NFL Power Rankings Week 8: How Do All 32 Teams Stack Up?

As we head into Week 8 of the 2011 NFL season, here is how I see all 32 teams in the NFL stacking up.

1. Green Bay Packers (7-0)

What Aaron Rodgers has done so far this season has been staggering. His league-best quarterback rating of 125.7 is nearly 21 points higher than second place (Tom Brady at 104.8).

2. New England Patriots (5-1)

The Patriots boast the NFL's best offense (474.5 yards per game) and worst defense (423.7 yards per game), and their Sunday showdown with the Pittsburgh Steelers should tell us a lot about them.

3. New Orleans Saints (5-2)

Despite a hiccup in Week 6 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the Saints are still the second-best team in the NFC and the only team I currently see being able to compete with the Packers.

4. San Francisco 49ers (5-1)

I keep waiting for the other shoe to drop, and the 49ers keep surprising me. The league's second-best run defense (74.7 yards per game) has made things a lot easier on the offense. 

5. Pittsburgh Steelers (5-2)

After an awful start, are the Steelers really back? We'll find out on Sunday when they host the Patriots.

6. Buffalo Bills (4-2)

The Bills had a week off to rest up and try to improve its defense. The loss of a talent like Shawne Merriman, who went on injured reserve this week, won't help.

7. Detroit Lions (5-2)

After two straight losses, the Lions need to rebound this weekend as they travel to face the Denver Broncos and will have to deal with Tebowmania. Until Detroit establishes a solid running game, it will remain a fringe contender at best.

8. Baltimore Ravens (4-2)

I won't bury the Ravens yet, but how on Earth did they lose to the Jaguars in Week 7? Joe Flacco must improve rapidly if Baltimore wants to compete long-term.

9. San Diego Chargers (4-2)

I still have no idea what to make of the Bolts. They barely beat bad teams for their four wins and looked pretty awful against both the Patriots and the Jets. Philip Rivers needs to get things going quickly.

10. Houston Texans (4-3)

A nice bounce-back win from the Texans with a 41-7 road thrashing of the Titans. They should be 6-3 by Week 10 after getting the Jaguars and Browns at home in back-to-back weeks.

11. New York Jets (4-3)

Plaxico Burress finally looks like he's a part of the offense after snaring three touchdown catches in Sunday's win over the Chargers.

12. New York Giants (4-2)

The G-Men haven't looked truly great yet this season, but with the Dolphins coming to town on Sunday, they should improve to 5-2.

13. Atlanta Falcons (4-3)

While it has been a disappointing year so far for the Falcons, there is still plenty of time for Matt Ryan and company to turn things around. 

14. Cincinnati Bengals (4-2)

If Andy Dalton continues to improve, the Bengals might actually be a playoff contender. They need to watch out for the Seahawks this week, as Seattle has shown it can sneak up on teams this year.

15. Oakland Raiders (4-3)

Given more time in the system I think Carson Palmer will be solid for the Raiders. But his first week was a comedy of errors.

16. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-3)

Josh Freeman has not been the same guy this season that he was during the team's 10-6 finish a year ago. Through seven games in 2011, he has thrown 10 interceptions. He had just six in all of 2010.

17. Chicago Bears (4-3)

Can you imagine where this team would be without Matt Forte? How he hasn't been locked in to a long-term deal is puzzling to me.

18. Dallas Cowboys (3-3)

Rookie DeMarco Murray's 253 rushing yards against the Rams finally helped the Cowboys get a blowout win.

19. Philadelphia Eagles (2-4)

Their Week 8 showdown with the Cowboys will tell us a lot about where the Eagles are headed this season. After all, 3-4 looks a whole lot better than 2-5.

20. Tennessee Titans (3-3)

Despite investing six-years and $55.26 million in Chris Johnson, the Titans have the NFL's worst rushing offense. They are generating just 64.3 yards per game on the ground in 2011.

21. Cleveland Browns (3-3)

Running back Peyton Hillis was held out of practice on Thursday, but he is expected to play this weekend. Still, until he is back at 100 percent from his hamstring injury, the Browns will be in trouble.

22. Kansas City Chiefs (3-3)

After a horrible start to the season the Chiefs have a chance to show that they are a playoff threat when they welcome the Chargers into Arrowhead on Monday night.

23. Washington Redskins (3-3)

It doesn't matter if Beck or Grossman is under center, Washington's offense is just plain bad. And it just got worse with Tim Hightower done for the season and Santana Moss expected to miss at least five weeks.

24. Seattle Seahawks (2-4)

The Seahawks lost one of the ugliest games I've ever seen on Sunday—a 6-3 clunker against the Browns. Seattle has no offense worth mentioning, and it doesn't look like things are improving.

25. Carolina Panthers (2-5)

The Panthers got a win in Week 7, but rookie quarterback Cam Newton is really the only thing to be excited about for fans in Carolina.

26. Denver Broncos (2-4)

Pump the breaks on all the Tim Tebow love. He was downright awful for 55 minutes of Denver's 18-15 overtime win over the horrendous Dolphins on Sunday. Mr. Tebow still has a long, long way to go in his development as an NFL quarterback.

27. Jacksonville Jaguars (2-5)

The Jaguars are awful, so I'm going to as again: How did they beat the Ravens on Monday night? I still can't figure that one out.

28. Arizona Cardinals (1-5)

This is a team that should be much better than it is. Kevin Kolb and Larry Fitzgerald have to put it on themselves to improve their numbers. What should be a prolific connection hasn't worked out so far.

29. Minnesota Vikings (1-6)

Christian Ponder looked much better than expected against the Packers in his first career start, but he doesn't have much in the way of receiving targets. That should make the rest of the season pretty tough for the first-round pick.

30. St. Louis Rams (0-6)

Adding Brandon Lloyd should help the offense, but the Rams' 29th-ranked defense (410.3 yards allowed per game) may be beyond saving.

31. Indianapolis Colts (0-7)

The 62-7 beatdown they took from the New Orleans Saints on national television Sunday night may be the lowest point in the franchise's storied history. Unfortunately, until Peyton Manning is back at quarterback, it doesn't look like things will get any better.

32. Miami Dolphins (0-6)

The Dolphins were up 15-0 over the Broncos with less than three minutes remaining in the game on Sunday. They ended up losing 18-15 in overtime. That cemented their status as the league's worst team.