Crowe - NFL Week #8 Power Rankings 2022
John Crowe, Sports Contributor
Crowe - NFL Week #8 Power Rankings 2022
Why did Bill Belichick not replace former offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels with a coach that had offensive experience?
Why did Bill Belichick put Matt Patricia and Joe Judge, two failed former head coaches in Detroit and New York, in charge of his offense?
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTWhy did Bill Belichick decide to change his offensive system after rookie quarterback Mac Jones had a winning season in year one?
Why did Kendrick Bourne’s relationship with the coaches turn south?
Why did Bill Belichick not publicly say Mac Jones was his starting quarterback once he returned from injury?
Why did Bill Belichick play both Jones and Bailey Zappe Monday night against the Bears, pulling Jones after a second-quarter interception and not put him back in the game after a pair of Zappe turnovers?
Why was the Patriots' defense so bad Monday night against the Bears after giving up only 15 points in their previous two games, two victories over the Lions and Browns?
Why is Bill Belichick so miserable in all of his press conferences?
Unfortunately for Patriots Nation, there are no answers to any of those burning questions. Belichick continues to avoid the media’s questions to unlock these mysteries, leaving us only with the repeating “We’ll see” this week. Above him, there’s no pressure from ownership in the form of Robert and Jonathan Kraft to change his ways either. So, unless things drastically change, expect more caustic musings from the microphone from the coach who has seemingly lost his Midas touch as the greatest coach of all-time. If they lose to the Jets this week, a team they’ve beaten 12 straight times ranging back to 2015, things could get U-G-L-Y.
Now for a more positive tone, we provide you with our week eight power rankings.
10. Tennessee Titans (4-2, Last week ranked 9th)
The good news is that the Titans outlasted the Colts to cement their hold on the AFC South lead. Derrick Henry ran for 128 yards and Tennessee won despite not scoring an offensive touchdown. The bad news is that quarterback Ryan Tannehill was seen in a walking boot after the game with an ankle injury. He’s expected to play Sunday at Houston. Want more good news? Henry has terrorized the Texans for over 200 yards the last three times they’ve played. Houston, we have a problem.
9. Cincinnati Bengals (4-3, Last week ranked 10th)
With each passing week, Joe Burrow and the Bengals offense seemed to be getting stronger. Burrow threw for 345 yards and 3 TDs in the first half against the Falcons and never looked back for the 35-17 victory. The Cincy QB finished the day with 481 yards passing and added a rushing score to boot. Unfortunately, the Bengals now have to deal with stud receiver Ja’Marr Chase’s hip injury that could leave him out up to 4-6 weeks. The road without Chase begins on Halloween Monday night in Cleveland against the 2-5 Browns with the Bengals hoping to treat themselves to a third straight victory.
8. New York Jets (5-2, Last week ranked 7th)
Even despite losing running back Breece Hall to a torn ACL, the Jets still managed to leave Denver with another road win, its fourth victory away from MetLife Stadium. New York now heads home for a mini-two-game homestand against the Patriots and Bills, which could set them on the right path toward a possible playoff berth in the AFC come January. The Jets, however, have lost 12 straight times to New England as the Patriots come calling Sunday at MetLife Stadium.
7. Baltimore Ravens (5-3, Last week ranked 8th)
Back-to-back wins over the Browns and Bucs is a good sign and could show us that the Ravens have righted their early season blip of giving up double-digit second-half leads. Baltimore had to do it Thursday night without All-Pro TE Mark Andrews (shoulder) and RB Gus Edwards (knee/hamstring), who left the game with injuries. After running the ball just seven times in the first half, the Ravens got back to what they do best – run the ball - as they gashed the Bucs for 231 rushing yards (453 yards total offense) in turning around a 10-3 deficit into a 27-22 victory. It might surprise you that quarterback Lamar Jackson is fourth in the league in rushing going into Sunday’s games with 553 yards. Baltimore could be ready to take control of the AFC North.
6. Minnesota Vikings (5-1, Last week ranked 6th)
Week seven saw the Vikings relax on the bye. This Sunday, Minnesota hosts the Arizona Cardinals where a win could give the Vikings a three-game lead in the NFC North by day’s end.
5. Dallas Cowboys (5-2, Last week ranked 4th)
It wasn’t a perfectly pretty return for QB Dak Prescott Sunday against Detroit, but it was a win. Prescott threw for one fourth-quarter touchdown to seal the victory, but he was quite rusty after missing the past five weeks due to thumb surgery. He threw for only 207 yards on 19 completions. The Bears, fresh off a Monday night upset over New England, come to Texas in week eight to face a Cowboys team that’s recorded 29 sacks, good for first in the league.
4. New York Giants (6-1, Last week ranked 5th)
If nothing else, the Giants are winning and keeping fans around the league excited and into their games. For the seventh straight time this season, a Giants game came down to the final seconds. This time, New York tackled Christian Kirk at the one-yard line, preventing the Jaguars from winning the game on the final play and instead took home its sixth win of the season. Saquon Barkley rushed for 110 yards and quarterback Daniel Jones added 107 yards and 1 TD to go with his 202 yards and 1 TD passing. Week 8 brings a cross-country trip to Seattle and the surprising 4-2 NFC West-leading Seahawks.
3. Kansas City Chiefs (5-2, Last week ranked 3rd)
The Kansas City Chiefs are certainly enjoying their march through the NFC West so far in 2022. After an opening week 44-21 rout of the Cardinals, KC gave the 49ers the same treatment with a 44-23 trouncing in week seven. Patrick Mahomes threw for 3 touchdowns while Mecole Hardman added a pair of scores on the ground to go with his touchdown catch. JuJu Smith-Schuster added seven catches for 124 yards and a touchdown as the Chiefs continue to diversify the offense some said would be on the down side without Tyreek Hill. The Chiefs have week eight off to protect their lead in the AFC West.
2. Buffalo Bills (5-1, Last week ranked 2nd)
The Bills not only got to rest in week seven, but they get an extra week to prepare for the Packers to come to upstate New York for a primetime affair. Buffalo’s hoping that Josh Allen vs. Aaron Rodgers goes the same way as Allen vs. Mahomes went in week six in a battle of superstar signal-callers going in opposite directions. How good are the Bills? They’re ranked number one in scoring defense (13.5 points per game), overall defense (281 yards) and overall offense (440 yards per game).
1. Philadelphia Eagles (6-0, Last week ranked 1st)
Just like the Bills, the Eagles, too, took week seven off and get the benefit of a home game in week eight, hosting crosstown rival Pittsburgh. If Philly continues to create turnovers, currently leading the league at a +12 rate, they’ll be tough to take down. Adding defensive end Robert Quinn from the Bears will help them do that.
Games to watch in week eight:
Broncos vs. Jaguars in London (Sunday 9:30 am on ESPN+) – The NFL’s first exclusive game on ESPN+
Patriots at Jets (Sunday 1 pm CBS) – Bill Belichick loves nothing more than beating the Jets, who right now are playoff contenders, unlike the Pats.
Steelers at Eagles (Sunday 1 pm FOX) – Battle of the Keystone State.
Commanders at Colts (Sunday 4:25 pm FOX) – The Carson Wentz-less Bowl of backup QBs.
Giants at Seahawks (Sunday 4:25 pm FOX) – No one saw this as a matchup of NFC playoff contenders before the season began.
Packers at Bills (Sunday 8:20 pm NBC) – This one may look better on paper than in reality.
Bengals at Browns (Monday 8:15 pm ESPN) – Halloween night in the Dawg Pound could be quite a sight.
Last week:
10. Bengals
9. Titans
8. Ravens
7. Jets
6. Vikings
5. Giants
4. Cowboys
3. Chiefs
2. Bills
1. Eagles