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2021 NFL power rankings, Week 8: Titans impress, Ravens stunned

By Russell S. Baxter

BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - OCTOBER 24: Ja'Marr Chase #1 of the Cincinnati Bengals catches the ball for a touchdown during the second half in the game against the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium on October 24, 2021 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)
BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - OCTOBER 24: Ja'Marr Chase #1 of the Cincinnati Bengals catches the ball for a touchdown during the second half in the game against the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium on October 24, 2021 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images) /
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GLENDALE, ARIZONA – OCTOBER 24: DeAndre Hopkins #10 of the Arizona Cardinals celebrates after scoring a touchdown in the second quarter against the Houston Texans in the game at State Farm Stadium on October 24, 2021 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Chris Coduto/Getty Images)
GLENDALE, ARIZONA – OCTOBER 24: DeAndre Hopkins #10 of the Arizona Cardinals celebrates after scoring a touchdown in the second quarter against the Houston Texans in the game at State Farm Stadium on October 24, 2021 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Chris Coduto/Getty Images) /

Previous: . Buffalo Bills. 3. team. 16. . 4-2

A year ago, only the Packers (509) scored more points than Sean McDermott’s club (501). Six games into 2021 and the first-place Bills had already put 203 points on the board – 31-plus in each of their last five games. Quarterback Josh Allen picked up where he left off from a season ago. But it’s Buffalo’s defense that has been much improved and it entered Week 7 as the league’s top-ranked unit. And the club has allowed just 16.3 points per contest.

48. . 6-1. Previous: . Tampa Bay Buccaneers. 2. team

When last the Buccaneers were seen more than a week ago, the team was holding off the Eagles at Philadelphia. The defending Super Bowl champions would be without Lavonte David, Antonio Brown and Rob Gronkowski as they hosted the Bears. That didn’t matter to Tom Brady, who played pitch and catch for most of the day with wideout Mike Evans. And the Tampa defense pressured Bears’ rookie quarterback Justin Fields into five turnovers.

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32. . 7-0. Previous: . Arizona Cardinals. 1. team

The frontrunners in the NFC West hosted the Houston Texans in a reunion of sorts for Cardinals’ defensive end J.J. Watt and wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins. After a so-so start, the Arizona offense got its act together and Kliff Kingsbury’s team came up with 31 answered points after falling behind, 5-0, in the second quarter. Kyler Murray was sacked four times and picked off once but threw for three scores. Houston managed only 160 total yards.

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