NFL Power Rankings Week 8: Giants Vie for Top, Cowboys Bottom Dwellers

NFL Power Rankings Week 8 are now here for your viewing pleasure!

As always, we've got teams on the list that keep free-falling like the Dallas Cowboys and San Diego Chargers and teams that are streaking like the New York Giants and the New England Patriots.

But the most important questions are: Where do they all rank?  Is your favorite team ranked high enough? And, who's on top?

See for yourself to find out.  Here we go!

32-23: The Bottom Ten

32. San Francisco 49ers (1-6): Niners take their fourth road loss of the season against another hapless team just when you couldn’t think it could get worse Alex Smith also goes down. (Last Week: No. 30)

31. Buffalo Bills (0-6): The Bills keep slumping and remain winless this season but this Fitzpatrick guy is throwing like a mad man and Lee Evans had a breakout game.  (Last Week: No. 31)

30. Carolina Panthers (1-5): Matt Moore is back as the starter and has his best game of the season with 300 passing yards and a pair of TDs—Panthers finally win! (Last Week: No. 32)

29. Dallas Cowboys (1-5): One bone-headed play after another, one injury after another, that’s the story of their season. Romo might be done for the year. (Last Week: No. 27)

28. Detroit Lions (1-5): The Lions spend Week 8 resting and thinking about how they can get win number two, maybe a Matthew Stafford return can give them a morale boost. (Last Week: No. 28)

27. Denver Broncos (2-4): Orton may have thrown for two TDs but their defense led to their demise, they literally got ran all over by the Raiders. (Last Week: No. 23)

26. San Diego Chargers (2-4): See Cowboys, but at least they don’t have anyone with a broken clavicle out 8 to 10 weeks. (Last Week: No. 22)

25. Minnesota Vikings (2-4): This past Sunday night, it came down to a hobbling Brett Favre trying to lead his team to a last minute drive for the win in Lambeau—no storybook ending however. (Last Week: No. 24)

24. Cleveland Browns (2-5): Apparently the Browns have been trying win with their special teams, pass rush and Peyton Hillis all season it just didn’t all start clicking together until they played the Saints. (Last Week: No. 29)

23. Cincinnati Bengals (2-4): Carson Palmer came to life and Ochocinco and TO finally nabbed TD’s in the same game but their defense couldn’t slow down the Falcons who were scoring at will. (Last Week: No. 26)

22. Jacksonville Jaguars (3-4)

Jamie Squire/Getty Images

KANSAS CITY, MO - OCTOBER 24: Maurice Jones-Drew #32 of the Jacksonville Jaguars carries the ball during the game against the Kansas City Chiefs on October 24, 2010 at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

The Jaguars had to go with a third string QB in Todd Bauman who put up respectable numbers.  Maurice Jones-Drew had an increased workload yet he couldn't do it all on his own against the Chiefs. 

In the end Jags defense just could stop the Chiefs from running and passing the ball at ease, on their way to an easy victory. 

(Last Week: No. 21)

21. St. Louis Rams (3-3)

A tough loss for Sam Bradford and company this week by falling to another young team. 

St. Louis veteran Steven Jackson’s big game was the only bright spot for this squad as they're still struggling to find a consistent receiver to fill the shoes of the injured Mark Clayton.

(Last Week: No. 20)

20. Arizona Cardinals (3-3)

Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images

SEATTLE - OCTOBER 24: Running back Beanie Wells #26 of the Arizona Cardinals rushes against the Seattle Seahawks at Qwest Field on October 24, 2010 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images)

They literally got nothing from two quarterbacks—Max Hall and Derek Anderson.  Unless you count two costly turnovers from Hall a contribution. 

Their offense looked terrible and three other players lost fumbles. 

(Last Week: No. 19)

19. Oakland Raiders (3-5)

Whoa where did that dominating win come from?  Seven players combined for 52 carries, 328 rushing yards and five touchdowns against Denver. 

Impressive for the Raiders, totally humiliating for the Broncos.

(Last Week: No. 25)

18. Chicago Bears (4-3)

Once again another another Bears loss falls in the hands of Jay Cutler.

For looking horrible running this offense and throwing the ball away four times. To the same guy! 

Great job DeAngelo Hall, Cutler loves throwing you the football.

(Last Week: No. 9)

17. Seattle Seahawks (4-2)

The Seahawks are the best team in the NFC West.  No joke. 

The Marshawn Lynch and Justin Forsett tandem appear to be working and Mike Williams is by far the number one receiver in this offense.  Against the Cardinals, he finally scored his first touchdown of the year. 

Things are looking up for this group of Pac-10 All-stars led by former USC coach Pete Carroll.

(Last Week: No. 18)

16. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-2)

That Freeman guy that no one really talks about locked in at the end and led his team to a come-from-behind win. 

Josh Freeman found Cadillac Williams with 10 seconds left in the game to win the game 18-17. 

The Bucs just need to show they can do the same thing against tougher veteran teams. 

(Last Week: No. 17)

15. Green Bay Packers (4-3)

Old frien-emy Brett Favre paid Green Bay a visit and there was plenty of drama until the end. 

It had all the makings of a beautiful Favre-led comeback. 

But Brett was the goat in this story and the Pack avoided their third straight loss of the year.

(Last Week: No. 16)

14. Miami Dolphins (3-3)

If it wasn’t for a bad NFL rule that cost the Dolphins the possession, they would have notched their fourth win this season. 

Against the big bad Steelers. Too bad for inconclusive replay evidence. 

(Last Week: No. 14)

13. Washington Redskins (4-3)

This week's match was an ugly game to watch if you were expecting offense.  McNabb and Cutler combined for six interceptions. 

But it was great game to watch if you are all about defense. 

DeAngelo Hall was the star and he’s the reason the Redskins won.  His 92-yard pick-six in the third quarter was the difference maker.

(Last Week: No. 15)

12. Kansas City Chiefs (4-2)

The Chiefs kept hurting the Jags with both the pass and the run. 

Matt Cassell kept up his passing rapport with top receiver Dwayne Bowe by combining for two touchdowns.

While Jamaal Charles and Thomas Jones each found the end-zone.

(Last Week: No. 13)

11. Houston Texans (4-2)

After the bye week, the Texans meet up with the Colts.  Houston won the first match 34-24, during the first weekend of the season. 

But the Colts should be looking for payback and the Texans should come out ready to play.

Video: Arian Foster highlights against the Colts, Week One.

(Last Week: No. 12)

10. Philadelphia Eagles (4-3)

Kevin Kolb couldn’t make a case for himself this past weekend.

He wasn’t nearly as efficient with only one touchdown and two interceptions. 

After the bye week, this will be Michael Vick’s team once again. 

(Last Week: No. 6)

9. New Orleans Saints

The champs looked liked chumps against the Cleveland pass rush on Sunday.

Pierre Thomas may take longer than expect, Chris Ivory didn’t look anything like the running back that broke out last week and Drew Brees was having trouble finding his receivers.  Yikes.

(Last Week: No. 8)

8. Indianapolis Colts (4-2)

How will this team deal with the loss of two key veterans Dallas Clark, Joseph Addai and a top receiver in Austin Collie?

Peyton Manning is still their leader and somehow the four-time NFL MVP will probably find a way. 

The bye week was a good time to regroup but they should come out strong against the defensively handicapped Houston Texans this coming weekend.

Video: Colts comeback against Texans in 2008.

(Last Week: No. 5)

7. Tennessee Titans (5-2)

If Kenny Britt was trying to get back on the good side of the coaching staff after getting arrested for getting into a bar fight, he definitely made a strong case with his performance. 

Britt had 225 receiving yards and three touchdowns.  Old man Kerry Collins loves throwing to the guy.

(Last Week: No. 9)

6. Baltimore Ravens (5-2)

The Ravens had trouble against the bottom-dwelling Buffalo Bills.  The Bills, that’s right, the Bills rallied to tie the game against the Ravens. 

Their defense was absent this week letting Ryan Fitzpatrick throw for four TD’s in the game. 

Fortunately they escaped with a game-winning field goal in overtime.  Baltimore should consider that game a wake-up call.

(Last Week: No. 4)

5. New York Giants (5-2)

The Giants offense just keeps on rolling.  Eli and all three of his top wide receivers connected for a touchdown.   

And the thunder and lightning—Brandon Jacobs and Ahmad Bradshaw—tandem seems to be working well with BJ winding the end zone again. 

(Last Week: No. 11)

4. Atlanta Falcons (5-2)

Roddy White has to be one of the most underrated number one receivers in the league today.  White had 201 receiving yards and two touchdowns.

They bounce back after last week’s loss with an impressive win on Sunday.

(Last Week: No. 7)

3. New England Patriots (5-1)

Just like in 2008, the Patriots passing game is stifled in San Diego but the Pats capitalize on Chargers mistakes. 

They were just one made field goal away from losing the game.  But this veteran squad worked it out and came out with the victory.

(Last Week: No. 3)

2. Pittsburgh Steelers (5-1)

That was a lucky win that they earned against the Dolphins. But a win’s a win and this was a big one. 

Rashard Mendenhall was MIA for the Steelers, he needs to be learn to be more effective if the Steelers are planning on going for a deep playoff run. 

(Last Week: No. 2)

1. New York Jets (5-1)

A bye week and a near Steelers loss keeps them at number one this week.  The Jets are among the best rushing teams in the league with LaDainian Tomlinson and Shonn Greene. 

Add to that a group of receivers that haven been coming on strong of late.  And a very solid defense and this team should be on their way to qualify for another spot in the postseason.

Video: Highlights from Jets Week 7 win against Vikings.

(Last Week: No. 1)