NFL Power Rankings Week 8: Which Teams Simply Have to Rebound?

Unless you're the 1972 Miami Dolphins, losing in pro football is inevitable. However, arguably just as impressive are those who can fend off a loss with a response victory.

It definitely hurts to lose, but having the mental toughness to immediately overcome a loss and take a turn for the better can ignite a teams' confidence. With that in mind, here are three teams who simply have to rebound.

Baltimore Ravens (4-2)

The road loss in Jacksonville is a tough one to swallow for the Ravens, but they host the Arizona Cardinals this week, who are 1-5 and 0-3 on the road.

A big reason why Baltimore must respond in Week 8 though, is because the Pittsburgh Steelers and Cincinnati Bengals are right on their heels. And with the AFC North being one of the more difficult divisions, keeping their lead only increases their Super Bowl odds.

However, if the Ravens slip up again this week, 2011 will be taking a quick turn for the worse. Now, they'd still be alive in the playoff race, but instead of Baltimore, the AFC North would once again appear to run through Pittsburgh.

Detroit Lions (5-2)

After two straight home losses to San Fran and Atlanta, the Lions hit the road for Denver in Week 8 and play the 2-4 Broncos.

This is arguably the most important game to date for Detroit now, because had they not started out 5-0 and then dropped two straight, the game wouldn't be so vital. However, since this is the case, dropping three straight would put them only 0.5 games up on Chicago and 2.5 back of Green Bay.

Also, it would significantly devastate their confidence in losing to a rebuilding Broncos team with an unproven QB in Tim Tebow. The Lions need this win more than Denver because they actually have a chance at the postseason.

Not to mention it would rebuild their sense of urgency a lot faster with other NFC teams in Atlanta, Dallas and Chicago on the rise.

San Diego Chargers (4-2)

Right now the AFC West is arguably the most wide-open division in the NFL. The Chiefs and Broncos are slowly rising while the Raiders do have the ability to get back on track.

As for San Diego, if they want to fend off everyone, a win over K.C. at Arrowhead Stadium is beyond imperative. The Chargers can't afford to be vulnerable on the road, because they already have trouble besting inferior teams.

If San Diego proves victorious, it buys them a little time to keep everyone else at bay, however a loss will propel the Chiefs into first place and an opportunity to defend their 2010 divisional crown.

Week 8 NFL Power Rankings (LW = Last Week's Rank)

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

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