NFL Power Rankings Week 8: Ravens, Lions make a statement, Jets in trouble
The NFL Power Rankings change each week based on many different factors. The way that a team is performing is, understandably, is one of the factors in deciding where they sit on the list. With the first seven weeks of the 2024 NFL season in the books, here's the full power rankings ahead of Week 8.
NFL Power Rankings for Week 8
#32 - Carolina Panthers (1-6)
The Carolina Panthers have already benched Bryce Young for Andy Dalton, so their franchise has more questions than answers. They earned one victory this season, but it wouldn't be shocking if that's the only one they get all year.
#31 - Cleveland Browns (1-6)
The Cleveland Browns have struggled to a 1-6 record so far, but things got even worse ahead of Week 8. Deshaun Watson has been ruled out for the remainder of the season with an injury.
#30 - New England Patriots (1-6)
The New England Patriots have officially entered a new era after naming Drake Maye as their starter. The rest of this season is about analyzing and developing their rookie quarterback.
#29 - Tennessee Titans (1-5)
The Tennessee Titans still can't find themselves a reliable quarterback. They drafted one in two of the past three years, but Malik Willis is no longer with the team and Will Levis was benched this week.
#28 - Las Vegas Raiders (2-5)
The Las Vegas Raiders have apparently entered sell mode after trading away Davante Adams. They also just lost Aidan O'Connell to a thumb injury, so they will go back to Gardner Minshew II again.
#27 - New York Giants (2-5)
The New York Giants insist that Daniel Jones is their starting quarterback going forward, but he was benched for Drew Lock late in the game last week. This didn't solve their issues on offense.
#26 - New Orleans Saints (2-5)
The New Orleans Saints got off to an impressive 2-0 start and sat toward the top of the NFL Power Rankings at that point. They have lost all five of their games since then and are dealing with significant injuries, including ones to Derek Carr, Chris Olave and Rashid Shaheed.
#25 - Los Angeles Rams (2-4)
The Los Angeles Rams have failed to overcome injuries to Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua. They are running out of time to potentially get them back and make a run toward the NFL Playoffs.
#24 - Miami Dolphins (2-4)
The Miami Dolphins have severely struggled without Tua Tagovailoa, who is expected to return from injury this week. They are hoping he can add spark to their stagnant offense.
#23 - Jacksonville Jaguars (2-5)
The Jacksonville Jaguars got a much-needed win against the New England Patriots last week in NFL London. They will look to build off of it and get things rolling back in the right direction.
#22 - New York Jets (2-5)
The New York Jets have seemingly been a quarterback away from being an elite team in recent years. They may still be in that same category as Aaron Rodgers continues to struggle in his comeback season.
#21 - Los Angeles Chargers (3-3)
The Los Angeles Chargers failed to take care of business on Monday Night Football against the Arizona Cardinals last week. Their lack of offensive weapons appears to be holding them back from their true potential.
#20 - Cincinnati Bengals (3-4)
The Cincinnati Bengals have one of the best offenses in the NFL, but also one of the worst defenses. This explains why they have been mediocre during the 2024 season so far.
#19 - Indianapolis Colts (4-3)
The Indianapolis Colts' defense has been one of the worst overall units in the NFL this year. Second-year quarterback Anthony Richardson has also struggled, and they have been without superstar Jonathan Taylor. But somehow, they still have a winning record through seven games.
#18 - Arizona Cardinals (3-4)
The Arizona Cardinals have been quietly solid during the 2024 NFL season so far. Kyler Murray is playing at an elite level and is going under the radar.
#17 - Denver Broncos (4-3)
The Denver Broncos have one of the most dominant defenses so far this year by many different measures. They have given rookie quarterback Bo Nix a legitimate chance to win most games.
#16 - Chicago Bears (4-2)
The Chicago Bears probably entered their bye week at the wrong time as their offense was just starting to get rolling. They are hoping that the week off doesn't halt their massive progress.
#15 - Philadelphia Eagles (4-2)
The Philadelphia Eagles have been polarizing during the 2024 NFL season so far. They have looked great in their wins, but terrible in their losses, so they will look to find some consistency.
#14 - Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-3)
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers played well against the Baltimore Ravens on Monday Night Football, but ultimately failed to get a victory. The even worse news is that Chirs Godwin and Mike Evans both suffered injuries during the contest.
#13 - Dallas Cowboys (3-3)
The Dallas Cowboys likely used their bye week to regroup from a disappointing start to the season. They still sit at 3-3 so far, so if they can beat the San Francisco 49ers in Week 8, they will get themselves right back on track in NFL Playoff Picture.
#12 - Atlanta Falcons (4-3)
The Atlanta Falcons entered Week 7 on a three-game winning streak but suffered a disappointing home loss to the Seattle Seahawks. They will look to bounce back in an important clash with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
#11 - Seattle Seahawks (4-3)
The Seattle Seahawks' defense bounced back this week and it resulted in an impressive victory against the Atlanta Falcons on the road. They will look to carry that momentum into a true test against the Buffalo Bills in Week 8.
#10 - Washington Commanders (5-2)
The Washington Commanders have been one of the most surprising breakout teams during the 2024 NFL season. They have been led by outstanding rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels, but an injury may potentially force him to miss time.
#9 - Pittsburgh Steelers (5-2)
The Pittsburgh Steelers made a shocking decision to start Russell Wilson last week, despite Justin Fields winning four of his six starts. It worked out for them when they found their fifth victory of the season.
#8 - San Francisco 49ers (3-4)
The San Francisco 49ers are the best example of a team that is likely much better than what their record is. They have dealt with a ton of injuries in the first half of the 2024 NFL season, but are expected to get Christian McCaffrey back soon.
#7 - Green Bay Packers (5-2)
The Green Bay Packers survived when Jordan Love was out with an injury, but he's now back in the lineup. They have one of the best overall offenses in the entire NFL.
#6 - Minnesota Vikings (5-1)
The Minnesota Vikings suffered their first loss of the season last week when they were defeated by the Detroit Lions. They will have a quick turnaround as they look to bounce back on Thursday Night Football against the Los Angeles Rams.
#5 - Buffalo Bills (5-2)
The Buffalo Bills moved on from Stefon Diggs and Gabe Davis during the offseason, as well as some of their key defensive players. It apparently hasn't hurt them as they have won five of their seven games this year.
#4 - Houston Texans (5-2)
The Houston Texans suffered a devastating loss to the Green Bay Packers last week, but it was just their second defeat of the season. They appear to have all the pieces in place to be true contenders when the NFL Playoffs arrive.
#3 - Detroit Lions (5-1)
The Detroit Lions feature one of the best rushing defenses and one of the most dominant ground games in the NFL. They recently lost superstar Aidan Hutchinson to an injury, but their only loss this season was against the undefeated Kansas City Chiefs in Week 1.
#2 - Baltimore Ravens (5-2)
The Baltimore Ravens got off to a slow start in the 2024 NFL season, but have looked like an unstoppable offense in recent weeks. Pairing Lamar Jackson with Derrick Henry is a big reason for their success so far.
#1 - Kansas City Chiefs (6-0)
The Kansas City Chiefs are the clear top team in Week 8 NFL Power Rankings. They have won each of the past two Super Bowls and are yet to lose a game during the 2024 season so far.