NFL power rankings, Week 8: Vikings fall, Lions rise

1. team. 47. Patriots’ quarterback Tom Brady continued his mastery of the Pittsburgh Steelers but he got a lot of support from running back LeGarrette Blount and the club’s ground attack. The physical performer carried 24 times for 127 yards and two scores in his return to the Steel City. Meanwhile, Brady wasn’t sacked and threw for 222 yards and a pair of touchdowns. The 17-year signal-caller has now defeated the Steelers nine times in 11 career meetings (including a pair of AFC title game wins) and has thrown an astonishing 26 touchdown passes while being picked off only three times in those contests. <p>Next Week: The Patriots head to Orchard Park looking for a little revenge against Rex Ryan and the Buffalo Bills. Back in Week 4, minus Brady and with rookie quarterback Jacoby Brissett, the Pats were blanked in Foxborough, 16-0. But the last time the Bills swept this series was 1999, the last season in which Buffalo reached the playoffs.</p> <p>Playoff hopes: With an NFL-best 6-1 record and winners of three straight games, it would take quite a run by one of the other AFC East clubs to stop the Patriots from winning a league-record divisional title. Of course, things could get really interesting if Belichick’s club would lose again to the Bills.</p>. 6-1. Previous: . New England Patriots