NFL Power Rankings 2014: Predicting Post-Week 8 Standings
With regular-season games coming on three of the seven weekdays, power ranking the NFL is an around-the-clock effort that often requires looking ahead to best judge where teams stand.
Week 7 is just in the books, but Thursday Night Football is right around the corner with Peyton Manning looking to continue setting records against the San Diego Chargers. That's just one of 15 exciting games on tap for Week 8, many of which will alter how the league's hierarchy pans out.
Let's break down picks for the weekend and how each predicted outcome will shake up the league's power rankings.
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| 8:25 p.m. (Thu.) | San Diego Chargers at Denver Broncos (-6.5) | Broncos |
| 9:30 a.m.* | Detroit Lions (-3) vs. Atlanta Falcons in London | Lions |
| 1 p.m. | Houston Texans (-2) at Tennessee Titans | Texans |
| 1 p.m. | St. Louis Rams at Kansas City Chiefs (-6) | Rams |
| 1 p.m. | Minnesota Vikings at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (-2) | Vikings |
| 1 p.m. | Seattle Seahawks (-3) at Carolina Panthers | Seahawks |
| 1 p.m. | Baltimore Ravens at Cincinnati Bengals (-2.5) | Ravens |
| 1 p.m. | Miami Dolphins (-4) at Jacksonville Jaguars | Dolphins |
| 1 p.m. | Chicago Bears at New England Patriots (-7) | Patriots |
| 1 p.m. | Buffalo Bills at New York Jets (-2.5) | Jets |
| 4:05 p.m. | Philadelphia Eagles at Arizona Cardinals (-2.5) | Eagles |
| 4:25 p.m. | Oakland Raiders at Cleveland Browns (-7) | Browns |
| 4:25 p.m. | Indianapolis Colts (-1.5) at Pittsburgh Steelers | Colts |
| 8:30 p.m. | Green Bay Packers at New Orleans Saints (-1.5) | Packers |
| 8:30 p.m. (Mon.) | Washington Redskins at Dallas Cowboys (-9) | Cowboys |
Note: Spreads courtesy of Odds Shark and last updated Oct. 21 at 11 p.m. ET
32. Oakland Raiders
The Raiders have made big strides toward being competent by hanging tight with San Diego and Arizona—two of the league's best teams—since coming off their Week 5 bye. They should keep it close against the Browns, but even a win may not be enough to take them out of the last spot.
At this point, 0-16 could be a very real possibility should Oakland fall in Cleveland. Their remaining schedule is Seattle, Denver, San Diego, Kansas City, St. Louis, San Francisco, Kansas City, Buffalo and Denver. Can you find a win in there?
31. Jacksonville Jaguars
It's surging time for the league's two cellar teams. If a 55-yard field goal against the Titans in Week 6 isn't blocked and instead goes in, the Jags would be on a two-game win streak entering a game against the Dolphins.
Blake Bortles did have three picks in the win against Cleveland, but he is more than capable of leading Jacksonville to wins. As long as Denard Robinson continues to make the run game anything more than irrelevant, the Jags have a shot to win four or five games.
30. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Bucs' next two games—Minnesota and Cleveland—are very winnable ones and will decide if they have any shot at mediocrity or are simply doomed to one of the league's worst records. Unfortunately for them, rookie Teddy Bridgewater should have a big day against their woeful secondary in Week 8.
With Oakland and Jacksonville playing better in recent weeks, Tampa Bay needs to come back from its bye strong or it will start taking the unwanted No. 32 spot.
29. Tennessee Titans
The Titans were a wrecking ball in Week 1 and have been wrecking themselves ever since. After a 26-10 season-opening win over the Chiefs, Tennessee has notched just one more win—and it was an ugly one against Jacksonville.
They'll welcome a Houston Texans team fuming off three distasteful defeats, and that's another recipe for disaster for a Titans team that has been invisible on defense for the last month.
28. Washington Redskins
The Redskins played sloppy football in Week 7, but Colt McCoy saved the day and led them to a win over Tennessee. Sunday will be a huge step up in competition in facing the Cowboys.
Even if McCoy finds some success against Dallas' impressive defense, it will take a huge reversal of fortune for Washington's defense to keep up. It has given up 15 passing touchdowns this season—second most in the league—and Dez Bryant is ready to feast.
27. New York Jets
The Jets are through their AFC powerhouse gauntlet, turning around from a 31-0 embarrassment to San Diego to go nose-to-nose with Denver and New England. Geno Smith is finally starting to click with three touchdowns in his last two games, and Chris Ivory is coming off his second 100-yard game of 2014.
That should culminate with New York ending this horrid six-game skid against the Bills, who won't be able to establish a run game against the Jets' stingy front.
26. Atlanta Falcons
The Falcons throttled the Bucs 56-14 in Week 3, and it's been an absolute tailspin for them ever since with four straight losses—all by 10 or more points.
Matt Ryan and Atlanta need to go up against a horrid pass defense to have any chance, and that won't be the case in Week 8 against a Lions secondary giving up 216 yards passing per game.
25. Minnesota Vikings
The Vikings rank dead last in passing offense in the league, but Teddy Bridgewater and Co. should begin to turn that around against an incompetent Buccaneers secondary that is also dead last against the pass.
Minnesota was in position to end its skid in Buffalo before Sammy Watkins' late touchdown, and they'll go back to work in Week 8 to begin climbing the rankings.
24. New York Giants
Eli Manning's crew has lost two straight games. After putting together a three-game win streak a few weeks back, this isn't how the Giants expected to go into their bye week.
New York lost its momentum before its Week 8 bye, and it's unlikely the Giants will get it back soon after. They face Indianapolis, Seattle, San Francisco and Dallas after the bye.
23. St. Louis Rams
The Rams bounced back magnificently from their second-half collapse against the 49ers, pulling a late fake punt to help them hold off the Seahawks 28-26. St. Louis should carry that momentum into Week 8 to knock off the Chiefs on the road.
Jeff Fisher and Co. have built up their confidence against two of the league's most hard-nosed teams, and they won't be intimidated by the Chiefs. Tre Mason should have another big day against Kansas City's below-average run defense.
22. Miami Dolphins
The Dolphins showed their teeth in a tough loss to the Packers, and instead of letting those negative feelings hang around, they went out and throttled the Bears 27-14 in Week 7.
Their Week 8 trip to Jacksonville will be tougher than expected after seeing the Jags knock off the Browns last weekend, but Miami's run game is simply too much for Jacksonville to handle.
21. Buffalo Bills
Kyle Orton has the Bills headed in the right direction after taking over the offense, as shown by his team's late comeback victory over Minnesota in Week 7. But the offensive line is still a work in progress, and it's in for a tough day against the Jets defensive line.
20. Houston Texans
The Texans just can't find ways to come from behind and win, mounting comebacks against Indianapolis and Dallas in recent weeks that came up short. That manifested itself again versus the Steelers.
Week 8 is just what the doctor ordered, facing a Titans team that Houston should have no trouble getting on top of early on.
19. Kansas City Chiefs
With big early-season victories over New England and San Diego, the Chiefs have proven that they can still compete with the AFC big boys when the opportunity presents itself. But what hasn't presented itself is whether or not Kansas City can win enough to make it back to the postseason.
They welcome a Rams team with a head full of confidence in Week 8, and the inconsistent Chiefs will lose much of their momentum with another home loss.
18. New Orleans Saints
New Orleans has the roster talent to get back to the playoffs, but Drew Brees continues to make costly plays late in games. His late interception led to a Lions comeback in Week 7.
Facing the Packers in Week 8, the Saints will go up against an opposing offense they can't keep up with and will fall again.
17. Carolina Panthers
The Panthers were trounced by the Packers in Week 7 and face an upcoming test that is one of the scariest in the NFL—the Seahawks after a defeat.
Seattle will come into Carolina angry and looking to get back in the win column, and the Panthers' 26th-ranked run defense will be no match for Russell Wilson and Marshawn Lynch.
16. Cleveland Browns
The Browns are in a free fall entering Week 8 after losing 24-6 to the Jaguars, and an upcoming game against the Raiders has Cleveland fans thinking the worst.
But as poorly as Brian Hoyer has performed in recent weeks, he should be able to lean on a productive run game and game-managing to slip past an overmatched Oakland team still looking for its first win.
15. Pittsburgh Steelers
After an unthinkable blowout loss to the Browns, the Steelers showed that they're still very much alive in the AFC North with a win over the Texans on Monday Night Football.
They won't be able to continue it in Week 8, however. They face a Colts team that looks like one of the NFL's best, and a struggling Pittsburgh pass defense will be no match for Andrew Luck.
14. Chicago Bears
The Bears are sputtering with losses in three of their last four games, and it's not really an ideal time to travel to New England to face the Patriots.
Jay Cutler and the Chicago offense has been reeling, and it's hard to see them turning things around against the Pats' top-ranked pass defense.
13. Detroit Lions
No Calvin Johnson, no problem. The Lions have won two straight games, including a comeback over the Saints in which they scored two touchdowns in the last four minutes.
Detroit heads to England's Wembley Stadium this week for a Sunday meeting with the Falcons, and Matthew Stafford should continue to find success with Golden Tate against the Falcons' 29th-ranked pass defense.
12. Cincinnati Bengals
The Bengals come into Week 8 off a 27-0 loss to Indianapolis, but it probably feels like a three-game skid. That was preceded by the gut-wrenching tie to Carolina and a 43-17 loss to New England.
Cincinnati will be confident to turn things around against a Ravens team it has already beaten, but Joe Flacco and Baltimore's offense are on a different level than they were in Week 1.
11. Baltimore Ravens
The Ravens face an old foe in Week 8, going up against the Bengals—whom they lost to in Week 1. But as was mentioned before, Baltimore is simply a different unit than it was back then.
The Ravens only have one defeat since then, and it was a 20-13 loss to the Colts, whom nobody can seem to beat right now. Baltimore ranks in the top 10 in both run and pass offense, and the Ravens should have a potent day on offense against Cincinnati.
10. San Francisco 49ers
Peyton Manning leading the Broncos to a win on his record-setting night was to be expected, but a 42-17 blowout wasn't. Needless to say, the 49ers have plenty to worry about heading into a Week 8 bye.
9. New England Patriots
The Patriots' downfall was greatly exaggerated early in the season, as New England has won three straight since the debacle in Kansas City.
New England should have no trouble continuing its offensive success against a struggling Bears secondary, but the Pats' biggest tests lie ahead with Denver, Indianapolis and Green Bay upcoming.
8. Arizona Cardinals
In the season's first seven weeks, the Cardinals showed that they have enough pieces for a Super Bowl run, sprinting out to a 5-1 record. But their surprisingly porous secondary is set to get gashed in Week 8.
They face a visit from Nick Foles and the Eagles, who should go off on the league's 31st-ranked pass defense. That will send them down a few spots in the rankings, but the Cards are still bound for the postseason in 2014.
7. Green Bay Packers
The Packers are terrible at stopping the run, giving up 148 yards rushing per game. But other than that, Green Bay seems to be clicking on all cylinders with a potent passing attack and a ball-hawking secondary.
Green Bay's defensive backs will have a big day against the turnover-prone Brees, leading the way to a big win over the Saints.
6. San Diego Chargers
The Chargers' win streak was thwarted in Week 7 with a last-second loss to the Chiefs, and even San Diego's best efforts may not be enough in Week 8 against the surging Broncos and unstoppable Peyton Manning.
Soon to have three losses, the Chargers won't be the dynamo they were early in 2014. But keep it in perspective. Once the schedule softens up again, this team will surge once more.
5. Seattle Seahawks
The Seahawks look far from the team that won the Super Bowl a year ago, but serious struggles can only derail this talented of a team so much.
Seattle simply has too much talent on both sides of the ball to continue struggling, and that will show itself in Week 8 with a bounce-back game in Carolina.
4. Indianapolis Colts
We knew the Colts weren't happy about their 0-2 start, but this? Something must be under their skin.
Indianapolis is playing at an unstoppable pace right now, with Luck leading the NFL in passing and the defense in the top 10 in both run and pass defense. The Steelers rarely lose at home, but nothing is stopping the Colts at this point in time.
3. Philadelphia Eagles
The Eagles defense hasn't been great, but it's been just good enough to give Nick Foles and LeSean McCoy opportunities to win games. And when both are playing like two of the best players at their positions, the Eagles are not only fun to watch, but also awfully hard to beat.
They'll have a chance to flex their muscles on the road against the Cardinals. But as shown by a road win over Indianapolis earlier this season, Philadelphia thrives in these types of situations.
2. Dallas Cowboys
An inability to stay sound across the board often led to the Cowboys' demise in spite of Tony Romo's greatness, but now all of those problems seem to be fixed. Dallas' offensive line and DeMarco Murray are nurturing leads with ease, and the defense is making late plays instead of giving them up.
With a game against Washington looming for Week 8, the Cowboys should continue wreaking havoc on defense against Colt McCoy.
1. Denver Broncos
Denver's offense has even more weapons than a year ago. Combine that with a defense playing at levels we haven't seen since Peyton Manning arrived, and you have easily the NFL's best team.
Even if Manning came out flat in Week 8 against the Chargers, it would likely be attributed to the short rest of playing on Thursday Night Football. And even the Broncos' second loss of the year may not be enough to talk folks out of crowning them as the best team in the league.
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