NFL Power Rankings Week 8: Lions and More Teams Free Falling Towards Mediocrity

The power of one loss in the NFL can sometimes be extremely understated. In college football, we talk how one weekend can literally change the course of your season. I believe the same can be said in the NFL.

During the course of an average NFL season, even the best teams will lose three or four games. However, they aren't the ones that shouldn't be worried.

The teams that need to be worried about losing this week are the ones who have been free falling. That is, the ones who desperately need a win to stop the bleeding.

A loss would just continue their landslide down the rankings. Here are a few teams that are free falling towards mediocrity:

Detroit Lions

The Lions started the season off at 5-0 and displayed incredible promise.

It's not that the promise isn't still there, but the visions of grandeur are certainly gone. The Lions have lost two games in a row at home and have looked pretty bad in both losses.

They can't run the ball or stop the run, and quarterback Matthew Stafford is looking rather inconsistent.

They need a win this week, but they have to go into Denver and face Tebow-mania to do so.

Baltimore Ravens

It was my opinion that the Ravens were potentially the best team in the AFC.

With a defense that good and an offense with Ray Rice and Joe Flacco as the featured players, there seems to be only a few teams in the league that could beat them.

However, the Jacksonville Jaguars then somehow beat them on Monday Night Football. The loss could start a horrible trend in Baltimore.

It was a shocking defeat, to say the least. 

Any of the Win-Less Teams

Here's looking at you, Dolphins, Colts and Rams...

Andrew Kulha 2011 Power Rankings

1. Packers
2. Patriots
3. Saints
4. 49ers
5. Ravens
6. Chargers 
7. Steelers
8. Texans
9. Falcons
10. Bills 
11. Raiders 
12. Lions
13. Titans
14. Giants
15. Redskins
16. Jets
17. Buccaneers
18. Bengals
19. Bears 
20. Seahawks
21. Jaguars
22. Eagles
23. Cowboys
24. Chiefs
25. Panthers
26. Cardinals
27. Broncos
28. Browns
29. Vikings
30. Dolphins
31. Colts 
32. Rams