Last Word On Pro Football, by Ryan Smith
Ladies and Gentlemen, Week Seven has come and gone, and things have changed. For the first time this season, a new team is sitting at number one. Without much further ado, here are Ryan Smith‘s Week Eight NFL Power Rankings.
Week Eight NFL Power Rankings
32. Cleveland Browns
Another week, another loss by the Cleveland Browns, and 2016 is pretty much over for them. It’s not all doom and gloom for the Browns, however. They’ll probably have the first overall pick next season, as well as the picks brought in as part of the Carson Wentz trade! So… Maybe next year?
31. Chicago Bears
Look guys, the Chicago Bears are awful, but the Cubs are in the World Series! How weird is it that the two worst teams in the NFL share cities with the best teams in baseball?
30. San Francisco 49ers
Things are looking bad for the San Francisco 49ers. Not only are they losing games, they’re losing games badly, and nobody is even showing up to watch. Levi’s Stadium was a ghost town last week, and it’s not hard to see why.
29. Carolina Panthers (-1)
The Carolina Panthers need to get back on the field and back in the win column. It’s so weird to think that this team almost went undefeated just a year ago.
28. New Orleans Saints (-2)
You’ve gotta feel sorry for Drew Brees. He’s second in the NFL in passing yards, and yet the New Orleans Saints just can’t support him. They keep losing, despite his best efforts, and it might be time to look at firing Sean Payton.
27. Jacksonville Jaguars (-5)
Against the Oakland Raiders, it became apparent just how bad the Jacksonville Jaguars are. Against a historically bad defense, Blake Bortles looked dreadful and they failed to score a touchdown until it was far too late.
26. New York Jets (+3)
The New York Jets finally pulled the plug on Ryan Fitzpatrick…only for Geno Smith to tear his ACL, giving him the job right back. Fortunately, they faced the Baltimore Ravens and were able to steal the win. Injuries, old age, and bad quarterback play have buried this team.
25. Los Angeles Rams (-9)
Jeff Fisher said, “Quarterback is the least of our concerns” after a game where his quarterback threw four interceptions and they lost by a single touchdown. Quarterback isn’t a problem? You have a stud running back and a talented defense. If quarterback isn’t the problem, then maybe the head coach is.
24. Baltimore Ravens (-5)
It looks like the Baltimore Ravens might be looking for a new head coach soon. This team started hot, but they’ve lost four in a row. And they haven’t lost close games to good teams. The offense looks lost out there, and the defense can’t be expected to carry the team.
23. Tennessee Titans (-3)
The Tennessee Titans are still a year or two away, but it’s still very frustrating. There are young pieces on this team, and fans of the Titans probably wish they could fast-forward to draft season
22. Indianapolis Colts (+5)
It’s good that Andrew Luck and the Indianapolis Colts beat the Titans, but they still need to make that jump and become a great team. They play the Kansas City Chiefs this week, and pulling out the win would be a huge statement.
21. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (+4)
Don’t look now, but the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are actually in the driver’s seat for the NFC South. They’re not an amazing team, but the Atlanta Falcons keep finding ways to lose close games, and Tampa Bay has a win over them.
20. Washington Redskins (-10)
Phew. The biggest drop of the week goes to the Washington Redskins, who couldn’t even beat the Detroit Lions. Josh Norman‘s injury hurt, but the difference between NFC East Champion and worst in the division is one bad game.
19. Miami Dolphins (+5)
The Miami Dolphins make a pretty big jump this week, having won a couple of games in a row. The development of Jay Ajayi has been huge for the team, and it’ll be interesting to see if he’s feast or famine.
18. Houston Texans (-4)
The Houston Texans tried their best, but they weren’t able to give Brock Osweiler a win on his return to Denver. The Denver Broncos got the win, and the AFC South has plunged even further into chaos.
17. San Diego Chargers (+5)
Watch out, the San Diego Chargers are coming around. They’ve started finishing those games they were blowing, and now they’re only two games back in the best division in football. They face the Denver Broncos again this week, and this game is huge.
16. New York Giants (+2)
The NFC East is the only division in football without a losing record. The New York Giants locked that up this weekend when they dusted off the Los Angeles Rams. Eli Manning and Odell Beckham Jr. are still having some issues, but it’s good that the defense is coming around.
15. Arizona Cardinals
Shame on the Arizona Cardinals for making people watch that game. A field goal duel that ended in a tie?! The NFC West is just a mess.
14. Cincinnati Bengals (+9)
The Cincinnati Bengals needed a big, blowout win to find themselves again. That catch by A.J. Green?! Are you serious?! With Big Ben M.I.A. and the Ravens falling apart, the Bengals are not out of the race.
13. Buffalo Bills (-4)
It was fun while it lasted, but after an embarrassing loss to the Miami Dolphins, the Buffalo Bills travel to take on Tom Brady and Bill Belichick. Maybe Rex Ryan should get back to filling out that resume.
12. Pittsburgh Steelers (-5)
The Pittsburgh Steelers were actually more competitive than people thought they would be without Ben Roethlisberger. They hung with Tom Brady and company, which many didn’t think they could do.
11. Detroit Lions (+5)
Watch out. The Detroit Lions might have had a rough start, but they’re coming around. They’ll need some help, but the Lions could be a playoff team if they keep this up. Matthew Stafford has finally proven that he doesn’t need Calvin Johnson.
10. Philadelphia Eagles (+3)
Nobody thought the Philadelphia Eagles were going to come out victorious when they faced the NFL’s only undefeated team. But they did. Even against the frustrating Minnesota Vikings defense, they managed to make plays, and a huge return from Josh Huff gave them a huge edge.
9. Green Bay Packers (-1)
It might seem funny that the Green Bay Packers dropped a spot after winning, but they didn’t win in dominating fashion. They
8. Oakland Raiders (+4)
Believe it or not, a 33-16 win on the road isn’t enough for the Raider Nation. The Oakland Raiders have fallen asleep behind the wheel in the second half of games, but they’re 5-2! C’mon guys, enjoy the ride while it lasts.
7. Atlanta Falcons (-2)
The Atlanta Falcons have dropped a couple of games in a row, and it hasn’t been pretty. A blown pass interference cost them two weeks ago, and this week, their own stupidity cost them. Knowing the San Diego Chargers were red hot, they shouldn’t have gone for it on that fourth down. Then again, hindsight is 20/20.
6. Denver Broncos
How do you think the Broncos felt beating their former quarterback into the ground in prime-time? You’ve gotta imagine that it felt pretty good. Regardless, the Broncos march on and the AFC Best remains competitive.
5. Kansas City Chiefs (+6)
The Kansas City Chiefs are a hard team to read. They gave the Chargers a 21 point lead, but they ended up winning. They were blown out by the Steelers. And then they shut down the Raiders and Saints. This team could be really dangerous down the road.
4. Seattle Seahawks (-1)
The Seattle Seahawks and Arizona Cardinals played the ugliest game of football anyone has ever seen Sunday Night. It was a defensive back-and-forth affair that ended up going to overtime, only for both teams to miss easy kicks and settle for a 6-6 tie. The Seahawks get the Saints this week. Hopefully one of those teams can generate some offense.
3. Dallas Cowboys (+1)
As long as the Dallas Cowboys can run the ball with Ezekiel Elliott, it doesn’t matter who is under center. This team is competitive, and if the NFC’s elite keep finding ways to lose (or tie), JerryWorld may end up hosting some playoff games.
2. The Minnesota Vikings (-1)
The Minnesota Vikings lost this week, but it’s hard to blame the team. The Vikings are great because they don’t turn the ball over and they play good defense. This week, that wasn’t the case.
1. New England Patriots (+1)
Yes, the New England Patriots are the best team in the National Football League. With Minnesota’s loss dethroning them, it is Tom Brady and the New England Patriots that will ascend to the top spot.
