NFL Power Rankings – Week Eight

As we approach the midway point of the NFL season, the NFL Power Rankings reflect the teams getting it done on the field and those that need to step it up. This week, our top ten teams show a mix of dominance, surprise performances, and room for improvement. Let’s dive into who’s standing tall and who’s falling short as we enter Week Eight.

1. Kansas City Chiefs (6-0)

Last Week: 1

The Chiefs are separating themselves from everyone else. In their toughest challenge since week one, Kansas City intercepted the usually steady Brock Purdy three times and kept the 49ers at arm’s length for a road win. Kansas City is in a different league right now.

Getting it Done: The Chiefs defense is underrated. Kansas City’s defense is 10th overall and 5th in points allowed per game (17.2).

Needs to Get it Done: Hard to imagine but Patrick Mahomes needs to get it done. Mahomes is leading an undefeated team while throwing more INTs (8) than TDs (6). Mahomes is the 23rd best-rated passer in the league. Injuries at receiver explain some of the drop in efficiency, but we expect more from Mahomes.

2. Detroit Lions (5-1)

Last Week: 3

The Lions took down the undefeated Vikings in Minnesota. Jared Goff connected on 22 of 25 passes and threw two touchdowns. Goff has taken over as the league’s leading passer with a 111.5 rating.

Getting it Done: Jahmyr Gibbs is rushing for 5.7 yards per carry. Gibbs is 8th in rushing yards despite splitting carries with David Montgomery.

Needs to Get it Done: Tight end Sam LaPorta is underperforming his rookie year stats. LaPorta had 86 catches and 10 touchdowns last season. So far, the second-year tight end has only fourteen catches and one touchdown.

3. Minnesota Vikings (5-1)

Last Week: 2

The Vikings had a chance to stay unbeaten but did not do enough in the second half and fell on a late field goal to division rival Detroit. Justin Jefferson caught a touchdown pass from Sam Darnold with over 10 minutes remaining in the third quarter, but the Vikings offense didn’t score again in the second half. A defensive touchdown put the Vikings ahead with just under six minutes left, but Minnesota gave up the game-winning kick with just 15 seconds left in the game.

Getting it Done: Sam Darnold has been tremendous for Minnesota. Darnold was written off as were the Vikings when top draft choice J.J. McCarthy went down in the preseason. Darnold has the Vikings in position for a division title with his surprising play.

Needs to Get it Done: Jordan Addison had 70 catches and 10 touchdowns in his rookie season. Addison has missed time with an ankle injury and has been unable to pick up where his rookie season left off.

4. Baltimore Ravens (5-2)

Last Week: 5

The Ravens got ambushed early in Tampa last night falling behind 10-0. The Ravens scored the game’s next 34 points to end the Bucs hopes. The Ravens offense accounted for 508 yards on the night including 244 rushing yards.

Getting it Done: Lamar Jackson is the frontrunner for MVP honors. Jackson has thrown for fifteen touchdowns and only two interceptions. Jackson is 5th in passing yards and is the league’s highest-rated passer (118.0).

Needs to Get it Done: Nelson Agholor has just 8 catches despite playing in each of Baltimore’s games. Agholor had respectable stats last season, catching 35 passes and 4 touchdowns. The Ravens are doing fine without him, but a threat from their third wideout would certainly make things easier.

5. Green Bay Packers (5-2)

Last Week: 6

The Packers shut down a potent Houston air attack and got a home win against a solid opponent. Green Bay held C.J. Stroud to just 86 yards passing for the day. Despite the lock-down performance by the Packer defense, Green Bay still needed a game-winning drive and a 44-yard field goal from Brandon McManus at the buzzer to win.

Getting it Done: Safety Xavier McKinney has five interceptions already matching his season high from his second year in the league with the Giants. McKinney is a big part of the Packers sixth-best turnover margin.

Needs to Get it Done: Jordan Love is tied for first in the league with 15 touchdown passes, but he sits just 29th in the league in completion percentage at just 61.5%. Love’s 8 INTs are tied for the most in the league thus far.

6. Buffalo Bills (5-2)

Last Week: 7

The Bills started slowly on Sunday against the Titans but scored the game’s last 34 points. Josh Allen threw for 323 yards and again avoided an interception. Allen is still without an INT for the season.

Getting it Done: 2023 second-round pick Dorian Williams posted 40 tackles in his first year in the league. Williams already has 70 in his second season. The Linebacker is 4th in the league, just six tackles off the league lead.

Needs to Get it Done: 21st overall pick, Keon Coleman, has 16 catches through 7 games. The Florida State wideout was part of Buffalo’s plan to replace Stefon Diggs. Coleman, who was benched for part of the game against the Jags in week three for being late, needs to pace this group for Buffalo to be a contender for the conference.

7. Houston Texans (5-2)

Last Week: 4

The Texans got next to nothing from their usually potent air attack and fell in the late going in Green Bay. With Nico Collins out of action, the Texans receivers were led by tight end Dalton Schultz who caught just one pass for 28 yards on the day. Houston’s defense kept the team in the game. Houston kept the Packers to just three points in the second half – the game-winning field goal with no time left on the clock.

Getting it Done: Defensive End Will Anderson is tied for the league lead with 10 tackles for loss and is tied for fifth in the league with 6.5 sacks. Anderson is evolving into the game changer that Houston needs to step into the upper tier of contenders in the AFC.

Needs to Get it Done: Houston’s backup running backs were not productive in Joe Mixon’s absence. Mixon has gone over 100 yards in each of the games he finished healthy. Mixon played all of Cincinnati’s games in 2023, but he missed time in four of his six earlier seasons. Houston needs someone who can be counted on behind their starting running back.

8. Washington Commanders (5-2)

Last Week: 9

The Commanders celebrated their long-awaited return to the power ranking by hammering the Panthers. The only bad news on Sunday was that rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels injured a rib and had to leave the contest. Marcus Mariota was solid filling in completing 18 of 23 passes for 205 yards and two touchdowns. History dictates that Mariota is not going to be adequate in the long term if Daniels is unable to return to the field.

Getting it Done: Daniels is the obvious choice here, but working under the radar for the 5-2 Commanders is Linebacker Bobby Wagner. The 34-year-old Wagner is leading the team and is tied for 7th in the league with 62 tackles.

Needs to Get it Done: Every wide receiver not named Terry McLaurin needs to start getting it done. The Commanders can handle lower-tier opponents with McLaurin handling the lion’s share of targets, but the more difficult schedule to come will require that somebody else steps it up on the outside.

9. Pittsburgh Steelers (5-2)

Last Week: Unranked

The Steelers looked to be on pace for yet another sub-twenty-point offensive showing on Sunday night. Then things broke open and Pittsburgh had easily their best offensive game of the year. A late second half interception of Aaron Rodgers turned everything around and the Steelers finished the night with a 31-0 run.

Getting it Done: Pittsburgh’s defense has had to shoulder the load with the offense struggling to put points on the board. The Steelers excel in rush defense allowing only 81 yards per game – good for 3rd best in the league. Pittsburgh’s 2nd best scoring defense (14.4 points per game) keeps it in every game. The Steelers have just two losses, both of which were by just three points.

Needs to Get it Done: The offensive line for Pittsburgh isn’t producing enough space in the running game. Historically, when the Steelers are playing their best, it’s the running game that leads the way. Pittsburgh’s overall rushing numbers are fine, but Justin Fields is a big part of that stat line. With Fields giving way to Russell Wilson at quarterback, the Steelers need to be effective with the traditional running game.

10. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-3)

Last Week: 9

The Bucs came out on fire on Monday night but ran into a buzzsaw in the second and third quarters. Tampa went from up 10 points to trailing by 24 points when the third quarter ended. Injuries to Mike Evans and Chris Godwin added injury to insult for the Bucs.

Getting it Done: Rookie running back Bucky Irving has been a nice surprise for Tampa. The 4th-round pick is Tampa’s leading rusher. Irving is averaging an impressive 5.2 yards per carry.

Needs to Get it Done: Starting running back Rachaad White has yet to find the end zone on the ground. White had six rushing touchdowns in 2023. White is running for just 3.7 yards per carry.

25. New York Jets (2-5)

Last Week: 23

The Jets have hit a surprising new low in the rankings after getting run out of Pittsburgh on Sunday night. Who would have thought that the 2024 Jets would have a worse record after seven games than the 2023 Jets. It’s mind boggling how poorly this team has played given its talent level. New York’s only wins have come against the 1-5 Titans and 1-6 Patriots.

Getting it Done: Second-year linebacker, Will McDonald has silenced the doubters (me included). McDonald has already surpassed his total tackles from his rookie year and more than doubled his sack total. McDonald’s eight sacks are good for second in the league overall.

Needs to Get it Done: Aaron Rodgers has simply not been good enough through seven games. Rodgers is among the league leaders in passing yards, but his 7 interceptions are tied for 4th most, and his 82.2 rating is 24th in the league.

This concludes the NFL Power Rankings for the week.