NFL Power Rankings Week 8: 2015-16 Conference Standings and Super Bowl Odds

Approaching the halfway mark of the season, NFL power rankings and Super Bowl odds tend to mesh well.

While top teams such as the Green Bay Packers and Cincinnati Bengals took Week 7 off, the rankings and odds going into Week 8 aren't so hard to figure out. Thanks to divisional implications, there are losers rising the ranks, real losers seeing a death knell in their title chances and much more.

Ahead of Monday Night Football between the Baltimore Ravens and Arizona Cardinals, let's round up how Las Vegas feels about each team, contrast it with power rankings and review the standings.

Week 8 NFL Power Rankings and 2015-16 Super Bowl Odds

Rank	Team	SB Odds
1	New England Patriots	11-4
2	Green Bay Packers	3-1
3	Cincinnati Bengals	12-1
4	Carolina Panthers	20-1
5	New York Jets	25-1
6	Arizona Cardinals	12-1
7	Denver Broncos	12-1
8	Atlanta Falcons	20-1
9	Pittsburgh Steelers	20-1
10	Miami Dolphins	100-1
11	Minnesota Vikings	50-1
12	Dallas Cowboys	50-1
13	San Diego Chargers	150-1
14	Indianapolis Colts	25-1
15	Buffalo Bills	75-1
16	New Orleans Saints	100-1
17	Philadelphia Eagles	16-1
18	New York Giants	33-1
19	Seattle Seahawks	14-1
20	Kansas City Chiefs	300-1
21	Oakland Raiders	250-1
22	St. Louis Rams	75-1
23	Chicago Bears	500-1
24	Houston Texans	150-1
25	Baltimore Ravens	500-1
26	Tennessee Titans	250-1
27	Jacksonville Jaguars	1000-1
28	Washington	200-1
29	Cleveland Browns	500-1
30	Tampa Bay Buccaneers	300-1
31	Detroit Lions	300-1
32	San Francisco 49ers	1000-1

Odds courtesy of Odds Shark.

2015-16 Conference Standings

AFC Team	Div	W	L
NFC Team	Div	W	L
New England Patriots	ACE	6	0
Cincinnati Bengals	ACN	6	0
Denver Broncos	ACW	6	0
New York Jets	ACE	4	2
Pittsburgh Steelers	ACN	4	3
Oakland Raiders	ACW	3	3
Miami Dolphins	ACE	3	3
Indianapolis Colts	ACS	3	4
Buffalo Bills	ACE	3	4
Kansas City Chiefs	ACW	2	5
Cleveland Browns	ACN	2	5
Houston Texans	ACS	2	5
San Diego Chargers	ACW	2	5
Jacksonville Jaguars	ACS	2	5
Baltimore Ravens	ACN	1	5
Tennessee Titans	ACS	1	5
Carolina Panthers	NCS	6	0
Green Bay Packers	NCN	6	0
Atlanta Falcons	NCS	6	1
Arizona Cardinals	NCW	4	2
Minnesota Vikings	NCN	4	2
New York Giants	NCE	4	3
St. Louis Rams	NCW	3	3
Washington Redskins	NCE	3	4
Seattle Seahawks	NCW	3	4
Philadelphia Eagles	NCE	3	4
New Orleans Saints	NCS	3	4
Dallas Cowboys	NCE	2	4
Tampa Bay Buccaneers	NCS	2	4
Chicago Bears	NCN	2	4
San Francisco 49ers	NCW	2	5
Detroit Lions	NCN	1	6

Odds Analysis

Notable Riser: Philadelphia Eagles (16-1)

Bob Leverone/Associated Press

Even after a Week 7 loss, it's clear folks will have a hard time ignoring the Philadelphia Eagles. 

Chip Kelly's team just went to Carolina and took a loss at the hands of the Panthers on Sunday Night Football, but it's by no means the end of the team's chances—especially in this NFC East.

The Eagles sit at 3-4 behind the New York Giants, the team the Eagles just so happened to paste in Week 6, 27-7. For that reason, the Eagles have actually risen in the ranks, as the season-long outlook isn't bad and a loss to an undefeated team on the road isn't much to lose sleep over.

Granted, the team sees room for improvement after Sam Bradford threw a pick and targets dropped passes all night long, as the team captured on Twitter: 

Again, the Eagles' rising seems odd, but this is about the broad view. The Eagles have wins against the best team in the division and other noteworthy opponents such as the New Orleans Saints and New York Jets.

If Philadelphia can find the desired consistency, bettors will look back on these odds and smile.

Notable Nosedive: San Francisco 49ers (1000-1)

Marcio Jose Sanchez/Associated Press

It's over for the 2-5 San Francisco 49ers.

While it was easy to shrug off perhaps the worst offseason ever experienced by a team before the season, now it's quite clear the 49ers had neither the resolve nor the talent to overcome the hurdle.

A staggering note by Tim Kawakami of the Mercury News says it all:

The 49ers broke a four-game losing streak in Week 6 but with just a five-point win against a one-win Baltimore team before Week 8.

San Francisco's 20-3 Thursday home loss to the struggling Seattle Seahawks says it all. There, Colin Kaepernick threw for just 124 yards, his backs managed just 61, and the defense couldn't stop the run, letting up 176 yards and a score. 

Already 0-2 in the brutal NFC West, don't be shocked to see the 49ers turn an eye toward the future. This might snowball into a competition for the first pick in the draft instead of an epic turnaround with the playoffs in mind. 

Believe the Odds: Carolina Panthers (20-1)

Bob Leverone/Associated Press

Don't look now, but those Panthers might be the most dangerous team in the NFL.

The Panthers sit undefeated and atop the competitive NFC South in large part thanks to the play of Cam Newton. He tossed three picks in the 27-16 win against the Eagles, but he also accounted for two total scores.

In fact, winning despite the turnover woes says quite a lot about the Panthers.

Sports Illustrated's Doug Farrar summed up the team quite well:

The Carolina defense is the reason Philadelphia couldn't move the ball well, it's why the team went to Seattle and escaped with a win the week prior, and it's the main reason Newton and Co. stand undefeated.

Fending off the 6-1 Atlanta Falcons in the division won't be easy, but with the way the Panthers play complete team ball right now, a season split seems like the worst-case scenario.

Pretty wins or not, bettors had better pay attention to the Panthers at these odds.

Stats are courtesy of NFL.com and accurate as of October 26. All advanced metrics courtesy of Pro Football Focus.