27-7 #Broncos over the #Giants pic.twitter.com/0BdKkQVU0K
22. Carolina Panthers (3-3)
Previous Rank: 17
Though the connection between Sam Darnold and Robby Anderson has struggled lately, their 57-yard touchdown in Week 1 versus the Jets - their former team - was beautiful to see.
Sam Darnold to Robby Anderson. 57 yards 🚀
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) September 12, 2021
The ex-Jets burn their former team 😤
(via @NFL)pic.twitter.com/zJx8pzU6dd
23. Seattle Seahawks (2-4)
Previous Rank: 14
The 69-yard bomb from Russell Wilson to Tyler Lockett in Week 1 not only is the Seahawks' best play of the season, but it's also a reminder of what fans in Seattle will miss out on with the quarterback sidelined.
Russ to Tyler Lockett. 🚀
— Sunday Night Football on NBC (@SNFonNBC) September 12, 2021
The deep ball for 69 yards! (Via @NFL) pic.twitter.com/m35wTubNKb
24. Philadelphia Eagles (2-4)
Previous Rank: 25
It doesn't get much better for Eagles fans than Fletcher Cox scoring a touchdown against the team's archrival on the road.
STRIPPED. SACKED. RECOVERED.
— NFL (@NFL) September 28, 2021
That's an @Eagles TD for Fletcher Cox! #FlyEaglesFly
📺: #PHIvsDAL on ESPN
📱: https://t.co/sXVKWk2eYl pic.twitter.com/2IqX2i69Pk
25. Washington Football Team (2-4)
Previous Rank: 22
Washington continues to fall on the rankings, but its list of jaw-dropping plays is as good as any team's. We picked the one with the better combination of toughness and importance to the game.
🗣 YOU
— Washington Football Team (@WashingtonNFL) September 17, 2021
🗣 GOT
🗣 MOSSED pic.twitter.com/k4zLSE0eFW
26. Atlanta Falcons (2-3)
Previous Rank: 27
Cordarrelle Patterson has scored touchdowns in many different ways this season, but his one-handed score in Week 2 stood out the most.
GO FLASH GO ⚡️
— Atlanta Falcons (@AtlantaFalcons) September 19, 2021
📺: FOX | @ceeflashpee84 pic.twitter.com/5RMK9mo6GF
27. Jacksonville Jaguars (1-5)
Previous Rank: 32
The Jaguars don't have many impressive plays, but even if they did, none would be nearly as wild as their 109-yard return touchdown against the Cardinals in Week 3.
🚨🚨KICK 6 🚨🚨
— FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) September 26, 2021
You KNOW we had to have Gus Johnson on this call! What a play for the @Jaguars!
(via @nfl) pic.twitter.com/6GUWfxzO6F
28. New York Giants (1-5)
Previous Rank: 28
Saquon Barkley has been inconsistent this year, but he still produced a game-changing 54-yard touchdown reception.
THERE GOES THAT MAN!
— New York Giants (@Giants) October 3, 2021
📺: @NFLonFOX & Giants App pic.twitter.com/reC0OECGsS
29. New York Jets (1-4)
Previous Rank: 31
A 53-yard touchdown throw on the move to take the lead midway through the fourth quarter? Those are the plays Jets fans want to see from Zach Wilson.
.@ZachWilson said "go deep @TheCDavis84, I'll find ya"#TENvsNYJ on CBS pic.twitter.com/JEqYZT8xtU
— New York Jets (@nyjets) October 3, 2021
30. Miami Dolphins (1-5)
Previous Rank: 26
Dolphins fans don't have much to celebrate lately, but they sure haven't forgotten Elandon Roberts' 85-yard pick-6 in Week 3.
Elandon Roberts. Hello end zone. @Roberts_52 #FinsUp
— NFL (@NFL) September 26, 2021
📺: #MIAvsLV on CBS
📱: NFL app pic.twitter.com/4ljVwhtb6j
31. Houston Texans (1-5)
Previous Rank: 30
Houston reached into its bag of tricks against the Patriots two weeks ago, and the team was rewarded with a beautiful touchdown off a flea flicker.
IT'S A TEXANS FLEA FLICKER!pic.twitter.com/wcqpHD5SGU
— Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) October 10, 2021
32. Detroit Lions (0-6)
Previous Rank: 29
D'Andre Swift's 43-yard catch-and-run score in Week 1 saves the Lions from having essentially zero jaw-dropping plays in 2021.
.@DAndreSwift takes the screen to the 🏠#SFvsDET | 📺 FOX pic.twitter.com/7nNWWt6wDu
— Detroit Lions (@Lions) September 12, 2021