2018 NFL Power Rankings - Week 8

2018 NFL Power Rankings - Week 8

1. Los Angeles Rams (8-0) - With the trade deadline acquisition of pass rushing specialist Dante Fowler from the Jaguars, the Rams got even better this week. Fowler, the third pick overall in the 2016 NFL draft, will never see a double team with Aaron Donald and Ndamukong Suh on the line. Next: +1.5 at New Orleans Saints, Sun, Nov. 4

2. Kansas City Chiefs (7-1) - A case can be made that the Chiefs have a top five NFL player at tight end, running back, wide receiver and quarterback. With a good offensive line and an offensive genius in Andy Reid, they are scary. Next: -9 at Cleveland Browns - Sun, Nov. 4

3. New Orleans Saints (6-1) - Southern Louisiana is the place to be this weekend, with Alabama at LSU in Baton Rouge on Saturday, and the Rams at the Saints on Sunday in the Superdome. Great food and football. Next: -1.5 vs Los Angeles Rams - Sun, Nov. 4

4. New England Patriots (6-2) - The Packers, coming off a tough loss to the Rams in Los Angeles, travel to Foxboro this week to take on the Pats, Bill Belichick and Tom Brady. The NFL schedule maker did the Packers no favors with this Murderers' Row of games. Next: -6 vs Green Bay Packers - Sun, Nov. 4

5. Los Angeles Chargers (5-2) - Chargers are coming off a bye and travel to Seattle for a critical game. The Chargers have the Raiders, Broncos and Cardinals after this game, teams with a combined record of 6-17. November could be a very good month for the Chargers if they win at Seattle. Next: +1.5 at Seattle Seahawks - Sun, Nov. 4

6. Carolina Panthers (5-2) - The Panthers are coming off back-to-back impressive wins over the Eagles and Ravens. Offensive Coordinator Norv Turner and Cam Newton are clicking and that should have the NFC concerned. Next: -6.5 vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Sun, Nov. 4

7. Washington Redskins (5-2) - Adrian Petersen rushed for 149 yards against the Giants, including a 64-yard touchdown run. The future Hall of Famer gives the Redskins a potent ground game, but can Alex Smith get the passing game going? Next: -1.5 vs Atlanta Falcons - Sun, Nov. 4

8. Pittsburgh Steelers (4-2-1) - James Conner is averaging 131.7 yards in total yards from scrimmage per game, second to Todd Gurley at 143.9. A top five offense needs a good offensive line and the Steelers offensive line is very good. Next: +3 at Baltimore Ravens - Sun, Nov. 4

9. Houston Texans (5-3) - The Texans have won five straight and DeShaun Watson threw for five touchdowns in last week's rout of the Dolphins. The acquisition of Demaryius Thomas to replace the injured Will Fuller, is an indication that the Texans are serious about making a playoff run. Next: +1 at Denver Broncos - Sun, Nov. 4

10. Minnesota Vikings (4-3-1) - Kirk Cousins is on a pace to throw for over 5,000 yards and Adam Thielen is on a pace to gain over 1,800 yards in receiving. That has never happened between a passing duo in the same season in NFL history. Next: -5 vs Detroit Lions - Sun, Nov. 4

11. Seattle Seahawks (4-3) - The Seahawks came into Detroit determined to run the football and they did just that. They had 42 rushes for 176 yards, with the longest run 12 yards. Russell Wilson only needed to throw 17 passes in the rout of the Lions. He completed 14 and threw three touchdown passes. Next: -1.5 vs Los Angeles Chargers - Sun, Nov. 4

12. Chicago Bears (4-3) - The Bears are in first place in the NFC North and the good news has been the recent play of second-year quarterback Mitch Trubisky. In the past four games, Trubisky has thrown 13 touchdown passes and rushed for 232 yards. Next: -10 at Buffalo Bills - Sun, Nov. 4

13. Cincinnati Bengals (5-3) - The Bengals continue to prove that no lead is too big for their defense. Against the Bucs, the Bengals blew a 34-16 fourth quarter lead, before winning 37-34 on a 44-yard field goal with no time left. The Bengals defense allowed 576 yards of offense in the game. Next: N/A vs New Orleans Saints - Sun, Nov. 11

14. Baltimore Ravens (4-4) - The Ravens are averaging 3.6 yards per carry (No. 31 in the NFL). That is holding their offense back. With their #1 ranked NFL defense, they are too good to be 4-4, but as Bill Parcells said, "You are what your record says you are." Next: -3 vs Pittsburgh Steelers - Sun, Nov. 4

15. Green Bay Packers (3-3-1) - Ty Montgomery's bonehead decision to take ball out of the end zone, promptly leading to a fumble and a Rams recovery, not only cost the Pack the game, it ended his career in Green Bay. Montgomery was traded less than 48 hours later to the Ravens. Next: +6 at New England Patriots - Sun, Nov. 4

16. Philadelphia Eagles (4-4) - The Eagles pulled off a big trade before the deadline, sending a third-round pick to the Lions for wide receiver Golden Tate. This will help the passing game, but Tate is a free agent and could leave after the season. Next: N/A vs Dallas Cowboys - Sun, Nov. 11

17. Detroit Lions (3-4) - The Lions must have thought that Golden Tate would not resign. They received a third-round pick for him, but what is the message that is being sent to the players? That we are not a playoff team? Next: +5 at Minnesota Vikings - Sun, Nov. 4

18. Dallas Cowboys (3-4) - The expensive acquisition of Amari Cooper is being sold as a move to get the passing game going, and that is an important element. But the move is really about getting Ezekiel Elliott going. There is nowhere to run when a defense is putting nine in the box. Next: -6.5 vs Tennessee Titans - Mon, Nov. 5

19. Miami Dolphins (4-4) - The Dolphins have lost four of their last five games. Injuries have hurt, but the team is just not that good. When you are not ranked in the top 25 on offense or defense, you have problems. Next: -3 vs New York Jets – Sun, Nov. 4

20. Atlanta Falcons (3-4) - Giorgio Tavecchio, who kicked for the Raiders in 2017, kicked a 56-yard field goal to help lift the team to a 23-20 victory over the Giants. Tavecchio was named the special teams player of the week in the NFC in week 7. Next: + 1.5 at Washington Redskins - Sun, Nov 4

21. Tennessee Titans (3-4) - The Titans made no moves at the trade deadline, meaning they will ride their grinding offensive style for the rest of the season. That should be fun for Titans fans to watch. Next: +6.5 at Dallas Cowboys - Mon, Nov. 5

22. Jacksonville Jaguars (3-5) - The Jaguars were in the AFC Championship game in January, but that seems like a decade ago. The trade of Date Fowler may signal that the Jags realize they will be home in January watching the playoffs. Next: N/A at Indianapolis Colts - Sun, Nov. 11

23. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3-4) - Jameis Winston is tied for the league lead with ten interceptions, despite having only played in four games. It is no surprise that Winston has lost his starting job, but the only question is for how long? Next: +6.5 at Carolina Panthers - Sun, Nov. 4

24. Indianapolis Colts (3-5) - The Colts ran for over two hundred yards for the second consecutive game, the first time that has happened since 1985. With Andrew Luck back at quarterback and a running game, the Colts may make a second half run. Next: N/A vs Jacksonville Jaguars - Sun, Nov. 11

25. Cleveland Browns (2-5-1) - The Browns have finally decided to move on from Hue Jackson, firing him on Monday. The Browns also fired offensive coordinator Todd Haley. Jackson was 3-36-1 as head coach of the Browns. Next: +9 vs Kansas City Chiefs - Sun, Nov. 4

26. New York Jets (3-5) - The Jets have not looked good the past two weeks in losses to the Vikings and the Bears. Todd Bowles is on the hot seat and he is being led by a rookie quarterback who needs time to develop. Not a good sign. Next: +3 at Miami Dolphins - Sun, Nov. 4

27. Denver Broncos (3-5) - The Broncos traded wide receiver Demaryius Thomas to the Texans for a 4th round pick in 2019. This was about saving money. Denver saves $3.5 million in cap space this year and $14 million in cap space next year. Next: -1 vs Houston Texans - Sun, Nov. 4

28. Buffalo Bills (2-6) - The Bills have now scored a total of 87 points or 10.9 per game. Offensive Coordinator Brian Daboll won a national championship as the offensive coordinator at Alabama in 2017. Daboll may have had more offensive talent at Alabama. Next: +10 vs Chicago Bears – Sun, Nov. 4

29. Arizona Cardinals (2-6) - The Cardinals swept the 49ers and have won eight straight games versus the 49ers over the past four seasons. If only they could play the 49ers every week. Next: N/A at Kansas City Chiefs - Sun, Nov. 11

30. New York Giants (1-7) - Kyle Lauletta, a 23-year-old rookie, was in line for a possible start for struggling Eli Manning, until he was arrested for multiple traffic violations in the early morning hours. So, one more week of Eli, Giants fans. Next: N/A at San Francisco 49ers – Mon, Nov. 12

31. Oakland Raiders (1-6) - The Raiders meet the 49ers on Thursday night in the Crummy Game of the Week. The Raiders are last in sacks at a 7 and second to last in points allowed per game at 31 per game. But with C.J. Beathard hurting, the Raiders should have a shot at winning. Next: +2.5 at San Francisco 49ers - Thu, Nov. 1

32. San Francisco 49ers (1-7) - The 49ers fall into last place in the power rankings after they managed to lose again to the Cardinals. It is difficult to get swept by the Cardinals, but somehow the 49ers accomplished that feat in each of the last four seasons. Next: -2.5 vs Oakland Raiders - Thu, Nov. 1