NFL Power Rankings Week 8: Teams Who Will Challenge Green Bay Packers for No. 1

The Green Bay Packers are the defending Super Bowl champions and have begun their defense with a perfect 6-0 start this season.

They are No. 1 in my latest NFL power rankings, but there are some teams who could challenge them for the top spot this week.

Let's look at three of those teams.

New England Patriots

The New England Patriots will beat the Pittsburgh Steelers this week to improve to 6-1 and strengthen their lead in the AFC East division.

Tom Brady will beat the Steelers passing defense and put up too many points for Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger to match.

The Patriots will win on Sunday and make their case to be the top-ranked team in football.

New Orleans Saints

The New Orleans Saints have played very well this season but are flying under the radar a bit.

But quarterback Drew Brees is having another fantastic year leading one of football's best and highest-scoring offenses.

Brees will lead the Saints to another dominating win on Sunday against the winless St. Louis Rams.

San Francisco 49ers

The San Francisco 49ers are off to a great start—to the surprise of many—and are in first place in the NFC West division.

Against the terrible Cleveland Browns this week, the 49ers will earn another win and will improve their division lead.

The 49ers have what every playoff team has—a good defense. Their defense will find it easy to stop the weak Browns offense on Sunday.

Nicholas Goss' Week 8 NFL Power Rankings

1. Green Bay Packers

2. New England Patriots

3. New Orleans Saints

4. San Francisco 49ers

5. Baltimore Ravens

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. Oakland Raiders

16. Houston Texans

17. Dallas Cowboys

18. Washington Redskins

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