NFL Power Rankings - Week 8

Thu, Oct 27, 2022
by BondMoney.cappertek.com

Up is down and down is up in the NFL this year. Want proof? Look no further than the Brady-led Bucs. They keep losing and continue to be big favorites. Last Sunday they closed at -13.5 at Carolina and lost 21-3. The week before that they went into Pittsburgh as 9.5-point favorites and left with an L. Aaron Rodgers and the Packers are in a similar situation. They were favored by 7 against the Giants and lost head up, then faced the Jets as a 7-point favorite (lost head up), then opened as a 4.5 fav against the Commanders and lost head up again... to a backup quarterback. Last year’s Super Bowl Champion Rams are also underperforming, as are the Chargers, Raiders, and new look Broncos. Meanwhile the Jets are only a game behind Buffalo in the AFC East, the Giants are 6-1, the Seahawks—left for dead after the Russell Wilson trade—have won 3 of their last 4, and the lowly Bears just knocked off New England in Gillette stadium on MNF. Strange new faces in the top ten this week. Couldn't hold them out any longer. Power rankings on deck.

#1. Eagles — Philly maintains their pole position throughout the bye week. Wonder how good the league's lone undefeated team will be after an extra week of rest. (same ranking as last week)

#2. Bills — The preseason favorite to hoist the Lombardi has not disappointed. Even with a battered secondary, they roll on. The Von Miller offseason signing is proving to be huge. (same ranking as last week)

#3. Chiefs — That's how you bounce back from a last second loss to the Buffalo Bills: Dismantle the 49ers on the road, 44-23. (same ranking as last week)

#4. Vikings — Who saw the Viks swinging their legs at the very top of the NFC North this season? This division feels settled already and its only week 8. (same ranking as last week)

#5. Giants — The 6-1 Giants have been underdogs in the last three games and they've won them all. This week they're +3 in Seattle. (same ranking as last week)

#6. Bengals — Offense starting to heat up. Joe Burrow threw for 345 in the first half against the Falcons. (up from 7th last week)

#7. Ravens — Close wins and close losses seem to be a recurring theme for this year’s Ravens. (up from 8th last week)

#8. Cowboys — Dak Prescott looked a little rusty in his return but between the Defense and the run game, the Cowboys get it done. (up from 11th last week)

#9. Jets — Jets in top ten? For now at least. The loss of rookie sensation Breece Hall last Sunday is a massive blow. (up from 14th last week)

#10. Titans — Last year's number one seed in the AFC is starting to look like the hardnosed, run-first, defensive minded team that we're used to seeing in Nashville. (up from 16th last week)

#11. 49ers — Despite getting mollywhopped in their own house by the Chiefs last Sunday, things are looking up for the Niners. Acquiring RB Christian McCaffrey was a major coup for GM John Lynch. (dn from 9th last week)

#12. Rams — Still not sure who the Rams are at this juncture. They've looked pretty average so far. But they have the talent and scheme to make another Super Bowl run. We'll see if they wake from their slumber. (same ranking as last week)

#13. Seahawks — One of this year's surprise teams. I keep doubting them and they keep proving me wrong. Last week's road drubbing at the Chargers was a statement game for this team. (up from 19th last week)

#14. Chargers — Seems like the injury bug always hits the Bolts the hardest. O-line issues are proving to be too difficult to overcome for this dark horse Super Bowl pick. (dn from 6th last week)

#15. Raiders — RB Josh Jacobs had another dominant game last Sunday. Damn near 150 rushing yards and 3 TDs in the second half. Too much talent on this team to be 2-4. (up from 22rd last week)

#16. Dolphins — The Tua return was triumphant. He even tucked the ball and ran at one point, colliding with a linebacker. Perhaps a middle finger to all those who have labeled him brittle. The Fins are now 4-0 with Tua and 1-3 without him. But mounting injuries on the defensive side of the ball are going to be difficult to overcome. (up from 23rd last week)

#17. Cardinals — Just the presence of WR DeAndre Hopkins makes the Cardinals difficult to defend... Okay, his presence and 10.5-inch hands. (up from 26th last week)

#18. Patriots — Big step backwards on Monday night. The inability to defend the run against a one-dimensional team like the Bears was unpatriot-like (unpatriotic?). They'll have to pull it together on the short week to face the rival Jets. (dn from 15th last week)

#19. Buccaneers — Back-to-back weeks as near double-digit favorites (-9.5 v Pit and -13.5 v Car) and they lose head up? Tampa Bay is in a tailspin. (dn from 10th last week)

#20. Colts — QB Matt Ryan is self-destructing nearly every week with costly turnovers. They have now lost both games against the rival Titans. This could prove costly in a tight division race. (dn from 13th last week)

#21. Falcons — The dirty birds were 6-0 against the spread going into last Sunday's game at Cincy. A super competitive team that believes in running the football. Sucks that RB Cordarrelle Patterson is on injured reserve. They can still win the NFC South crown, crazy as that sounds. Maybe the worst division in football this year. (dn from 17th last week)

#22. Browns — How many close games have they lost this year? A couple different bounces and we'd be having an entirely different conversation about this team right now. QB Deshaun Watson's return from suspension is still a handful of games away. (dn from 20th last week)

#23. Jaguars — What a heartbreaking way to lose. A completion to the one yard line as time expired. QB Trevor Lawrence is starting to look more and more comfortable in this offense though. They'll win their share of games. (dn from 21st last week)

#24. Bears — WTF!?! An offensive explosion! On the road in Foxborough. Where did that come from? The Bears are winning some football games this year. (up from 31st last week)

#25. Saints — Were it not for the back-to-back pick-sixes against the Cardinals last Thursday night just before the half, the Saints win that game. Despite the loss, they may be the best team in the NFC South. Just need to get healthy. (dn from 24th last week)

#26. Packers — This is the time when Aaron Rodgers tells us to r-e-l-a-x and rolls off ten consecutive wins, right? Right? Hello... (dn from 18th last week)

#27. Steelers — Love the way the Steelers D is competing in what appears to be a throwaway season. (dn from 25th last week)

#28. Commanders — Is there a QB controversy brewing in DC? There will be if backup QB Taylor Heinicke wins another game. (up from 30th last week)

#29. Panthers — No Christian McCaffrey, no problem. RBs Chuba Hubbard and D'Onta Foreman seize the day with 173 total rush yards against the Bucs. (up from 32nd last week)

#30. Lions — The defense did not play like the league's worst defense last Sunday against the Cowboys. But the offense is missing too many skill position players to win road games against quality opponents. (dn from 27th last week)

#31. Broncos — CB Patrick Surtain Jr is a Cell Door Lock for Defensive Rookie of the Year. Maybe the lone cause for optimism on this team. (dn from 29th last week)

#32. Texans —At what point does this 53-man roster resign itself to its fate? First pick overall in the 2023 NFL draft. (dn from 28th last week)

Most of you know me by pseudonym, Malcolm Ivey, or my real name, Uncle Chris. A decade ago I bowed out of cliché