NFL Power Rankings Week Eight – The Disappointing Reality

The NFL has seen some brutal games and performances this season. There are a few terrible teams but even the middle of the pack teams have looked like a pile of hot garbage once in awhile.

The list of teams that could really play for a title is dwindling down dramatically. The list of teams potentially drafting in the top ten seem to change every week.

It almost seems like more teams are trying to lose games rather than win them. At the very least they are playing that way.

 

1. New England Patriots (7-0)
The Patriots have the best record in the league and still felt the need to make a trade. They acquired Mohamed Sanu from Atlanta for a second round draft pick. Another big target for Tom Brady to use.

 

2. San Francisco 49ers (6-0)
The 49ers’ pass defense ranks first overall, allowing a lowly 133.5 pass yards per game. They have 34 tackles for a loss and 20 sacks on the season ranking them top ten in both categories (in only six games).

 

3. New Orleans Saints (6-1)
The Saints have pushed their win streak to five games and their rushing attack has helped them keep steady. They have have rushed for 684 yards while holding opponents to 339 rush yards in those five games.

 

4. Green Bay Packers (6-1)
The Packers have won three games in a row and have rushed for a total 350 yards in those games. Aaron Jones averages 4.0 yards per carry and has eight rushing touchdowns on the season.

 

5. Buffalo Bills (5-1)
The Bills have rushed for over 100 yards in every game this season. The defense hasn’t allowed any of their opponents to reach 300 yards passing.

 

6.   Minnesota Vikings (5-2)
The Vikings have pushed their win streak to three games and they have raised their point total every game in that stretch. They’ve got Washington and then Kansas City (maybe without Patrick Mahomes) in their next two games.

 

7. Baltimore Ravens (5-2)
The Ravens allow a lowly 84.3 rushing yards per game on the season. They have won three straight games by a total of 23 points and are heading to their bye week in first place.

 

8. Seattle Seahawks (5-2)
The Seahawks did not force a turnover for the first time all season versus Baltimore. They’ve only held one opponent to under 20 points all season.

 

9. Kansas City Chiefs (5-2)
The Chiefs may be without Patrick Mahomes for an undisclosed period of time. Their defense stepped up as soon as he went out, limiting Denver to 205 total yards. It’s hard to imagine them going far without Mahomes but maybe they can weather the storm.

 

10. Houston Texans (4-3)
Houston has rushed for 100 yards or more in six of their seven games. Despite their three losses they have forced a turnover in every game this season.

 

11. Carolina Panthers (4-2)
Coming off their bye week, the Panthers next three opponents have a combined 15-5 record on the season. The Panthers still lead the league with 27 sacks.

 

12. Dallas Cowboys (4-3)
The Cowboys took over the division lead with an emphatic win over the Philadelphia Eagles. They snapped a three game losing streak just in time for their bye week.

 

13. Indianapolis Colts (4-2)
The Colts have won two straight games by a total of 13 points. Their next three opponents have a combined 4-15  record on the season.

 

14. Los Angeles Rams (4-3)
The Rams snapped a three game losing streak thanks to Atlanta’s porous defense. Their next two games are versus Cincinnati and Pittsburgh, with a bye week sandwiched in between them.

 

15. Arizona Cardinals (3-3-1)
The Cardinals have won three straight games, outscoring their opponents 87-77.  They have rushed for a total of 524 yards in those games.

 

16. Chicago Bears (3-3)
The Bears are ranked in the top ten in both points allowed a yards given up. Their offense is ranked in the lower ten in points scored and yards gained. A tale of two sides I guess.

 

17. Tennessee Titans (3-4)
The Marcus Mariota era, experience, disaster, or whatever you want to call it is over in Tennessee. They had 400 total yards of offense and 300 yards passing for the first time all season once he was benched.

 

18. Oakland Raiders (3-3)
The Raiders have given up over 100 yards rushing only once this season. They have forced a lowly five turnovers on the season, which ranks them 30th overall.

 

19. Philadelphia Eagles (3-4)
The Eagles up and down season continues after Dallas put the beat down on them. They have turned the ball over seven times in two straight losses.

 

20. Jacksonville Jaguars (3-4)
The Jaguars have zero turnovers in their three wins this season and have forced all six of their defensive turnovers in those wins. They haven’t forced a turnover in their losses and have given it up seven times in those four games.

 

21. Detroit Lions (2-3-1)
Matthew Stafford is averaging 291.8 passing yards per game with 13 touchdowns and only three interceptions. It’s a mystery why Detroit only has two wins.

 

22. Los Angeles Chargers (2-5)
The Chargers have lost three straight games and coincidentally those are the games Melvin Gordon has appeared in.

 

23. Pittsburgh Steelers (2-4)
Pittsburgh won their last game before the bye week and their next opponent is the Miami Dolphins. Things are looking up for the Steelers.

 

24. Denver Broncos (2-5)
Denver had their two game winning streak snapped but their defense is still playing well. They have stopped a team from gaining 300 total yards in three straight weeks.

 

25. Cleveland Browns (2-4)
The Browns come off the bye week to play the number one ranked defense of the New England Patriots. Cleveland has eight turnovers in their last two games and 14 total on the season.

 

26. New York Giants (2-5)
The Giants are on a three games losing streak and have turned the ball over seven times in that span. Quarterback Daniel Jones has been sacked a total of 13 times in those games.

 

27. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2-4)
Coming of the bye week the Bucs will need to play some inspired football. They score enough points but turnovers and penalties have killed their overall chance at winning games.

 

28. New York Jets (1-5)
The Jets failed to gain 160 total yards of offense for the third time this season. The six turnovers they had on Monday night were one less than the seven they had in their other five games.

 

29. Washington Redskins (1-6)
The Redskins have been outscored by 86 points on the season. They have made only 13 trips to the red zone and have scored only six touchdowns from inside the 20.

 

30. Atlanta Falcons (1-6)
The Falcons have racked up five sacks as a team in six games this season. There are currently eleven players in the NFL with at least 5.5 sacks on the season.

 

31. Cincinnati Bengals (0-7)
The Bengals have rushed for 100 yards or more only once this season. They have a league low 372 rushing yards in seven games.

 

32. Miami Dolphins (0-7)
Miami has 13 turnovers as a team and have only forced two on the season. They surpassed 300 total yards and 20 points for the first time in any game this season.