đ NFL Power Rankings: Week 8
1) Kansas City Chiefs (+1)
Vintage Patrick Mahomes is dicing teams up and Rashee Rice is set to debut in Week 7. If the Chiefs can get their defense on track, theyâll be headed towards another AFC West title.
2) Detroit Lions (-1)
Despite their first slip-up since Week 1, the Lions look like the strongest team in football with an offensive line and run game that travels. Their secondary is going to be a makeshift unit for a few weeks until some starters return from injury.
3) Philadelphia Eagles (+0)
Defenses have been daring Jalen Hurts to beat them and he did just that with 326 passing yards and 3 TDs in Minnesota. Up next for the Eagles is a revenge-narrative matchup against the young Giants.
4) Indianapolis Colts (+2)
While their strength of schedule is still a factor, the Colts are absolutely killing teams with deft play-calling and arguably the most balanced offense in football.
5) Los Angeles Rams (+2)
Even without Puka Nacua (ankle), Matthew Stafford put on a clinic in London, and the Rams continued to showcase their defensive prowess by piling onto Jacksonvilleâs struggles.
6) Green Bay Packers (-2)
The Packers are still getting crushed against the spread (-24.5) since Week 2, but they scored a road win with captain Josh Jacobs clearly under the weather.
7) Buffalo Bills (-2)
Josh Allen was pressing in two losses before Buffaloâs bye, likely because his defense is one of the worst in the league. The Bills need to get healthier on that side of the ball.
8) Seattle Seahawks (+1)
The opening script made Sam Darnold look elite once again before Houston's defense got to him. The Seahawks defense is elite despite injuries to their secondary.
9) Tampa Bay Buccaneers (-1)
Mike Evans (collarbone) is going to miss most of the season and Baker Mayfield has to work with replacement-level receivers for the foreseeable future with Emeka Egbuka (hamstring) hobbled.
10) Denver Broncos (+0)
Bo Nix had a truly schizophrenic game with three terrible quarters followed by a record-setting fourth quarter with the benefit of a lucky tipped touchdown. When you have the leagueâs best defense, it buys you some time for miracle comebacks.
11) New England Patriots (+2)
Already leading the NFL in completion rate, Drake Maye set a franchise record (91.3%) in a third straight win. And thatâs a franchise that set most of the offensive records with Tom Brady in 2007.
12) Dallas Cowboys (+8)
Dak Prescott finally passed Daniel Jones as the NFL leader in QBR (81.4) and he was already leading the league in EPA (56.7) by a wide margin. Dallas just needs to be mediocre on defense to complement a red-hot quarterback.
13) San Francisco 49ers (+5)
The Niners defense is going to run into trouble without Fred Warner (ankle) and Nick Bosa (knee). Yet their offense is pointing straight up with George Kittle back and more help on the way.
14) Atlanta Falcons (-2)
Michael Penix Jr. is going through some growing pains with five sacks and some clock management issues during a 2-1 stretch. The Falcons have a top-2 back and an elite defense to help their second-year passer.
15) Pittsburgh Steelers (+1)
Mike Tomlinâs struggles on Thursday Night continued with a shootout loss to old foe Joe Flacco. The Steelers (+135) are now in a dead heat with the 1-6 Ravens (+135) in the AFC North market.
16) Houston Texans (-1)
Houstonâs offense is terrible and their defense is great. This is a classic case of a front office focusing too much on one side of the ball.
17) Chicago Bears (+0)
The Bears resurgence on both sides of the line of scrimmage out of the Week 5 bye carried into a home win over the Saints on a short week.
18) Minnesota Vikings (+4)
The Vikings are likely to stick with Carson Wentz for now after the veteran led a game-winning drive in London. They've struggled in the trenches this year.
19) Los Angeles Chargers (+0)
Khalil Mack and Denzel Perryman came back early on defense to little avail, as the Chargers got blasted by the Colts machine. Oronde Gadsden looks like a great receiving TE for Justin Herbert.
20) Baltimore Ravens (+3)
Limping into their bye week at 1-5, the Ravens are still getting relatively short odds (+185) to catch the Steelers and win the AFC North. Lamar Jackson (hamstring) could lead them on a run.
21) Washington Commanders (-10)
Jayden Daniels is out with a hamstring injury that looked problematic in real time. Washingtonâs top two receivers are banged up and the season looks to be circling the drain.
22) Jacksonville Jaguars (-8)
Trevor Lawrence now ranks 30th in Points Added per pass attempt, ahead of only Jake Browning, Geno Smith, and Cam Ward.
23) Arizona Cardinals (-2)
Weâll say it again: Kyler Murray needs to take notes from Jacoby Brissett on how to play complementary football. The veteran backup made some mistakes, but also unlocked his top receiving options with great pocket passes over his two spot starts.
24) New York Giants (+0)
Not only does Jaxson Dart look like a legitimate star, heâs apparently already getting the âMahomes treatmentâ from refs with a couple of super-questionable flags allowing him to score the go-ahead TD in an eventual loss at Denver.
25) Carolina Panthers (+0)
Hey, the Panthers finally won a road game! Even better for Carolina backers, Bryce Young (ankle) got injured and their offense might get a lift with Andy Dalton potentially slated to start in Week 8 against Buffalo.
26) Cincinnati Bengals (+4)
We have to upgrade the Bengals with a functional QB under center now. Their defense is still a sieve, but JaâMarr Chase and Tee Higgins look poised to blow up in more shootouts with Flacco firing away.
27) Cleveland Browns (+2)
Dillon Gabriel barely had to lift a finger in a 31-6 win over the dysfunctional Dolphins with his defense dominating and Quinshon Judkins running wild.
28) Miami Dolphins (-1)
Tua Tagovailoa and Mike McDaniel are apparently safe from early dismissal, but this team is going nowhere fast.
29) New Orleans Saints (-1)
Credit Kellen Moore and his staff for keeping the Saints competitive in almost every game this season despite dealing with one of the least talented rosters in the NFL.
30) Las Vegas Raiders (-4)
The Raiders limp into their bye week with their tails between their legs after getting thoroughly dominated in Kansas City.
31) Tennessee Titans (+1)
The Titans showed early signs of a ânew coach bumpâ against the red-hot Patriots before Cam Ward committed his backbreaking turnover right on cue to end any thoughts of a cover.
32) New York Jets (-1)
Itâs a close race to the bottom in the NFL this year, but the Jets take the cake. Justin Fields was finally benched and Tyrod Taylor didnât have much chance either with zero reliable receivers at his disposal.
