We’re almost halfway through the 2024 NFL season, and what a bizarre year it’s been. 10 teams have a shot at the first-overall pick. 10 teams look like legitimate Super Bowl contenders. The other 12 clubs are mushy middle teams that you’ll have to make your judgment on.
It’s the last week of football until the Nov. 5 trade deadline, so let’s dive into our Week 8 edition of the 2024 NFL power rankings.
Which teams are at the top of the NFL power rankings after week 8?
32. Carolina Panthers (31)
Another nightmare season in Carolina that just can’t end soon enough.
The Panthers showed practically no fight in a 28-14 road loss to the Denver Broncos, dropping them to 1-7 on the year. Remember the Cam Newton days? Those were fun!
31. Tennessee Titans (30)
Mason Rudolph led Tennessee to two first-half touchdown drives, suggesting that the Titans were ready for a fight against the Detroit Lions. So much for that.
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Tennessee self-destructed from there and allowed 34 unanswered points in a humiliating 52-14 blowout loss. The Titans outgained Detroit by nearly 200 yards, but four turnovers and a Lions punt return TD led to their undoing.
The race for the first overall pick is heating up!
30. New England Patriots (32)
The Pats finally ended their six-game losing skid and got the first home win of the Jerod Mayo era by stunning Aaron Rodgers’ New York Jets with a late game-winning TD by Rhamondre Stevenson.
Drake Maye left the game with a concussion and did not return, but Jacoby Brissett was up for the challenge to put the final dagger in the Jets’ playoff hopes. Let’s see if the Patriots can build off that with a trip to Tennessee next on the schedule.
29. Jacksonville Jaguars (28)
Well, the Jags kept it close against a Super Bowl-contending Green Bay Packers squad at home. But the defense wasted a stellar performance by Trevor Lawrence, allowing backup QB Malik Willis to orchestrate a game-winning drive that ended with a Brandon McManus field goal.
The Jaguars are now 2-6 and lost any realistic hope of making a second-half run to the postseason. But since they just poured $275 million into T-Law, Jags fans can at least be encouraged by his improved play over the past four weeks.
28. Las Vegas Raiders (27)
The Raiders kept it close-ish against the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday, but Patrick Mahomes backed up his promise to “handle” the Silver and Black for taunting him with a Kermit the Frog puppet.
There are no positives to take from a fourth consecutive loss. The Raiders’ biggest strength was supposed to be their defense, which is a broken mess. I guess it’s not too early for Vegas to start doing their homework on the top QB prospects in the draft? They sure need one!
27. New York Giants (26)
The Giants put up a better fight than expected in Pittsburgh, but the limitations of Daniel Jones and the offense couldn’t solve the Steelers’ defense.
The result was a third straight loss for Big Blue, who remain very much alive for the first overall pick. At this rate, are real Giants fans really cheering for wins? Not that there will be many left with an onslaught of playoff contenders on their second-half schedule.
Also Read: Ranking All 32 NFL Teams’ Defenses From WORST To FIRST After Week 7 Of The 2024 Season
26. New Orleans Saints (25)
Not that it was a surprise, but an injury-ravaged New Orleans team was no match for the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday. Not much you can do when your mediocre roster has to throw an unproven rookie QB out there against a superior team.
As we keep saying, the 2-6 Saints need to rebuild. Every loss gets them that much closer to a top QB prospect or Travis Hunter. Either will do at this point.
25. Cleveland Browns (29)
In his first start with the Browns, Jameis Winston threw for 334 yards and three touchdowns in a stunning 29-24 upset win over the red-hot Baltimore Ravens.
And remember how Joe Flacco played in Cleveland last year? Makes you wonder why it took a season-ending injury to Deshaun Watson for the Browns to give Winston a look. Their playoff hopes are still over at 2-6, but if Winston keeps this up, Cleveland might have its QB solution for 2025. So there’s a lot at stake here…
24. New York Jets (23)
Can we just laugh at this point? The Jets are now 0-3 since firing Robert Saleh. Davante Adams hasn’t done anything to jolt this offense.
Yes, the Jets lost to a one-win Patriots team that lost starter Drake Maye early with a concussion. That’s now five straight losses for Aaron Rodgers’ squad, four of which were decided by a single score.
Same old Jets, huh?
23. Miami Dolphins (22)
The Dolphins got Tua Tagovailoa back and predictably showed improvement on offense. Unfortunately, the defense didn’t show up when it mattered most, as the visiting Arizona Cardinals squeaked out a one-point win on Chad Ryland’s last-second field goal.
With road games against the Buffalo Bills and Los Angeles Rams next on the schedule, we don’t see any path for a second-half turnaround. The 2-5 Dolphins are toast, and Mike McDaniel’s seat oughta feel warm for the first time…
22. Cincinnati Bengals (20)
You can stick a fork in the Bengals, too.
They needed this one against the visiting Philadelphia Eagles. The defense was again a no-show in a humiliating 37-17 defeat at home, dropping Zac Taylor’s squad to 3-5 on the season.
A brutal schedule over the final nine games means Cincy is more likely to finish with a top-10 pick than to make the postseason. The main question now is whether Zac Taylor and his assistant are in the hot seat.
21. Dallas Cowboys (9)
This was the Cowboys’ chance to solve the Kryptonite and take down the injury-ravaged 49ers at Levi’s Stadium. And they still couldn’t win.
At 3-4, it’s obvious that this is who the Cowboys are. A poorly-coached team that should be better given their talent level. But Jerry Jones condones mediocrity, which means head coach Mike McCarthy is going nowhere. Which means the disastrous Mike Zimmer experiment at DC isn’t going away, either.
Ah, well, at least Jerry is selling lots of jerseys and tickets, right? Who needs a Super Bowl if you’re the Cowboys!?
20. Los Angeles Rams (24)
A healthy Rams squad reminded everyone how dangerous they are. The returns of Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua paced the offense in a season-saving win over the Minnesota Vikings on Thursday night.
At 3-4, the Rams are just half a game behind their three division rivals for tops in the NFC West. The 49ers are still the team to beat, but a favorable second-half schedule and a healthy Kupp and Puka give the Rams a real shot at winning the crown.
19. Indianapolis Colts (15)
Anthony Richardson committed too many mistakes against a stingy Houston Texans defense in a 23-20 loss. He wasted strong efforts from the defense and weapons Jonathan Taylor and Josh Downs, and the Colts fell 23-20 whilst allowing Houston to complete the season-series sweep.
The 4-4 Colts are still alive in the playoff race, but A-Rich will need to be A LOT better with Minnesota, Buffalo and Detroit making up three of their next four games.
18. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (14)
Baker Mayfield kept it close against the Atlanta Falcons without Chris Godwin and Mike Evans, but the visitors narrowly escaped with a five-point victory to complete the season-series sweep.
To us, the bigger concern is Todd Bowles’ defense. They’ve allowed 27-plus points in four straight games, unable to make a stop against top-flight offenses. With the Chiefs and 49ers next on the schedule, this season could spiral out of control relatively quickly.
17. Arizona Cardinals (21)
Don’t look now, but the Redbirds have now won three of their last four and are in a nice, juicy three-way tie for tops in the NFC West.
Arizona snuck past Tua Tagovailoa and the Dolphins to get back to .500. We know what a Kyler Murray-led offense can do, but it’s about finding consistency down the stretch with a more complex schedule looming.
16. Chicago Bears (13)
An absolutely brutal, brutal way for the Bears to lose in Washington: A Jayden Daniels Hail Mary answered by Noah Brown, because Chicago’s defenders left him uncovered on the batted ball.
The Bears are still 4-3, but 5-2 is a whole lot better when you play in football’s toughest division. Remember, they have six divisional games left, so Chicago will be in a good spot to make the playoffs if they can sweep one of those rivals.
15. Seattle Seahawks (12)
It’s becoming harder and harder to get a read on the Seahawks. They started 3-0, lost three in a row, crushed a surging Falcons team in Week 7 then got humiliated at home by the visiting Bills.
Geno Smith is challenging for the passing yards crown, but he also has seven interceptions. Head coach Mike Macdonald was brought in because of his defensive genius, but the ‘Hawks D looks no better than last year’s group under Pete Carroll.
The Hawks are in a 3-way tie for tops in the NFC West, but they’re hard to trust given their embarrassing performances against quality opponents.
14. San Francisco 49ers (18)
No Brandon Aiyuk, Christian Kirk or Jauan Jennings, no problem. The 49ers reminded Jerry Jones that they’re the unofficial owners of the Cowboys, outsourcing them 24-14 in the second half to pull out a six-point victory.
Kyle Shanahan’s squad doesn’t look as scary as last year’s group, due to the rash of injuries. But they get a much-needed Week 9 bye and should have Christian McCaffrey back in Week 10 against the Bucs. All they need to focus on is the division because we know what the 49ers can do in the postseason.
13. Los Angeles Chargers (17)
The Chargers had no problem getting by the short-handed Saints, cruising to a 26-8 victory to get back above .500.
And with the Browns, Titans, and struggling Bengals making up their next three games, Jim Harbaugh’s squad has a golden opportunity to really distance themselves from the outsiders looking in on the playoff race.
12. Denver Broncos (16)
Sean Payton’s squad has now won five of their last six, asserting themselves as legitimate playoff contenders following an easy dismantling of Carolina.
But now it’s really go-time for Bo Nix and company. Road games in Baltimore and Kansas City are next on the schedule, followed by a home tilt with the NFC South-leading Atlanta Falcons. Giddy up, Broncos Nation.
11. Atlanta Falcons (11)
Kirk Cousins outdueled Baker Mayfield for the second time in four weeks, leading Atlanta to another season-defining victory over the division foes.
Atlanta has a 2-game lead on the division because they swept the season series. The NFC South crown is in their hands, and it would take a monumental collapse to somehow give it away to the short-handed Bucs.
10. Minnesota Vikings (3)
The Vikings and Rams engaged in a thrilling back-and-forth Thursday night affair, but it was the visitors on the wrong end of a 30-20 defeat.
Now, losers of two straight times, they are getting a bit anxious in Minnesota. The Packers and Lions are playing better football, and the Vikings’ schedule from Week 12 onward is a total nightmare. Better take advantage of the softer upcoming slate!
9. Philadelphia Eagles (10)
Now winners of three straight, the 5-2 Eagles aren’t so bad for a team that’s been highly-scrutinized and hit hard by the injury bug. Vic Fangio’s defense is humming along, allowing under 20 points in three straight weeks,
If Jalen Hurts and the passing game can find consistency? These guys will be as dangerous as any other in the NFC.
8. Baltimore Ravens (4)
The Ravens must be kicking themselves for letting a one-win Browns team beat them. But at the same time, John Harbaugh’s group was due for a loss after utterly dominating its opponents for five straight weeks.
We refuse to hit the panic button on these guys. But man, someone has to make a stop on defense. Trade deadline help, anyone?
7. Washington Commanders (9)
Just when we thought Jayden Daniels’ rookie season couldn’t get any better, he completed a walk-off Hail Mary against the Bears despite fighting a rib injury. Is there something the rookie can’t do?!
Oh, and the Commanders are 6-2 and in the driver’s seat for the division crown. Dan Quinn for Coach of the Year and Daniels for MVP, anyone?
6. Pittsburgh Steelers (8)
After squeaking out ugly wins with Justin Fields, the Steelers’ offense has hit another level with a healthy Russell Wilson at the control panel.
The 6-2 Steelers outmuscled the struggling Giants to pick up a third straight win. The division leaders head into the bye week with three straight wins, with Washington and Baltimore next on the schedule.
5. Houston Texans (7)
Houston narrowly outlasted Indy at home to improve to 6-2. They also swept the season series against the Colts, essentially wrapping up the AFC South with half a season to go.
We don’t think the Texans can make up two games on the Chiefs for the AFC’s top seed, but they’re neck-and-neck for the conference’s No. 2 seed. That bears watching because home-field advantage in a divisional round game could be the difference-maker in Houston’s quest for its first AFC title game appearance.
4. Buffalo Bills (6)
After crashing a hapless Tennessee team 34 to 10 in Week 7, the Bills visited a more competitive Seattle team and netted similar results: A 31-10 blowout win, courtesy of field days from Josh Allen, James Cook, and Keon Coleman — with the latter two each netting over 100 yards of offense.
It feels like people are sleeping on the Bills despite boasting a top-10 offense and defense. Maybe it’s because of their constant postseason disappointments. Either way, they look dangerous again and certainly don’t miss Stefon Diggs at all.
3. Green Bay Packers (5)
A two-spot jump for the Pack here, thanks to losses by the Ravens and Vikings. Because of the division they play in, it feels like folks are still sleeping on Matt LaFleur’s squad this year.
But a top-10 offense — and that’s without Jordan Love for multiple games — and a championship-level defense is no joke. The Packers have no real flaws and would be viewed as the NFC’s team to beat if not for the No. 2 team on our list.
2. Detroit Lions (2)
Jared Goff only had 12 completions for 85 yards, but and the Lions still beat the Titans by 38. Yep, Dan Campbell’s squad is far and away the NFC’s most dangerous, folks.
Detroit has the league’s best offense, with an average of 33.4 points per game. They’re beating opponents by an average margin of 14.3 points, tops in the NFL. With the 49ers, Eagles, Cowboys, and Vikings all showing cracks and with Jordan Love suddenly becoming an injury concern in Green Bay, the path to a Super Bowl has never been clearer for the Lions.
1. Kansas City Chiefs (1)
The defending champions cruised past the Raiders on Sunday to improve to 7-0 on the season. Patrick Mahomes and company didn’t bring their A-game, but who cares at this point? They just keep finding ways to win.
8-0 is a safe bet with the banged-up Bucs coming to KC on Monday night.
