NFL Power Rankings Week 8: Which Teams Are in Steepest State of Decline?

Through seven weeks of the NFL season we have already seen several teams shift from contenders to jokes. Two teams in particular looked fantastic out of the gate, but have both made a serious turn for the worse.

The Washington Redskins opened the season with a shocking 3-1 record and looked to be on their way to competing for an NFC East title. Now, three weeks later, the Redskins sit at 3-3, have already changed starting quarterbacks and just lost their top running back for the season with a torn ACL. 

Following their bye week, the Redskins have dropped back-to-back games to the Philadelphia Eagles and the Carolina Panthers. Those two underachieving teams were able to blast Washington and put the team back in its place. 

Head coach Mike Shanahan has switched things up at quarterback now, replacing Rex Grossman with John Beck, but that may not be enough to stop the bleeding. Beck had a decent performance in his first start against the Panthers in Week 7, but he wasn't able to make a real difference. 

The Redskins appear to be the team we thought they were at the beginning of the season, and their rapid decline was to be expected.

Much like Washington, the Tennessee Titans opened the season with a surprising 3-1 record. Quarterback Matt Hasselbeck stepped in and looked great running the team's offense, even without star wideout Kenny Britt who was lost for the season with a knee injury in Week 3. 

Without Britt the Titans turned to running back Chris Johnson to shoulder most of the team's offensive load, and the results have been terribly disappointing. The Titans are currently dead last in the NFL in rushing offense, averaging just 64.3 yards per game. That's awful, considering that the Titans handed Johnson a six-year, $55.26 million contract during the preseason.

Since that 3-1 start, the Titans have been blown out by both the Pittsburgh Steelers (38-17) and by the Houston Texans (41-7). Like Washington, Tennessee looks like it's the team everyone predicted it would be before the season. 

The Redskins and Titans are in such a steep decline that I don't expect either team to be able right the ship.

NFL Power Rankings, Week 8

1. Green Bay Packers (7-0)
2. New England Patriots (5-1) 
3. New Orleans Saints (5-2) 
4. San Francisco 49ers (5-1)
5. Pittsburgh Steelers (5-2)
6. Buffalo Bills (4-2)
7. Detroit Lions (5-2)
8. Baltimore Ravens (4-2)
9. San Diego Chargers (4-2)
10. Houston Texans (4-3)
11. New York Jets (4-3)
12. New York Giants (4-2)
13. Atlanta Falcons (4-3)
14. Cincinnati Bengals (4-2)
15. Oakland Raiders (4-3)
16. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-3)
17. Chicago Bears (4-3)
18. Dallas Cowboys (3-3)
19. Philadelphia Eagles (2-4)
20. Tennessee Titans (3-3)
21. Cleveland Browns (3-3)
22. Kansas City Chiefs (3-3)
23. Washington Redskins (3-3)
24. Seattle Seahawks (2-4)
25. Carolina Panthers (2-5)
26. Denver Broncos (2-4)
27. Jacksonville Jaguars (2-5)
28. Arizona Cardinals (1-5)
29. Minnesota Vikings (1-6)
30. St. Louis Rams (0-6)
31. Indianapolis Colts (0-7)
32. Miami Dolphins (0-6)