NFL Power Rankings - Week 8: Packers, Cardinals enter top 5; Bengals plummet
The NFL Power Rankings are selected by a panel of theScore's NFL Editors, including David P. Woods, Michael Amato, Caitlyn Holroyd and Gino Bottero.
1. Denver Broncos
Woods | Holroyd | Amato | Bottero |
---|---|---|---|
1st | 1st | 1st | 1st |
Previous Rank: 1st
Peyton Manning is now the NFL's all-time leader in touchdown passes with 510, and is on pace for another 50-touchdown season. The offense's dominance has overshadowed the improved play of the team's defense since the bye. The Broncos' pass rush was a nightmare for the 49ers on Sunday. - Gino Bottero
2. Dallas Cowboys
Woods | Holroyd | Amato | Bottero |
---|---|---|---|
2nd | 2nd | 3rd | 3rd |
Previous Rank: 4th
As long as DeMarco Murray keeps averaging 26 carries and more than 100 yards a game, nobody is going to beat the Cowboys. The running game masks an average defense that's largely kept off the field, and sets up an opportunistic passing attack featuring Dez Bryant, who nobody can seem to cover. - Michael Amato
3. Green Bay Packers
Woods | Holroyd | Amato | Bottero |
---|---|---|---|
3rd | 4th | 2nd | 6th |
Previous Rank: 7th
Nobody can stop the Packers' offense and Aaron Rodgers has 18 touchdowns to only one interception. Peyton Manning may have the touchdown record, but Rodgers is the best in the business right now. - Michael Amato
4. Arizona Cardinals
Woods | Holroyd | Amato | Bottero |
---|---|---|---|
4th | 3rd | 9th | 2nd |
Previous Rank: 8th
The Cardinals have been the cream of the crop in the NFC West thus far, and have yet to lose a game with Carson Palmer under center. Their next two games - versus Philadelphia, at Dallas - will reveal a lot about how far they're capable of going this season. - Caitlyn Holroyd
5. San Diego Chargers
Woods | Holroyd | Amato | Bottero |
---|---|---|---|
6th | 5th | 5th | 5th |
Previous Rank: 2nd
Maybe they're guilty of looking ahead, but last weekend's loss to the Chiefs simply wasn't the kind of game the Chargers can afford to give away with the way the Broncos are playing. A loss Thursday will all but officially put them in the wild-card chase. - Gino Bottero
6. Indianapolis Colts
Woods | Holroyd | Amato | Bottero |
---|---|---|---|
7th | 10th | 6th | 4th |
Previous Rank: 10th
The Colts' thrashing of the Bengals was the team's most impressive win this season because it came despite Andrew Luck having a relatively poor game. This defense is way more than the sum of its parts. - David P. Woods
7. Philadelphia Eagles
Woods | Holroyd | Amato | Bottero |
---|---|---|---|
5th | 8th | 4th | 11th |
Previous Rank: 6th
The Eagles had a week off to prepare for a tough matchup with Arizona. LeSean McCoy got back on track in Philly's most recent victory over the Giants, which is bad news for opposing defenses. - Michael Amato
8. New England Patriots
Woods | Holroyd | Amato | Bottero |
---|---|---|---|
11th | 6th | 8th | 7th |
Previous Rank: 11th
The Patriots can't stop the run. They can still win the AFC East with that fatal flaw, but they won't go anywhere in the playoffs. Bill Belichick has nine weeks to work his magic and correct a big problem. - David P. Woods
9. Seattle Seahawks
Woods | Holroyd | Amato | Bottero |
---|---|---|---|
10th | 7th | 7th | 9th |
Previous Rank: 3rd
The Seahawks have lost as many games this season as they did all of last year, and have looked a lot less imposing in recent games. Seattle is a talented team, but you can't rely on talent alone. - Caitlyn Holroyd
10. Baltimore Ravens
Woods | Holroyd | Amato | Bottero |
---|---|---|---|
8th | 12th | 13th | 8th |
Previous Rank: 12th
When the Ravens have been on, they've really been on this season, with four of their five wins coming by 20 or more points. They'll face a stern test in Cincinnati on Sunday with a chance to build on their division lead. - Gino Bottero
11. Detroit Lions
Woods | Holroyd | Amato | Bottero |
---|---|---|---|
9th | 9th | 10th | 13th |
Previous Rank: 13th
The Lions' defense is for real and it's causing nightmares for opposing quarterbacks with pressure generated off the line. By only giving up an average of 15 points per game, the Lions are finally making life easier for Matthew Stafford and the offense. - Michael Amato
12. San Francisco 49ers
Woods | Holroyd | Amato | Bottero |
---|---|---|---|
12th | 13th | 11th | 12th |
Previous Rank: 9th
Injuries have taken their toll on the 49ers, and it was especially apparent against the Broncos. A much-needed Week 8 bye will give them an opportunity to get healthy and regroup. - Caitlyn Holroyd
13. Cincinnati Bengals
Woods | Holroyd | Amato | Bottero |
---|---|---|---|
13th | 11th | 12th | 14th |
Previous Rank: 5th
It's been a true tale of two seasons for the Bengals, who started the year 3-0, but have gone 0-2-1 since. It sounds as if they won't be getting A.J. Green back at full capacity until 2015. Sunday's game against the Ravens isn't a must-win, but it's close. - Gino Bottero
14. Kansas City Chiefs
Woods | Holroyd | Amato | Bottero |
---|---|---|---|
15th | 14th | 14th | 10th |
Previous Rank: 18th
They may be 3-3, but a quick look at the Chiefs' schedule shows that this team shouldn't be overlooked. Outside of a bad loss to the Titans to open the season, the Chiefs kept within one score in losses at Denver and San Francisco, while picking up wins over the Dolphins, Patriots and Chargers. Their schedule lightens up over the next few weeks. - Gino Bottero
15. Carolina Panthers
Woods | Holroyd | Amato | Bottero |
---|---|---|---|
16th | 16th | 15th | 17th |
Previous Rank: 14th
The Panthers found themselves on the wrong side of a blowout loss to the Packers in Week 7, and must now contend with a hungry Seahawks team. Their hold on the NFC South is far from secure right now. - Caitlyn Holroyd
16. Pittsburgh Steelers
Woods | Holroyd | Amato | Bottero |
---|---|---|---|
17th | 17th | 17th | 16th |
Previous Rank: 19th
The Steelers' offensive prowess was on full display Monday. The problem has been stringing performances like that together, as they've yet to win two in a row this season. It won't be easy to buck that trend on Sunday when the Colts come to town. - Gino Bottero
17. Buffalo Bills
Woods | Holroyd | Amato | Bottero |
---|---|---|---|
14th | 18th | 21th | 19th |
Previous Rank: 21st
Losing Fred Jackson and C.J. Spiller hurts bad, but suddenly the trade for Bryce Brown looks prescient. So does the trade up for Sammy Watkins. There's hope in Buffalo, but one gets the feeling Bills fans have been hurt too many times to fully embrace it. - David P. Woods
18. Miami Dolphins
Woods | Holroyd | Amato | Bottero |
---|---|---|---|
19th | 15th | 20th | 18th |
Previous Rank: 22nd
If the Dolphins have truly turned the corner, and are as good as they've looked the past three weeks, they'll roll over the Jaguars on Sunday. As crazy as it sounds, Joe Philbin's ill-advised talk of benching Ryan Tannehill actually may have been a good thing for this team. - David P. Woods
19. New Orleans Saints
Woods | Holroyd | Amato | Bottero |
---|---|---|---|
20th | 21st | 19th | 15th |
Previous Rank: 15th
The Saints came really close to securing their first road victory of the season before allowing the Lions to claw back and win. The season is still young, but New Orleans has easily been one of the NFL's biggest disappointments so far. - Caitlyn Holroyd
20. Cleveland Browns
Woods | Holroyd | Amato | Bottero |
---|---|---|---|
18th | 20th | 18th | 20th |
Previous Rank: 17th
The Browns had a shot to cement themselves as playoff contenders by improving to 4-2 on Sunday, but they lost in Jacksonville of all places. Worse yet, Mike Pettine and his staff reportedly considered making the switch to Johnny Manziel during the game. - Gino Bottero
21. Chicago Bears
Woods | Holroyd | Amato | Bottero |
---|---|---|---|
21st | 19th | 16th | 21st |
Previous Rank: 16th
Reports of locker room turmoil following a bad loss at home to Miami isn’t going to help this team turn things around. Chicago has lost three of its last four contests and may be the most inconsistent team in the league. If the Bears fail to make the postseason again, this roster could be looking at a major overhaul. - Michael Amato
22. Houston Texans
Woods | Holroyd | Amato | Bottero |
---|---|---|---|
23rd | 23rd | 23rd | 22nd |
Previous Rank: 20th
The collapse against the Steelers took a special kind of ineptitude. It's past time for Ryan Mallett to start. The fact that he still isn't considered ready to play probably tells us everything we need to know about his NFL future. - David P. Woods
23. New York Giants
Woods | Holroyd | Amato | Bottero |
---|---|---|---|
22nd | 22nd | 24th | 24th |
Previous Rank: 23rd
Sunday’s loss against Dallas may be a sign of things to come. The effort was there, but there isn’t enough talent on this roster to compete in the NFC. They were outclassed by the Cowboys, and with matchups against the Colts, Seahawks and 49ers on the horizon, expect more of the same. - Michael Amato
24. St. Louis Rams
Woods | Holroyd | Amato | Bottero |
---|---|---|---|
24th | 24th | 22nd | 23rd |
Previous Rank: 26th
Pulling off an upset against the defending Super Bowl champions should provide the Rams with a huge confidence boost. With a tough three-game road stretch looming, they will need all the confidence they can get. - Caitlyn Holroyd
25. Atlanta Falcons
Woods | Holroyd | Amato | Bottero |
---|---|---|---|
25th | 25th | 26th | 27th |
Previous Rank: 24th
After a promising start to the season, the Falcons have lost four straight and remain winless on the road. Their only saving grace is how poorly the rest of the NFC South is playing. - Caitlyn Holroyd
26. New York Jets
Woods | Holroyd | Amato | Bottero |
---|---|---|---|
26th | 27th | 28th | 25th |
Previous Rank: 29th
The Percy Harvin trade would have been much more interesting if Nick Folk had hit that field goal against the Patriots and pushed the Jets to 2-5. There's no hope for the playoffs now. But, on the bright side, we saw in the Patriots game that there's hope yet for Geno Smith. - David P. Woods
27. Washington Redskins
Woods | Holroyd | Amato | Bottero |
---|---|---|---|
27th | 26th | 27th | 28th |
Previous Rank: 27th
The Redskins probably didn’t envision Colt McCoy starting in Week 8 when they kicked off the season. It’s been a disaster for Jay Gruden in his first year in Washington and it’s not even half over. - Michael Amato
28. Minnesota Vikings
Woods | Holroyd | Amato | Bottero |
---|---|---|---|
28th | 28th | 25th | 31st |
Previous Rank: 25th
A heartbreaking loss in Buffalo ended any hopes of salvaging this season. The task now for Norv Turner is to help Teddy Bridgewater develop into a polished passer, which will be no easy task given the personnel around him. - Michael Amato
29. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Woods | Holroyd | Amato | Bottero |
---|---|---|---|
31st | 29th | 29th | 26th |
Previous Rank: 30th
Coming off a bye week, the Bucs will look to right the ship Sunday against the struggling Vikings. - Caitlyn Holroyd
30. Tennessee Titans
Woods | Holroyd | Amato | Bottero |
---|---|---|---|
29th | 30th | 30th | 29th |
Previous Rank: 28th
The Titans are a perfect test case for NBA-style tanking in the NFL. They desperately need to draft a quarterback like Marcus Mariota, yet one more win may take them out of position to do it. Is it so crazy to suggest they should bench their starters and lose out? - David P. Woods
31. Jacksonville Jaguars
Woods | Holroyd | Amato | Bottero |
---|---|---|---|
30th | 31st | 31st | 30th |
Previous Rank: 32nd
Have the Jaguars found a building block in Denard Robinson? Early indications are promising, but it's still a long shot that the converted quarterback can hold up to feature-back carries. - David P. Woods
32. Oakland Raiders
Woods | Holroyd | Amato | Bottero |
---|---|---|---|
32nd | 32nd | 32nd | 32nd |
Previous Rank: 31st
The Raiders' deficiencies on defense have only served to cover up how bad they've been on offense. The team has scored more than 14 points only once through six games. It's really unfair that they have one of the toughest schedules in football. - Gino Bottero