NFL Power Rankings - Week 8
The undefeated Pittsburgh Steelers have jumped the Kansas City Chiefs into the top spot in our latest Power Rankings.
Pittsburgh Steelers (7-0)
After the Steelers 5-0 start, I said,
“We will learn a lot about this team in the next 2 weeks at Tennessee and at Baltimore. If the Steelers are 7-0 after that stretch, they will likely catapult to the top of these rankings.”
Well, they did just that, winning tight games on the road against the Titans and Ravens, and here they sit atop the BCSC Week 8 Power Rankings. This looks like the most complete team in the league right now. They will be heavy favorites in their next three games (Cowboys, Bengals, Jags) before a rematch with the Ravens on Thanksgiving night in Pittsburgh. Here’s rooting for a 10-0 vs. 8-2 matchup to brighten up an otherwise grim 2020.
Kansas City Chiefs (7-1)
The Chiefs are the defending Super Bowl champs and they rolled through their Week 8 opponent (the lowly Jets), but they still fell to the No. 2 spot in the rankings because of the quality of the Steelers last two victories. Kansas City’s offense has scored more points than any team in the league, and the Chiefs’ point differential (+101) is the best in the NFL. Their remaining schedule is filled with quality opponents, so the Chiefs figure to lose another game or two, but they are still the clear favorites in the AFC West.
Baltimore Ravens (5-2)
The Ravens lost in Week 3 to No. 2 Kansas City, and on Sunday to No. 1 Pittsburgh. Against the rest of the NFL, the Ravens have rolled, winning those 5 games by a combined total of 159-70. Baltimore has another big test this weekend at Indianapolis against a 5-2 Colts team that moved into our Power Rankings Top-10 for the first time this week
Seattle Seahawks (6-1)
The Seahawks have the best record in the NFC and an inside track on the number 1 seed in the conference. Seattle’s next 3 games are critical as they are on the road at Buffalo and at the Rams before playing host to the Cardinals. After that stretch, Seattle will likely be a double-digit favorite in its remaining 6 games. We will soon find out if this is indeed the NFC’s best team.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (6-2)
It was a sluggish performance for the Bucs on Monday night against the New York football Giants. It took stopping a 2-point try and recovering a Giants onside-kick attempt to hold on for a 2-point victory in a game Tampa Bay should have won soundly. Tom Brady has another team on the verge of a double-digit win season and a division title. Is there any question he’s the best quarterback ever?
Arizona Cardinals (5-2)
The idle Cardinals hold firm on the No. 6 spot in these rankings. The Cardinals host the newly-Top-10 Miami Dolphins on Sunday on CBS. That game will feature two of the league’s fastest rising teams. Can’t wait for that one!
Buffalo Bills (6-2)
The Bills erased some New England Patriot demons on Sunday, holding on to beat the Patriots 24-21 in their first matchup in the post-Tom Brady era. They have not blown anybody out, but they keep winning, and that has them in the driver’s seat to win the AFC East. They host the Dolphins in the final week of the regular season. They hope to have the division wrapped up well before then.
Indianapolis Colts (5-2)
The Colts defense has been the best in the NFL as the season nears the halfway point. Philip Rivers is leading a balanced offensive attack that is averaging 268 pass yards and 101 rushing yards per game. The next four games are a gauntlet for Indianapolis (Ravens, Titans twice, Packers). If they can split those 4, they will be in great position to battle for the AFC South title.
New Orleans Saints (5-2)
After starting the season 1-2, the Saints have ripped off four straight wins to setup a big game against the Bucs on Sunday Night Football on NBC. Drew Brees and Tom Brady in a primetime matchup is a treat we should not take for granted. Cannot wait to see what the two future Hall of Famers have in store for us.
Miami Dolphins (4-3)
The Dolphins are alive in the AFC East race. A big 28-17 win at home on Sunday against the Los Angeles Rams was just what the doctor ordered. Miami still has three west coast road trips remaining on the schedule, starting with a showdown of young QB’s this Sunday as the Dolphins head to Arizona to take on the 5-2 Cardinals.
Las Vegas Raiders (4-3)
The Raiders have been a Jekyll and Hyde team through their first 7 games of 2020. In a wind-blown affair in Cleveland, Las Vegas grinded its way to a 10-point victory. A favorable schedule remains, and the head-to-head win against the Browns could loom large as the AFC playoff seeds start to take shape.
Chicago Bears (5-3)
The Bears had a golden opportunity to collect a big win against the Saints on Sunday. Instead, they dropped a game they had their chances to win, and fall back to 5-3 after a 5-1 start to 2020. Bears fans must be frustrated by what they have seen the last 2 weeks.
Green Bay Packers (5-2)
The Packers inexplicably lost at home to the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday. It was the second bad loss in three weeks for the once 4-0 Packers. Green Bay travels to Santa Clara on Thursday night to face a very injured 49ers team. The Packers should consider this game a must-win.
Tennessee Titans (5-2)
The Titans were once 5-0, but they have dropped 2 straight, including a 31-20 thumping at the hands of the Bengals on Sunday. They suddenly find themselves tied with the Colts atop the AFC South standings. The Titans upcoming schedule is brutal. We will know if they are a real threat in a few weeks.
Cleveland Browns (5-3)
The Browns are beating the teams they should beat and losing to the teams above them. Expect Cleveland to win at least 2 of its next 3 games (Texans, Eagles, Jaguars) and start to make a push in the AFC playoff race. The AFC North title is likely out of play, but this could very well be a playoff team in 2020.
Los Angeles Rams (5-3)
The Rams were playing well before getting smacked around in Miami. The cross-country trip could be partially to blame, but it does not get any easier for Los Angeles as they face the NFC’s top two teams in their next two contests (11/15 vs. Seattle, 11/23 at Tampa Bay).
San Francisco 49ers (4-4)
The 49ers have a brutal stretch coming up (Packers, Saints, Rams, Bills) and are facing injuries across the board, including to starting quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo and tight end George Kittle. If the injuries to those two key weapons end up being significant, the season could begin to spiral out of control for last season’s Super Bowl runner-up.
Denver Broncos (3-4)
The Broncos came back from down 21 points to defeat their AFC West rival Chargers on Sunday. The victory breathes new life into a team that started the season 0-3 with losses to three of the league’s best teams (Titans, Steelers, Bucs). With three straight toss-up games coming up (Falcons, Raiders, Dolphins), Denver could be a sneaky playoff contender.
Cincinnati Bengals (2-5-1)
I really like this team. The AFC North is brutal. In any other division, the Bengals would likely be a playoff contender. The play of rookie quarterback Joe Burrow (2,272 yards passing, 11 TD) gives hope to the fans in Cincinnati, as it appears clear that they have their quarterback position in good hands for years to come.
Detroit Lions (3-4)
This team had me on the verge of believing before getting steamrolled at home against the Colts. They have some big injuries to overcome, but Detroit has four winnable games coming up (Vikings, Washington, Panthers, Texans). If they win 3 of those games, they have hope, but a split or worse, and this team will be on its way to another lost season.
Atlanta Falcons (2-6)
Atlanta won a back-and-forth affair on Thursday night at Carolina. Julio Jones continues to shine as one of the best receivers of this generation. His 137 yards receiving paced the Falcons offense which also rushed for 131 yards. Atlanta should be 5-2 or 4-3, not 2-6.
Minnesota Vikings (2-5)
Dalvin Cook (163 yards rushing, 63 yards receiving, 4 total TD) had a career game in Minnesota’s much-needed victory over Green Bay on Sunday. If they can get more performances like that from their running back, they could get back into play as a potential playoff team. The next five (Lions, Bears, Cowboys, Panthers, Jaguars) will dictate how far this team can climb.
Carolina Panthers (3-5)
This team has been hot and cold. After back-to-back losses to start the season, the Panthers won three straight. Carolina has now lost three straight and its next two are against Kansas City and Tampa Bay. That’s not a great upcoming schedule for getting back into the win column.
Philadelphia Eagles (3-4-1)
The Eagles beat the Cowboys on Sunday night and are still the favorites to win the NFC East, but they are going to need much better play from QB Carson Wentz who turned the ball over four times against Dallas. They have a 5-game stretch coming up against the Browns, Seahawks, Packers, Saints, and Cardinals. They will not be favored in any of those games.
New England Patriots (2-5)
The Patriots had the Bills right there for the taking, but a Cam Newton fumble on the final drive of the game sealed the victory for Buffalo. The Patriots are struggling seven games into the post-Tom Brady era. New England fans are getting a glimpse of what it was like for almost every other fanbase during the last two decades.
Washington Football Team (2-5)
The Football Team is 2-1 against the NFC East and 0-4 against everyone else. The good news is they still have 3 more games within their division. The bad news is they are going to have to beat a non-division opponent to get to at least 6 wins and have a chance to win the NFC East.
Los Angeles Chargers (2-5)
Yes, the Chargers lost again. Yes, they led by 21 points. Yes, the Spanos Curse is real. Never has one image summed up a franchise so perfectly. The CBS telecast could not resist.
28. Dallas Cowboys (2-6)
“America’s Team” is in an absolute free fall. The Cowboys last three losses have been by scores of 38-10, 25-3, and 23-9. They are down to their third-string QB, and there are no signs of getting better anytime soon. Dak Prescott looks better and better each week..
29. Houston Texans (1-6)
Not all 1-6 marks are created equal. Houston has not been good thus far, but the schedule-makers did not do the Texans any favors. They have already played (and lost to) the Steelers, Chiefs, Ravens, Titans, Packers and Vikings. Yeah, good luck with that..
30. Jacksonville Jaguars (1-6)
After opening the season with an impressive win against the Colts, the Jags offense has sputtered in six straight defeats. Things won’t get any easier this week as Rookie QB Jake Luton is scheduled to start in place of the injured Gardner Minshew in a must-win game against the 1-6 Houston Texans.
31. New York Giants (1-7)
Wildly enough, the 1-win Giants are only 2.5 games outside of playoff position in the NFC East. That sums up all you need to know about the worst division in the NFL, maybe ever.
32. New York Jets (0-8)
The Jets have lost their 8 games by a combined 144 points. New York’s futile offense has scored just 94 points through 8 games. 12 teams have already scored over 200 points this season, so you can see how far the Jets have to go before they can contend in this league.