Week 7 is finished and as we look at Week 8 NFL power rankings we may start getting answers on teams like the Chargers and Vikings who were supposed to be good, but haven't turned in consistent performances. The Chargers, 2-5, and Vikings, 2-4, can probably consider themselves eliminated if they don't go on a serious run.
NFL Power Rankings, Week 8: AFC East Continues To Dominate
SB Nation’s Week 8 power rankings include some familiar names at the top while we’ve got a new No. 32.
At this point, the toughest division appears to be the AFC East. The top two teams in that division are the top two teams in our power rankings. The weakest division may be a tie between the NFC West and AFC West, with the Chiefs are starting to pull away with things in the latter division.
The bottom of our power rankings receive a shakeup while the top stays the same.
32. San Francisco 49ers (1-6)
Last week’s rank: 29
Last game: Panthers (lost)
SB Nation: Niners Nation
31. Buffalo Bills (0-6)
Last week’s rank: 32
Last game: Ravens (lost)
SB Nation: Buffalo Rumblings
I give the Bills some credit for taking it to Baltimore and nearly pulling it out. With the way Ryan Fitzpatrick is playing the Bills may not be an easy out, even without a win at this point.
30. Denver Broncos (2-5)
Last week’s rank: 26
Last game: Raiders (lost)
SB Nation: Mile High Report
Ugh. 59 points from the Raiders? This Broncos team is in serious disarray. Sure, Kyle Orton throws for a ton of yards but they can't win games. They're very disappointing.
29. Detroit Lions (1-5)
Last week’s rank: 27
Last game: Bye
SB Nation: Pride Of Detroit
Detroit is better than 1-5 but they can’t seem to close games out.
28. Dallas Cowboys (1-5)
Last week’s rank: 25
Last game: Giants (lost)
SB Nation: Blogging The Boys
Tony Romo appears done for most if not all of the season and the Cowboys are sitting at one win. Just how low can the 'Boys go this year?
27. Carolina Panthers (1-5)
Last week’s rank: 31
Last game: 49ers (won)
SB Nation: Cat Scratch Reader
Hey the Panthers get a win! Good for them. It doesn’t mean much in the grand scheme of things but now they know it won’t be an 0-16 season.
26. Cleveland Browns (2-5)
Last week’s rank: 30
Last game: Saints (won)
SB Nation: Dawgs By Nature
Big win for the Browns. Beating the defending Super Bowl champs is a big deal even if it's pushes them to just 2-5.
25. Oakland Raiders (3-4)
Last week’s rank: 28
Last game: Broncos (won)
SB Nation: Silver And Black Pride
59 points is no joke. The Raiders showed up to play against the Broncos. The key now is consistency. The Raiders are among the most inconsistent teams in the NFL. That rushing attack should help, though.
24. St. Louis Rams (3-4)
Last week’s rank: 24
Last game: Bucs (lost)
SB Nation: Turf Show Times
Tough loss to the Bucs. The Rams arrow is still pointing up with the progress Sam Bradford is making. They're finally on the way up.
23. Jacksonville Jaguars (3-4)
Last week’s rank: 23
Last game: Chiefs (lost)
SB Nation: Big Cat Country
That's four losses -- all by 22 points or more. When the Jaguars lose, they really lose big. Give them some credit for keeping it competitive with the Chiefs into the fourth quarter with their third quarterback.
22. San Diego Chargers (2-5)
Last week’s rank: 22
Last game: Patriots (lost)
SB Nation: Bolts From The Blue
The Chargers may have done it this time. They may have dug themselves too big of a hole. If they don’t go on a tear starting next week, they’re out of contention.
21. Cincinnati Bengals (2-4)
Last week’s rank: 21
Last game: Falcons (lost)
SB Nation: Cincy Jungle
The Bengals put up some points and Carson Palmer looked solid but they lost. Again.
20. Minnesota Vikings (2-4)
Last week’s rank: 16
Last game: Packers (lost)
SB Nation: Daily Norseman
Brett Favre is questionable next week with a pair of fractures in his ankle. The Vikings need to get 2009 Favre back if they want to make a legitimate run here. To give them some credit, they've lost to some good teams: Saints, Dolphins, Jets and Packers.
19. Arizona Cardinals (3-3)
Last week’s rank: 19
Last game: Seahawks (lost)
SB Nation: Revenge Of The Birds
Can Max Hall lead them to the promised land? In the NFC West, anything is possible, but after a loss to the Seahawks it becomes harder.
18. Miami Dolphins (3-3)
Last week’s rank: 17
Last game: Steelers (lost)
SB Nation: The Phinsider
Apparently there was a controversial call in the Dolphins and Steelers game. I sure wish ESPN would have covered it.
17. Chicago Bears (4-3)
Last week’s rank: 13
Last game: Redskins (lost)
SB Nation: Windy City Gridiron
I heard Sirius NFL Radio's Adam Schein say the Bears were the worst 4-2 team in history heading into last week. I wonder where they rank among the 4-3 teams.
16. Seattle Seahawks (4-2)
Last week’s rank: 20
Last game: Cardinals (won)
SB Nation: Field Gulls
I keep picking against the Seahawks and they keep winning. They’ve got a weak division and give them credit for taking advantage of that.
15. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-2)
Last week’s rank: 18
Last game: Rams (won)
SB Nation: Bucs Nation
Raheem Morris calls them the best team in the NFC. According to our power rankings, they’re the seventh best NFC team.
14. Philadelphia Eagles (4-3)
Last week’s rank: 10
Last game: Titans (lost)
SB Nation: Bleeding Green Nation
Michael Vick is coming back next week after Kevin Kolb held down the fort for a few weeks. I'm not sure Vick makes them significantly better than Kolb did.
13. Washington Redskins (4-3)
Last week’s rank: 14
Last game: Bears (won)
SB Nation: Hogs Haven
Nice win against the Bears. The Redskins need to finish off those winnable games and they’ll make things interesting in the NFC East.
12. Kansas City Chiefs (4-2)
Last week’s rank: 15
Last game: Jaguars (won)
SB Nation: Arrowhead Pride
The Chiefs took care of business against the Jaguars. Their defense looks solid and the offense has put up 73 points in two games. Things are looking up in Kansas City.
11. Green Bay Packers (4-3)
Last week’s rank: 12
Last game: Vikings (won)
SB Nation: Acme Packing Company
Sure the referees helped out a little but the Packers were able to close it out against the Vikings. Their potential is very, very high. When they’re playing well, I think they may be the best team in the NFC.
10. New Orleans Saints (4-3)
Last week’s rank: 5
Last game: Browns (lost)
SB Nation: Canal Street Chronicles
What’s up with the Saints? They better get it together because the Falcons are starting to pull away in the division not to mention the “best team in the NFC” in the Bucs.
9. Atlanta Falcons (5-2)
Last week’s rank: 11
Last game: Bengals (won)
SB Nation: The Falcoholic
I like this Falcons team a lot. They’re very sound across the board. With Michael Turner and Matt Ryan, they’re going to make it tough on the Saints in the NFC South.
8. New York Giants (5-2)
Last week’s rank: 9
Last game: Cowboys (won)
SB Nation: Big Blue View
Is this the best team in the NFC? They just might be.
7. Tennessee Titans (5-2)
Last week’s rank: 8
Last game: Eagles (won)
SB Nation: Music City Miracles
6. Houston Texans (4-2)
Last week’s rank: 7
Last game: Bye
SB Nation: Battle Red Blog
The Texans might be the most balanced offensive team. Plus, their defense can stop the run. They are built to play into January.
5. Baltimore Ravens (5-2)
Last week’s rank: 6
Last game: Bills (won)
SB Nation: Baltimore Beatdown
Baltimore received a scare from the Bills getting down big early . Give them credit for coming back but they can’t make games against the NFL’s bottom-feeders that interesting.
4. Indianapolis Colts (4-2)
Last week’s rank: 4
Last game: Bye
SB Nation: Stampede Blue
The Colts hold their spot on the bye. They’ve been too consistent over the last eight years not to consider them a top 5 team.
3. Pittsburgh Steelers (5-1)
Last week’s rank: 3
Last game: Dolphins (won)
SB Nation: Behind The Steel Curtain
The Steelers consistency is amazing. Once again they’re among the top in the NFL in defense and their record shows it. You almost forget about the Steelers because it seems they’re always this good.
2. New England Patriots (5-1)
Last week’s rank: 2
Last game: Chargers (won)
SB Nation: Pats Pulpit
Tough win against the Chargers after getting a lead early in the game. The AFC East really is the best division in football.
1. New York Jets (5-1)
Last week’s rank: 1
Last game: Bye
SB Nation: Gang Green Nation
The best team in the NFL? Hard to disagree with that right now.
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