Week 8 NFL Power Rankings: Seahawks, Jets Crack Top 10

 We are nearly halfway through the NFL season already. I can't believe it. Feels like just yesterday we were predicting week 1's games and now here we are. Week 7 provided us some crazy scores and honestly was one of the more telling weeks of the season yet. Below is how the power balance shifted in the aftermath...

1. Philadelphia Eagles (6-0)
Last week: #1

Philly enjoyed their bye week watching their MLB brother Phillies team clinch a World Series berth. These Eagles look like they could follow suit in their own sport if they rest up and continue to roll like a wagon as they have.

2. Buffalo Bills (5-1)
Last week: #2

Buffalo remains the top team in the AFC and the no. 2 team in football following their week 7 bye. However, they will need to stay on top of their game following the bye. The Chiefs are on their heels and they are currently playing in a resurgent AFC East that now has all 4 squads vying for not only a playoff spot, but a chance at the division crown.

3. Kansas City Chiefs (5-2)
Last week: #3

All the talk of the league was how the Niners would come out and thrash the Chiefs in a Super Bowl revenge game that happened to feature big name new acquisition Christian McCaffrey. Mahomes, Hardman, Juju, and that KC D didn't want to hear any of that as they embarrassed the Niners in their own stadium. KC is on a collision course to rematch Buffalo in the AFC title game while the winner would likely face the awaiting Eagles.

4. Cincinnati Bengals (4-3)
Last week: #5 +

The Bengals leap a spot in the ranks as they cruised to another win on the back of Joe Burrow (my pre-season MVP candidate) who is dealing right now. After a rough start to the season, the Bengals are playing better than ever. Burrow and Chase are hot once again but also credit to the defense who continues to show up and show out. Cinncy isn't going to let Buffalo and KC have a cake-walk to the title game. 

5. Minnesota Vikings (5-1)
Last week: #4 -

The Vikings drop one spot as they were on bye this week and I couldn't leave them ahead of the surging Bengals. I'm not fully sold on this squad yet. When they play really good competition it seems like they shrink, yet they keep tacking on close wins (but against bad competition). The stretch run of this season will be ultra-telling for who this team is and what their future (beyond this year) is with the current group they have, Cousins included.

6. Dallas Cowboys (5-2)
Last week: #6

I am completely sold on this defense. They are right amongst the Niners, Eagles, and Bills in terms of defenses in the league. I'm not yet sold on the O. While I will give him a bit of a pass as it was his first game back from a multi-week injury, Dak Prescott did not look spectacular against the lowly Lions. I'm really not quite sure how, but this offense just feels better with Cooper Rush at the helm. They will need to figure out how to get Dak back in rhythm if they want to contend amongst the top of the league.

7. New York Giants (6-1)
Last week: #8 +

They just keep on winning. It's that simple. No one really knows fully how, but the Giants are winners this year. Rookie HC Brian Daboll continues to put on a coaching masterclass as he eeks the most he can out of Daniel Jones who is in the midst of the best stretch of his career. This team has become elite in so many facets of the game, they will now need to prove to the world they can beat the best of the best, which we will get to see some of in the coming weeks! Game of the week this week sees them head up to Seattle for a battle of surprise teams with winning records.

8. Baltimore Ravens (4-3)
Last week: #12 +

It wasn't necessarily pretty, but Baltimore found a way back into the win column this week. The Ravens continue to be playing in a bit of a funk on offense with Lamar Jackson drastically falling back down to earth after his crazy first 4 weeks of the year. The return of RB Gus Edwards looks like it will be a huge boon for this team going forward, as he ran for over 60 yards and 2 scores on Sunday. This talented bunch gets a primetime date with Tom Brady and the Bucs this Thursday night to try and stack on another win quickly.

9. Seattle Seahawks (4-3)
Last week: #16 +

Aside from the New York teams being good and Denver being awful, I can't really see any team with an argument to being THE surprise team of the season thus far. Seattle is actually good. Not just good, they've looked GREAT over the past few weeks. While Geno Smith's shocking renaissance has been evident for all 7 weeks, the defense abruptly shifting from a bottom 3 unit to a top 10-15 one over the past two games has changed everything. Behind tremendous play from the rookie CBs and a breakout performance from edge rusher Uchenna Nwosu, Seattle is firing on all cylinders. They now are in sole possession of 1st in the NFC West and will look to tack on a statement win over the Giants at home this Sunday.

10. New York Jets (5-2)
Last week: #15 +

Even with QB Zach Wilson playing this poorly, the Jets flying. Their defense has truly established itself as a top 5-10 unit in the sport and it is buoying them to wins week after week. A crushing blow came in the form of OROY front-runner Breece Hall tearing his ACL on Sunday, but 'Trader Joe' GM Joe Douglas swung a deal to bring in top flight RB James Robinson to replace him. If the Jets can keep playing by this formula, they will continue to win! They are a real threat in the AFC right now.

11. Tennessee Titans (4-2)
Last week: #9 -

I really wonder how sustainable the Titans' winning ways are. Their defense has been pretty awful and their offense has been nothing special either (aside from very special RB Derrick Henry of course) yet they continue to win off of some turnover luck each and every week. Hey, if they keep on winning I can move them up and up, but I don't foresee that really being the case and I have ranked them accordingly.

12. Miami Dolphins (4-3)
Last week: #13 +

It was great to see Tua Tagovailoa back in the lineup for Miami this weekend. Even though it felt good, that doesn't mean it was all rosy. The Dolphins played a tight game with the lowly Steelers and won off of a terrible read by rookie QB Kenny Pickett at the end. Mike McDaniel's crew should feel lucky to come out on top after that one. Hopefully Tagovailoa can re-enter his stride from the start of the year and the 'Fins can get back on a lengthy win streak.

13. Las Vegas Raiders (2-4)
Last week: #22 +

Call me crazy for putting a 2-4 team this high, above multiple teams with way better records, but I am! The Raiders have been so close in every loss and so when they get their deserved wins, it feels right. Josh Jacobs is a mad-man for this Raider team. He has been running wild over the past month and should see it translating to more and more wins. It never made sense to count out the Raiders so early, even if their HC isn't the best. I firmly believe they will make the playoffs when it is all said and done.

14. San Francisco 49ers (3-4)
Last week: #11 -

The hype train was off the rails mid-week for this team after they made a blockbuster deal acquiring former All-Pro RB Christian McCaffrey from Carolina, but all that positive "Super Bowl" chatter subsided real quick after they were shellacked in front of their home crowd by an enemy Chiefs team. Even with all of the offensive talent in the world, the Niners will not be able to beat the best of the best when they have a QB like Jimmy Garopollo. This week proved it. I don't know how to feel about this team right now.

15. Los Angeles Chargers (4-3)
Last week: #7 -

What is going on here?! How is this talented of a roster yet again flailing? This franchise is genuinely cursed. While I like how Seattle is playing right now, the Chargers definitely are the better team on paper and should have won that game on Sunday in all honesty. But they didn't. They cannot get their sh$t together and it is becoming clearer by the week that Staley is not the right answer at HC and this will probably not be THE year for the Bolts.

16. Los Angeles Rams (3-3)
Last week: #19 +

Sean McVay will hope that this bye week came at the perfect time for his reeling Rams. They need to recharge and get their personnel figured out. I don't have much else to say about them right now other than the fact that they really just don't impress me in any ways right now. 

17. Arizona Cardinals (3-4)
Last week: #26 +

What a difference one week (and one player) can make. These Cardinals who got embarrassed up in Seattle a week ago came back four days later and stuck it to the Saints. The return of WR DeAndre Hopkins changed everything instantly for this offense, which had been struggling mightily before that. Hopkins is simply a difference maker and a game-changer for this team. They will hope the energizing win on TNF can spark a winning streak over the coming weeks.

18. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3-4)
Last week: #10 -

Seriously, what is going on in Tampa. I get a little slump from a veteran team with a 45 year old QB (who may not have his head in the game fully right now), but how the hell do you lose to the worst team in the league, and lose decisively?? With a quick turnaround to face a good Raven team, Todd Bowles has to figure out how to rally this team or they could be heading down a dark path in what could be their final year of Brady. The one bright-side: their division is the worst in football and even at 3-4 the Bucs still sit atop it and with that, the 4th seed in the NFC playoff picture.

19. Washington Commanders (3-4)
Last week: #28 +

Another instance of what a difference a week can make. With Carson Wentz out for an extended period of time due to a hand injury, the Commanders turned back to magician Taylor Heinicke at QB, who played great in his first snaps of the year. Heinicke re-established his previous connection with stud WR Terry McLaurin while the Washington defense played lights out and stifled Aaron Rodgers and the Pack. I'm not sure if this was a flukey win or truly the start of something for Washington, but it is promising nonetheless.

20. Green Bay Packers (3-4)
Last week: #18 -

The Packers continue to flail as they dropped a third straight game. Aaron Rodgers simply cannot make-do with the young and unproven WR group they have and it is costing them big time. They need to go out at the deadline and do whatever it takes to land a DJ Moore or Brandin Cooks and attempt to save this season. The time is now or never. Soon it will be a lost season with an uphill battle too large to climb out of. 

21. New England Patriots (3-4)
Last week: #14 -

Just when the world thought the Patriots might be BACK, they suffer one of the most head-scratching losses of the season. At home, primetime, against the lowly Bears who are coming off a loss to the Commanders a week prior, and they get whooped. Not only did the usually elite defense play badly, but Belichick flip-flopped between QBs Mac Jones and Bailey Zappe indecisively and watched them both struggle. The ship took some major water in this week in New England, will they be able to stop it from sinking this weekend or will it go down with everyone aboard?

22. Indianapolis Colts (3-3-1)
Last week: #17 -

Similarly to New England, just when we thought the Colts might be figuring it out, they took a downright awful loss. Matt Ryan and this offense unraveled against the Titans as they lost to the Titans for the second time in the young season. The loss was so bad that HC Frank Reich turned around and named unheralded young QB Sam Ehlinger the new starting QB (for the rest of the season). Things are about to get ugly in Indy.

23. Cleveland Browns (2-5)
Last week: #21 -

Now the real Jacoby Brissett is starting to show. Brissett and the Browns looked quite promising early on in the year but it has become painfully obvious that they will not be able to win without a real QB at the helm. Even at 2-5 now and with still many weeks to go until the return of Deshaun Watson, I believe the Browns still have a slim chance at the post-season if they can have a couple more wins to hand-off to Watson later on in the year. Their late season schedule is favorable.

24. Chicago Bears (3-4)
Last week: #29 +

I'll give credit where it is due. Justin Fields is a good player. I said it last week following their close loss to Washington and now I'll say it again. The Bears have given this man the worst OL in the league and the worst receiving core in the league to go with it, and even then we are still seeing flashes out of this kid. Against the Patriots vaunted defense, Fields had arguably the best game of his pro career as he hemmed in and worked them, leading the Bears to a huge win. Even if this is a lost season, Fields has proved to me at least that the team has their building block QB of the future.

25. Jacksonville Jaguars (2-5)
Last week: #25

The Jags almost took down the high-flying Giants this week. While their record is not good, they are a team playing better than it. With James Robinson now on the Jets, it is Travis Etienne time. Maybe him taking the reins as the full-time starter in Duval will spark this offense for good and give the Jags a chance to run the table down the stretch. 

26. Atlanta Falcons (3-4)
Last week: #20 -

Atlanta has been a fun watch all year, up until this past week. The Bengals were not playing around as they absolutely torched the birds, seemingly taking their dignity away from them. I thought I was sure about the direction of Atlanta but now I am in the dark. Desmond Ridder might get his chance at QB sooner rather than later...

27. New Orleans Saints (2-5)
Last week: #23 -

With Jameis Winston, Michael Thomas, Marshon Lattimore, Cam Jordan, and a slew of other key players still out, the Saints lost decisively on TNF to Arizona. In a weak NFC and an even weaker NFC South, this team still has a chance to get into the post-season. With health I think this is a good team, and I wouldn't count them out just yet. Right now though, yeah it's ugly...

28. Denver Broncos (2-5)
Last week: #24 -

It's truly over this season for Denver. They just keep on losing and looking worse and worse by the week. This has been one of the craziest train-wrecks I've ever seen and I'm honestly so intrigued as to how it will all play out down the stretch and into the off-season. Will Nathaniel Hackett even make it to Thanksgiving? Will they be big time sellers at the deadline to recoup draft picks after the Russ scam?

29. Houston Texans (1-4-1)
Last week: #30 +

Despite another loss, I still view the Texans higher than most within the bottom tier of the NFL. Their defense is awful, but I see flashes from this offense that makes me pause a little sometimes. Houston has somewhat of a bright future in my opinion, just clearly not this season

30. Carolina Panthers (2-5)
Last week: #32 +

I'm not at all sure how this team at its lowest point figured out how to take down Tom Brady and the Bucs by multiple scores, but hey, good on them. Maybe PJ Walker is their franchise QB.

31. Pittsburgh Steelers (2-5)
Last week: #27 -

The Steelers did almost STEEL a win from Miami, but fell just short after yet another turnover from rookie QB Kenny Pickett who loves to throw to the opposing defense. This thing is a mess in Pittsburgh.

32. Detroit Lions (1-5)
Last week: #31 -

I want this team to be good so bad, but they just aren't there yet. This offense has a lot of potential still, but they will go nowhere with a defense that is ranked dead last in everything. Hopefully Dan Campbell doesn't get fired, he isn't the problem in my opinion.

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JKNFLFOOTBALL Week 7 Honors

Offensive Player of the Week: Joe Burrow, Quarterback, Cincinnati Bengals
Statline: 32 completions for 481 yards, 3 TDs, 0 INTs passing | 20 yards, 1 TD rushing

Defensive Player of the Week: Ryan Neal, Safety, Seattle Seahawks
Statline: 7 total tackles, 4 pass deflections, 1 INT, 0.5 stuffs

Special Teams Player of the Week: Cairo Santos, Kicker, Chicago Bears
Statline: 4/4 FGs, 3/3 XPs, 15 total points, 50 LONG

Rookie of the Week: Kenneth Walker, Running Back, Seattle Seahawks
Statline: 23 carries for 168 yards, 2 TDs rushing

Team of the Week: Seattle Seahawks (4-3)
Beat Los Angeles Chargers 37-23

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Week 8 Official Game Picks
Last Week's Record: 7-7
2022 Season Overall: 51-40-1

Ravens over Buccaneers (22-18)
Jaguars over Broncos *LONDON* (27-16)
Dolphins over Lions (34-31)
Falcons over Panthers (19-13)
Cardinals over Vikings (30-29)
Cowboys over Bears (25-12)
Raiders over Saints (31-27)
Steelers over Eagles (27-21) HUGE UPSET ALERT!!
Patriots over Jets (22-17)
Titans over Texans (34-20)
Seahawks over Giants (28-26)
Commanders over Colts (30-20)
49ers over Rams (26-16)
Bills over Packers (34-17)
Bengals over Browns (30-17)