In week 8 of our NFL Power Rankings, things are starting to take shape. Now over a third of the way through the season, the contenders are starting to separate from the pretenders.
Here are our NFL Power Rankings going into week 8!
| # | UP/DOWN | RECORD | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. |  | ARIZONA CARDINALS | 7-0 |
| 2. | | TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS | 6-1 |
| 3. |  | LA RAMS | 6-1 |
| 4. | | GREEN BAY PACKERS | 6-1 |
| 5. | | DALLAS COWBOYS | 5-1 |
| 6. | | BUFFALO BILLS | 4-2 |
| 7. | | CINCINNATI BENGALS | 5-2 |
| 8. | | LA CHARGERS | 4-2 |
| 9. | | TENNESSEE TITANS | 5-2 |
| 10. |  | BALTIMORE RAVENS | 5-2 |
| 11. | | CLEVELAND BROWNS | 5-2 |
| 12. | | NEW ORLEANS SAINTS | 4-2 |
| 13. | | LAS VEGAS RAIDERS | 5-2 |
| 14. | | KANSAS CITY CHIEFS | 3-4 |
| 15. | | MINNESOTA VIKINGS | 3-3 |
| 16. | | NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS | 3-4 |
| 17. | | INDIANAPOLIS COLTS | 3-4 |
| 18. | | PITTSBURGH STEELERS | 3-3 |
| 19. | | SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS | 2-4 |
| 20. | | ATLANTA FALCONS | 3-3 |
| 21. | | SEATTLE SEAHAWKS | 2-5 |
| 22. | | DENVER BRONCOS | 3-4 |
| 23. | | PHILADELPHIA EAGLES | 2-5 |
| 24. | | CHICAGO BEARS | 3-4 |
| 25. | | NEW YORK GIANTS | 2-5 |
| 26. | | CAROLINA PANTHERS | 3-4 |
| 27. | | WASHINGTON FOOTBALL TEAM | 2-5 |
| 28. | | JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS | 1-5 |
| 29. | | MIAMI DOLPHINS | 1-6 |
| 30. | | NEW YORK JETS | 1-5 |
| 31. | | HOUSTON TEXANS | 1-6 |
| 32. | | DETROIT LIONS | 0-7 |
NFL POWER RANKINGS ANALYSIS
TOP HALF
In last week’s analysis we said that the Ravens looked like the real deal. But, with back to back big games, Baltimore couldn’t follow up their heroics against the Chargers with a win against the Bengals.
It has only taken a third of the season, but Cincinnati have finally entered the top 10 of our NFL Power Rankings and as such need to be viewed as contenders. Joe Burrow has been playing lights out and the connection he has with rookie WR Ja’Marr Chase from their LSU days in undeniable.
The Packers had another easy win, albeit against Washington. Their win streak makes it all the more difficult to understand what went wrong in week 1 against the Saints. But, with Aaron Rodgers, the Packers were always going to be championship contenders.
Just what is going on in Kansas City? They have had a catestrophic fall down the Power Rankings to #14 when they were challenging for the #1 spot in preseason. With the defence playing terribly and Patrick Mahomes unable to come up with his usual magic to bail them out, it is going to take something huge to turn their fate around.
The Raiders are a team who have fluctuated dramatically in our Power Rankings through 7 weeks. Starting off in the 20s they made it into our top 10 with an incredibly strong start. Expected to possibly fade once Jon Gruden left his postion, Las Vegas have anything but struggled.
BOTTOM HALF
Just what has happened to the 49ers this season? Just 6 games into their season, it looks all but over in an extremely competetive division. Still yet to work out what they do at Quarterback, they may be better off rolling with Trey Lance for the rest of 2021 allowing him to develop. It is all about 2022 for them now and starting Jimmy G offers nothing in the way of maturing or evolving the future of their franchise.
After a poor start, Atlanta have started to put something together. It took a couple of games, but the Falcons are now trusting last year’s 4th overall draft pick Kyle Pitts. Who, now they have figured out how to use him, is putting up tremendous stats.
A loss was probably never in doubt for the Jets, but an injury to Zach Wilson all but sealed it. A team that should have improved going into 2021 has struggled to turn that progress into results. The team has shown flashes, but not on a consitent enough basis.
The Detroit Lions threw everything at the LA Rams. Onside kicks, 4th down conversions, fake punts, non of it remotely enough to get a result against one of the top teams in the NFL. Detroit stuck around in the game, like they have done in many games this season, but ultimately their lack of fire power and talent showed. What the Lions don’t have is a lack of heart and they should be in a good position going into next year’s draft.
Who are you higher on and who are you lower on? Let us know what you think of our NFL Power Rankings over on Twitter @NinetynineYards and @Owain_Jones_