NFL Power Rankings Week 8: Why Lions, Bills and Redskins Are Falling Fast

Three of the feel-good stories of the early part of the NFL season are crashing back down to earth—hard.

The Detroit Lions were on top of the world only two weeks ago with a sparkling 5-0 record. Two losses later, there are some huge question marks surrounding this team. A 27^th-ranked running game is the humongous issue. With Jahvid Best still dealing with concussion-like symptoms that will keep him out for at least the next few weeks, it’s hard to see where the yards are going to come from.

The passing game is incredibly dangerous, with Calvin Johnson putting up a MVP-like season, but they have to have some balance. The same can be said about the defense. They are ranked seventh in the NFL against the pass, yet are 28^th against the run.

The ferocious front-four is too keyed in on pressuring the quarterback, leaving holes in the middle for running backs to exploit.

With two games against the Packers, a road trip to New Orleans and a home game against San Diego still on the slate, the Lions are in the midst of a free fall from the power rankings.

Here are two other teams that are slipping down an icy slope:

No. 9 Buffalo Bills

The Buffalo defense is going to kill them.

The Bills stand 31st in yards allowed and tied for 22nd in points allowed. They’re 30th against the run and 30th against the pass.

The one bright spot is turnovers. Buffalo ranks No. 1 in the NFL in takeaways, which is the reason the Bills have a 4-2 mark.

I think the turnovers will stop coming as the team eases up on the aggressiveness. That means they won’t be giving up as many yards, but they will be missing out on all of the huge, momentum-changing turnovers that have propelled them early on.

No. 16 Washington Redskins

John Beck is horrible.

There is a reason Beck is a career backup. I think coach Mike Shanahan made a horrendous mistake by benching Rex Grossman after one bad game.

Grossman gives the team the best chance to win, and Beck is going to lose every game he starts. With games against the 49ers, Jets, Patriots, Giants and Eagles still on the slate, the ‘Skins are going to be lucky to win eight games.

Did I mention that RB Tim Hightower may be out for the year and WR Santana Moss just broke his hand?

Eric Ball’s Week 8 Power Rankings

1. Green Bay Packers

2. New England Patriots

3. Baltimore Ravens

4. New Orleans Saints

5. San Francisco 49ers

6. San Diego Chargers

7. Pittsburgh Steelers

8. Detroit Lions

9. Buffalo Bills

10. New York Giants

11. Cincinnati Bengals

12. Chicago Bears

13. New York Jets

14. Atlanta Falcons

15. Houston Texans

16. Washington Redskins

17. Oakland Raiders

18. Dallas Cowboys

19. Tennessee Titans

20. Philadelphia Eagles

21. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

22. Seattle Seahawks

23. Cleveland Browns

24. Kansas City Chiefs

25. Denver Broncos

26. Arizona Cardinals

27. Carolina Panthers

28. Minnesota Vikings

29. Jacksonville Jaguars

30. Indianapolis Colts

31. St. Louis Rams

32. Miami Dolphins