NFL Power Rankings - Week 8: 1st loss drops Vikings out of top spot

The NFL Power Rankings are selected by a panel of theScore's NFL Editors, including Jack Browne, Mitch Sanderson, Arun Srinivasan, and Dan Wilkins.

1. New England Patriots

Previous Rank: 2nd

Should a player who missed four games to a suspension be considered for MVP? Well, in 2010, Tom Brady won the award with 3,900 yards and 36 touchdowns. This year, He's on pace for 4,016 yards and 32 touchdowns in four fewer games - Browne

2. Minnesota Vikings

Previous Rank: 1st

The undefeated run is over, but Minnesota remains among the NFL's elite. This is the kind of defense that can carry a team deep into January and all the way to the big stage. - Wilkins

3. Seattle Seahawks

Previous Rank: 3rd

The Seahawks are likely frustrated with a 6-6 tie against the Cardinals, but the defense submitted a vintage performance, and Earl Thomas finally looks fully healthy. - Srinivasan

4. Dallas Cowboys

Previous Rank: 4th

So often living off reputation rather than reality, the NFC East suddenly looks like the best division in football. All four teams are above .500, and the Cowboys have a shot at cementing themselves atop the division in prime time Sunday against the Eagles. - Browne

5. Denver Broncos

Previous Rank: 5th

This is the Broncos defense we're accustomed to seeing, making a concerted effort to terrorize Brock Osweiler in a 27-9 victory over the Texans on Monday. - Srinivasan

6. Green Bay Packers

Previous Rank: 8th

We'll have to wait another week before determining whether the offense is actually coming around, but the Packers still have more than enough talent to get back to the playoffs. - Wilkins

7. Pittsburgh Steelers

Previous Rank: 7th

The Steelers' season will largely depend on how quickly Big Ben can return. If that's at some point within the next few weeks, Pittsburgh is one of few true contenders in the AFC. - Wilkins

8. Philadelphia Eagles

Previous Rank: 12th

The Eagles needed a statement win, and with Carson Wentz continuing to look more like a rookie, the defense stepped up to the tune of four turnovers and six sacks. The fact it came against their former QB, Sam Bradford, is likely the icing on the cake for Philly. - Browne

9. Atlanta Falcons

Previous Rank: 6th

Thankfully for the Falcons, there aren't many teams playing well enough to knock them too far back, although that fourth-down call in overtime seems like it deserves some major punishment. - Sanderson

10. Kansas City Chiefs

Previous Rank: 10th

Spencer Ware is making Jamaal Charles' injury-related decline tolerable, powering the team to a 27-21 victory over the Saints. - Srinivasan

11. Oakland Raiders

Previous Rank: 13th

Welcome back, Latavius Murray. Murray looked no worse for wear from a toe injury, gliding past the Jaguars for two touchdowns in a 33-16 win. - Srinivasan

12. Arizona Cardinals

Previous Rank: 9th

Arizona submitted its best defensive performance of the year, but head coach Bruce Arians ought to be fuming over a number of preventable mistakes in Sunday's showdown. - Srinivasan

13. Buffalo Bills

Previous Rank: 11th

Just when the Bills looked like they'd completely turned around their season, they shot themselves in the foot by rushing LeSean McCoy back from a hamstring injury. Devastating? Yes. Utterly predictable? Definitely. - Browne

14. New York Giants

Previous Rank: 16th

The Giants helped continue the tradition of providing the people of the U.K. with abysmal football. Having said that, Landon Collins' ridiculous pick-6 alone might have been worth the price of admission. - Browne

15. Detroit Lions

Previous Rank: 21st

Detroit's new-look offense is a lot of fun to watch. The defense is a completely different story, unless you're a fan of the opponent. - Wilkins

16. Washington Redskins

Previous Rank: 14th

A 4-3 record isn't so bad, but the close loss to the Lions looks devastating when you look at the Redskins' upcoming slate. If Washington is still in playoff contention after facing the Bengals, Vikings, Packers, Cowboys, and Cardinals, it will be a miracle. - Browne

17. Cincinnati Bengals

Previous Rank: 17th

A win over the lowly Browns does nothing to answer the questions that have arisen thus far. Cincinnati's window to win is closing quickly, if it hasn't been slammed shut already. - Wilkins

18. Houston Texans

Previous Rank: 15th

The Broncos proved they were right to let Osweiler walk. But while he does appear to be bad at quarterbacking, the Texans' playoff chances are still very lively in such a weak division. - Sanderson

19. San Diego Chargers

Previous Rank: 24th

Joey Bosa was worth the wait, injecting life into a Chargers team that could've been out of the race by mid-October without him. - Srinivasan

20. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Previous Rank: 25th

The Bucs have proven they can beat good teams playing bad and bad teams playing bad. Luckily, they're in a division where that strategy could work out. - Sanderson

21. Baltimore Ravens

Previous Rank: 18th

Taking four consecutive losses after starting the season 3-0 demonstrates that last year's struggles weren't a fluke. It may be time for a rebuild in Baltimore. - Wilkins

22. Miami Dolphins

Previous Rank: 28th

Jay Ajayi should be the poster boy for the merits of patience and catered motivational tactics. He looked close to being kicked off the Dolphins at the start of the year, but now Adam Gase looks like a genius after coaxing back-to-back 200-yard games from the runner. - Browne

23. Tennessee Titans

Previous Rank: 23rd

The Titans have yet to beat Andrew Luck in his career, so Sunday's loss is just par for the course. At this pace, they can almost taste that sweet, sweet 7-9 record. - Sanderson

24. New Orleans Saints

Previous Rank: 19th

The Saints had a chance to turn their season around and get back to .500 with a win over the Chiefs, but a series of shots to the foot prevented that from happening. - Sanderson

25. Carolina Panthers

Previous Rank: 22nd

The Panthers' Week 8 matchup with the Cardinals was looking like "Game of the Year" material when the schedule came out, but considering that Sunday-nighter, and Carolina's 1-5 record, it may be best to turn our attention elsewhere. - Sanderson

26. Indianapolis Colts

Previous Rank: 27th

Good job. You beat the Titans, Bears, and Chargers. Hooray! That sounds like a dynasty if I've ever heard of one. - Sanderson

27. Los Angeles Rams

Previous Rank: 21st

Jeff Fisher's steadfast refusal to pull Case Keenum out of the starting lineup is indicative of the circus the Rams' return to Los Angeles has turned into. - Srinivasan

28. Jacksonville Jaguars

Previous Rank: 26th

You would think a game against the worst defense in the league would be the perfect time for an offensive juggernaut such as the Jacksonville Jaguars to put up some points, right? Wrong. - Sanderson

29. New York Jets

Previous Rank: 29th

Did Fitzpatrick sell his soul to Roger Goodell to ensure he'd always have a starting gig somewhere in the NFL? It seems that way, after Geno Smith's season was lost to an ACL tear just two quarters into his first start. - Browne

30. Chicago Bears

Previous Rank: 30th

The Bears are well positioned to be in the market for one of the top quarterbacks in next year's draft. Jay Cutler may be playing for another job when he returns from his thumb injury. - Wilkins

31. San Francisco 49ers

Previous Rank: 31st

The 49ers are simply not talented enough to compete on a weekly basis, and Chip Kelly is running out of ways to amend the roster in the midst of a six-game skid. - Srinivasan

32. Cleveland Browns

Previous Rank: 32nd

This was always going to be a tough year for the Browns. Next week's game against the Jets may represent the best chance for them to break into the win column. - Wilkins