NFL Power Rankings Week 8: Breaking Down the NFC
Through seven weeks of NFL action the league has seen its fair share of surprises.
Perhaps the one that stands out the most isn't the Oakland Raiders 59-14 trouncing of the Denver Broncos on Sunday, but rather the fact that the nine top teams in the NFC are only separated by a game thus far.
These are power rankings, however, not to be confused with standings. Sure records matter, but they aren't the only thing that matters.
No. 16 San Francisco 49ers
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Certainly the San Francisco 49ers didn't expect to be dead last in the conference after Week 7's game against the Carolina Panthers (winless prior to Sunday's victory over San Francisco), but here they are.
At 1-6, San Francisco seems to be all but finished, even more stinging is their four losses by three points or less.
No. 15 Carolina Panthers
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The Panthers got their first win of the season on Sunday against the pitiful 49ers, but it wasn't all that convincing (23-20).
Their win though gets them out of the cellar or at least the bottom of the well. Carolina (1-5) owns the league's worst offense and has a -55 point differential, not exactly an NFC powerhouse.
No. 14 Detroit Lions
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The Lions (1-5) had a bye week, but that won't help them rise in the power rankings.
Possibly the one team that is out of the wide open NFC North race, Detroit's lone win came in a 44-6 rolling of the St. Louis Rams in Week 5.
Calvin Johnson and the Lions' offense has been a bright spot for the team so far this season, however, scoring 146 points in six games.
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No. 13 Dallas Cowboys
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No one expected it to be this bad for the Cowboys who fell to 1-5 on Monday night after losing at home to division rival New York Giants.
The season wasn't all that was lost. Quarterback Tony Romo left the game with a broken clavicle and will likely miss the remainder of the season.
No. 12 St. Louis Rams
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The Rams (3-4) showed why they are the Rams again on Sunday, losing by a point to the upstart Buccaneers on the road (18-17).
Their record is unique in that they have some quality wins (Seattle, Washington, San Diego), but all of them have come at home. They are 0-3 on the road thus far.
No. 11 Arizona Cardinals
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The Cardinals (3-3) lost another road game on Sunday, but the good news is it was the fourth of their six games on the road.
Still, 1-3 on the road isn't quite deserving of taking the top spot in the power rankings.
Also, remember that Arizona's -62 point differential is the worst in the NFC, and second only to Buffalo's for worst in the entire league.
No. 10 Minnesota Vikings
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The Vikings (2-4) lost a tough one Sunday night to division rival Green Bay, their fourth loss of the season (12-4 last season).
Brett Favre's turnovers have become devastating to Minnesota's playoff chances, but still, the NFC North is wide open and the season is slightly young.
No. 9 Chicago Bears
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By far the biggest fall for any NFC team in the power rankings. Chicago (4-3) drops all the way to no. 9 after Sunday's debacle against the Washington Redskins.
Jay Cutler's four interceptions (all by DeAngelo Hall) effectively erased any memories of the Bears' 3-0 start.
No. 8 Tampa Bay Buccaneers
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Tampa Bay squeaked out a one-point win over the Rams on Sunday, but that isn't quite enough to move them up the power rankings.
The Buccaneers (4-2) are somehow hanging on in the NFC South. They trail Atlanta by only half a game even though they have a -30 point differential through six games.
No. 7 New Orleans Saints
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The Saints 2010 season thus far was summed up in one game on Sunday, when the Super Bowl champions lost to rookie quarterback Colt McCoy and the Cleveland Browns in the Super Dome.
Drew Brees threw four interceptions and the Saints (4-3) were thoroughly outplayed by the Browns. There seems to be some cause for concern in the Big Easy.
No. 6 Philadelphia Eagles
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Philadelphia drops a few spots after losing a tough one to the Titans. The Eagles showed they have some major flaws...and the quarterback carousel continues.
Philly, now 4-3, still has a great chance to make the playoffs and contend for the conference.
No. 5 Green Bay Packers
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Green Bay (4-3) exercised some major demons Sunday night when they finally beat Brett Favre and the Vikings for the first time in three attempts.
The Packers were desperate for a win and they got one, so maybe this can jump start them for the rest of the season.
No. 4 Washington Redskins
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The Redskins finish higher than any other 4-3 team in the power rankings.
Washington's defense is fast improving, as seen in Sunday's win over the Bears, and the Redskins are competing for the NFC East crown.
Don't ask me how they're doing it.
No. 3 Seattle Seahawks
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Seattle (4-2) currently leads the NFC West and has won two straight games against conference opponents. Sunday's win over the Cardinals keeps them in the top 5.
I challenge you to find another team playing as well as Seattle in the past two weeks.
No. 2 Atlanta Falcons
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Atlanta (5-2) got back on the winning track Sunday with a home win over the Bengals. Matt Ryan and Roddy White hooked up a few times and the dirty birds look to be flying high as they stand alone atop the NFC South.
As long as the Falcons stay out of Pennsylvania they should be OK (losses to Pittsburgh & Philadelphia).
No. 1 New York Giants
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The New York Giants and their four game winning streak top the list at No. 1. Eli Manning and company defeated the Dallas Cowboys on Monday night and at 5-2 are tied for the conference's best record.
Clearly the NFC's most consistent squad, the Giants are starting to look like Super Bowl contenders.
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