NFL Power Rankings: Biggest Villains from Week 8

There were plenty of victims in the NFL over the past week.

There was good play that bolstered a team's chances.

There was bad play that all but took the wind out of a team's sails.

And then there were those instances that we are still scratching our heads over as we head into Week 9.

Maybe it was something in the water. Who knows? But whatever it was, there were villains out there that made for an interesting week of football. And now that we are past the halfway point of the season, we can surely see some of these villains and the instances of thievery that have a direct impact on the playoff picture.

Only in the NFL, where the season is the shortest of any sport and the games mean so much.

Patrick Peterson, Arizona

Peterson has proven in eight short weeks why he is a threat in the secondary and in the return game for the Cardinals.

He took a kickoff back 82 yards for a score and helped Arizona jump out to a huge lead before the Ravens came back to win.

The Detroit Lions Defense

If the Lions are getting the reputation of being the new Bad Boys of the NFL, then it is about time.

What they did to Tim Tebow and the Broncos offense last week was just plain MEAN.

The Lions are improved all over the field and the defense keeps making play after play.

It did not help that Tebow did not look like even a high school quarterback on Sunday, but the Lions had a huge hand in spoiling Tebow's 2011 home debut.

Ben Roethlisberger, Pittsburgh

The more he plays this year, the more he looks like an elite quarterback.

Maybe the Bad Boy of the NFL has finally grown up.

Roethlisberger put the Steelers back into Super Bowl contention this past weekend by exposing the New England Patriots' defense.

The farther along Big Ben goes, so will this team.

St. Louis Rams Defense

I know it was cool to get your first win of the season, but did you have to do it at the expense of the New Orleans Saints?

New Orleans was riding the high of a 62-7 slapping of the Colts when they came back down to reality this past week.

The running game, led by Steven Jackson, and the defense, led by Chris Long, played their best game of the season and shut the Saints down.

LeSean McCoy, Philadelphia

Sunday and Monday nights are usually when the Philadelphia Eagles play their best.

Last season, it was Michael Vick showcasing his talents against Washington. This year it was LeSean McCoy against the Cowboys.

With over 180 yards in total offense, McCoy proved he is one of the most underappreciated talents in the NFL.

The Buffalo Bills Defense

Another unit that proved its dominance last week.

When you shut out a team in any NFL game, it proves your defense is pretty darn good.

When you shut out the Redskins, it just helps to add fodder to the idea this will be Mike Shanahan's last season in Washington.

Philip Rivers, San Diego

Is Rivers going into a tailspin?

It seems that way.

San Diego could have beaten the Chiefs on Monday Night Football, but Rivers cost his team the game in which they lost 23-20.

Rivers seems more inconsistent than he has ever been and this could prove to be a problem for the Chargers brass in San Diego.

Tim Tebow, Denver

He makes the list because he is NOT an NFL quarterback.

Tebow tries harder than any other player in the NFL. He does so many other things that are good in this world.

But serious, he is playing the role of an NFL starting quarterback and it is not paying off for the Broncos.

A change needs to be made.

Blaine Gabbert

He is regressing as a quarterback and the Jaguars are out of options.

He is not ready to be a starter in the NFL.

Jacksonville is in a tailspin as well, but the growth of this rookie is being stunted and he is not giving the team what it needs to win football games.

Make the bleeding stop.

New England Patriots Defense

It has more holes than Swiss cheese.

Teams all season have been able to get right through it and score points.

Last week, Pittsburgh proved it can plow right through it and stop the Patriots offense from scoring.

The team of teams looked very pedestrian.