NFL Power Rankings: Division Rankings After Week 8

Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler (6) looks on from the sideline during the last seconds of the game against the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium. The Patriots won 51-23. Mandatory Credit: Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports
Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler (6) looks on from the sideline during the last seconds of the game against the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium. The Patriots won 51-23. Mandatory Credit: Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Blake Bortles (5) runs with the ball against the Miami Dolphins at EverBank Field. Mandatory Credit: Richard Dole-USA TODAY Sports
Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Blake Bortles (5) runs with the ball against the Miami Dolphins at EverBank Field. Mandatory Credit: Richard Dole-USA TODAY Sports /

8) AFC South

There was a small level of optimism behind the AFC South in their quest to move out of the bottom spot here, but when your division employs two of the worst five teams in football and your standard bearer gives up 50-plus points, you stay put.

The Tennessee Titans and Jacksonville Jaguars stink. This isn’t news, but the Titans keep looking worse, as evidenced by a two-touchdown home loss to the 4-4 Texans, and the Jaguars were barely competitive in dropping a 14-point home decision to Miami.

In the case of Indianapolis (and to a lesser extent, Houston), I am not particularly worried. The Colts were due for a hiccup on the defensive side of the ball, and when that occurred in partnership with an A-plus effort from the Steelers and Ben Roethlisberger, the results were criminal. Indianapolis still very much resembles a playoff team with Andrew Luck captaining the ship, but they aren’t enough to lift the rest of the crew, even if Houston proves to be average or better.

Yikes.