Skip to content

LEAGUES News

NFL Power Rankings - Week 8: Eagles knock Chiefs from top spot, Saints rising fast

Bill Streicher / USA TODAY Sports

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

1. Philadelphia Eagles (6-1)

Browne McClymont Sanderson Srinivasan
1st 1st 1st 2nd

Previous Rank: 2nd

The Eagles have their savior and sit atop the small group of good teams this season. Could this be the year the Super Bowl drought finally ends? - Browne

2. Kansas City Chiefs (5-2)

Browne McClymont Sanderson Srinivasan
2nd 2nd 3rd 4th

Previous Rank: 1st

Kansas City is still in good shape despite two straight losses, but with two hungry opponents in the Broncos and Cowboys up next, the Chiefs need to put the pedal back down to the metal to stay atop the AFC. - Sanderson

3. New England Patriots (5-2)

Browne McClymont Sanderson Srinivasan
3rd 6th 2nd 1st

Previous Rank: 4th

That's the Patriots we all know and ... respect? New England's offense took it to Atlanta, and the defense finally looked solid. Any need for the fog machines though, Bill? - Browne

4. Pittsburgh Steelers (5-2)

Browne McClymont Sanderson Srinivasan
4th 3rd 5th 3rd

Previous Rank: 3rd

The Steelers may lead the NFL in internal feuds, but Antonio Brown is submitting an MVP campaign and they remain the class of the division - somehow. - Srinivasan

5. Los Angeles Rams (5-2)

Browne McClymont Sanderson Srinivasan
5th 5th 4th 6th

Previous Rank: 5th

Hats off to the Rams. Whether this success lasts or not, they've gone from a bottom-five squad to one of few teams playing well on both sides of the ball in less than two months. - Sanderson

6. Seattle Seahawks (4-2)

Browne McClymont Sanderson Srinivasan
6th 4th 6th 5th

Previous Rank: 6th

Seattle came out on top against the Giants in the battle of teams without offensive lines. The recovery from a 1-2 start seems to be almost complete, but the Seahawks are missing that marquee win. - Sanderson

7. Minnesota Vikings (5-2)

Browne McClymont Sanderson Srinivasan
7th 10th 7th 7th

Previous Rank: 11th

Harrison Smith ought to be in the Defensive Player of the Year conversation, and the Vikings have weathered injuries at running back and quarterback. They're going to be a very tough out for the rest of the year. - Srinivasan

8. Houston Texans (3-3)

Browne McClymont Sanderson Srinivasan
9th 7th 10th 8th

Previous Rank: 10th

One of the league's highest-scoring offenses will have to contend with some of the NFL's best defenses in the second half. - McClymont

9. New Orleans Saints (4-2)

Browne McClymont Sanderson Srinivasan
8th 14th 9th 11th

Previous Rank: 13th

The Saints are among the hottest teams in the league. They can't possibly slip up against the Bears the way the Falcons and Panthers did before them. Right? - McClymont

10. Buffalo Bills (4-2)

Browne McClymont Sanderson Srinivasan
10th 12th 12th 10th

Previous Rank: 16th

It might not always be pretty, but the Bills are finding ways to win, and under Sean McDermott, they're playing with a newfound belief. When's the last time you could say that about Buffalo? - Browne

11. Dallas Cowboys (3-3)

Browne McClymont Sanderson Srinivasan
13th 17th 8th 9th

Previous Rank: 17th

Demarcus Lawrence is on pace to break the NFL's single-season sack record. He's also an impending free agent. If the Cowboys don't break the bank to keep him, someone else will. - Browne

12. Atlanta Falcons (3-3)

Browne McClymont Sanderson Srinivasan
12th 9th 15th 13th

Previous Rank: 8th

The Falcons were nearly shut out by the team that haunts their dreams. That loss in Foxboro could have lingering effects on the remainder of the season. - McClymont

13. Jacksonville Jaguars (4-3)

Browne McClymont Sanderson Srinivasan  
11th 15th 11th 12th

Previous Rank: 14th

#Sacksonville can kick back during the bye week and prepare for a stretch run that begins with five favorable matchups (Bengals, Chargers, Browns, Cardinals, Colts). - McClymont

14. Carolina Panthers (4-3)

Browne McClymont Sanderson Srinivasan
14th 8th 17th 16th

Previous Rank: 7th

If someone can explain this Panthers club to us, we're all ears. - McClymont

15. Denver Broncos (3-3)

Browne McClymont Sanderson Srinivasan
16th 13th 13th 15th

Previous Rank: 9th

Denver's offensive line has been a major weakness the last few weeks and that needs to stop if the club doesn't want to miss a second consecutive postseason. - Sanderson

16. Detroit Lions (3-3)

Browne McClymont Sanderson Srinivasan
15th 11th 18th 14th

Previous Rank: 12th

Coming off the bye, the Lions will try to take advantage of a Steelers team that is dealing with internal strife. - Srinivasan

17. Washington Redskins (3-3)

Browne McClymont Sanderson Srinivasan
20th 16th 16th 17th

Previous Rank: 18th

Huh, seems like letting both DeSean Jackson and Pierre Garcon leave in free agency was a bad idea. - Browne

18. Miami Dolphins (4-2)

Browne McClymont Sanderson Srinivasan
17th 19th 19th 18th

Previous Rank: 21st

Two amazing comebacks have saved the Dolphins' season. It's going to get even better when Matt Moore proves he should have been Ryan Tannehill's replacement all along. - Browne

19. Tennessee Titans (4-3)

Browne McClymont Sanderson Srinivasan
18th 18th 22nd 19th

Previous Rank: 19th

The Titans struggled to put away the Colts and Browns in consecutive weeks, but remain in control of their division. Such is life in the AFC South. - McClymont

20. Oakland Raiders (3-4)

Browne McClymont Sanderson Srinivasan
19th 21st 14th 26th

Previous Rank: 26th

In a wild Thursday nighter, Oakland finally showed signs of having the offense everyone expected before the season. The Raiders need to keep building to fight their way back into the playoff picture. - Sanderson

21. Green Bay Packers (4-3)

Browne McClymont Sanderson Srinivasan
21st 23rd 21st 20th

Previous Rank: 15th

Brett Hundley's audition as an NFL quarterback isn't off to a great start, but the bye week is a perfect time to assess his flaws and keep it moving. - Srinivasan

22. Los Angeles Chargers (3-4)

Browne McClymont Sanderson Srinivasan
23rd 22nd 20th 25th

Previous Rank: 25th

Just like that, the Chargers are alive in the AFC West. They're still at the bottom, but they're making noise - which is more than you can say about their fan base. - Sanderson

23. New York Jets (3-4)

Browne McClymont Sanderson Srinivasan
22nd 20th 26th 23rd

Previous Rank: 22nd

The Jets will either rally from the backbreaking loss to the Dolphins or collapse into the team we all thought they'd be. The club's at a crossroads when it comes to head coach Todd Bowles' future. - Browne

24. Arizona Cardinals (3-4)

Browne McClymont Sanderson Srinivasan
26th 24th 25th 21st

Previous Rank: 20th

Without Carson Palmer - who was already playing questionably - the Cardinals may as well pack up and go home before Larry Fitzgerald gets hurt. No one wants to see that. - Sanderson

25. Chicago Bears (3-4)

Browne McClymont Sanderson Srinivasan
24th 26th 23rd 24th

Previous Rank: 27th

It'll likely take more than seven passes from Mitchell Trubisky for the Bears to get another win. They're stuck between tanking and run-of-the-mill mediocrity. - Srinivasan

26. Baltimore Ravens (3-4)

Browne McClymont Sanderson Srinivasan
25th 28th 24th 22nd

Previous Rank: 23rd

The Ravens have been good, and they've been bad, but they've never been forgettable - until now. Will anyone recall a single moment from this year's team come next fall? - Srinivasan

27. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2-4)

Browne McClymont Sanderson Srinivasan
28th 25th 27th 27th

Previous Rank: 24th

Jameis Winston has held up his end of the deal. The rest of the roster better join him before it's too late. - McClymont

28. Cincinnati Bengals (2-4)

Browne McClymont Sanderson Srinivasan
27th 27th 29th 28th

Previous Rank: 28th

It's an hour-and-a-half drive from Cincinnati to Louisville, which is a roundabout way of saying that the Bengals should start scouting Heisman winner Lamar Jackson. - Srinivasan

29. New York Giants (1-6)

Browne McClymont Sanderson Srinivasan
29th 29th 28th 29th

Previous Rank: 29th

The Giants have never actually fired a general manager. Barring a miraculous turnaround, that could change this offseason. - Browne

30. Indianapolis Colts (2-5)

Browne McClymont Sanderson Srinivasan
31st 30th 30th 30th

Previous Rank: 30th

It doesn't get much more embarrassing than a shutout loss to a Jaguars team resting Leonard Fournette. Yet, incredibly, head coach Chuck Pagano remains employed. - McClymont

31. San Francisco 49ers (0-7)

Browne McClymont Sanderson Srinivasan
30th 31st 31st 31st

Previous Rank: 31st

After performing admirably in every game until Sunday's 40-10 loss, it will be interesting to see if the 49ers bounce back to their previous form or if all the losing has worn them out. - Sanderson

32. Cleveland Browns (0-7)

Browne McClymont Sanderson Srinivasan
32nd 32nd 32nd 32nd

Previous Rank: 32nd

Round and round the quarterback carousel goes. Check back later this week to find out who'll start for the morose Browns! - Srinivasan

RELATED NEWS

Tyler O'Neill is the first player in MLB history to homer in...
O'Neill hits HR in 5th consecutive Opening Day game to set record 💪
The @AnaheimDucks strike 44 seconds apart on the same penalt...
Lundestrom, Silfverberg score shorthanded goals 44 seconds apart 🦆
Logan Cooley's second of the game was a BEAUTY! 😍
Cooley with the moves in front for Coyotes' 4th straight goal 🕺
This spinning pass from Conor Garland is a sight to behold! ...
Garland sets up Miller with brilliant spinning pass 💫