NFL Power Rankings: New Orleans Saints and Teams That Will Sink

One second you're on top of the football world, the next your worst nightmare has been realized: You lost to the St. Louis Rams.

So was the plight of the New Orleans Saints on Sunday, who were largely considered a top-five team headed into Week 8.

Those Rams came out of nowhere, and by the end of the day they had captured their first win of the season while the Saints questioned the meaning of life.

Here are three teams that will sink in power rankings across the globe after their Week 8 performances (ranked by how bad the loss was).

3. New England Patriots (5-2)

Largely considered one of the top two teams in the NFL headed into Week 8, the Patriots ran into a Pittsburgh Steelers team that is doing its annual we're-not-OK-but-we're-OK gimmick.

For a Steelers team that had so many offensive line problems early in the season, not to mention so much age, it sure didn't seem like they were ready to give up on the Super Bowl.

After starting 2-2, the Steelers have rattled off four straight wins, and the Patriots were their latest victims. Patriots quarterback Tom Brady passed for only 198 yards and averaged 5.7 yards per attempt while the Steelers exposed the Patriots secondary and won, 25-17.

2. Dallas Cowboys (3-4)

At first we were simply calling the Cowboys "inconsistent."

At this point, we should be calling them "not a good football team."

The Cowboys defeated the 49ers when they were still developing in Week 2, the Washington Redskins and St. Louis Rams.

They've lost to the New York Jets, Detroit Lions, New England Patriots and, in Week 8, Philadelphia Eagles.

The Cowboys can't beat the good teams, and quarterback Tony Romo is indeed one of the problems. There is no way Dez Bryant and Miles Austin should be held to 28 and 27 yards respectively. I don't care how improved the Eagles secondary is.

In the next five weeks, the Cowboys face one good team: the Buffalo Bills (with the sleeper being the Redskins). They can get back in the playoff hunt, but that doesn't mean they're a good football team.

1. New Orleans Saints (5-3)

The Saints embarrassed the Indianapolis Colts in Week 7, 62-7.

Then they got embarrassed by the Rams in Week 8.

What can you say about the Saints' Week 8 loss? That they're a worse team than the Rams? No. That quarterback Drew Brees is losing it? No. That the Rams are a good team? No.

It simply can't be explained logically. The best approach is to yell wildly and vent, because there are some things in this life that should never, ever happen.

The Saints have three losses on the season right now. What is going on?