The NFL is starting to take shape, like it always does, roughly a third of the way through the season. One thing that stands out to many: The NFC North is so tough.

The Bears and Packers are tied for the division’s worst at 4-2. That’s pretty good. In fact, every team currently stands within the NFC’s top seven seeds. That won’t last once the NFC North teams start playing each other.

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It shows the depth and power of the division, which features four teams that can score efficiently and defend. That will make for some dramatic contests, starting with a Week 7 clash between the Lions and Vikings.

That’s why all four NFC North teams are in the top 14. That’s where the Bears stand, but there’s upward mobility in their future should they keep stacking wins.

The AFC also features some juggernauts in the Chiefs, Texans and Ravens, all ranked near the top right now.

The bottom has also settled, with a fluctuating middle class where a team or two could still emerge as the season progresses.

Let’s see how the league shook out in these Week 7 NFL power rankings:

1. Kansas City Chiefs (5-0): Byes don’t drop you in the rankings. King stays king.

2. Minnesota Vikings (5-0): Vikings get the Lions off their bye. That’s appointment viewing.

3. Detroit Lions (4-1): There aren’t many we would say this for, but the NFL is worse without Aidan Hutchinson. Injuries stink.

4. Baltimore Ravens (4-2): Lamar Jackson for MVP, again?

5. Houston Texans (4-1): Texans averaged 6.9 yards per carry. Okay, playing the Patriots created the puffed-up stat, but it shows Houston doesn’t have to rely solely on C.J. Stroud.

6. Buffalo Bills (3-2): This is a big game coming up for the Bills on Monday night. They’ve gotta prove they still run the AFC East.

8. Atlanta Falcons (4-2): Everyone talks about Bijan Robinson. He’s fantastic, but the Falcons are far better with Robinson and Tyler Allgeier are going strong.

9. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-2): After all the Bucs went through, putting up 51 on a division rival (with three Baker Mayfield picks) is quite something.

10. Green Bay Packers (4-2): Jordan Love has his team rolling. Green Bay will be a force in the NFC.

11.  Washington Commanders (4-2): Jayden Daniels is incredible. Still not all in on the entire team over the long haul.

12. Pittsburgh Steelers (4-2): Justin Fields is so inconsistent, but the Steelers keep churning out wins.

13. San Francisco 49ers (3-3): There’s nothing in recent 49ers play to suggest they’re the juggernaut they once were.

14. Chicago Bears (4-2): That’s three wins in a row, and not the most important thing to come from the sequence. Caleb Williams’ emergence has made the Bears a legitimate threat.

15. Philadelphia Eagles (3-2): Nick Sirianni got into it with the home crowd. An NFL head coach. In Philly, where they boo Santa Claus. Weird, wild, unprofessional stuff.

16. Los Angeles Chargers (3-2): Jim Harbaugh left the sideline with an arrythmia. He came back. Chargers still won. Tough group.

17. Dallas Cowboys (3-3): Maybe Dan Quinn was more important to the Cowboys than we realized.

18. Seattle Seahawks (3-3): Welcome, Seahawks, back to reality. Things have gone south after a great start.

19. Cincinnati Bengals (2-4): Bengals win the game where Joe Burrow doesn’t put up huge stats. Go figure.

19. New York Jets (2-3): Can Jets put turmoil behind them and compete with the Jets on MNF?

20. Denver Broncos (3-3): There’s often a great distance between better and good.

21. Indianapolis Colts (3-3): This Joe Flacco story sure is fun. It’ll become controversial is Anthony Richardson comes back and plays worse than the ol’ man.

22. New Orleans Saints (2-4): Hope New Orleans enjoyed those first two wins.

23. Arizona Cardinals (2-4): Missing Marvin Harrison Jr. for any length of time spells trouble.

24. Los Angeles Rams (1-4): Rams can still find a way without Kupp and Nacua. Stafford gives them a chance, if he can stay upright.

25. New York Giants (2-4): A bad team paying a quarterback a ton. That’s the worst possible spot to be long-term.

26. Miami Dolphins (2-3): Mike McDaniel says Tua is expected to play again this season, though there’s no timetable for his return. Might be too little, too late.

27. New England Patriots (1-5): Drake Maye gives New England a shot to win. Pats fans hopes he survives what will be a rough rookie experience.

28. Las Vegas Raiders (2-3): Terrible towels in the Black Hole is simply unacceptable. The Raiders have lost their best, most consistent attribute: The Silver and Black no longer have a home-field advantage.

29. Jacksonville Jaguars (1-5): Defensive penalties on three straight third downs. Dropped touchdown passes. Missing wide open targets. These are things the Jags did on Sunday. These are the things losing teams do.

30. Cleveland Browns (1-5): Browns owe it to the other guys on the roster to bench Deshaun Watson. Especially with an experienced backup available.

31. Tennessee Titans (1-4): Will Levis attempted 27 passes. He had 97 yards.

32. Carolina Panthers (1-5): This is a point in the rankings where we stop mocking a team like this. The Panthers just aren’t good. They’re battered and bruised and aren’t getting any better.

Follow Bears Insider Scott Bair on X @ScottBairNFL. Also, a Bair Mail is coming up on Wednesday! Join the conversation by submitting a mailbag question or comment to mailbag@marqueesportsnetwork.com for a chance to be included in this relatively new content series.