NFL Power Rankings: Top Teams That Will Fall in Week 8

It’s hard to fathom anything much more exciting than NFL power rankings.

When you have a chance to watch some of those detested top-ranked teams lose, it can be a great feeling. Observing a franchise plummet down the list following an upset loss can be extremely gratifying, especially if your team is moving on up at its expense.

Let’s take a look at the Week 8 power rankings with a focus on a few teams that will drop the ball and wind up dropping a few rankings next week.

*Point spread mentions are courtesy of ScoresAndOdds.com

No. 1: Atlanta Falcons (6-0)

The only undefeated team left has been projected to win just 11.5 games by Vegas (according to Wagerminds.com). Those aren’t preseason odds either; the over/under was updated on Oct. 23.

The Falcons certainly start a 5-6 finish with a loss to Philly in Week 8, and could easily continue on Sunday Night Football against Dallas next week.

It’s tough to back a shaky road team that has gotten a lot of lucky breaks to get to 6-0, so we’re predicting the Falcons to lose their first game vs. Philly.  

No. 2: Houston Texans (5-1)

BYE. Don’t sleep on this team, which had one struggle (vs. a red-hot Packers squad) in six games. It’ll be looking to lock up the AFC’s top seed sooner than you know it.

No. 3: Chicago Bears (5-1)

Insane defense has Chitown back on the map. They have a highly winnable matchup against Carolina, who will be absolutely confuddled by their looks.

No. 4: New England Patriots (4-3)

New England is looking to atone against the NFC West, a division they have gone 0-2 against thus far in 2012. They travel to play St. Louis in a game that might be closer than the seven points Vegas has the Pats laying, but NE will not lose this one.

No. 5: New York Giants (5-2)

After the Cowboys stormed into Giants stadium to hand the G-Men a season-opening loss, you’d think they would be the favorite at home for Round 2. However, Vegas set this team as a 2.5-point underdog, a role the Cowboys should be happy to play.

We fully expect Big Blue to fall to 5-3 in Week 8, dropping down the power rankings before picking things back up against Pittsburgh next week.

No. 6: San Francisco 49ers (5-2)

The 49ers suffered a tough loss to the Cards last year, but they get a chance for revenge in a primetime Monday Night Football matchup. It won’t even be close—the Niners are winning.

No. 7: Green Bay Packers (4-3)

This record may be ugly, but the Pack are arguably still the team to beat in the NFC. They’ll make short work of the Jags at Lambeau Field.

No. 8: Minnesota Vikings (5-2)

The surprise good team of the year has an extremely winnable matchup at the Metrodome on Thursday Night Football vs. the Bucs. They’ll stay on course for a postseason spot.

No. 9: Baltimore Ravens (5-2)

BYE. Baltimore is going to suffer a meteoric fall without Ray Lewis and Lardarius Webb. However, they can’t drop this week due to a bye.

No. 10: Pittsburgh Steelers (3-3)

The Steelers are looking to stay above .500 by knocking out RGIII and the ‘Skins on Sunday, but it’s anyone’s ball game.

No. 11: Denver Broncos (3-3)

Despite the mediocre record, Peyton Manning’s Broncos are one of the premiere 3-3 teams in the league and should never be counted out.

No. 12: Seattle Seahawks (4-3)

As bad as the Lions might be, the Seahawks are worse away from Seattle. That means Detroit is going to have a leg up when it hosts this NFC opponent on Sunday.

QB Russell Wilson has yet to throw an INT at home, but has seven when outside of CenturyLink Field. Expect signal-caller Matt Stafford and the Lions to take advantage of all the extra possessions they are going to get from Wilson’s mistakes.

No. 13: Philadelphia Eagles (3-3)

We love the Eagles over the Falcons, but Vick has to take better care of the football.

No. 14: Dallas Cowboys (3-3)

Dallas might be a mediocre .500, but they have the Giants' number this year and will finish off the sweep.

No. 15: Arizona Cardinals (4-3)

AZ started the year hot but is finishing cold, as the revolving QB carousel and mounting injuries—especially on offense—are what will doom this franchise.

No. 16: Miami Dolphins (3-3)

The ‘Phins have looked great with Reggie Bush leading the way, but Tannehill is still a bit away from taking them back to the postseason.

No. 17: New Orleans Saints (2-4)

No one expected N.O. to struggle this much in the wake of the bounty scandal, but Sean Payton’s absence is certainly being felt. Fortunately, Drew Brees is still the signal-caller and he can produce points.

No. 18: Washington Redskins (3-4)

RGIII has to stay healthy for the ‘Skins to stay on top, and that’s going to be tough to do against a hard-hitting, QB-crushing Pittsburgh team in Week 8.

No. 19: St. Louis Rams (3-4)

Coach Jeff Fisher has changed the culture in St. Louis, but the team still needs better personnel. You can say they are almost overachieving with this record.

No. 20: San Diego Chargers (3-3)

The Bolts have a make-or-break game coming out of their bye against Cleveland. If they lose that one, they might as well say goodbye to their playoff chances yet again.

No. 21: Indianapolis Colts (3-3)

Andrew Luck and the Colts are leading the Chuckstrong campaign, winning games for their cancer-stricken coach—Chuck Pagano.

No. 22: Cincinnati Bengals (3-4)

BYE. The Bengals have to tighten up their defense during their off week if they want to compete in the wide-open AFC North.

No. 23: Detroit Lions (2-4)

Detroit was a lucky 10-6 in 2011, and it’s showing in their 2012 record. The Lions aren’t going to have much chance in the highly competitive NFC North after this awful start.

No. 24: New York Jets (3-4)

Since Revis has gone down, the Jets were blown out by the Niners, beat up on the Colts and nearly won against the Patriots. What does this tell us about Rex Ryan’s squad? We don’t really know, so the upcoming contest against Miami can be considered a measuring stick.

No. 25: Tennessee Titans (3-4)

Matt Hasselbeck is doing much better than Jake Locker since taking over as the starter. He’s leading this team back to respectability and it would be surprising to see him relinquish the reins at this point—barring injury.

No. 26: Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2-4)

The Bucs suffered heartbreak against New Orleans last week, and are in line for more against the Vikings on TNF.

No. 27: Buffalo Bills (3-4)

BYE. Buffalo can’t catch a break, but Ryan Fitzpatrick throwing interceptions right to the defense in the fourth quarter is no excuse. As they say, “you make your own luck.”

No. 28: Oakland Raiders (2-4)

Oakland barely escaped a pitiful, Maurice Jones-Drew-less Jags team, and they’ll probably sneak away from Arrowhead with a win vs. the lowly Chiefs, but this team will be exposed as one of the worst following that. 

No. 29: Carolina Panthers (1-5)

Cam Newton is regressing in his second year, and Ron Rivera has proven to be one of the worst coaches in the NFL. It’s time for a change at the top and a new offensive strategy.

No. 30: Cleveland Browns (1-6)

Is this the most competitive 1-6 team of all time? The Browns have hung around in almost every game and could have easily be around .500 if not for a drop here and an interception there.

No. 31: Kansas City Chiefs (1-5)

When the starting QB is getting cheered for an injury, you know things have hit rock bottom. Brady Quinn is now the KC signal-caller, which means things might actually get worse before they get better—if that’s even possible.

No. 32: Jacksonville Jaguars (1-5)

It’ll simply be surprising if the Jags win another game in 2012.