NFL Power Rankings Week 8: Updated 2014 Analysis Before Thursday Night Football

Didn't expect some of the outcomes of Week 7? Join the club.

The NFL was full of surprises last Sunday. The Seattle Seahawks dropped a game to Austin Davis and the St. Louis Rams. The Kansas City Chiefs barely squeaked by the San Diego Chargers. The Jacksonville Jaguars even got off the schneid by taking care off business against the Cleveland Browns.

There was so much to digest from Sunday's action that it has taken some time to process. Now that Week 8 is set to begin on Thursday Night Football when the Chargers take on the Denver Broncos, it's time to reveal the latest league power rankings.

32. Oakland Raiders (0-6)

Marcio Jose Sanchez/Associated Press

There's no question as to which team is the worst in the NFL. The Raiders are just plain bad. They remain the last winless team in the league.

Both the offense and defense are below-average units. Derek Carr doesn't have the offensive line or weapons to light up the scoreboard like he did at Fresno State. He has shown flashes of being a franchise quarterback, but much has to be done to fix the parts surrounding him.

31. New York Jets (1-6)

Geno Smith has regressed during his sophomore season, even if his past two games against the Broncos and New England Patriots haven't been all that bad. That said, losing six games in a row makes more headlines than two straight decent games.

Eric Decker and Chris Johnson have also underperformed, and their contributions moving forward will measure how successful this team is.

Trading for Percy Harvin will aid the team's 4.8-yards-per-play average, which ranks 31st in the NFL. But the fact remains that he's a wild card.

30. Jacksonville Jaguars (1-6)

Stephen B. Morton/Associated Press

They're on the board!

The Jaguars dominated the Cleveland Browns in Week 7, even if Blake Bortles was miserable under center. He completed 17 of his 31 passes for 159 yards and a touchdown. He was picked off three times, however.

The emergence of Denard Robinson in the backfield is something to watch moving forward. CBS Sports' Chris Towers wrote about why he was successful:

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Sure, he wasn't necessarily muscling his way through tackles, but he showed enough slipperyness to make me think he can make plays the other backs in Jacksonville aren't necessarily capable of. He picked up 56 yards after contact Sunday, an average of 2.5 per carry, compared to just 1.9 for the rest of the team's backs this season.

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If Robinson can maintain some semblance of this type of production, Jacksonville could steal a few more wins before the season ends.

29. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1-5)

There's very little to like in Tampa Bay. The defense needs work and the quarterback play has been subpar. The only real positive is the athletic group of receivers and tight ends that Mike Glennon has at his disposal. He's on a short leash, however, so they may not be his group for very long.

28. Minnesota Vikings (2-5)

Ann Heisenfelt/Associated Press

A lack of a consistent running game has hurt rookie quarterback Teddy Bridgewater. Matt Asiata and Jerick McKinnon just haven't gotten it done at a high level, though McKinnon is likely the guy they'll go to more moving forward, as Bridgewater told reporters, per Derek Wetmore of 1500ESPN.com:

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Jerick, he's a great athlete. He's a great back and he can do it all. When we're in the passing game, he'll keep plays alive if you have to check [down] the ball to him. Or in the run game, he's one of those guys who can get in and out of blocks and of tackles. He's going to be a guy that we continue to look forward to make plays for this team.

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A better run game will open up the passing game for the rookie.

27. Tennessee Titans (2-5)

The Titans are lucky they aren't even lower. Colt McCoy looked like a serviceable NFL quarterback against the defense in the second half on Sunday. Colt McCoy!

Very little is going right in Tennessee.

26. Washington Redskins (2-5)

You just read it above. Kirk Cousins was benched in favor of McCoy. The offense (with and without Robert Griffin III) hasn't been good. Pierre Garcon, Jordan Reed and Alfred Morris are interesting pieces to build around, but there has been no consistency in this team's attack.

25. Atlanta Falcons (2-5)

The offense is very good and the defense is very bad. Unfortunately for the Falcons, the defense has carried more weight than the offense.

And the offense now stands to regress some, as Matt Ryan just lost starting center Peter Konz to injury for the year. The offensive line already wasn't playing all that well. It will be interesting to see how it plays now.

24. St. Louis Rams (2-4)

Austin Davis was a last-resort option for the Rams when Sam Bradford and Shaun Hill were lost to injuries, but he's played pretty well so far. After his surprising victory against the Seahawks, Davis earned high praise from Brett Favre, via ESPN.com:

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Not to sound off my rocker, but [Davis] -- in my mind -- can be the next Tom Brady or Kurt Warner. [Brian] Hoyer as well.

Austin, like those mentioned, just needed a legit opportunity.

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The Rams still appear headed for a top-10 pick in the 2015 NFL draft, so it will be interesting to see if they take one of the many quarterbacks presumably available in that range.

23. New Orleans Saints (2-4)

The Saints are horrible away from the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. All four of their losses have come on the road, while each of their two victories came in the friendly confines of home. They're home in Week 8, so we'll have to see if the trend continues.

22. Houston Texans (3-4)

The Texans blew a 10-point lead against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Monday night, but the team is still surprisingly competitive. Ryan Fitzpatrick shouldn't be at the helm of an NFL offense, yet that hasn't stopped head coach Bill O'Brien.

Houston likely won't finish the season at .500, so look for a downward trend over the next few weeks.

21. New York Giants (3-4)

Brandon Wade/Associated Press

Losing two divisional games in a row will be difficult to come back from, and their upcoming stretch of games isn't easy in the least, but the Giants offense enters the bye week at a good time. Once the bye is over, Rashad Jennings will likely be back running the ball. The offense has struggled with Andre Williams and Peyton Hillis getting carries.

20. Cleveland Browns (3-3)

Fans of the Browns had it out for Brian Hoyer on Sunday, as he was unable to take down the previously winless Jaguars. Of course, much of the blame should've gone to a defense that allowed Denard Robinson to rush for over 100 yards.

The Raiders are next on the schedule. A loss in back-to-back weeks to 0-6 teams would be brutal for a team that looked like it could compete in the AFC North.

19. Chicago Bears (3-4)

A big disappointment thus far, the Bears might have received the jolt they desperately need from Brandon Marshall this past week. He doesn't regret the comments he made about his teammates following last week's loss to the Miami Dolphins, per NFL.com's Mike Coppinger:

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Oh, absolutely my voice was heard. The only thing I regret is that the door wasn't closed, you know, but I wouldn't change any of my reaction because it came from my heart, and that's how I felt, that's how I still feel. I think that we have all the coaches we need, I think we have all the players that we need to get that job done. And 3-4 is unacceptable, but we have everything that we need to turn this ship right now.

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The New England Patriots are never a team you want to face when struggling, though, so the Bears could drop further down this list after Week 8.

18. Carolina Panthers (3-3-1)

Defense led the charge last year for the Panthers. Carolina's defense this year has been nowhere near as dominant.

They rank 27th in yards per game, second-worst in yards per play allowed, seventh in penalties and first in total touchdowns allowed. This team will not make the playoffs with a defense that susceptible to big plays and mistakes.

17. Miami Dolphins (3-3)

Ryan Tannehill earned some confidence following the defeat of the Bears, but now it's time for him to build off that performance and string together multiple wins in a row. The Jaguars are up next, and they've allowed the most passing yards per game this season. Miami should be looking at a 4-3 record in a week's time.

16. Buffalo Bills (4-3)

Getting to the quarterback with ease has made the Bills one of the most surprising teams of the 2014 season. Buffalo leads the league with 24 sacks, as Mario Williams and Marcell Dareus have made opposing quarterbacks uneasy in the pocket.

Offensively, things aren't too great. Sammy Watkins has mostly lived up to expectations, but Kyle Orton still leads the offense and injuries to Fred Jackson and C.J. Spiller mean Anthony Dixon and Bryce Brown are in line for big carries. That's not an ideal situation.

15. Cincinnati Bengals (3-2-1)

The Bengals did not come to play in Week 7. Andrew Luck and the Indianapolis defense stifled the Bengals, as Cincy lost 27-0 and showed serious flaws in the process.

ESPN's Field Yates (subscription required) highlighted what's gone wrong:

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The Bengals have been outscored 107-54 during their three-game winless streak, including being shut out on Sunday for the first time since 2009. The defense, which played as well as any other during the first three weeks of the season, is now yielding 23.3 points per game, 18th in the NFL. The offense hasn't been much better, but it should be noted that star wide receiver A.J. Green -- the team's best player -- has missed the past two games due to a recurring toe injury.

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Cincy looked like a real AFC contender early in the year, but they'll need to string together some decisive wins to restore faith.

14. Kansas City Chiefs (3-3)

San Diego proved no match for the Chiefs on Sunday, as they stole a hard-fought contest and moved to 3-3. The Chiefs could realistically move to 5-3 after squaring off against the Rams and the Jets in the next two weeks.

13. Pittsburgh Steelers (4-3)

DeMarco Murray has rightfully earned the attention of everyone in the NFL this season, but Pittsburgh's Le'Veon Bell hasn't been too far off in terms of production. He and Murray are the only two players this season to post 100 yards from scrimmage in every game.

The game plan for the Steelers must revolve around getting Bell the ball. This will open up the passing game for Ben Roethlisberger and Antonio Brown.

12. San Francisco 49ers (4-3)

Peyton Manning torched Jim Harbaugh's secondary en route to setting the NFL career touchdown record, and injuries to the entire defense have made the unit a bit of a liability. The bye week is certainly welcomed, as this team needs to get healthy—and fast. 

The NFC West is wide-open with the Seattle Seahawks scuffling and the Arizona Cardinals somewhat unproven.

11. Seattle Seahawks (3-3)

Doug Baldwin stepped up in Week 7, but even his strong performance couldn't stop the Seahawks from dropping what looked like an easy win to the Rams. The defense hasn't been nearly as stifling as it was last season, hence most of the struggles.

Russell Wilson is a true leader, and it will be up to him to rally his guys together and pick up a win this week against the Panthers.

10. Baltimore Ravens (5-2)

Nick Wass/Associated Press

This weekend's matchup against the Bengals will be somewhat of a litmus test for the 5-2 Ravens. Sure, the Bengals have struggled recently, but they're still a strong divisional rival. ESPN's Jamison Hensley wrote about what trend they'll need to continue in Week 8:

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In winning five of their last six games, the Ravens are winning the battle at the start of the game. During this stretch, they have outscored teams, 45-10, in the first quarter. The 35-point differential ranks only behind the Indianapolis Colts. The Ravens have scored on four opening drives this season, which includes touchdowns the past two weeks. 

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Joe Flacco has played very well lately. That's bad news for Cincy.

9. Detroit Lions (5-2)

No Calvin Johnson? No problem. He hasn't made an impact since Sept. 21, but Matthew Stafford has spread the ball around and benefited from strong performances from Golden Tate and Joique Bell.

Arguably the NFL's most stifling defense has also led the way, and it looks as if the Lions are legitimate contenders. Then again, we've said that in previous years—and then they tanked late in the season.

8. Arizona Cardinals (5-1)

Carson Palmer is 10-2 in his past 12 starts and the Cardinals are the current leaders of the NFC West. It has been a complete effort for Arizona. The defense has played well. Andre Ellington has run well. Drew Stanton surprised the league by playing quite well in Palmer's stead. With their leader back, the Cardinals are in good position to maintain their division lead.

7. San Diego Chargers (5-2)

San Diego took a step back by not beating the Chiefs, but their Thursday Night Football matchup against the Denver Broncos can erase the disappointment of Week 7. The Chargers always play well against Denver, and this is by no means an easy game for the Broncos.

Philip Rivers is an early MVP candidate even though he's had to rely on Branden Oliver to open up the passing game. Antonio Gates is enjoying a resurgence of sorts, and he'll be utilized heavily against Denver.

6. New England Patriots (5-2)

Remember all those critics after the Patriots started 2-2? They're gone now.

Since their loss to the Chiefs, the Pats have beaten up on the Bengals and Bills. Last week's close win against the Jets was a bit unexpected, but a win is a win. Taking care of business in a close game from time to time is always good for a team's morale.

5. Green Bay Packers (5-2)

Aaron Rodgers has tossed just one interceptions this year. He's been as on target as you can be under center. Jordy Nelson and Randall Cobb have helped his effectiveness. Their explosiveness off the line and their ability to run crisp routes has made Rodgers' job pretty easy.

The Packers face stiff competition from the Lions in the NFC North. The Bears could also sneak back into the discussion if they iron out their issues.

4. Philadelphia Eagles (5-1)

The Eagles watched the Cowboys take down the Giants during their bye week. Dallas remains Philly's top competition in both the NFC East and the conference in general. That means the Eagles must come out of the bye strong against the Cardinals.

LeSean McCoy returned to his old rushing ways against the Giants in Week 6, but Arizona is one of the best at stopping the run.

3. Indianapolis Colts (5-2)

This Colts team is something special. Andrew Luck is an MVP front-runner. T.Y. Hilton, Reggie Wayne and Dwayne Allen have given the young quarterback stellar options both deep and in the middle of the field.

The defense has been strong without top star Robert Mathis, and this team has all the confidence in the world—especially after shutting out the Bengals.

2. Dallas Cowboys (6-1)

DeMarco Murray is the man to thank for this team's 6-1 start. Teams are loading the box against the Cowboys, therefore opening up the passing game for Tony Romo and Dez Bryant. Even loading the box hasn't stopped Murray, though.

Look for Dallas to continue to succeed if Murray can keep racking up yards.

1. Denver Broncos (5-1)

Everything is clicking for Denver.

Now that Manning's record is out of the way, this team can focus on avenging their gut-wrenching Super Bowl loss to the Seahawks. They're in great shape to get to the big game yet again, but the overall success of the team will be dictated by Manning.

Follow Kenny DeJohn on Twitter: @KennyDeJohn_BR