NFL Power Rankings – Week 8, John Crowe

NFL Power Rankings – Week 8, John Crowe

“We were clearly out-coached, outplayed. Just out-everything. So, we need to just keep working here and find a way to just do everything better. We're just not performing at a good level right now in any area.”

Those are the words of Patriots head coach Bill Belichick on the team’s website during his postgame after Sunday’s 33-6 loss to San Francisco. Those are words you thought you would never hear about a New England team after a third consecutive loss, something not seen in Foxboro since before the Tom Brady era 20 years ago. Clearly, it’s time on the rebuilding road as Cam Newton has regressed in his past two games (five interceptions, three fumbles and just one rushing touchdown) since being tested posted for COVID-19 earlier this month.

Coming up this Sunday, it’s a trip to Buffalo against a team that’s about to take the Patriots spot as champions in the AFC East. Sure, there’s still plenty of season to be played, but for now, the Bills are a top 10 team and the Patriots certainly are not.

GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLAST

In addition to the Bills, it’s got to stick in the Patriots craw a bit that old friend Tom Brady is gearing things up in Tampa, leading the Buccaneers to a 5-2 record and playing about as well as anyone in the league right after an opening week loss to the Saints. And oh yeah, there’s this – former Patriot bad boy Antonio Brown is now a Buc to join TB12 (GoLocal Prov) one year after being jettisoned from Foxboro for his abhorrent behavior.

With each passing day, we can all agree on this. Things are very different in 2020.

Now, on to this week’s power rankings.

Best of rest: Saints (4-2, Last week: Best of Rest), Browns (5-2, Last week: not ranked) 

The Saints would like to almost forget about the first quarter of the season. There were questions on Drew Brees’ arm strength, Michael Thomas was injured and punching teammates and the defense was getting run over. But don’t look now, Brees has the Saints on a three-game winning streak and New Orleans is just a half game behind Tampa Bay with a prime-time match-up looming in Tampa for week 9, a game that the Saints could have Thomas back for.

Wither the Browns. They lost Odell Beckham Jr. with a torn ACL early in last Sunday’s game at Cincinnati. Yet, all quarterback Baker Mayfield did was complete his next 22 of 23 passes for 5 touchdowns in a last-second comeback over the Bengals. Small sample size, but maybe it’ll help the Browns offense by spreading things out instead of concentrating on one disgruntled wide receiver.

10. Los Angeles Rams (5-2, Last week: not ranked)

If the Rams weren’t in the NFC West, they may be getting more pub. They’ve figured things out in the post Todd Gurley era, spreading the ball out to everyone in Sean McVay’s offense. Plus, that defense just held the Bears to only 279 yards – 49 yards rushing Monday night. When it’s all said and done, the NFC West may get three playoff teams.

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

It wasn’t pretty, but it was effective. Taking a cue from Denver’s road win over New England one week ago, the Bills used six field goals to beat the Jets 18-10. Again, the Jets are probably the worst team in the NFL, so it bears watching how the Bills play against the wounded Patriots this week, a MUST win for Buffalo, but it was a well needed victory after back-to-back losses to Tennessee and Kansas City.

8. Cardinals (5-2, Last week: ranked 9th)

We’ve been on the Kyler Murray bandwagon for awhile now and his primetime comeback win in OT over the Seahawks Sunday night cemented it. Murray’s already accounted for 20 touchdowns, 13 passing and 7 rushing through week 7. The Cardinals are for real and they are not going away. That’s a scary thought for the rest of the NFC!

7. Seahawks (5-1, Last week: ranked 5th) 

The flipside to the Cardinals win over Seattle Sunday night is how the Seahawks looked. Up 10 in the fourth quarter (sound familiar Patriots fans?), the Seahawks defense couldn’t hold it. Russell Wilson threw three uncharacteristic interceptions which didn’t help the cause, including an ill-advised pass that set up the Cardinals game-winning field goal in overtime. Seattle has little time to rebound as they welcome the resurgent 49ers this Sunday.

6. Ravens (6-1, Last week: ranked 7th)

An off week in week 7 gives the Ravens some extra time to welcome the hottest team in the NFL, Pittsburgh to town Sunday in the marquee matchup of the day. The problem for Baltimore is that the Steelers own the second-best run defense in the league giving up only 68 yards a game. The Ravens are running it to the tune of 164 yards per game, good for the top spot in the NFL.

5. Packers (5-1, Last week: ranked 6th)

The terrible time in Tampa is now completely in the Packers’ rear-view mirror. That’s what four touchdown passes against the Texans will do for you. This week, it’s a home game against the Vikings which should solidify Green Bay’s spot amongst the best in the NFC.

4. Titans (5-1, Last week: ranked 1st)

Go figure. The Titans came out flat against Pittsburgh last Sunday and it cost them. When Stephen Gostkowski’s game-tying field goal attempt went wide, Tennessee fell from the ranks of undefeated and fell off out top spot. Now, will it be a game that can’t bounce back from – no. They did rally from being down 20 points to almost send the game to overtime. The road back begins in Cincinnati against a Joe Burrow team that can sling it.

3. Buccaneers (5-2, Last week: ranked 3rd)

Just two months into his Tampa career, Tom Brady has the Bucs playing the best ball in the NFC, hands down. Brady wowed them last week in Las Vegas for 4 touchdowns (0 interceptions) and 45 points, adding another city to his win total. After struggling for the first two weeks of the season, Brady is playing at peak level again. This week, it’s back to Monday night football to try and avenge his two Super Bowl losses to the Giants. Think Tom has a chip on his shoulder for this one?

2. Chiefs (6-1, Last week: ranked 2nd)

If not for the Steelers, they’d be back on top this week. Even an October snowstorm in Denver couldn’t deter Kansas City. What’s scary is that they put up 43 points with Patrick Mahomes having an average one touchdown, 200 passing yards day. Having a defensive and special teams score will do that for you. This Sunday, newcomer Le’Veon Bell gets to go up against his former teammates in the New York Jets. Something tells me that the Bell will toll on NY Sunday at 1pm.

1. Steelers (6-0, Last week: ranked 4th)

Here’s something I did not think we would see this season. The Pittsburgh Steelers sitting atop our NFL Power Rankings. Before last week, critics could argue that they haven’t beaten anyone. But the way they spanked the Titans in the first half last Sunday, those whispers should be laid to rest. This week, it’s another challenge as they wrap up a two-game road trip in Baltimore against a well-rested Ravens team itching to get back on top in the AFC North. Beware Baltimore, Pittsburgh’s bringing the number one ranked team in total defense to town.

Last week:
Best of rest: Colts, Saints
10. Bills
9. Cardinals
8. Bears
7. Ravens
6. Packers
5. Seahawks
4. Steelers
3. Buccaneers
2. Chiefs
1. Titans