Crowe - NFL Week #8 Power Rankings

Crowe - NFL Week #8 Power Rankings

Ever since its inception in 2006, Thursday Night Football has taken its hits, its share of criticism, and its hard knocks as a game the players didn’t want to play in and a game the fans didn’t really need to watch. Now, some of that negativity is warranted. In its early years, there were bad matchups and bad games. Plus, let’s not forget that we had to endure with Bryant Gumbel as the first TNF play-by-play announcer along with Cris Collinsworth.

But it’s time to give the devil his due this week. Thursday night’s game was a heavyweight battle between two of the best teams in the NFL. The Cardinals and Packers went back-and-forth all night with lots of hard-hitting and possibly season-altering plays.

Both teams were without some of their stars on the short. Green Bay missed WRs Davante Adams and Allen Lazard, who were on the COVID-19 list. Arizona played without J.J. Watt (shoulder) and WR DeAndre Hopkins was limited with a hamstring injury. Yet even without the powerhouse players, it was an instant classic leading to Green Bay’s victory and sending Arizona, the league’s last undefeated team, to its first loss of the season.

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Now, let’s see how the Packers upset shakes up our week 8 NFL Power Rankings.

10. Las Vegas Raiders (5-2, Last week: not ranked)

Two weeks ago, most of the football world was writing off the Raiders as head coach Jon Gruden resigned after racist emails were made public. Two weeks later, the Raiders are winners of two in a row and sit atop the AFC West. To many people’s surprise, only Tom Brady (2275) has thrown more passing yards than Derek Carr (2269), including 12 touchdowns.

9. Tennessee Titans (5-2, Last week: ranked 10th)

Just like the Raiders, the Titans have enjoyed a very nice two-week stretch of football. All the Titans have done is beat both of last season’s AFC Championship Game participants, the Bills and Chiefs, in a six-day stretch. With a win this week at Indianapolis, Tennessee could have an early stranglehold and a three-game lead in the AFC South.

8. Baltimore Ravens (5-2, Last week: ranked 5th)

Just when you thought the Ravens were becoming a powerhouse in the AFC, here come the Cincinnati Bengals to ruin their homecoming party. Instead of taking care of business against a team that QB Lamar Jackson had never lost to before last Sunday, Baltimore led a 17-13 lead slip away, losing 41-17. The bye week in week 8 should keep the sting on that loss fresh, but games against the Vikings, Dolphins and Bears should make things a bit better.

7. Cincinnati Bengals 5-2, Last week: ranked 9th)

Holy Ja’Marr Chase, have a day kid! The Bengals rookie wide receiver lit up the Ravens to the tune of 201 yards, a Bengals rookie record for one game and a touchdown in a 41-17 rout. Cincy scored the final 28 points of the game leaving the Bengals in a first-place tie with Baltimore in the AFC North. The Bengals are for real folks!

6. Dallas Cowboys (5-1, Last week: ranked 3rd)

No football in week 7 for Dallas gives QB Dak Prescott a full week to heal that calf injury suffered on the last play of the Cowboys overtime win over the Patriots in week 6.  He’s questionable for this week’s trip to Minnesota for a Sunday night Halloween game against the Vikings. Dallas is hoping the treats continue with the league’s number one offense (34 points and 460 yards per game) and there’s not a trick awaiting them in Minneapolis.

5. Los Angeles Rams (6-1, Last week: ranked 6th)

It wasn’t quite Tom Brady-esque, but Matthew Stafford got his revenge against his former team, the Lions. It wasn’t easy, but the Rams held on for the 28-19 victory.  Talk about being efficient, Stafford throws for 334 yards, 3 TDs and more importantly, ZERO interceptions. That’s been a good trend for Stafford, who’s racked up 19 touchdowns against only four interceptions through seven games.

4. Arizona Cardinals (7-1, Last week: ranked 1st)

If not for the miscommunication between QB Kyler Murray and WR A.J. Green in the end zone in the final seconds that led to a game-clinching Rasul Douglas interception, the Cardinals (3 turnovers) could still be undefeated and atop our power rankings. Instead, there are now questions as to how injured is WR DeAndre Hopkins, who played sparingly with a hamstring injury and Murray, who limped off the field due to a possible ankle injury. Don’t count the Cards out yet, though. Their next four games are at 49ers, vs. Panthers, at Seahawks (without Russell Wilson) and at the Bears.

3. Green Bay Packers (7-1, Last week: ranked 7th)

The biggest movers of the week and I’ll be honest, I considered them for the top spot as well. It’s not about stats and numbers with this Packers team in 2021. After a dismal loss in week 1 to the Saints, all Green Bay has done is win seven in a row! Win number seven came Thursday night as the Packers held on to beat the previously undefeated Cardinals 24-21 in Arizona without wide receivers Davante Adams and Allen Lazard plus watching tight end Robert Tonyan go down to a knee injury during the game. How fitting was it that Rasul Douglas, just 22 days removed from the Cardinals practice squad, made the game-saving interception for the Pack? Aaron Rodgers, even despite missing some red zone chances for touchdowns Thursday night, is playing with a chip on his shoulder again in what could be his final season in Green Bay. Plus, he’s got a two-headed beast to fall back on running the ball with Aaron Jones and A.J. Dillon, who combined for 151 yards and a score against the Cards. Beware NFL!

2. Buffalo Bills (4-2, Last week: ranked 2nd)

After a week off in week 7, the Bills get back to it after the bye week with what seems like another week off – a home game against the 1-6 Miami Dolphins, who haven’t won since week 1 over the Patriots. I’m sure Buffalo is just waiting to lash out against anyone after the bittersweet defeat in week 6 at Tennessee, losing in the final seconds when QB Josh Allen slipped on a 4th down and inches near the goal line. Buffalo’s balance is downright frightening. They’re ranked number one defensively (allowing 16 points and 270 yards per game) and sixth-ranked offensively (33 points and 411 yards per game)

1. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (6-1, Last week: ranked 4th)

What more can we say about the Bucs? So far, there’s been no Super Bowl hangover. Tom Brady’s playing as well as ever at age 44 (21 TDs, 3 interceptions), witnessed by four more TDs against the Bears Sunday. In doing that, Brady becomes the first QB since 1950 to throw 4+ touchdowns in four straight home games. Plus, don’t look now, but TE Rob Gronkowski is back practicing this week after missing the last three games due to those broken ribs and punctured lung. After a road game in New Orleans Sunday, Tampa’s next toughest game on the schedule might not come until the Bills in December (Washington, Giants, Colts, Falcons).

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Games to watch in Week 8:

Titans at Colts – Two teams trending upward battle for AFC South supremacy.
Patriots at Chargers – Can LA avenge the 45-0 shutout to the Patriots from 2020?
Buccaneers at Saints – Game of the day as the Saints try to avenge last season’s home playoff loss to the Bucs.
Cowboys at Vikings – Halloween Night in Minneapolis should be interesting!
Giants at Chiefs – The Chiefs are struggling and the Giants are struggling just to field a healthy team.

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Last week:
10. Titans
9. Bengals
8. Chargers
7. Packers
6. Rams
5. Ravens
4. Buccaneers
3. Cowboys
2. Bills
1. Cardinals