NFL Power Rankings - Week 8: Lions make statement, 49ers fall again
NFL Power Rankings are selected by a panel of theScore's football editors.
Jump to:
ARI | ATL | BAL | BUF | CAR | CHI | CIN | CLE | DAL | DEN | DET | GB | HOU | IND | JAX | KC | LAC | LAR | LV | MIA | MIN | NE | NO | NYG | NYJ | PHI | PIT | SEA | SF | TB | TEN | WAS
1. Kansas City Chiefs (6-0)
Previous rank: 1
All they do is win, and the Chiefs are now 6-0 for the first time in the Patrick Mahomes era. The superstar QB hasn't been great this year (he leads the NFL with eight interceptions), but Mahomes seems to always find a way to win while being supported by a top-five defense.
2. Detroit Lions (5-1)
Previous rank: 3
Jared Goff has emerged as a legitimate MVP candidate with 1,086 yards, nine touchdowns, and one interception on 83.5% passing during the team's four-game win streak.
3. Baltimore Ravens (5-2)
Previous rank: 4
With Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry firing on all cylinders, the Ravens have looked virtually unstoppable lately. Despite facing a tough schedule, Baltimore has won five in a row while scoring at least 30 points in four straight games.
4. Minnesota Vikings (5-1)
Previous rank: 2
Minnesota is the only team in the NFL that ranks in the top six of both scoring offense and defense despite losing its first game Sunday.
5. Green Bay Packers (5-2)
Previous rank: 6
Packers fans may have to get used to a roller-coaster offense. Jordan Love has thrown at least one interception in every appearance this season, but the offense also ranks fifth in yardage and seventh in scoring.
6. Houston Texans (5-2)
Previous rank: 5
No reason to panic after a last-second loss to the Packers. Houston almost beat a playoff team on the road on a day in which C.J. Stroud had one of the worst performances of his NFL career. Expect the star quarterback to bounce back and the Texans to be just fine.
7. Buffalo Bills (5-2)
Previous rank: 8
Buffalo has three more wins than the next closest team in the division through seven weeks. Barring a collapse, the Bills should be AFC East champions for the fifth straight season.
8. Washington Commanders (5-2)
Previous rank: 10
The Commanders blew out the Panthers despite Jayden Daniels leaving the game in the first quarter with a rib injury. Daniels' ailment reportedly isn't long term, though. If he continues to play at a high level, the Commanders - whose offense ranks first in EPA/play - will be a threat in the NFC.
9. Philadelphia Eagles (4-2)
Previous rank: 12
The Eagles' defense has come alive over the last two games, recording more sacks (13) than points allowed (12). However, these stats came against mediocre offenses, and Philadelphia will face better quarterbacks in the coming weeks, starting in Week 9 against Joe Burrow and the Bengals.
10. Pittsburgh Steelers (5-2)
Previous rank: 14
Russell Wilson looked good in his Steelers debut and helped the team set season highs with 37 points and 409 total yards. An above-average offense is what's been missing for Pittsburgh and its solid defense to make a deeper playoff run in recent years.
11. Seattle Seahawks (4-3)
Previous rank: 17
Seattle snapped a three-game skid in style, beating Atlanta 34-14. It was an encouraging performance by a Seahawks team that welcomed key defenders back from injury against the Falcons.
12. Atlanta Falcons (4-3)
Previous rank: 7
Atlanta was dominated by Seattle on both sides of the ball, but the club's biggest issue remains the lack of pass rush. Raheem Morris' outfit has collected only six sacks all season. At least the Falcons beat three NFC South rivals prior to losing to the Seahawks, so they remain in a good position in the division.
13. San Francisco 49ers (3-4)
Previous rank: 9
The 49ers haven't been consistent in 2024, and their injury woes just got worse: Receiver Brandon Aiyuk will miss the remainder of the season with a knee ailment. San Francisco needs running back Christian McCaffrey - out until at least early November - back as soon as possible.
14. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-3)
Previous rank: 11
Tampa Bay has major wide receiver questions following its Monday Night Football loss to Baltimore. Mike Evans left the game after aggravating his hamstring injury, and Chris Godwin could miss the remainder of the season after sustaining a serious ankle injury.
15. Dallas Cowboys (3-3)
Previous rank: 13
Dallas ranks dead last in rushing yards per game through seven weeks. Unless the Cowboys figure out how to establish a ground game, they could be in trouble the rest of the way.
16. Chicago Bears (4-2)
Previous rank: 15
Coming off a bye, the Bears should feel good about their season so far. Chicago has scored at least 24 points in its last three games, including back-to-back contests with 35 or more. It has also allowed fewer than 20 points in all of those appearances.
17. Cincinnati Bengals (3-4)
Previous rank: 16
It wasn't pretty, but Cincy beat Cleveland to sit one game below .500. After disappointing performances to start the season, the Bengals' defense has allowed 21 points combined to the Giants and Browns. But we'll have a better idea of whether coordinator Lou Anarumo actually fixed this unit in Week 8 against the Eagles.
18. Denver Broncos (4-3)
Previous rank: 21
Denver still has limitations in the passing game, but it rushed for 225 yards against New Orleans to claim its fourth win in the last five games. The Broncos and their top-three defense aren't AFC contenders (at least not yet), but they're trending in the right direction.
19. Arizona Cardinals (3-4)
Previous rank: 25
The Cardinals still have a few things to fix in the passing game, but Kyler Murray and James Conner have done a tremendous job with their legs to help Arizona win two of its last three contests.
20. Los Angeles Chargers (3-3)
Previous rank: 18
Justin Herbert's receiving corps is clearly an issue, but many other things went wrong for L.A. on Monday. Herbert was hit seven times (three sacks), the running game averaged only 2.7 yards per carry, and the Chargers didn't score a single touchdown to lose for the third time in their last four tilts.
21. Indianapolis Colts (4-3)
Previous rank: 22
The Colts did just enough to beat an unrecognizable Dolphins team that's been missing Tua Tagovailoa. Indy is above .500 for the first time this year, but Anthony Richardson - who's completing only 48.5% of his passes - hasn't done much to prove doubters wrong in Year 2.
22. New York Jets (2-5)
Previous rank: 19
From bad throws to missed tackles to penalties to drops, the Jets keep making costly mistakes. Even their strong defense got exposed Sunday versus the Steelers. New York's season isn't over, but it's becoming harder and harder to believe Aaron Rodgers can make a run with this team.
23. Los Angeles Rams (2-4)
Previous rank: 23
The Rams' defensive unit looked good against the Raiders, and Cooper Kupp's imminent return from injury should help Matthew Stafford find his best form. The veteran QB has yet to post a multi-touchdown game in 2024.
24. New York Giants (2-5)
Previous rank: 24
The Giants have been outscored by 62 points with a 0-4 record at home this season. It looks like the Daniel Jones era is almost over in New York.
25. New Orleans Saints (2-5)
Previous rank: 20
Remember when the Saints had the NFL's hottest offense and scored 91 points in their first two games? It feels like ages ago. They've since had terrible injury luck and lost five in a row while scoring 86 points combined in that span.
26. Jacksonville Jaguars (2-5)
Previous rank: 30
The win over the Patriots in London could ease some pressure off coach Doug Pederson for now, but the Jaguars have a tough schedule coming up. They face Green Bay, Philadelphia, Minnesota, and Detroit before a Week 12 bye.
27. Miami Dolphins (2-4)
Previous rank: 26
Miami ranks dead last in points per game after six contests. The fan base hopes Tagovailoa's return - which can happen as early as next week - will inject life into the team for a late-season playoff push.
28. New England Patriots (1-6)
Previous rank: 27
Drake Maye has looked solid in two starts and provides hope for the future. However, New England has lost six straight games and allowed 30-plus points in back-to-back contests.
29. Las Vegas Raiders (2-5)
Previous rank: 28
The quarterback position is costing the Raiders games. Most recently, Gardner Minshew threw three interceptions and lost one fumble after coming in versus the Rams. Minshew - who had lost the QB1 job earlier this season - is expected to start again after Aidan O'Connell sustained a thumb injury.
30. Tennessee Titans (1-5)
Previous rank: 29
Tennessee led Buffalo at halftime in Week 7 but wasn't able to hold on and allowed 27 unanswered second-half points. At 1-5, the Titans are off to their worst start since 2015.
31. Carolina Panthers (1-6)
Previous rank: 31
The Panthers might turn to Bryce Young again, and that tells you exactly how their season is going. With Andy Dalton under center, Carolina suffered a 40-7 loss to a Washington team that didn't have Daniels at QB for most of the game due to injury.
32. Cleveland Browns (1-6)
Previous rank: 32
Deshaun Watson sustained a season-ending Achilles injury, but can the offense be any worse with a new QB? The Browns suffered their fifth straight loss Sunday, but at least their fans saw running back Nick Chubb score a touchdown in his return following a devastating knee injury in September 2023.