NFL Power Rankings: Where Does Every Team Stand Heading into Week 8?

Week 7 will go down in the books as a record-setting one for Peyton Manning, Jamaal Charles and DeMarco Murray. It will also be a forgettable week in Seattle, San Francisco and New Orleans, as playoff contenders suffered brutal losses.

The rankings see a big change this week, as the Dallas Cowboys continue to dominate and the Denver Broncos move to establish themselves as the best team in the entire league. But don't rule out elite quarterback play in Indianapolis and Green Bay as a consideration in looking for the best team in the NFL.

With midseason almost here, how do the rankings shake out?

32. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1-5)

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Last Week: 32

This Week: 32

Change: 0

A bye week for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers comes at a time when the team desperately needs to regroup. That means no movement this week, but there's not much room for the Buccaneers to move, unless they get a much-needed win when they return to the field in Week 8 against the Minnesota Vikings.

31. Tennessee Titans (2-5)

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Last Week: 29

This Week: 31

Change: -2

The Tennessee Titans lost in Week 7, but that's something they're getting used to. The fact that they lost to the Colt McCoy-led Washington team is pretty dang impressive.

The problems in Tennessee are numerous. Charlie Whitehurst at quarterback means a limited offense, but the coaching staff must also start to get Bishop Sankey and Kendall Wright more involved in the game plan. The issues Sunday, though, were on defense, where mistakes in the secondary allowed for big plays from Pierre Garcon and DeSean Jackson after Kirk Cousins was benched for McCoy.

It won't get any easier for Ken Whisenhunt's team, either, as it faces a dangerous Houston Texans defense next week.

30. Oakland Raiders (0-6)

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Last Week: 30

This Week: 30

Change: 0

The Oakland Raiders looked good early in their Week 6 loss to the San Diego Chargers, but over time, talent wins out, and the Raiders just can't compete right now. That may come down the road, but rookie quarterback Derek Carr needs help around him, and the defense still makes too many mistakes in crunch time.

Whoever is coaching this team next year will have an early draft pick at least. Right now, the Raiders are slated to have the No. 1 overall pick as the NFL's only winless team. That's the silver lining to this dark cloud as the fanbase struggles through the worst Raiders season in 52 years.

29. Jacksonville Jaguars (1-6)

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Last Week: 31

This Week: 29

Change: +2

The Jacksonville Jaguars have their first win of the 2014 season, and it was an impressive one.

The young-gun offense in Jacksonville produced. Quarterback Blake Bortles did make some poor decisions and tried to do too much, leading to turnovers, but in the end, he was able to move the ball and get points.

You can also credit rookie running back Storm Johnson, rookie receiver Allen Robinson and the huge interception from fifth-round rookie linebacker Telvin Smith. Oh, and the team's leading rusher was former quarterback and second-year player Denard Robinson.

The Jaguars are learning on the job, and as the young stars develop, the roster's foundation is good enough for them to be a very dangerous team. 

28. Minnesota Vikings (2-5)

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Last Week: 26

This Week: 28

Change: -2

Another week, another heartbreaking loss for the Minnesota Vikings, as they fall to 2-5. The trouble is that the team is losing close games, which is a nod to how young the roster is. When a squad relies on rookies at quarterback, running back and linebacker, it will lead to some mistakes. But what no one saw coming was the offensive line being a major question mark, and through seven weeks, it has been.

Former No. 4 overall pick Matt Kalil looked like a perennial Pro Bowler at left tackle in his first season, but he has regressed consistently since that time. And with guard Brandon Fusco banged up and center John Sullivan leaving the game Sunday, the unit isn't able to consistently pass protect for quarterback Teddy Bridgewater.

Bridgewater has now been sacked 13 times in the last two games—and consequently he's thrown five interceptions during that span. The 21-year-old first-rounder needs time to see the field, and right now, he's not getting that.

The Vikings have talent, and they're getting close to wins, but they need to develop more first.

27. Washington (2-5)

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Last Week: 27

This Week: 27

Change: 0

Maybe Jay Gruden should have benched quarterback Kirk Cousins a while back?

I'm kidding, mostly, but with Cousins throwing another interception, he was sent to the bench in favor of Colt McCoy. The former Texas Longhorns quarterback connected on a 70-yard catch-and-run with Pierre Garcon on his first throw, putting Washington in the game against Tennessee. Another big pass to DeSean Jackson helped too, and while McCoy isn't a serious long-term answer, he did move the ball well in relief.

Fans and coaches in Washington are ready for Robert Griffin III's return, but there is still no certainty about the quarterback position long term here. Feel good about the Week 7 win, but beating the No. 31-ranked team isn't a huge addition to the resume.

26. New York Jets (1-6)

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Last Week: 25

This Week: 26

Change: -1

It has been an interesting week for the New York Jets.

Thursday night saw the Jets nearly beat their division rivals in the New England Patriots, before a blocked field goal downed Rex Ryan's team. Then, Friday night, the Jets traded a conditional draft pick to the Seattle Seahawks for wide receiver Percy Harvin.

It's been a loud complaint of many that quarterback Geno Smith has few weapons to work with, and Harvin is definitely a weapon when he's engaged and motivated. That'll be a tough job for Ryan and Co., though, as Harvin isn't known for his work ethic.

The Jets' loss hurts them some in the rankings, but the addition of Harvin comes close to evening things out. Gang Green sees just a small move down following the loss.

25. St. Louis Rams (2-4)

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Last Week: 28

This Week: 25

Change: +3

When a football team has nothing to lose, it often comes out and plays with a reckless abandon that produces positive results. The Week 7 St. Louis Rams are a great example of this.

Trick plays on punt returns, a fake punt attempt from their own 20-yard line late in the fourth quarter and the gunslinging of Austin Davis behind an offensive line that kept the Seattle Seahawks out of the backfield all day resulted in a 21-6 halftime lead and a surprising 28-26 win over the defending Super Bowl champions.

The Rams always play the Seahawks well, but few expected this outcome. Credit Jeff Fisher for the coaching job in Week 7. The Rams have earned a big move up the rankings and could see a bigger bump depending on the outcome of Monday Night Football's contest involving the No. 24-ranked Pittsburgh Steelers.

24. Atlanta Falcons (2-5)

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Last Week: 19

This Week: 24

Change: -5

Well...it might be time for some changes in Atlanta.

Head coach Mike Smith saw his team fall from hosting the NFC Championship Game in 2012 to a 4-12 season in 2013. Now, with new hires on the offensive and defensive coaching staffs, big additions in free agency to the defensive line and another draft class under their belt, the Falcons are 2-5 and look hopeless up front on both sides of the ball.

The Falcons have been decimated by injuries along the offensive line, but the responsibility for the lack of depth there is on the front office and coaches. The same goes for the money and draft picks spent on the defensive line while the pass rush is nonexistent in the team's 3-4 defense. Poor decisions all around are costing this team games.

The talent is noticeable, but unless Smith and the front office can coach up the two front lines over the next nine games, there could be big changes coming.

23. Houston Texans (3-4)

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Last Week: 21

This Week: 23

Change: -2

The Houston Texans loss on Monday Night Football highlighted the weakness of this team—the quarterback play and the secondary. Until general manager Rick Smith and head coach Bill O'Brien have time to fill the roster in their own image, these losses will happen.

The Texans, though, remain one of the toughest teams in the NFL to beat. That was obvious on Monday night, but they also cannot allow their own mistakes to cost them games, and that happened this week. And until the offense is good enough to play in a shootout, the run defense has to be better than they showed this week. 

The Texans move down this week, but can quickly rebound with wins in upcoming weeks.

22. Cleveland Browns (3-3)

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Last Week: 17

This Week: 22

Change: -5

The Cleveland Browns' success may have gone to their heads. Or, at least, that's how it seemed in Week 7, when the 3-2 Browns lost to the 0-6 Jacksonville Jaguars. This is the NFL, a league famous for Any Given Sunday-types of wins and losses, but this was an embarrassing loss for Cleveland.

You can chalk this up to center Alex Mack's absence—gone due to injury—but the Browns struggled to bottle up the run game of a former college quarterback (Denard Robinson) and couldn't get anything going on offense. For the second week in a row, we saw Brian Hoyer complete under 50 percent of his passes, and the run game had no rhythm. A 16-of-41 passing day from Hoyer simply won't get the job done.

Are the Browns the team we saw in Week 6 in a win over the Pittsburgh Steelers or the one dropping a blowout loss to a winless squad? The answer is probably somewhere in the middle.

21. Buffalo Bills (4-3)

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Last Week: 22

This Week: 21

Change: +1

With running backs Fred Jackson and C.J. Spiller both injured and out of the game in Week 7, the Buffalo Bills leaned on their defense and the play of quarterback Kyle Orton to get a win over the Minnesota Vikings.

It worked.

Orton wasn't great—throwing one interception and dropping late fumble in the red zone, potentially damaging the team's chances—but he got the job done when it mattered. His connection with first-round pick Sammy Watkins at wide receiver sealed the win with a touchdown as the clock ran down to one second remaining. 

The Bills are tough enough on defense and potentially explosive enough on offense to haunt teams. If they can get solid play from Orton each week, they'll rise in the rankings. But right now, beating a lower-ranked Minnesota team doesn't help them move up more than one spot.

20. Pittsburgh Steelers (4-3)

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Last Week: 24

This Week: 20

Change: +4

The Pittsburgh Steelers pulled off a win on Monday Night Football with some of the craziest plays you'll ever see to end the first half. And in doing so, they move back to above .500 with a 4-3 record and also climb in the rankings.

The Steelers are a good team, but a frustrating team, as they seem to play up or down to the level of their competition. In Week 7 that meant containing J.J. Watt and keeping the Houston Texans under wraps for most of the night. We also saw them play looser as a team, and that led to things like Antonio Brown throwing touchdowns and Brett Keisel returning interceptions for touchdowns.

They remain an impossible team to figure out, but for now the Steelers are moving up.

19. Chicago Bears (3-4)

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Last Week: 16

This Week: 19

Change: -3

I'm not sure what was uglier in Chicago this week: the playing surface or the play of the team.

The Chicago defense could not stop the Miami Dolphins, especially through the air once Kyle Fuller went out, and it resulted in Ryan Tannehill carving up the defense and putting 27 points on the board. With an early deficit, the Bears were forced to abandon the running game, which allowed Miami to tee off with its pass rush and frustrate Jay Cutler all day.

The Bears are an interesting team at 3-4. From a talent perspective, they're good enough to compete for a wild-card spot in the playoffs, but inconsistencies and injuries have them overrated in previous editions of the power rankings.

The Bears make a much-needed move down this week.

18. New Orleans Saints (2-4)

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Last Week: 15

This Week: 18

Change: -3

The New Orleans Saints are supposed to be unbeatable coming off a bye week, but someone forgot to tell the Detroit Lions.

The Saints had the game in hand with 4:00 left to play, but then Matthew Stafford and the Lions offense started cooking. With two touchdown throws in the final four minutes and one big stop at the end of the game, the Lions were able to pull off the comeback win. And for the Saints, it's another frustrating week and another loss.

Now, at 2-4, you have to wonder where this team is headed. Quarterback Drew Brees was average for much of the contest before a good drive to end the game, but the fact remains that Brees' decision-making isn't what it used to be. And with 12 penalties on the day, Sean Payton's team is too inconsistent and undisciplined to win close games.

17. New York Giants (3-4)

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Last Week: 20

This Week: 17

Change: +3

The formula for how teams move up or down in the rankings isn't exactly scientific. Sometimes a squad loses and doesn't move down at all, while other times a team may win and not see a jump up the rankings. And then there are the New York Giants, who lost to the Dallas Cowboys and move up three spots.

I look at the rankings like this: If the Giants were playing the teams ranked lower than them, whom would I pick to win? In this instance, the Giants would be picked to win against every team below them. That's why they see a move up even after losing to Dallas.

The Giants aren't ready to be the best team in the NFC East, but they're far from a bottom-10 or -12 team.

16. Carolina Panthers (3-3-1)

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Last Week: 14

This Week: 16

Change: -2

Since starting the year 2-0 and looking like a red-hot playoff contender, the Carolina Panthers are a meager 1-3-1. That win, by the way, was over the inconsistent Chicago Bears.

Who are the real Panthers? That remains to be seen.

Week 7 saw the Panthers run head-first into a Green Bay Packers team that straight-up dominated them for 60 minutes. Aaron Rodgers and the offense carved up the strength of the team—the defensive front seven. The Packers defense contained Cam Newton and his offense to 331 yards and 17 points (but 14 of those came once the game was out of reach in the fourth quarter).

The Panthers move down this week but oddly enough are still very much alive in an NFC South race that no one wants to win.

15. Miami Dolphins (3-3)

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Last Week: 23

This Week: 15

Change: +8

The Miami Dolphins traveled to Chicago this week and simply outplayed the Bears on their home turf. In every aspect of the game, the Dolphins were the better team. And it resulted in a fairly easy 27-14 win over a talented squad.

The Dolphins looked and played looser in Week 7, and it definitely showed in quarterback Ryan Tannehill's confidence. Tannehill was effective running and throwing all game, and it resulted in a 25-of-32 passing day for 277 yards and two touchdowns. 

When the offensive line is protecting and the defensive line is causing problems, the Dolphins can be a very good team. That's what we saw in Week 7, and that's why they move up the board.

14. San Francisco 49ers (4-3)

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Last Week: 13

This Week: 14

Change: -1

Last week's rankings brought about a ton of hate from readers for having the San Francisco 49ers at No. 13 overall, but please let this sink in: These 49ers are not very good. 

Now, that's not to say that the 49ers won't be good by season's end, but without Aldon Smith, NaVorro Bowman, Patrick Willis and Glenn Dorsey, the team is struggling. And on offense, the line has been a mixed bag all year, with Alex Boone's holdout to start the season and Anthony Davis injured at right tackle hampering it.

By Week 17 the 49ers may be rolling folks again, but right now they're not a team to be feared—especially if the opposition gets an early lead.

13. Cincinnati Bengals (3-2-1)

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Last Week: 8

This Week: 13

Change: -5

Coming off a tie game against the Carolina Panthers in Week 6, the Cincinnati Bengals faced a very tough Indianapolis Colts team on the road. It looked like they forgot to show up.

The Colts dominated on the field and on the scoreboard, and the Bengals failed to score any points and were held to just 135 yards on offense. Wide receiver A.J. Green's absence is definitely impactful, but the Bengals looked lost for 60 minutes Sunday.

The team moves down this week after no movement following the tie last week. But this is three weeks without a win (loss to New England, tie against Carolina and loss to Indianapolis) since the bye week. The Bengals clearly have talent, but they've fallen behind the Baltimore Ravens in the division and in the rankings.

12. Kansas City Chiefs (3-3)

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Last Week: 18

This Week: 12

Change: +6

It's been a good week for sports in Kansas City. First the Royals clinch a World Series berth for the first time in 29 years, and then the Chiefs go on the road and beat a red-hot San Diego Chargers team. Enjoy it, Kansas City.

Not only did Week 7 give the Chiefs a big win in the division, but it saw running back Jamaal Charles become the team's all-time leading rusher as Andy Reid moved to 14-2 coming off a bye week as an NFL head coach. 

This is the type of win that changes a season, and if the Chiefs can build on this momentum, a return to the playoffs is very possible. Even in the loaded AFC West.

11. Seattle Seahawks (3-3)

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Last Week: 3

This Week: 11

Change: -8

During their Super Bowl season in 2013, the Seattle Seahawks lost three times in 20 games, including the playoffs. So far in 2014, through six games, they've already matched that number. 

A 3-3 record heading into Week 8 is not what anyone would have predicted for Seattle before the season—and definitely not after the Seahawks dominated the Green Bay Packers in the opener.

But the Seattle team we saw in Week 1 wasn't the same club taking the field against the St. Louis Rams in Week 7. Percy Harvin is gone, the defense has lost some of its punch and the offense is out of sorts with defenses forcing Russell Wilson to beat them.

The Seahawks still have the talent, experience and coaching to turn this around and make a Super Bowl run, but first they have to qualify. Falling behind the Arizona Cardinals and San Francisco 49ers in the division will make that tough.

10. Arizona Cardinals (5-1)

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Last Week: 12

This Week: 10

Change: +2

Week 7 saw the Arizona Cardinals move to 5-1, but we also learned that the team is capable of playing gritty football and winning when everything isn't perfect.

Carson Palmer threw the team's first interception of the season, but the Oakland Raiders couldn't move the ball on the defense, and the run game from the Cardinals was good enough to control the ball. That's the recipe for success in Arizona, and Bruce Arians' team was impressive in winning an ugly ballgame. 

At 5-1, the Cardinals are now the clear-cut No. 1 team in the NFC West. Heading into Week 8, with the Philadelphia Eagles and Dallas Cowboys next on the schedule, we'll learn very soon if Arizona is for real or not.

9. Detroit Lions (5-2)

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Last Week: 10

This Week: 9

Change: +1

With four minutes left in their matchup with the Saints, I was ready to write off the Detroit Lions as Week 7 losers. And then Matthew Stafford found Golden Tate and Corey Fuller for scores on the team's final two drives. And then the defense clamped down on the Drew Brees-led offense to stop the Saints and seal the win.

Comeback secured.

The Lions are now 5-2, sit atop the NFC North and are playing with the NFL's best defense. And they've won without Calvin Johnson on the field. Showing the ability to win with your best player on the sideline is the mark of a good team, and right now, Jim Caldwell's club is a good one.

With Week 7 in the books, the Lions are poised for a move up in the rankings.

8. San Diego Chargers (5-2)

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Last Week: 2

This Week: 8

Change: -6

The San Diego Chargers' stay at the top of the rankings for AFC teams was short-lived. One week after securing the No. 2 ranking, the best from the American Football Conference, they fell to the Kansas City Chiefs at home.

The Chargers are one of the league's most talented teams, but they ran into a mirror image of themselves in this loss. The Chiefs controlled the run game, forced turnovers and managed the football when they had it for a low-scoring win. That's how San Diego secured victories over teams like Seattle, and the Chiefs mirrored that strategy to perfection.

So one week after fans were upset that the Chargers were overrated, the rankings fix themselves.

7. New England Patriots (5-2)

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Last Week: 7

This Week: 7

Change: 0

Winning ugly on a short week against a bitter rival one game after facing another rival on the road isn't easy for anyone, so after the New England Patriots barely beat the New York Jets, they won't see a major move up in the rankings, but they won't be penalized, either.

The Patriots weren't exactly brilliant on the field in beating the Jets with a blocked field goal, but a win in the division is good enough to maintain their ranking—especially in an AFC East race that they can win by attrition with the competition all struggling. 

The Patriots have all the goods on paper to make a run, but it will take an exceptional coaching job from Bill Belichick to overcome the injuries the team is suffering on both sides of the ball. 

6. Philadelphia Eagles (5-1)

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Last Week: 6

This Week: 6

Change: 0

The bye week means no change for the Philadelphia Eagles, but this is a team poised to make a move if it can win in Week 8.

The San Diego Chargers and Seattle Seahawks were both ranked ahead of Philadelphia last week, and both lost, but wins by the Green Bay Packers, Indianapolis Colts and Baltimore Ravens replace those losses to keep the Eagles at No. 6.

However, if you're a fan of the Eagles and are upset at this ranking, your team has a chance to prove its worth next week. A win against the Arizona Cardinals will be reason for the Eagles to move up, regardless of what happens to the five teams ranked ahead of them.

5. Baltimore Ravens (5-2)

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Last Week: 9

This Week: 5

Change: +4

The Baltimore Ravens are for real.

You can look at the 5-2 record to get that. You can look at their beatdown of the Atlanta Falcons in Week 7 as evidence. You can also look at how they're winning on both sides of the ball and see the impact new offensive coordinator Gary Kubiak has made here. It's scary, but the Ravens offense is playing better than it did during the team's Super Bowl run a few years back.

That's not to say this team is Super Bowl-ready, but it's definitely in the conversation right now. With an explosive passing attack, a surprisingly good run game and offensive line, and one of the league's toughest defenses, the Ravens could make a serious run through the rest of the season and playoffs.

4. Green Bay Packers (5-2)

Last Week: 11

This Week: 4

Change: +7

Since starting the season 1-2 (with losses to Seattle and Detroit), the Green Bay Packers have won four straight games. Quarterback Aaron Rodgers has played like an MVP candidate in each of them. Very quietly, the Packers are back near the top of the NFC and look to have the NFL's most explosive passing attack outside of Denver on their side.

Are the Packers the best team in the NFC? They're close. Find out in the video above how we like their chances this year.

3. Indianapolis Colts (5-2)

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Last Week: 5

This Week: 3

Change: +2

The Indianapolis Colts' 0-2 start seems so long ago. Five straight wins will do that.

Quarterback Andrew Luck tied a Peyton Manning team record by throwing for more than 300 yards in his fifth straight game (all wins, by the way), and the Indianapolis defense stepped up big in shutting out the Cincinnati Bengals. It was a total team win and a total domination of a club that started the year 3-0.

The Colts may not have the talent of other top teams on paper, but on the field right now, few can compete with them.

2. Denver Broncos (5-1)

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Last Week: 4

This Week: 2

Change: +2

Peyton Manning is the NFL's all-time leader in touchdown passes with 510, and the Denver Broncos looked absolutely dominant in their beating of the San Francisco 49ers. That pretty much sums up Sunday night.

If the Broncos are playing like this—with a fierce pass rush, opportunistic cornerbacks and Manning on fire—they're impossible to beat. Week 7 wasn't just about Manning's brilliance, either, but also about the pass rush of DeMarcus Ware, Von Miller and Terrance Knighton tearing apart the 49ers offensive line.

In every aspect of the game, the Broncos were dominant. And with Manning getting them an early lead, they were able to completely dominate the contest through tempo and by dictating what the 49ers could do offensively. 

If you were looking for a definitive win from the Broncos, you just got it.

1. Dallas Cowboys (6-1)

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Last Week: 1

This Week: 1

Change: 0

The decision to move the Dallas Cowboys to No. 1 overall last week was met with some wild criticism. The fact that the Cowboys shut down an NFC East rival in Week 7 may not silence those critics, but in my opinion, there is no team playing better football right now.

The myth that the Cowboys defense isn't good should be quieted by now, as Rod Marinelli's unit is outperforming every expert's preseason prediction. And another myth, that Tony Romo isn't good under pressure or in the second half, continues to be wrong. Romo, with legit help around him, is playing his best football, even if his numbers are down.

The Cowboys aren't a flawless team, but for another week, they look unbeatable when all cylinders are clicking.