NFL Power Rankings: Week 8 Expert Consensus from Around the Web

Any die-hard NFL fan is going to toy around with the notion of ranking and rating all 32 NFL teams after every week of action. What else is the game for but to determine the very best?  

It's best to get a full roundup of rankings from keen observers of the league to see how one's own determinations stack up. Obviously, there will be some dissent regarding the exact placement of certain franchises, but it's clear that the Denver Broncos, Dallas Cowboys and Philadelphia Eagles are the NFL's ruling class, while the Oakland Raiders and Tampa Bay Buccaneers know nothing but misery. 

Here are some power rankings from NFL experts around the Web, followed by my own take on each team's level of competency.

Position	Matt Miller, Bleacher Report	Frank Schwab, Yahoo Sports	USA Today
1	Dallas Cowboys	Denver Broncos	Denver Broncos
2	Denver Broncos	Philadelphia Eagles	Dallas Cowboys
3	Indianapolis Colts	Dallas Cowboys	Indianapolis Colts
4	Green Bay Packers	Indianapolis Colts	Philadelphia Eagles
5	Baltimore Ravens	Green Bay Packers	Arizona Cardinals
6	Philadelphia Eagles	San Diego Chargers	Green Bay Packers
7	New England Patriots	Arizona Cardinals	New England Patriots
8	San Diego Chargers	Seattle Seahawks	Baltimore Ravens
9	Detroit Lions	New England Patriots	San Diego Chargers
10	Arizona Cardinals	Baltimore Ravens	Seatte Seahawks
11	Seattle Seahawks	Detroit Lions	San Francisco 49ers
12	Kansas City Chiefs	Kansas City Chiefs	Detroit Lions
13	Cincinnati Bengals	Cincinnati Bengals	Cincinnati Bengals
14	San Francisco 49ers	San Francisco 49ers	Kansas City Chiefs
15	Miami Dolphins	Buffalo Bills	Buffalo Bills
16	Carolina Panthers	Carolina Panthers	Miami Dolphins
17	New York Giants	Miami Dolphins	Pittsburgh Steelers
18	New Orleans Saints	Cleveland Browns	Carolina Panthers
19	Chicago Bears	Pittsburgh Steelers	Chicago Bears
20	Cleveland Browns	Chicago Bears	Houston Texans
21	Houston Texans	New Orleans Saints	Cleveland Browns
22	Buffalo Bills	Houston Texans	New Orleans Saints
23	Atlanta Falcons	St. Louis Rams	New York Giants
24	Pittsburgh Steelers	New York Giants	St. Louis Rams
25	St. Louis Rams	Minnesota Vikings	Minnesota Vikings
26	New York Jets	New York Jets	Atlanta Falcons
27	Washington	Atlanta Falcons	Washington Redskins
28	Minnesota Vikings	Washington Redskins	Tennessee Titans
29	Jacksonville Jaguars	Tennessee Titans	New York Jets
30	Oakland Raiders	Jacksonville Jaguars	Jacksonville Jaguars
31	Tennessee Titans	Tampa Bay Buccaneers	Tampa Bay Buccaneers
32	Tampa Bay Buccaneers	Oakland Raiders	Oakland Raiders

Note: Frank Schwab's power rankings courtesy of Yahoo Sports.

Note: Matt Miller's power rankings via Bleacher Report.

Note: USA Today power rankings can be found at USAToday.com.

Nate Loop's Power Rankings

32. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1-5)

Tampa Bay had a bye in Week 7, which means they lost out on a chance to show that they too can show up against tough opponents in the way the Raiders, Jaguars and Rams all did. Lovie Smith's squad is in for a long season, but at least their next stop is a very winnable game against the lowly Minnesota Vikings.

31. Oakland Raiders (0-6)

The Oakland Raiders showed toughness and grit in their 24-13 loss to the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday, but this team lacks playmaking talent and is feeling every bit of rookie quarterback Derek Carr's growing pains. One thing is looking more and more certain with each passing week: Khalil Mack is going to be a star in this league.

Cardinals quarterback Carson Palmer had good things to say about him, per Vic Tafur of the San Francisco Chronicle:

He's still not getting to the quarterback, but he did rack up 10 solo tackles against Arizona and made his presence felt on a handful of other plays. The Raiders have a talented young player to build their defense around.

30. Jacksonville Jaguars (1-6)

The Jaguars won! Convincingly! Despite three interceptions from Blake Bortles, the Jaguars beat the Cleveland Browns 24-6 at home in Week 7 and deserve a move out of the power-ranking cellar. Running back Denard "Shoelace" Robinson had a career day, rushing for 127 yards and one touchdown.

The defense also did its part, putting constant pressure on Browns quarterback Brian Hoyer and forcing three total turnovers. This isn't the start of some bright, new era in Jacksonville, but it's a sign that they have a few pieces of the puzzle in place.

29. Tennessee Titans (2-5)

Is mojo still a thing? Because the Titans sure could use it, on both sides of the ball. Everything about quarterback Charlie Whitehurst is ordinary, save for his dynamite mane of hair. The defense lacks playmakers; Alterraun Verner is gone, and outside linebacker Shaun Phillips is on his last legs. They had a chance to beat the Washington Redskins in Week 7, but still came up just short.

This team needs Jake Locker back in a big way. His athleticism can at least make the offense palatable.

28. New York Jets (1-6)

This team is in the doldrums, despite a strong showing against the New England Patriots in Week 7. It's going to take a lot more than Percy Harvin to reverse the Jets' fortunes in 2014.

The Jets would be wise to feed Chris Ivory the ball with greater regularity. He's averaging 4.9 yards per carry and is the kind of workhorse back who can take pressure off Geno Smith. Chris Johnson functions best as a change-of-pace back, much in the way the Jets used him against the Pats on Thursday or the Detroit Lions in Week 4. 

27. Minnesota Vikings (2-5)

Minnesota was one rookie phenom (Sammy Watkins) and one miraculous Chris Hogan catch away from coming up with a morale-boosting win against the plucky Buffalo Bills. Alas, those two wideouts burned them on the final drive, pushing the Vikings even lower in this week's power rankings.

The offensive line isn't helping out rookie signal-caller Teddy Bridgewater much, but they do seem to be opening up holes for running back Jerick McKinnon. The 22-year-old rookie hit the century mark for the first time in his career, piling up 103 yards and a touchdown on 19 carries. 

26. Washington Redskins (2-5)

Pablo Martinez Monsivais/Associated Press

Is this the beginning of the Colt McCoy era in our nation's capital? McCoy, whose name is perhaps the platonic ideal of a Wild West gunslinger's moniker, apparently has the backing of head coach Jay Gruden after completing 11 of 12 passes for 128 yards and one touchdown against the Titans.

According to ESPN.com's John Keim, Gruden has tapped McCoy to start against the Cowboys if Robert Griffin III isn't ready to return from his ankle injury.

He won't have to do too much to make folks forget Kirk Cousins, but he will have to do quite a bit if the Redskins are to have a chance against the Cowboys in Week 8.

25. Atlanta Falcons (2-5)

The Falcons could be in big trouble. Matt Ryan is cooling fast after a hot start to the season. Atlanta's Week 7 loss to the Baltimore Ravens was his fourth straight game with a quarterback rating below 90, per ESPN.com. This wouldn't be a problem on most teams, but the Falcons defense has been atrocious. They rank 30th in the league in both total yards and points allowed per game.

24. St. Louis Rams (2-4)

It took one of the coolest special teams plays of all time and a vibrant pass rush for the Rams to eke out a win over the defending-champion Seahawks. Stedman Bailey took a punt back 90 yards down the right sideline for a touchdown after Tavon Austin fooled several Seahawks into thinking that he was going to make the catch on the opposite side of the field.

The Rams notched three sacks in the game, including one each from Robert Quinn and Aaron Donald, and forced Russell Wilson out of the pocket on several occasions. The Rams are going to head into most contests as the less-talented team, but it's nice to see they aren't afraid to take chances.

23. New Orleans Saints (2-4)

Tight end Jimmy Graham returned to play against the Detroit Lions on Sunday, but he would have no impact on the game whatsoever. 

According to Larry Holder of The Times-Picayune, Graham played 30 snaps and was targeted just twice. His presence on the field may have opened up the Lions' defense just a bit, but not enough for the Saints to emerge victorious.

Drew Brees has been a bit off the mark all season long, and defensive coordinator Rex Ryan is getting outmaneuvered every single week.

22. Houston Texans (3-4)

The Texans' meltdown just before halftime of their Monday Night Football matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers was painful to watch. Turnovers and jarring mistakes allowed the Steelers to rack up 21 points in just over a minute of play. The loss is a tough pill to swallow, but there is hope for redemption against the lowly Titans in Week 8.

21. Buffalo Bills (4-3)

The Bills have a point differential of minus-seven and are on their second quarterback of the season, and yet they somehow have a winning record and are sitting pretty at second place in the AFC East. Sammy Watkins turned in a star performance, racking up nine catches for over 100 yards and two touchdowns, including the game-winner just before the final whistle. 

"To make the last play to win the game in Buffalo, it's the best feeling ever," he said, via The Associated Press (h/t ESPN.com).

Watkins and Co. could make a surprise run at a wild-card spot and challenge the Patriots in the AFC East with games against the Jets, Chiefs, Dolphins and Jets again coming up in the next four weeks.

20. New York Giants (3-4)

Brandon Wade/Associated Press

Tight end Larry Donnell's two fourth-quarter fumbles doomed the Giants in Week 7 against the Cowboys. This team continues to perplex, oscillating from cohesive play to disjointed efforts on an almost weekly basis. They are a tough team to pin down, but at least quarterback Eli Manning's play has leveled out, which should give them a fighting chance in most contests.

19. Pittsburgh Steelers (4-3)

The Pittsburgh Steelers rode a flurry of second-quarter points to a 30-23 victory over the Texans in Week 7. The offense looked much better on Monday, and the team showed life when wideout Antonio Brown let the world know he's left-handed on his trick-play touchdown toss to Lance Moore. It's a fine way for the team to break out of their red-zone woes, and the win brings optimism to Steeltown for the second half of the season.

18. Cleveland Browns (3-3)

Just when everyone thought the Browns would be a dark-horse playoff candidate, they turn in a clunker of a performance against the woeful Jaguars. Hoyer had an awful day throwing the ball and let his teammates down with his poor performance.

The AFC North may not be the most talented division (that distinction likely goes to the AFC or NFC West), but it could be most competitive. Unfortunately, the Browns are bringing up the rear and won't be able to stay relevant if they can't take care of the gimme games.

17. Chicago Bears (3-4)

Somehow the Bears managed to put up only 14 points in a loss to the Miami Dolphins despite featuring the likes of Brandon Marshall, Alshon Jeffery, Martellus Bennett and Matt Forte on offense. The defense has been plagued by injuries all season, which puts pressure on Jay Cutler and Co. to perform at their best every week.

This team is underachieving at this point and now has to face the New England Patriots and Green Bay Packers in back-to-back weeks.

16. Carolina Panthers (3-3-1)

The Panthers were simply overmatched in their 38-17 Week 7 loss to the Packers. Cam Newton continues to play well with wideout Kelvin Benjamin, and tight end Greg Olsen had a big game, but the defense has been a total letdown this season. The Panthers have given up more than 30 points in four of their last five games.

Luckily, they play in the NFC South and could very well end up winning the division with a record hovering around .500.

15. Miami Dolphins (3-3)

Nam Y. Huh/Associated Press

Ryan Tannehill put together one of his best games as a pro in Week 7, completing 25 of 32 passes for 277 yards, two touchdowns and no picks. He also picked up 30 rushing yards on a read-option play and looked to be in total command of the offense. The Dolphins are also getting another fine season out of defensive end Cameron Wake, who has four-and-a-half sacks and three forced fumbles on the year. 

14. Cincinnati Bengals (3-2-1)

After the Bengals' defense put up a ghastly performance against the Panthers in Week 6, it was the offense's turn to fall flat on Sunday. No A.J. Green meant no points against the Indianapolis Colts, as Andy Dalton could hardly find anyone open downfield on the game. He threw for just 126 yards on the day, while running back Giovani Bernard managed just 17 yards on seven carries.

It's difficult to say what this team will accomplish this season after two frustrating weeks of play. Head coach Marvin Lewis will have to be at his motivational best if the Bengals are to recover from the disastrous loss.

13. Kansas City Chiefs (3-3)

The Chiefs played the ball-control game to perfection in their 23-20 road win over the San Diego Chargers in Week 7. Alex Smith was essentially mistake-free and helped the offense secure the ball for a whopping 39 minutes of play. Running back Jamaal Charles scored two touchdowns, one of which was a zig-zagging 16-yard scamper that broke a record in the process, per ESPN Stats & Info:

With winnable games against the Rams, Jets, and Bills on tap in the next three weeks, don't be surprised if KC is nipping at the Bolts' heels in the AFC West heading into the home stretch of the season.

12. San Francisco 49ers (4-3)

The 49ers were hardly inspiring in their Week 7 loss to the Denver Broncos, but this team features plenty of weapons on offense and should be able to challenge for the NFC West crown this season. Wideout Stevie Johnson is working hard to get in a rhythm with quarterback Colin Kaepernick and it paid off on Sunday. The former Bills star had five catches for 79 yards and a touchdown.

With Anquan Boldin, Michael Crabtree and Brandon Lloyd also in the fold at wide receiver, Kaepernick has an embarrassment of riches to work with as he tries to lead the 49ers back to the playoffs.

11. Seattle Seahawks (3-3)

Some might be hitting the panic button after two straight losses and a future without Harvin, but it's likely this well-coached team will sort out the kinks and get back to its winning ways in due time. Russell Wilson is playing out of his mind as of late; he threw for over 300 yards and ran for another 100 against the Rams. If nothing else, Wilson will make sure the Seahawks at least finish with a winning record.

10. New England Patriots (5-2)

The Patriots weren't great in their 27-25 Thursday night win over the rival Jets in Week 7, but they did enough to get the job done and that's what counts. They should have a handle on the AFC East, as Tom Brady looks determined to make sure this team moves well beyond the miserable start to the season.

9. Arizona Cardinals (5-1)

The Cardinals' 5-1 record gives them the inside track on winning the NFC West. The 49ers and Seahawks will undoubtedly give them trouble, which means keeping Carson Palmer healthy and upright for the remainder of this season is of the utmost importance. Also, Darnell Dockett is doing a fine job of keeping himself busy while injured, via ThePostGame.com:

8. Green Bay Packers (5-2)

The Green Bay Packers' offense is firing on all cylinders right now. Aaron Rodgers almost can't help but to have big days with wideouts Randall Cobb and Jordy Nelson playing this well. The running game is also coming together, as Eddie Lacy and James Starks both averaged over five yards per carry against the Panthers. The defense is solid and should be good enough for the Packers to beat the Saints in Week 8 with relative ease.

7. Detroit Lions (5-2)

Golden Tate has come into his own in the absence of fellow wideout Calvin Johnson. The Notre Dame alum came up big with a 73-yard touchdown late in the fourth quarter against the Saints. He finished the game with 10 receptions for 154 yards. 

Matthew Stafford looked a bit more like the 2013 version of himself in this game. The defense wasn't superlative, but it did come up with a big play late. Safety Glover Quin made a fantastic fourth-quarter pick to set up Stafford's game-winning drive. This team could be truly dangerous if things continue to click on both sides of the ball.

6. Baltimore Ravens (5-2)

The Ravens' calling card has been smashmouth defensive play for quite some time now, and they backed up their reputation in a 29-7 win over the Falcons on Sunday. Elvis Dumervil racked up two sacks and notched a fumble recovery, while veteran linebacker/end Terrell Suggs chipped in with a quarterback takedown of his own. Wide receivers Torrey and Steve Smith are both nightmares to guard one-on-one, making life quite wonderful for quarterback Joe Flacco. 

5. San Diego Chargers (5-2)

DENIS POROY/Associated Press

The Chargers got a taste of their own medicine against the Chiefs on Sunday. Smith managed the game perfectly and head coach Andy Reid dialed up a steady supply of runs from Charles and Knile Davis. San Diego's defense, especially the beleaguered linebacker corps, wasn't entirely up to the task and did a poor job of wrapping players up at the line of scrimmage. Safety Eric Weddle had a busy night cleaning up messes, racking up eight solo tackles and assisting on two others.

The Bolts now have to go on the road and take on the Denver Broncos on Thursday night. They need a bye week in a bad way, but will have to make do until their scheduled relief comes around in Week 10. 

4. Philadelphia Eagles (5-1)

The Eagles got a week off to observe the NFL action unfold around them and can confirm they will be in a dogfight all season long with the Cowboys for the top spot in the NFC East. A Week 8 matchup against the Cardinals will be a true litmus test for both teams.

3. Indianapolis Colts (5-2)

Another week, another 300-yard passing performance from Andrew Luck. The former No. 1 overall pick has eclipsed that number in every single game but one this season, a 172-yard effort in Week 2 against the Eagles. Clearly, that game is an aberration. Luck is a front-runner for MVP alongside Rivers and Peyton Manning.

2. Dallas Cowboys (6-1)

Tony Romo tossed three touchdowns against the Giants, but he wasn't the star of the show. That honor belonged to DeMarco Murray, who once again racked up over 100 yards rushing on the ground. NFL.com's Ian Rapoport pointed out that Murray is putting nearly the entire league to shame with his gridiron exploits:

With Romo's stellar play and Murray's reliability, the Cowboys aren't going away anytime soon.

1. Denver Broncos (5-1)

Make no mistake, the Denver Broncos crushed a very good football team in the 49ers on Sunday Night Football. 

Manning threw the 509th touchdown pass of his career, an NFL record. Demaryius Thomas might be the most athletic wide receiver he's ever played with. He had a monstrous performance, racking up 171 yards and two touchdowns, including the record-breaker. The defense is settling into a groove and haven't allowed more than 20 points in a game since the team's Week 3 loss to the Seattle Seahawks.

The Broncos have a tough contest against the Chargers on Thursday night, but they're in much better shape at this point in the season and should win comfortably.