NFL Power Rankings: Initial Post-Sunday Breakdown Ahead of Week 8

Week 7 in the NFL taught us a few things.

For one, the Denver Broncos and Peyton Manning appear ready to challenge for another spot in the Super Bowl. All No. 18 did was set the all-time record for career touchdown passes and absolutely annihilate a solid San Francisco 49ers team.

Interestingly, Week 7 also taught us that Manning’s previous team, the Indianapolis Colts, may be the biggest AFC challenger to his eventual Super Bowl spot. The San Diego Chargers looked the part for some time, but they were upset by the Kansas City Chiefs Sunday.

As for the team that actually won the Super Bowl last year? Well, it wasn’t the best week for the Seattle Seahawks. After trading Percy Harvin on Friday to the New York Jets, the Seahawks were stunned by the St. Louis Rams on Sunday and dropped to a shocking 3-3.

The Dallas Cowboys might be Super Bowl favorites in the NFC after yet another win.

With all that in mind, read on to see how the power rankings changed after a very busy Sunday slate of football.

32. Oakland Raiders (0-6) 

Darnell Dockett of the Arizona Cardinals hit the nail on the head for the Oakland Raiders after six games, via NFL on ESPN:

Yes, Derek Carr could be the real deal at quarterback at some point, but that is not going to be this season. The Raiders kept Sunday’s game close, which is something of a moral victory, but there just isn’t enough talent on the roster to compete in 2014.

31. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1-5)

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers had a bye week, but the Jacksonville Jaguars were impressive enough to keep Tampa Bay in the bottom two. Don’t forget, this is the same Bucs team that was absolutely annihilated by the Baltimore Ravens the last time out.

30. Jacksonville Jaguars (1-6)

Congratulations, Jacksonville—you are on the board with your first win of the year.

Normally, a win over the Cleveland Browns might not seem like much, but the Browns destroyed the Pittsburgh Steelers and were beginning to look like a surprise team this year. The youth on the Jaguars finally clicked for an entire game, and Blake Bortles and his young receivers did enough to win. 

Don’t overlook the emergence of former Michigan quarterback Denard Robinson in this one, either. He led the team in rushing and may have desperate fantasy football owners scrambling to the waiver wire in search of running back help.

29. Tennessee Titans (2-5)

Richard Lipski/Associated Press

The Tennessee Titans looked bad in their loss to Washington, and Charlie Whitehurst simply couldn't do enough to move the ball. 

However, the defense allowed a couple of big plays against Colt McCoy, of all people, which is the main reason the Titans couldn't parlay a win over Jacksonville from the week before into two consecutive victories.

28. Washington (2-5)

It was ugly. It took yet another quarterback (McCoy). It didn't say much about the future of this team.

But Washington won its game against the Titans on Sunday. 

The combination of Pierre Garcon and DeSean Jackson at wide receiver looked the part, and McCoy avoided crippling turnovers, which is more than we can say about Kirk Cousins. It is difficult to see Robert Griffin III eventually returning to this team as is and leading it to any type of serious playoff consideration, in 2014 or beyond.

27. New York Jets (1-6)

The New York Jets were a blocked field goal away from being significantly higher in these power rankings, but they lost to the New England Patriots. Almost doesn’t count in rivalries. 

However, the Jets traded for Percy Harvin on Friday, which means Geno Smith finally has an explosive weapon to work with in the passing game. It remains to be seen whether that equals more wins, but the Jets defense has also struggled in the past couple of games.

That has to change.

26. Minnesota Vikings (2-4)

Bill Wippert/Associated Press

Much like the Jets, the Minnesota Vikings were one play away from being higher in these rankings.

Still, allowing a last-second touchdown to the Buffalo Bills wasn’t the only problem for the Vikings on Sunday. It was yet another game in which the offensive line couldn’t protect Teddy Bridgewater, which is a problem when we are talking about the future of the franchise. 

In fact, Bridgewater has been sacked 13 times in his last two contests. It is time to start protecting the young man.

25. Atlanta Falcons (2-5)

The Atlanta Falcons and the Chicago Bears may be the paper champions of 2014 as the two teams with a lot of talent but not a lot of results.

The Falcons lost once again in Week 7, this time in embarrassing fashion to the Baltimore Ravens. Yes, the Ravens are a likely playoff team and very talented, but the Falcons can’t stop anyone on defense, and Steven Jackson is a fantasy football nightmare on offense.

Atlanta is poised for yet another disappointing season.

24. New Orleans Saints (2-4)

Rick Osentoski/Associated Press

Speaking of disappointing teams in the struggling NFC South, the New Orleans Saints had their game against the Detroit Lions (and a higher spot in these rankings) wrapped up before collapsing in the final few minutes. 

Both the defense and the offense had multiple chances to win this game and couldn’t. It didn’t help that superstar Jimmy Graham was basically invisible all game as he dealt with injury. Drew Brees is still a star quarterback, but we are going to need to see some actual wins to move New Orleans higher than this for now.

23. St. Louis Rams (2-4)

The St. Louis Rams pulled out all the stops Sunday against the Seattle Seahawks, and it worked to perfection. 

They executed a trick punt return and a critical late-game fake punt in the upset, but don’t overlook the play of Austin Davis in the win. Considering how close the Rams have come to victories against the Philadelphia Eagles, the Dallas Cowboys and the San Francisco 49ers, they probably needed this win from a confidence standpoint.

22. Pittsburgh Steelers (3-3) 

The Pittsburgh Steelers play on Monday night against the Houston Texans and need some momentum after a blowout loss to the Cleveland Browns. If they are going to get some, they must find a way to consistently protect quarterback Ben Roethlisberger.

21. Cleveland Browns (3-3)

And just like that, the Browns’ miracle story hit a major snag.

Quarterback Brian Hoyer struggled for the second consecutive week with his completion percentage (he was 16-of-41 Sunday against the Jaguars), and Cleveland lost all its momentum from a hot start in a stunning loss to Jacksonville. 

Throw in the fact that Robinson of Michigan Wolverines fame carved up the run defense, and a little bit of doubt may be creeping in for the Browns.

20. Chicago Bears (3-4)

As SportsCenter noted, the Bears had more to worry about Sunday than their loss to the Miami Dolphins:

The offense, which was supposed to be one of the best in the league, was nonexistent against the Dolphins pass rush and secondary, and the defense couldn’t stop Ryan Tannehill from throwing or running. To make matters worse, rookie cornerback Kyle Fuller was lost to injury, and Jay Cutler was battered all game behind a porous offensive line. 

It was just an absolutely ugly performance from Chicago in all facets of the game.

19. Houston Texans (3-3) 

The Texans play the Steelers on Monday night, and a key to that game will be J.J. Watt against a vulnerable Pittsburgh Steelers offensive line. Arian Foster has also been on fire recently, so if the Houston defense can create a couple of turnovers, the Texans can move back to over .500 with a much-needed win.

18. Buffalo Bills (4-3)

The Buffalo Bills were the proud owners of Sunday’s most exciting moment when Kyle Orton hit Sammy Watkins in the corner of the end zone in the final seconds to beat the Vikings. 

Bleacher Report’s Matt Miller praised the Bills' drafting strategy in the aftermath:

Buffalo has a solid defense and a potentially strong running game when everyone is healthy. If Orton can manage the game and make plays down the stretch, the Bills are still a factor in the AFC East.

17. Carolina Panthers (3-2-1)

The Carolina Panthers are a long way from their hot start, and they were absolutely destroyed by the Green Bay Packers on Sunday.

The defense could not stop Aaron Rodgers, Jordy Nelson, Randall Cobb and Co. (not many can), and the offense didn't get anything going until the game was long over. 

Still, the Panthers are in the abysmal NFC South and have a golden opportunity to make the playoffs anyway.

16. New York Giants (3-4)

Brandon Wade/Associated Press

Credit the New York Giants for hanging with the juggernaut that is the 2014 Dallas Cowboys, but Eli Manning and Co. probably don't want to hear that now. 

The loss of Victor Cruz is going to be a problem all season, and this is still a team with a losing record. New York is a notch below Dallas and Philadelphia in the division and is not going to make the playoffs.

15. Miami Dolphins (3-3)

When Tannehill plays like he did Sunday against the Bears, with 277 passing yards, 48 rushing yards (including a critical 30-yard scamper) and two touchdowns, the Dolphins are going to win plenty of football games.

The defense is strong behind a formidable pass rush, and the offensive line is playing much better than it did a season ago. Lamar Miller is also a solid option at running back. 

Don’t give the AFC East crown to New England quite yet.

14. Cincinnati Bengals (3-2-1)

The Cincinnati Bengals may be a playoff team at the end of the season, but they did not look the part Sunday in Indianapolis. 

The offense managed a meager 135 yards and did not crack the scoreboard (and clearly missed A.J. Green), while the defense struggled to contain Andrew Luck and the Colts attack for a full four quarters. Considering Cincinnati had just tied Carolina and gotten blown out by New England before this, it may be time to start questioning the Bengals.

13. Kansas City Chiefs (3-3)

The Kansas City Chiefs picked up one of the most impressive wins in all of Week 7 when they went on the road and beat what many thought was a top-three or top-four team in the NFL in the San Diego Chargers. 

Instead, running back Jamaal Charles, quarterback Alex Smith and the defense did enough to win a nail-biter, and the playoffs are once again a possibility. Kansas City is always going to be difficult to beat at home, so picking up road wins like this in the division will pay dividends come December.

12. San Francisco 49ers (4-3)

The thought here is that Sunday night’s game was more about the Denver Broncos’ brilliance than anything else, so it’s difficult to punish the San Francisco 49ers too much.

We have harped on this before, but San Francisco needs to pound the running game and control the clock. It just couldn't do that against the Broncos defense, and Manning carved up a 49ers unit that is missing a number of key pieces, including Patrick Willis and NaVorro Bowman. 

How the 49ers respond to a blowout loss will say a lot about this team moving forward.

11. Seattle Seahawks (3-3)

Raise your hand if you saw a 3-3 start for the defending Super Bowl champions. What if that start included wins over the Green Bay Packers and the Denver Broncos?

Yes, Seattle traded Harvin before this game, but that really wasn't the problem against the Rams. The defense didn't look nearly as dominant as we are accustomed to seeing, and Russell Wilson and the offense never really got going for the full four quarters. The special teams also had multiple breakdowns in critical moments.

Talent-wise, Seattle is still a Super Bowl contender, but we need to see more positive results to keep it in the top 10 of these rankings.

10. New England Patriots (5-2)

Elise Amendola/Associated Press

There is something to be said for winning in close fashion in the NFL, even if the New England Patriots would have liked to make things a little easier Thursday against the Jets. 

Still, this is definitely a different team than we saw in a blowout loss to the Chiefs a few weeks ago. Handling Cincinnati and Buffalo in two consecutive games was impressive, and Tom Brady and Co. did just enough to keep that momentum rolling with a win over New York.

9. Arizona Cardinals (5-1)

The Arizona Cardinals are likely never going to destroy opponents, but the defense is stout, and the running game looked the part Sunday. The Cardinals look like the class of the NFC West for now considering the struggles from the Seahawks and the 49ers. 

The biggest questions moving forward revolve around Carson Palmer and Andre Ellington. Can they both perform at a consistent level against better teams than they saw Sunday (the Raiders) to get the Cardinals into the playoff discussion come December?

8. Baltimore Ravens (5-2) 

Nick Wass/Associated Press

The Baltimore Ravens are quietly one of the best teams in the league, and they once again proved it with a blowout win over the Falcons in Week 7.

Joe Flacco spearheads a dangerous passing attack, and the defense neutralized the Falcons’ array of talented playmakers. Baltimore almost always has a good defense, and 2014 is no exception. Given Cincinnati’s recent struggles, the Ravens have an opportunity to seize early control of the AFC North in the next couple of games.

7. San Diego Chargers (5-2) 

The San Diego Chargers lost to the Chiefs at home, but this is still an impressive team.

Philip Rivers and Branden Oliver make up a nice one-two punch in the backfield, and the defense is capable of forcing turnovers in critical moments. That early victory over Seattle may have lost some luster, though, and Trey Wingo of ESPN noted that we may not know as much about the Chargers as we once thought:

Still, the combination of a solid defense, Rivers and a number of early wins is enough to keep the Chargers high in these rankings for now.

6. Philadelphia Eagles (5-1)

The Philadelphia Eagles had a bye week, so it is time to look ahead.

A game against the impressive, and perhaps underrated, Cardinals awaits, and Chip Kelly’s offense will look to establish some momentum after what may have been its most complete performance of the year against the New York Giants. The defense also pitched a shutout in that game and should have confidence against Palmer and Co. in Week 8.

5. Detroit Lions (5-2)

Sports Illustrated was impressed by the Detroit Lions' comeback win against the Saints on Sunday:

"

That is a MASSIVE statement game for the Lions. Down 17-3 in the third quarter, they come back to take it, 24-23. These guys are for real.

— SI NFL (@si_nfl) October 19, 2014"

Matthew Stafford made just enough plays with his arm down the stretch, but the defense did what it had to do against Brees in the final quarter.

Stafford commented on that defense, according to The Associated Press, via ESPN.com: "Our defense did a great job of getting us the ball back. We fight, we never gave up, obviously had to have some things go our way, made some plays and won the game."

Detroit is 5-2 and playing without its best player, Calvin Johnson. The fact that it keeps winning is a very encouraging sign, especially because he will theoretically come back to help this offense reach the level at which the defense is playing right now. 

The race between the Lions and the Packers for the NFC North may be one of the most interesting ones to watch the rest of the year.

4. Green Bay Packers (5-2) 

ESPN Stats & Info noted that Rodgers made history in Sunday’s dominating win over the Panthers:

That 1-2 start (which could have been 0-3) is a distant memory after four consecutive wins. The trio of Rodgers, Nelson and Cobb is basically unfair for opposing defenses, and that’s not even taking into account the potential of Eddie Lacy as a running back. 

The Green Bay defense even played well Sunday against the Panthers, which is a scary proposition. If the Packers can actually play consistent defense moving forward, the Super Bowl could be a legitimate possibility.

3. Indianapolis Colts (5-2)

Jeff Darlington of NFL.com pointed out that the Indianapolis Colts had a complete effort from more than just Luck in Sunday’s blowout win over the Bengals:

That marks five consecutive wins for the Colts, and Luck has thrown for more than 300 yards in all of them. If Watt doesn’t win the MVP award in Houston or Manning in Denver, Luck could be the front-runner through seven weeks. 

What made Sunday’s effort so impressive for the Colts, though, was the fact that the defense shut out a potential playoff team in Cincinnati. If you stick a strong defense with Luck, the rest of the AFC could be in some trouble.

2. Dallas Cowboys (6-1) 

NFL on ESPN noted just how ridiculously dominant DeMarco Murray has been this season:

Credit the offensive line for those numbers as well, as the Cowboys are winning games with a run-first approach. That has allowed Tony Romo and Dez Bryant to make plays over the top. 

What’s more, the defense has been much better than advertised, which has allowed the offensive playmakers the opportunities to be on the field and make these impressive plays. The race between Dallas and Philadelphia for the NFC East should be a thrilling one.

1. Denver Broncos (5-1)

Yes, Manning set the all-time touchdown pass record Sunday with yet another brilliant performance (tip of the cap to Demaryius Thomas as well), but who it came against made it even more impressive. 

ESPN Stats & Info noted that the 49ers just don’t let offenses destroy them like Denver’s did in Week 7:

Denver also got a formidable performance from its defense, as the pass rush bothered Colin Kaepernick all game. Throw in Ronnie Hillman running the ball, and the Broncos look like a juggernaut heading into Week 8. 

That is why they are No. 1 in the power rankings.

Follow me on Twitter:

Follow @ScottPolacek