NFL Power Rankings Week 8: Which Teams Will Keep Trending Down?

The only good thing about trending downward is the opportunity to overcome adversity. For the following three franchises, 2011 was slated to be better, but has become a disappointment as of late.

Until they actually begin to improve, the season is only going to get worse before anything gets better.

San Diego Chargers (4-2)

Four wins against teams with a combined record of 6-19 and two losses on the road. Not to mention, none of their wins were that impressive.

The Chargers have been notorious for starting off slow, but the road loss to the New York Jets took it to another level. They were shut out in the second half and clearly are in dire straits, despite all their talent.

Week 8 is the deal-breaker for San Diego, because they play the 3-3 Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium on Monday night. The Chargers lost there last season.

If K.C. wins, the Bolts, Raiders and Chiefs are all tied for first at 4-3 in a insanely wide-open AFC West. 

Washington Redskins (3-3)

The 2-0 start was great, but Washington has lost two of their last three and that third win came against the still-winless Rams in St. Louis.

Washington has a solid defense, but their offense has been so poor—even with John Beck under center—that they're not good enough to win games despite playing respectable defense.

The NFC East may be an open division at the moment, but the window is closing fast with the Cowboys (who already beat the Redskins) rising quickly. A loss to the Bills this week and Washington may lose whatever confidence they have remaining. 

Seattle Seahawks (2-4)

In 2010, the Seahawks finished 7-9, but still won the NFC West in Week 17 over the St. Louis Rams. Pete Caroll's team then proceeded to upset the New Orleans Saints in the Wild Card Round of the playoffs.

That being said, 2011 has been a disappointment to say the least.

Sure, winning in New York over the Giants was big, but it was quickly nullified by the 6-3 road loss to Cleveland. Not to mention their weak special teams unit, which cost them against San Francisco in Week 1.

Week 8 brings the 4-2 Bengals to the great northwest. Unless coach Pete Carroll has the perfect offensive game plan, Cincinnati's Top-Five defense (against the rush and pass) is going to blank them completely.

The Seahawks have a respectable defense. However, much like Washington, they're not good enough to win games while the offense continues to lack.

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)

Be sure to check out John on Bleacher Report. 

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