Week 8 NFL Power Rankings: The Vikings Hold Steady

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Oct 25, 2022
Questions Answered: Jefferson's Next Deal, Patrick Jones, What's the Bears Deal?
Oct 2, 2022; London, United Kingdom; Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports.

With many of the top contenders in the league on bye this week, it was a week of middling teams trying to jostle for playoff positioning below the juggernauts. It was certainly an interesting week of football from start to finish, and it was capped off by a crazy upset of the Chicago Bears over the New England Patriots. As we approach the midway point of the season, here are the Week 8 NFL power rankings.

1. Buffalo Bills, 5-1

  • Last Week: Bye
  • Trending: —
  • This Week: 10/30 vs. GB

Buffalo rested up this week, but they now have some competition for the AFC East after the Jets cut the division lead to just half a game. This week, they take on the Green Bay Packers at home to try and maintain that lead.

2. Philadelphia Eagles, 6-0

  • Last Week: Bye
  • Trending: —
  • This Week: 10/30 vs. PIT

The lone undefeated team in the NFL remained so due to their bye week, and they have a strong chance to keep their winning streak going in Week 8 against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

3. Kansas City Chiefs, 5-2

  • Last Week: 44-23 win @ SF
  • Trending: —
  • This Week: Bye

The Chiefs allowed San Francisco to hang around for awhile, but an explosion for 30 points in the second half turned this into a blowout victory for Kansas City. This is as dominant as we’ve seen this version of the Chiefs offense all season, and they get to ride into the bye week on a high note.

4. Minnesota Vikings, 5-1

  • Last Week: Bye
  • Trending: —
  • This Week: 10/30 vs. ARI

The Vikings may not have played this week, but they did manage to extend their lead over their rivals chasing them in the NFC North. This week, they try to extend that lead further against the Arizona Cardinals.

5. Cincinnati Bengals, 4-2

  • Last Week: 35-17 win vs. ATL
  • Trending: +1
  • This Week: 10/31 @ CLE

This was a classic Joe Burrow performance against a porous Atlanta Falcons defense. Burrow totaled four touchdowns on the day and receivers Tyler Boyd and Ja’Marr Chase combined for 285 of Burrow’s 481 passing yards. Now, they head on the road for a spooky Monday night matchup with the Cleveland Browns.

6. New York Giants, 6-1

  • Last Week: 23-17 win @ JAX
  • Trending: -1
  • This Week: 10/30 @ SEA

The New York football Giants just keep on winning games, and they pulled out another one on the road against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Saquon Barkley and Daniel Jones each rushed for over 100 yards against the Jaguars on Sunday, leading them to a comeback victory on the road.

7. Los Angeles Rams, 3-3

  • Last Week: Bye
  • Trending: —
  • This Week: 10/30 vs. SF

The Rams rested up and licked their 3-3 wounds this week, only to find themselves half a game behind the Seattle Seahawks for the NFC West lead. Now, they have a tough matchup with a 49ers team that should be motivated after the embarrassing loss they took at the hands of Kansas City.

8. Dallas Cowboys, 5-2

  • Last Week: 24-6 win vs. DET
  • Trending: +1
  • This Week: 10/30 vs. CHI

In Dak Prescott’s return to the field from IR, the Cowboys fans were sent home happy with a wire-to-wire win over the Detroit Lions. Dallas’ NFC North tour continues this weekend against the Bears.

9. Baltimore Ravens, 4-3

  • Last Week: 23-20 win vs. CLE
  • Trending: -1
  • This Week: 10/27 @ TB

Consistency in the fourth quarter has been hard to come by from the Baltimore Ravens this year, and it has cost them a few games. No such luck for the Cleveland Browns this week, though, as Baltimore was able to hang on.

10. Miami Dolphins, 4-3

  • Last Week: 16-10 win vs. PIT
  • Trending: +2
  • This Week: 10/30 @ DET

Tua Tagovailoa came back for this game to run the Dolphins offense. While it wasn’t pretty at times, the defense played their best game of the year against the Steelers, and now they have what should be an easy matchup with Detroit.

11. New York Jets, 5-2

  • Last Week: 16-9 win @ DEN
  • Trending: +4
  • This Week: 10/30 vs. NE

All the New York teams have five or more wins through the first seven weeks of the season, what a time to be alive. The big concern right now revolves around finding a way to replace RB Breece Hall’s production after he suffered a season-ending knee injury. That said, this Jets defense continues to shine in big moments and that should make a huge difference moving forward.

12. Seattle Seahawks, 4-3

  • Last Week: 37-23 win @ LAC
  • Trending: +6
  • This Week: 10/30 vs. NYG

It was cute and funny when the Seahawks started the season by beating Russell Wilson and the Denver Broncos, but now, it’s time to start taking this Seattle team seriously. They went on the road to LA and dominated the Chargers throughout the entirety of the game.

13. Tennessee Titans, 4-2

  • Last Week: 19-10 win vs. IND
  • Trending: +6
  • This Week: 10/30 @ HOU

The winning streak continues, and now the Tennessee Titans look like a full-blown playoff team after beating the Indianapolis Colts to extend their lead in the AFC South. Their schedule gets easier this week against the Houston Texans.

14. Los Angeles Chargers, 4-3

  • Last Week: 23-37 loss vs. SEA
  • Trending: -4
  • This Week: Bye

Well, it doesn’t get much more embarrassing than being shutout 17-0 in the first quarter at home. From there, things never really got much better after digging that massive hole. The Chargers have a lot to think about this bye week.

15. Las Vegas Raiders, 2-4

  • Last Week: 38-20 win vs. HOU
  • Trending: +2
  • This Week: 10/30 @ NO

If the Raiders were ever going to turn around their horrendous start to the season, they needed a big win like this one. Now, they try to build off it against another porous defense in New Orleans.

16. San Francisco 49ers, 3-4

  • Last Week: 23-44 loss vs. KC
  • Trending: -4
  • This Week: 10/30 @ LAR

At least San Francisco was able to hang around with Kansas City for a half, but the second half of that game could not have gone much worse on either side of the ball.

17. Arizona Cardinals, 3-4

  • Last Week: 42-34 win vs. NO
  • Trending: +3
  • This Week: 10/30 @ MIN

A pair of pick-sixes at the end of the first half really sealed the deal for the Cardinals on Thursday night against the reeling Saints. Now, they have to travel to Minnesota and try to halt the red-hot Vikings.

18. Atlanta Falcons, 3-4

  • Last Week: 17-35 loss @ CIN
  • Trending: -5
  • This Week: 10/30 vs. CAR

The Falcons offense could not get much going on Sunday, and their defense allowed Joe Burrow to have a historic day throwing the ball. Atlanta’s unexpectedly competitive start may be cooling down.

19. New England Patriots, 3-4

  • Last Week: 14-33 loss vs. CHI
  • Trending: -4
  • This Week: 10/30 @ NYJ

It was an awkward night in New England as Bill Belichick tried to balance his two QBs Mac Jones and Bailey Zappe. Ultimately, most of the snaps went to Zappe once again, and while the rookie got off to a hot start, things began coming off the rails down the stretch.

20. Indianapolis Colts, 3-3-1

  • Last Week: 10-19 loss @ TEN
  • Trending: -4
  • This Week: 10/30 vs. WSH

Jonathan Taylor played this week for the Colts, but it appeared he may have been on a snap count considering he got only 10 touches. Meanwhile, it’s become clearer every week that Matt Ryan cannot be relied upon to lead this offense.

21. Washington Commanders, 3-4

  • Last Week: 23-21 win vs. GB
  • Trending: +7
  • This Week: 10/30 @ IND

Taylor Heinicke brings a level of excitement to the Commanders offense that simply isn’t seen with Carson Wentz under center. It became obvious once again as he made big play after big play to seal a win against the Green Bay Packers.

22. Cleveland Browns, 2-5

  • Last Week: 20-23 loss @ BAL
  • Trending: +4
  • This Week: 10/31 vs. CIN

This is where we’re at with some of these bottom teams. You move up a significant amount just for remaining competitive against some of the top teams in the league. That’s exactly what Cleveland did this week against the Ravens.

23. Green Bay Packers, 3-4

  • Last Week: 21-23 loss @ WSH
  • Trending: -2
  • This Week: 10/30 @ BUF

It’s now a three-game losing streak for the Green Bay Packers after a loss to the Commanders. Don’t look now, but things don’t get any easier with a Sunday Night Football game in Buffalo against the Bills this weekend.

24. Pittsburgh Steelers, 2-5

  • Last Week: 10-16 loss @ MIA
  • Trending: +1
  • This Week: 10/30 @ PHI

Kenny Pickett had a chance to be the hero for Pittsburgh on Sunday night, but he simply made too many mistakes down the stretch for the Steelers to win that game. Another difficult road matchup awaits the young Steelers this week in Philadelphia.

25. Jacksonville Jaguars, 2-5

  • Last Week: 17-23 loss vs. NYG
  • Trending: -3
  • This Week: 10/30 vs. DEN

Jacksonville played well for most of the day against the Giants, but they faltered too much in the fourth quarter to pull off the upset. Their chances of being that dark horse playoff contender is quickly fading.

26. Carolina Panthers, 2-5

  • Last Week: 21-3 win vs. TB
  • Trending: +5
  • This Week: 10/30 @ ATL

Whoever needed Christian McCaffrey, anyway? In the first game without both their star running back and Robbie Anderson, Carolina put a stomping on Tom Brady and the Buccaneers. Don’t look now, but a win this weekend against Atlanta could move them into first place in the NFC South.

27. Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 3-4

  • Last Week: 3-21 loss @ CAR
  • Trending: -4
  • This Week: 10/27 vs. BAL

The Buccaneers offense continues to be one of the very worst groups in the NFL; it’s something that is completely uncharacteristic of what a Tom Brady offense usually looks like. Things better get sorted out quickly because they have a Thursday Night Football matchup against the Ravens this week.

28. Chicago Bears, 3-4

  • Last Week: 33-14 win @ NE
  • Trending: +4
  • This Week: 10/30 @ DAL

The Bears seemed to turn a corner this week against the New England Patriots, finding ways to make plays on defense while also tearing apart the Patriots defense for much of the night. If they win another road game in Dallas this weekend, that could force a big jump in the rankings.

29. New Orleans Saints, 2-5

  • Last Week: 34-42 loss @ ARI
  • Trending: -5
  • This Week: 10/30 vs. LV

The Saints continue to shoot themselves in the foot with horrific defense, but this week, Andy Dalton handed the Cardinals 14 points and the win.

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30. Denver Broncos, 2-5

  • Last Week: 9-16 loss vs. NYJ
  • Trending: -3
  • This Week: 10/30 @ JAX

I guess on the bright side, the offense didn’t look any worse with Brett Rypien than it did with Russell Wilson.

31. Detroit Lions, 1-5

  • Last Week: 6-24 loss @ DAL
  • Trending: -2
  • This Week: 10/30 vs. MIA

After being one of the most prolific offenses earlier in the year, Detroit has now scored six total points in their last two games.

32. Houston Texans, 1-4-1

  • Last Week: 20-38 loss @ LV
  • Trending: -2
  • This Week: 10/30 vs. TEN

Houston allowed Josh Jacobs to rush for 143 yards on Sunday, and the Raiders offense got whatever they wanted against the Texans defense.

Josh Frey is a Class of 2020 graduate of The College of Idaho with a bachelor’s degree in Creative Writing as well as minors in History, Human Biology, and Journalism. When he’s not writing about the NFL, Josh enjoys marathon training, playing video games, or rooting for the Milwaukee Brewers and Bucks. For more of his opinions, check out his Twitter account: @Freyed_Chicken.

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