NFL Power Rankings Week 8: Which Teams Can't Seem to Catch a Break?

Two teams are struggling to keep up with the rest of the league, but for entirely different reasons. One seemed to have all the luck in the world at the beginning of the season but now has seen their fortunes shift, and the other has only Luck (Andrew Luck, that is) in their future and little else.

The Washington Redskins were once 3-1 and firmly at the top of the NFC East. Now, they've lost two in a row and have been riddled with injuries along the way.

They've just placed tight end Chris Cooley on injured reserve, they've lost starting running back Tim Hightower for the season, wide receiver Santana Moss has a broken hand that will have him out for at least five weeks and linebacker London Fletcher has a hamstring injury that will likely sideline him for Week 8.

Add to this the fact they've just switched starting quarterbacks from Rex Grossman to John Beck, and it looks like the Redskins are going to struggle for a while longer. It doesn't help that they are traveling to Buffalo to take on the Bills this Sunday; to beat the Bills, a team needs both a powerful offense and capable defense.

While the Redskins still have the latter, the fact that the former is in such shambles doesn't bode well for the team's chances to emerge with a victory this week.

The Redskins are struggling due to matters beyond the team's control, but the Miami Dolphins can't catch a break, and it's their own fault.

The Dolphins have scored just 90 points thus far this season, while their defense has allowed 146 points. Much of this is attributable to a passing game marred by inconsistency, dropped passes and a lack of real leadership.

While the team wasn't faring all that well with quarterback Chad Henne under center, without him, the team must rely on Matt Moore to head up the offense. Moore is one of the least-successful, least-inspiring quarterbacks in the NFL. What's worse, though, is that he knows and believes this.

It's a crisis of morale that's harming the Dolphins more than anything, and last week's last-minute collapse and overtime loss to the Denver Broncos (who they were shutting out 15-0 deep into the fourth quarter) doesn't help matters at all.

With an 0-6 record behind them and the New York Giants ahead, it's hard to imagine Miami turning things around any time soon. The Dolphins have proven they cannot take advantage of the opportunities they've been handed so far this season, and it's clear their biggest obstacle to overcome is themselves.

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