NFL Power Rankings: 40-point victories mean nothing

Here's how the mind works for the SB Nation power rankings. Narrowly escape the Detroit Lions and gain one position. Beat the New York Jets by 40 points, and then lose two positions in the power rankings. Granted, the Jets are the Jets; they still had a winning record at the time and the Bengals became the first team to post a 40-point margin during their win.

I just don't get it.

Elliot Harrison explains why he didn't move the Bengals higher than seventh.

Bengals fans want their team in the top five after the big win over the Jets, but how can we leapfrog Cincinnati over the 49ers, whose losses were at the hands of the Seahawks (7-1) and Colts (5-2)? Indy, meanwhile has beaten both Seattle and San Francisco. Thus, Cincinnati is parked at seventh.

The list.