NFL Power Rankings-Week 8

The Patriots and Colts continue to remain a dominate team while the Rams and Dolphins are..well...the Rams and Dolphins. Here are the power rankings going into week 8.


1. New England Patriots
Move from Week 7: 0
Why?-This isn't even fair anymore. They were leading by the half 42-7 agains the Dolphins with Brady throwing for 5 touchdown passes. This team is having all sorts of fun.


2. Indianapolis Colts
Move from Week 7: 0
Why?-They won a big game last night against the Jags. This game was a completely different than last year's faceoff due to the return of Barry Sanders and it showed. I'm very excited about their game against the Patriots.


3. Dallas Cowboys
Move from Week 7: 0
Why?-The game against the Vikings was a lot tougher than people realize, but the Cowboys were able to control Peterson enough to win the game. Tony Romo is still looking like an easy Pro-Bowl candidate and the Cowboys are still looking like the kings of the NFC.


4. Green Bay Packers
Move from Week 7: +2
Why?-The only reason they moved up during their bye week because there were a lot of losses. The Packers look like the real deal, but they face road trips against the Chiefs and Broncos. If they win those expect them to coast to the playoffs.


5. New York Giants
Move from Week 7: +3
Why?-After struggeling in the first two games in the season, this team has been looking great in their last 5. The defense is one of the best in the leagues right now and Eli isn't looking so horrible. Brandon Jacobs is also proving himself fit for the roll of the "go to guy" in terms of running the ball. They should have an easy game next Sunday against the Dolphins in London.


6. Jacksonville Jaguars
Move from Week 7: -2
Why?-Can't really move this team too far down yet. Their loss last night came to a dominating Colts team and they had to take out a very good Garrard in the beginning of the game due to an injury and replace him a not-so-good Gray. If Garrard is expected to miss a fe games it can really hurt this team.


7. Pittsburgh Steelers
Move from Week 7: -3
Why?-I really expected this team to dominate against the Broncos, but they lost on a last second field goal. A game in Cincinnati will be tougher than people anticipate for this Steelers team.


8. Tennessee Titans
Move from Week 7: +1
Why?-They almost blew a 25 point lead against the Titans, but managed to hang on to the win with a last second field goal kick (this seems to be a theme this year). This team is pulling off wins without Vince Young and should pull to a 5-2 record when they face the Raiders next week.


9. Washington Redskins
Move from Week 7: +2
Why?-A blotched PAT by the Cards was the difference between a win and an OT decision for this game. The Skins like to keep it close, but they manage to pull off the win which is the most important thing.


10. San Diego Chargers
Move from Week 7: +2
Why?-Another team moving up during their bye week due to other teams' losses. This team is red hot right now and that is dangerous for everybody else. They'll be extra confident with the new addition of Chris Chambers.


11. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Move from Week 7: -4
Why?-They lost to a streaky Lions team where Garcia put up some good numbers, but had two crucial fumbles. This team can't afford to lose games like these.


12. Baltimore Ravens
Move from Week 7: -2
Why?-The Bills might be rejuvinated under Edwards leadership, but that is no excuse for the Ravens to lose to them. However, this team has been overrated the entire year. Their defense is excellent usually, but they have zero offense.


13. Carolina Panthers
Move from Week 7: 0
Why?-A loss by the Bucs has moved this team into first place on their own during their bye week. I'm curious to see if this team can keep it up with the elderly Testaverde and the anything but good David Carr in the QB role.


14. Detroit Lions
Move from Week 7: +1
Why?-They might streaky, but they are only trailing a very good Packers team by one game in the division. The Packers face a semi-tough road schedule coming up and the Lions face a not-so-good Bears team next week which means this team be on top in the NFC North.


15. Seattle Seahawks
Move from Week 7: -1
Why?-They had a field day against a horrible Rams team on Sunday. The only reason I'm not moving this team up is because Alexander is still continuing to struggle. His needs to break out of his slump in order for this team to have any shot of a good season.


16. Kansas City Chiefs
Move from Week 7: +1
Why?-Slowly, but surely this team is climbing up in the rankings. Expect this team to continue to climb as long as LJ keeps having good games.


17. Arizona Cardinals
Move from Week 7: -1
Why?-If you looked at the stats and not the score of Sunday's game against the Skins you would say that this team dominated. Well that wasn't the case. A botched PAT, a failed two point conversion, and a 55 yard field goal miss could all be the reasons this team doesn't make the playoffs.


18. Cleveland Browns
Move from Week 7: 0
Why?-I'm definitely routing for this team to destroy the Rams next week. They have the potential to be above .500 for the first time since god knows when.


19. Denver Broncos
Move from Week 7: +1
Why?-An impressive win over a very good Steelers team. At 3-3 this team doesn't look so out of the runnings anymore.


20. New Orleans Saints
Move from Week 7: +5
Why?-These are the games the Saints need to win and they're pulling it off (although barely). Next week against a struggeling 49ers team is just what this team needs to get back on track.


21. Chicago Bears
Move from Week 7: +3
Why?-This spot was a 3-way toss up for me between the Bears and the next two teams in the rankings. The win over the Eagles was the deciding factor though. A 21-yard pass to Hester set up the game winning touchdown. This team is starting to get it, give the ball to Hester and everything will be ok!


22. Houston Texans
Move from Week 7: -3
Why?-I'll give them credit for pulling off a great comeback against the Titans, but they couldn't hold onto it so here they are. This team doesn't deserve to move down 3 spots for their loss, but last week was a crazy week so I had no choice.


23. Buffalo Bills
Move from Week 7: +4
Why?-Edwards is having some start. Since taking over Losman as QB he is 2-1 with a last second loss against the Cowboys. Lets see if this guy can keep it up.


24. Philadelphia Eagles
Move from Week 7: -3
Why?-Everyone (including all the "experts") keep saying how tight the NFC East is going to be with EVERY team. Apparently they don't realize that the Eagles are in this division. They are 2-4 this season with an ugly win over the Jets and one good win over the Lions. With the way the Cowboys, Giants, and Redskins are playing this team has absolutely no shot.


25. Minnesota Vikings
Move from Week 7: -3
Why?-Just like the Texans, it is unfair to move this team down 3 spots after Sunday's loss to a very good Cowboys team, but I couldn't put them any higher than this right now. As long as Peterson stays healthy I expect this team to move back up.


26. Cincinnati Bengals
Move from Week 7: +1
Why?-I'll give them a pity move up after a win against the Jets although they really don't deserve it that much. I see some rankings that moved this team as high as five spots after their win against the Jets. I can't do it. Somebody had to win the game and it was just the better of two horrible teams.


27. Oakland Raiders
Move from Week 7: -4
Why?-Ah Oakland. After being first in the division two weeks ago they are now dead last with two straight losses. Still a better team than last year, but not good enough to be playoff contenders.


28. Atlanta Falcons
Move from Week 7: +1
Why?-In my opinion they look the best out of the bottom 5 teams. Looking their best still means losing to a 1-4 Saints team.


29. San Francscio 49ers
Move from Week 7: -3
Why?-Remember how this team started 2-0? That's all a memory now after losing 4 straight and having arguably the worst offense in the league. They need to give the ball to Frank Gore constantly in order for this team to have any shot of winning more games.


30. New York Jets
Move from Week 7: 0
Why?-They needed to beat a struggeling Bengals team in order to gain some confidence back, but they couldn't do it. When Pennington has a great game (great for him anyway) and the team can't beat a 1-4 Bengals you know you're season is done for.


31. Miami Dolphins
Move from Week 7: 0
Why?-Just how bad are they? Look at the first half of Sunday's game against the Patriots. They were losing 42-7 by the half. Now Brown is out for the season and this could spell an 0-16 record for this team.


32. St. Louis Rams
Move from Week 7: 0
Why?-I have San Diego and Seattle's defense for my fantasy team and since San Diego was on a bye I used Seattle's defense. I probably would have used them anyway considering they were playing the Rams. Well I'm glad I did use them because they gave me almost as many points as Brady did (yeah I had a dominant week). I really want them to play the Dolphins so I can personally witness the worst football game in history.