NFL power rankings, Week 8: Buccaneers rise, Cowboys fall
The Dallas Cowboys are in full-on meltdown mode, while the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have a case as the league’s best team following another resounding win.
team. 30. . 0-7. Previous: . New York Jets. 32
Three yards in the second half. Three. Enjoy Arrowhead.
52. . 1-6. Previous: . Jacksonville Jaguars. 31. team
The Jaguars fight every week, but the talent isn’t there to win very often.
. 1-6. Previous: . New York Giants. 30. team. 31
New York just invents ways to lose late. Tough to be in last place of the NFC East.
. 1-6. Previous: . Houston Texans. 29. team. 10
The Texans are bad enough, but not having their first or second-round picks next year is crushing.
. 1-4-1. Previous: . Cincinnati Bengals. 28. team. 56
Cincinnati doesn’t move back. Why? Because Joe Burrow is going to be elite, and the Bengals at least compete.
27. team. 44. . 1-5. Previous: . Atlanta Falcons
This is a sickness. Rooting for the Falcons should require some kind of clinical diagnosis.
123. . 2-5. Previous: . Dallas Cowboys. 26. team
It’s beyond over in Dallas. The Cowboys don’t seem to care. Hopefully Andy Dalton recovers quickly.
team. 58. . 2-5. Previous: . Washington Commanders. 25
Washington isn’t very talented, but Terry McLaurin is a stud and the front seven can create havoc.
Minnesota Vikings. 24. team. 60. . 1-5. Previous:
The Vikings move up during their bye week thanks to some atrocious play around the league.
Previous: . Philadelphia Eagles. 23. team. 54. . 2-4-1
Don’t expect a ton of praise. Carson Wentz has been better. Otherwise, yuck.
45. . 2-4. Previous: . Denver Broncos. 22. team
The Broncos and their fans should consider the idea Drew Lock isn’t the long-term answer.
2-4. Previous: . New England Patriots. 21. team. 47.
It’s safe to say the dominance is over. The Patriots have zero offense.
3-4. Previous: . Carolina Panthers. 20. team. 87.
The Panthers are plucky, but they have struggled to make the few big plays each week to win consistently.
50. . 3-3. Previous: . Detroit Lions. 19. team
The Lions had a ridiculous win over Atlanta, and somehow find themselves at 3-3. Not bad.
team. 13. . 2-4. Previous: . Los Angeles Chargers. 18
Justin Herbert is a superstar in the making, and the Chargers aren’t out of the playoff race despite being 2-4.
team. 59. . 3-3. Previous: . Miami Dolphins. 17
Tua Time!
3-3. Previous: . Las Vegas Raiders. 16. team. 28.
This is why being skeptical of the Raiders makes sense. Giving up 45 points is crushing off a bye week, regardless of opponent.
46. . 4-2. Previous: . Indianapolis Colts. 15. team
Indianapolis comes off the bye in good shape. Let’s see how Frank Reich tries to adjust the offense around Philip Rivers’ limitations.
. 4-3. Previous: . San Francisco 49ers. 14. team. 42
This is a master class by Kyle Shanahan. Few teams have been bombarded by more injuries, and yet the Niners are in the playoff chase.
. 5-2. Previous: . Cleveland Browns. 13. team. 53
Cleveland’s defense is horrific, but Baker Mayfield lifted the Browns to a win with five touchdown passes, including a dime to Donovan Peoples-Jones for the game-winner.
57. . 5-2. Previous: . Chicago Bears. 12. team
Chicago has an excellent defense. If Nick Foles and the offense could step up, the Bears would be really dangerous.
team. 15. . 4-2. Previous: . New Orleans Saints. 11
Keep an eye on New Orleans. The Saints are lingering, and they should be getting healthier soon.
5-2. Previous: . Arizona Cardinals. 10. team. 32.
What an incredible win. The Cardinals are a problem in the NFC.
51. . 5-2. Previous: . Los Angeles Rams. 9. team
Quietly, the Rams are hanging tough in the loaded NFC West.
8. team. 16. . 5-2. Previous: . Buffalo Bills
The Bills needed everything to beat the Jets. Not great, but they won. Here comes a desperate Patriots team.
Tennessee Titans. 7. team. 35. . 5-1. Previous:
The Titans had an ugly first half and then rebounded, only to fall short in the closing seconds. Tennessee will be there all season.
36. . 5-1. Previous: . Seattle Seahawks. 6. team
The offense is a video game, and the defense is a nightmare. Russell Wilson and his weapons, though, are insane.
. 5-1. Previous: . Green Bay Packers. 5. team. 49
Aaron Rodgers showed why last week was simply a blip. The Packers are legit contenders.
4. team. 26. . 5-1. Previous: . Baltimore Ravens
The Ravens are victims of inactivity while Tampa Bay and Pittsburgh scored huge wins. Beat the Steelers on Sunday, and they’ll vault back up.
team. 48. . 5-2. Previous: . Tampa Bay Buccaneers. 3
Not often do I leapfrog teams that won, especially this high. Still, the Buccaneers have been awesome, and looking at the roster and trajectory, they needed to be moved up.
2. team. 55. . 6-0. Previous: . Pittsburgh Steelers
Quality, quality win. The defense is lights out against the run and can get pressure better than anybody. The only concern is Ben Roethlisberger, who wasn’t great against Tennessee.
Previous: . Kansas City Chiefs. 1. team. 124. . 6-1
The Chiefs didn’t play crisp offensively, and scored 43 points while winning a divisional road game by 27 points. Absurd.