Week 8 NFL power rankings: Ravens and Eagles take flight, trouble for Packers and Bills after Week 7

Heading into Week 7, everyone expected the Buffalo Bills to crush the New England Patriots and a battle between the Detroit Lions vs Baltimore Ravens matchup to be close. Following a chaotic Sunday, the Week 8 NFL power rankings present a new hierarchy around the league.

Baltimore crushed Detroit in one of the most impressive performances this season. Meanwhile, the Bills raised serious questions about their legitimacy as a Super Bowl contender and the Green Bay Packers raised doubts about their future.

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Let’s dive into our latest NFL power rankings after Week 7.

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32. Carolina Panthers

Previously: Last in NFL power rankings

Here’s the good news for the Carolina Panthers. Frank Reich finally gave up play-calling duties to Thomas Brown and quarterback Bryce Young showed real signs of improvement before the bye. Those provide reasons for hope. Unfortunately, Carolina’s search for receiving help on the trade market is going poorly and the decision not to trade Brian Burns for two first-round picks a year ago looks even worse now.

31. Arizona Cardinals

Previously: 25th in NFL power rankings

The Arizona Cardinals are starting to settle in right where everyone expected to be approaching the midway point of the season. Of course, the big difference is this team has proven to be far more competitive than we expected under Jonathan Gannon. As for the upcoming NFL trade deadline, all is quiet in Arizona and that’s perfectly fine for a team already flush with draft picks.

30. Las Vegas Raiders

Previously: 26th in NFL power rankings

No one, except team owner Mark Davis, should be surprised that Josh McDaniels isn’t working out. He was bad in Denver, worse as an offensive coordinator outside of New England and he isn’t well-liked by players. Yet, even our expectations of McDaniels weren’t so low as to think he would start Brian Hoyer over letting Aidan O’Connell get meaningful reps and would kick a field goal down 21-3 in the fourth quarter, that in itself should be a fireable offense.

29. Green Bay Packers

Previously: 22nd in NFL power rankings

If the Green Bay Packers had any intention of buying at the NFL trade deadline, they might as well abandon them right now. We thought this could be an average football team in 2023, if Jordan Love took advantage of the talent around him. A pass could be given for struggles with Aaron Jones and Christian Watson sidelined. Now? It certainly appears as if the Packers need to be involved in the 2024 NFL Draft’s quarterback market.

28. Tennessee Titans

Previously: 27th in NFL power rankings

We didn’t get a lot right in our season predictions, but our forecast for the Tennessee Titans is proving closer to accurate. When a team starts shopping their star running back and veteran quarterback in the spring, take it as a warning sign the new front office doesn’t truly believe the roster is good enough to be relevant. With Ryan Tannehill now sidelined, the Titans need to be in teardown mode at the Oct. 31 trade deadline.

27. Chicago Bears

Previously: 29th in NFL power rankings

Sunday’s victory for the Chicago Bears said far more about the Raiders than it was a reflection on Chicago. That’s not to say the Bears aren’t slightly improving, the past three weeks are proof of that. Week 7 was just a testament to the fact that the Bears played a football team much worse than they are.

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26. Washington Commanders

Previously: 21st in NFL power rankings

When the NFL trade deadline is days away, games like this can determine what a front office does. Based on how the Washington Commanders performed in Week 7, one of Chase Young or Montez Sweat is headed out the door. Our biggest takeaway, though, Sam Howell isn’t anywhere close to earning the right to be the Commanders’ starting quarterback in 2024 and Eric Bieniemy nor Ron Rivera should return next year.

25. Denver Broncos

Previously: 28th in NFL power rankings

While Sunday’s win shouldn’t change the approach the Denver Broncos take to Oct. 31, it will fuel Sean Payton with the confidence that his way is slowly starting to work. Denver still has one of the worst point differentials in the NFL, but it has now played the Kansas City Chiefs close and beat the Packers. Granted, the good vibes might disappear with the Chiefs and Buffalo Bills on deck.

24. New York Giants

Previously: 31st in NFL power rankings

Saquon Barkley makes quite a difference for the New York Giants offense, which is why we’ll hold off any quarterback controversy jokes for a week. The Giants have delivered two consecutive impressive performances in a row and left tackle Andrew Thomas is close to a return, as is Daniel Jones. Up next, a Giants vs Jets matchup in Week 8 that has far more intrigue than anyone expected a few weeks ago.

23. New England Patriots

Previously: 30th in NFL power rankings

No team needed that win more than the New England Patriots and it’s fitting it came on the same day news of Bill Belichick’s contract extension was reported. Do we believe this will be a turnaround point for the Patriots’ offense and they’ll fight for a .500 record the rest of the year? No. But, New England demonstrated that it’s not close to being the worst NFL team in 2023 and that’s an improvement over previous weeks.

22. Indianapolis Colts

Previously: 24th in NFL power rankings

It’s another loss for the Indianapolis Colts, but Gardner Minshew balled out and this defense continues to exceed our expectations. Our focus has always been on the Colts’ future and each passing week provides us with more confidence in Shane Steichen.

NFL power rankings after Week 7

21. Los Angeles Rams

Previously: 15th in NFL power rankings

If Matthew Stafford had time to throw, the Los Angeles Rams likely come away with a victory in Week 7. Unfortunately, that’s not the situation for Sean McVay. Puka Nacua got his, but that’s all that worked for the Rams’ offense with Stafford living under duress on Sunday. Speaking of issues in pass protection, the Dallas Cowboys defense awaits Los Angeles in Week 8. Keep Stafford in your thoughts because Micah Parsons and DeMarcus Lawrence are going to pin their ears back and wreak havoc.

20. Los Angeles Chargers

Previously: 16th in NFL power rankings

Good, just not good enough. Justin Herbert struggled against the Chiefs’ defense, with unlikely heroes (Joshua Palmer and Joshua Kelley) keeping the Los Angeles Chargers in the game. Once again, though, Brandon Staley’s defense let this team down. It’s obvious what needs to happen, but the Chargers will likely wait to make the move until the offseason.

19. New Orleans Saints

Previously: 19th in NFL defense rankings

The gap between the New Orleans Saints and Atlanta Falcons is widening. Atlanta already had an offense that rivaled New Orleans and now its defense is arguably better, too. There remains hope for the Saints given how the NFC South has looked this season, but kicking the proverbial can down the road with long-term salary cap concerns seems wasteful on a team with a mediocre ceiling.

18. Minnesota Vikings

Previously: 23rd in NFL power rankings

Hats off to Kirk Cousins and this Minnesota Vikings defense for statement performances on Monday Night Football. Cousins was near-perfect against an elite defense, with his lone interception coming on a phenomenal play by the defensive back. Meanwhile, Minnesota’s defense has put on a clinic in the last two weeks. It might be time to start talking about the Vikings as a Wild Card threat.

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17. New York Jets

Previously: 18th in NFL power rankings

The New York Jets have to be satisfied with where things stand coming out of the bye. If you told us after Aaron Rodgers went down that New York would be 3-3, we wouldn’t believe it. It’s a credit to Robert Saleh for keeping this team going and second-year running back Breece Hall also deserves kudos for carrying this offense. With a win over the Giants next week, it will be fair to start discussing a potential Rodgers’ return in January.

16. Houston Texans

Previously: 14th in NFL power rankings

If you’re a believer in the bye week bump for young teams, the Houston Texas should look very good in Week 8. Tank Dell will be healthy, a youthful defense will have more familiarity with DeMeco Ryans’ system and C.J. Stroud will be heading into a very favorable matchup against the Panthers’ defense. We expect Houston to be 4-3 after next Sunday.

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15. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Previously: 15th in NFL power rankings

It’s definitely time to pump the brakes on the Baker Mayfield campaign for Comeback Player of the Year. He has a 1-2 TD-INT ratio in his last two games, averaging just 6.1 yards per attempt during the Buccaneers’ losing streak. To make matters worse for Tampa Bay, it now has to head into a short week against a Buffalo Bills team that will be looking to take out its frustrations from Sunday’s defeat to New England.

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14. Pittsburgh Steelers

Previously: 20th in NFL power rankings

Mike Tomlin is 4-2, a spot we never expected him and the Pittsburgh Steelers to be in after Week 7. The play-calling from Matt Canada still isn’t doing Pittsburgh any favors, but Diontae Johnson’s return makes life so much easier for Kenny Pickett. Winning the division still feels unlikely, but the Steelers are playing like a Wild Card team right now.

13. Atlanta Falcons

Previously: 17th in NFL power rankings

Essentially playing on Sunday without Bijan Robinson, second-year quarterback Desmond Ridder protected the football and made just enough plays to secure a huge road win in Tampa Bay. Once Robinson’s illness is behind him, with the way the Falcons’ defense is playing, Atlanta should be viewed as the clear-cut favorite in the NFC South moving forward.

12. Seattle Seahawks

Previously: 12th in NFL power rankings

The Seattle Seahawks picked up the win in Week 7, but the offense is still experiencing far too many problems. Arizona typically gives up yards in bunches through the air and DK Metcalf’s absence played a role in a relatively quiet day for Geno Smith. Our big problem with Seattle right now is the recurring issues inside the red zone. Considering the Cleveland Browns and Baltimore Ravens are next on the schedule, it will get worse before it gets better for the Seahawks’ offense.

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11. Buffalo Bills

Previously: 5th in NFL power rankings

Escaping with a victory over the Giants is one thing, but losing to the New England Patriots is an awful look for the Buffalo Bills. Once again, Josh Allen played a little recklessly against an inferior opponent. Buffalo’s biggest takeaway, of course, was the downward trajectory this defense is headed with its top defensive starters sidelined by season-ending injuries. Allen will need to play at a superhuman level for the Bills to have any shot of making it to the Super Bowl.

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10. Dallas Cowboys

NFL: Dallas Cowboys at Los Angeles Chargers

Previously: 9th in NFL power rankings

We’re more concerned about the Dallas Cowboys coming out of the bye week. While the time off was much-needed for the offensive line, the numbers demonstrate that this defense has taken a critical step back without Stefon Diggs. Far more alarming, though, Dallas entered Week 7 ranked 18th in offensive touchdowns per game (1.8) and 26th in red-zone touchdown rate (39.13%). That’s not winning football, especially when you look at the Cowboys’ losses.

9. Cincinnati Bengals

Previously: 11th in NFL power rankings

The Cincinnati Bengals hit the bye week at the perfect moment, with Joe Burrow and Tee Higgins each receiving some much-needed rest. The first step towards proving you can still be an elite team is demonstrating your MVP-caliber quarterback is healthy. Next up for Cincinnati, finding a way to come out of a brutal two-week stretch (@ 49ers, vs Bills) with at least one victory. If the Bengals go 0-2 during that stretch, it’s back to the middle of the pack.

8. Cleveland Browns

NFL: Cleveland Browns at Indianapolis Colts

Previously: 8th in NFL power rankings

A win is a win, but you shouldn’t need a game-winning drive to beat Gardner Minshew and the Indianapolis Colts. The situation with Deshaun Watson remains bizarre, but it hasn’t seemed like who is under center matters because the Browns’ passing game just isn’t very good. If not for Myles Garrett, we might be having even more frank discussions about the Browns’ placement in the NFL hierarchy.

7. Miami Dolphins

NFL: Miami Dolphins at Philadelphia Eagles

Previously: No. 4 in NFL power rankings

This is why defense matters. It’s great to be able to put up 30-plus points a night and rack up yardage at a historic rate. Unfortunately for the Miami Dolphins, none of that happens when you face another elite offense that can control the clock and dice your secondary apart. This all feels like last season, except Tua Tagovailoa is healthy. Fortunately for the Dolphins, Jalen Ramsey could be the savior in the secondary.

6. San Francisco 49ers

NFL: San Francisco 49ers at Cleveland Browns

Previously: No. 3 in NFL power rankings

The Brock Purdy turnover regression has arrived and the MVP talk is dead in the water. Of course, that’s not even the biggest problem for the San Francisco 49ers right now. This pass rush is among the highest-paid units in the NFL and it didn’t have a single sack on Monday night. If styles make fights, San Francisco is getting knocked to the mat with opponents finding weaknesses that the 49ers don’t seem to know how to respond to. Fortunately for Kyle Shanahan, just about every team in the NFL is experiencing issues right now.

5. Jacksonville Jaguars

NFL: Jacksonville Jaguars at New Orleans Saints

Previously: 10th in NFL power rankings

Trevor Lawrence, Travis Etienne and the Jacksonville Jaguars defense are all this team needs to secure a home playoff game. It’s rather remarkable that Lawrence not only played on a short week with that knee injury but looked so good against a top-10 defense. Speaking of defense, there’s something cooking in Jacksonville and it’s worth watching in the weeks to come.

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4. Detroit Lions

Previously: 1st in NFL power rankings

Every little thing that could go wrong did for the Detroit Lions on Sunday. Typically, the Lions control the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball, but it was as one-sided as it gets in Week 8 in favor of the Baltimore Ravens. This doesn’t dismantle our confidence in the Lions as one of the best NFL teams in 2023, but it’s clear they could use a few more pieces to compete for the Lombardi Trophy.

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3. Philadelphia Eagles

Previously: No. 7 in NFL power rankings

That’s more like it from the Philadelphia Eagles. Red-zone issues? Vanished. Allowing quarterbacks to devastate this secondary at will? Tua Tagovailoa barely eclipsed 200 net passing yards on over 30 dropbacks before the game was out of reach. This was the version of the Eagles we saw in 2022. As long as they don’t have a letdown performance, which is always possible against a division rival, the Eagles should wipe out Washington in Week 8.

2. Kansas City Chiefs

NFL: Los Angeles Chargers at Kansas City Chiefs

Previously: No. 2 in NFL power rankings

We’ll say it again, the 2023 Kansas City Chiefs can be a better team than the Super Bowl champions. Offensively, there are still some things Andy Reid and Co. need to fix (red-zone woes), but this Chiefs’ defense has already proven it can win games on its own. If Kansas City starts consistently replicating its offensive success from last season, this will become the team to beat.

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1. Baltimore Ravens

Previously: No. 6 in NFL power rankings

The Baltimore Ravens are the best team in the NFL when they don’t shoot themselves in the foot repeatedly. Watching Lamar Jackson, you see a quarterback who is executing arguably at an even higher level than in his MVP season. Meanwhile, the Ravens have the best defense in the league since acquiring Roquan Smith before the 2022 NFL trade deadline. If the Ravens can stay healthy and avoid so many self-inflicted wounds, which are both Orlando Brown-sized IFs – the Ravens can hoist the Lombardi Trophy in February.