2022 NFL power rankings, Week 8: Buccaneers and Packers held at bay
Some of the league’s heavyweights were off in Week 7. And what to make of the mess that is the NFC? There have been some changes to the NFL Power Rankings.
The Buffalo Bills (5-1), Los Angeles Rams (3-3), Minnesota Vikings (5-1) and Philadelphia Eagles (6-0) combined for an impressive 19-5 record the first six weeks of NFL 2022. And none of those teams were in action this past Thursday, Sunday or Monday.
There were 11 other playoff participants in action in Week 7 and more than half of them took it on the chin. So what effect did a few of those startling results have on this week’s NFL Power Rankings?
50. . 1-5. Previous: . Detroit Lions. 32. team
The well-rested Lions took on the Cowboys at Dallas. By the game’s end, Dan Campbell’s club finished with six points and five turnovers. And for the second straight game, the team failed to score a touchdown.
After scoring an NFL-high 140 points during the first four weeks of the season, the Lions were shut out by the Patriots and limited to a pair of field goals by the Cowboys. Jared Goff had four of those five miscues and was sacked five times in the loss.
team. 10. . 1-4-1. Previous: . Houston Texans. 31
The Texans were back in action after an off week and were in Las Vegas to take on the Raiders. Rookie running back Dameon Pierce continued to open eyes and finished with 117 total yards from scrimmage – 92 of those yards on the ground.
Second-year pro Davis Mills threw for 302 yards and a pair of touchdowns. But his lone interception was taken back 73 yards for a score. And the Houston defense had no answers for the Las Vegas’ ground attack.
Previous: . Denver Broncos. 30. team. 45. . 2-5
Brett Rypien got the start for the struggling Broncos as quarterback Russell Wilson was sidelined with a hamstring injury. Denver entered Week 7 dead last in the NFL in points per game and those issues were evident once again.
Still, Nathaniel Hackett’s squad did own a 9-7 second-quarter lead. But the Broncos were shut out in the second half. The Denver defense was solid once again – giving up just 260 total yards in what was a fourth straight loss.
team. 52. . 2-5. Previous: . Jacksonville Jaguars. 29
The Jaguars had dropped three straight games entering Sunday’s clash with the improved Giants. And that 2-1 start seems like a distant memory. Still, Doug Pederson’s squad took a 17-13 lead into the fourth quarter.
But the Jacksonville defense was eventually overwhelmed by New York’s ground attack to the tune of 236 yards. Travis Etienne ran for 114 yards and one touchdown. But he also lost a fumble in the second quarter that proved costly.