NFL Analysis
10/22/24
15 min read
2024 NFL Week 8 Power Rankings: Detroit Lions Climb To No. 2 Spot
NFL Week 7 was a moving week as the contenders started to separate themselves from the pretenders. It’s also becoming clear which teams are legit Super Bowl contenders and which franchises will be vying for the No. 1 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.
Here is our updated list of power rankings going into Week 8 of the 2024 season:
NFL Week 8 Power Rankings
1. Kansas City Chiefs (6-0) 
Previous Ranking: 1 
What more can we say about the Kansas City Chiefs at this point? They’ve passed every test with flying colors, and Patrick Mahomes isn’t even playing well.
He has more interceptions than passing touchdowns, and yet, they are 6-0 and well on their way to becoming the No. 1 seed in the AFC. The only question is if the passing attack can get better because if it doesn’t, they could be exposed in the playoffs. But so far, so good for Kansas City.
Next Game: Sunday, Oct. 27 vs. Raiders
2. Detroit Lions (5-1) 
Previous Ranking: 5 
If the season ended today, Jared Goff would be your NFL MVP. He’s playing at the highest level of his career, and the Detroit Lions just took control of the NFC North by beating the Vikings in Minnesota.
Goff has been nearly flawless in the last three weeks, and the Lions will need that to continue if they want to make a run to the Super Bowl. Somehow, the Lions look even better in 2024 despite losing Aidan Hutchinson for the season.
Next Game: Sunday, Oct. 27 vs. Titans
3. Baltimore Ravens (5-2) 
Previous Ranking: 3 
The Baltimore Ravens found themselves in a 10-0 hole against the Buccaneers before scoring 34 unanswered points. Lamar Jackson threw five touchdowns as he had no problem carving up Tampa Bay's defense.
Baltimore has now won five straight games and looks like a juggernaut in the AFC once again.
Next Game: Sunday, Oct. 27 vs. Browns
4. Minnesota Vikings (5-1) 
Previous Ranking: 2 
You can’t knock the Minnesota Vikings down too much after falling to the Lions by two points in a huge NFC North battle.
The Vikings are still 5-1 and will get back T.J. Hockenson this week from a knee injury. Minnesota is one of the league’s most balanced teams and is a near-lock to make the playoffs this season.
Next Week: Thursday, Oct. 24 vs. Rams
5. Green Bay Packers (4-2) 
Previous Ranking: 9
The Green Bay Packers were dominant on defense in Week 7, and that is a great sign for their long-term outlook. C.J. Stroud had just 86 passing yards and was pressured all game long.
This wasn’t the best performance by Jordan Love, but he engineered a game-winning drive and made multiple big-time throws to help the Packers win. After a rocky start, the Packers are right back in the Super Bowl mix.
Next Game: Sunday, Oct. 27 vs. Jaguars
6. Buffalo Bills (5-2) 
Previous Ranking: 6
This was supposed to be a rebuilding year for the Buffalo Bills, but they are 4-2 and have a 2.5-game lead over the Dolphins and the Jets in the AFC East. The addition of Amari Cooper has made them more dangerous on offense, and the defense is starting to step up.
If Josh Allen can continue to play at this level, this might be the year that the Bills finally make it to the Super Bowl.
Next Game: Sunday, Oct. 27 vs. Seahawks
7. Houston Texans (5-2) 
Previous Ranking: 4
C.J. Stroud had the worst performance of his career in Week 7, as he did not total 100 passing yards. The offense just doesn’t look the same without Nico Collins (hamstring), and it benefited from three takeaways on defense.
The Houston Texans will still win the AFC South with ease, but there is something about this team that just is hard to trust against good opponents.
Next Game: Sunday, Oct. 27 vs. Colts
8. Washington Commanders (5-2) 
Previous Ranking: 10
The sign of a good team is if you can win despite injuries. And the Washington Commanders showed that in Week 7, dominating the Panthers despite Jayden Daniels (ribs) leaving early.
That game was over before halftime, and Marcus Mariota did a fantastic job keeping things moving on offense. The Commanders are 5-2 and are one of the biggest surprises in the NFL. It’s time to start considering them a serious threat in the NFC.
Next Game: Sunday, Oct. 27 vs. Bears
9. Pittsburgh Steelers (5-2) 
Previous Ranking: 12
The decision to bench Justin Fields for Russell Wilson proved to be the right decision for the Pittsburgh Steelers, as Wilson unlocked the vertical passing attack in Week 7. He won't provide much as a runner, but the Steelers needed to create explosive plays down the field, and they accomplished that with Wilson.
With the Giants (at home) in Week 8, the Steelers are staring at a 6-2 start with a bye week upcoming. The Steelers are one of the top five teams in the AFC and have now scored 32+ points in back-to-back games.
Next Game: Monday, Oct. 28 vs. Giants
10. Atlanta Falcons (4-3) 
Previous Ranking: 11
The Atlanta Falcons are tough to figure out; it’s hard to predict how they will play each week. They’ve had a few impressive wins, but their offense has no-showed a few times at home.
They were embarrassed by the Seahawks in Week 7, and it’s fair to question the ceiling of this team. Hopefully, they will continue to knock off the rust as the season goes on, but this was a rough loss in Atlanta.
Next Game: Sunday, Oct. 27 vs. Buccaneers
11. Chicago Bears (4-2) 
Previous Ranking: 13
The Chicago Bears were on bye in Week 7, but it was a tough week for Chicago, with the Lions and Packers pulling out wins.
Chicago is pretty clearly the fourth-best team in the NFC North, but it would be the best team in several other divisions. The Bears might still be a year away, but this is a talented team that has been built the right way.
Next Game: Sunday, Oct. 27 vs. Commanders
12. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-3) 
Previous Ranking: 7
This was a massive loss for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for a variety of reasons. Not only did they drop back to 4-3 and behind Atlanta in the NFC South, but they lost Mike Evans (hamstring) and Chris Godwin (ankle) to serious injuries.
The Buccaneers looked like a playoff team for the majority of the last two months, but they probably won't be able to overcome these two injuries.
Next Game: Sunday, Oct. 27 vs. Falcons
13. Philadelphia Eagles (4-2) 
Previous Ranking: 15
The Philadelphia Eagles certainly look like a different team with A.J. Brown back on the field. His ability to create big plays at the most important moments of the game is why he is still among the best receivers in the league.
The defense created constant pressure on Daniel Jones, and this was one of the first weeks in which the pass rush looked legitimate. Sitting at 4-2, the Eagles are still in prime position to challenge the Commanders atop the NFC East.
Next Game: Sunday, Oct. 27 vs. Bengals
14. San Francisco 49ers (3-4) 
Previous Ranking: 8
Is it time to be concerned about the San Francisco 49ers? They are now below .500 and have a difficult schedule. The loss of Brandon Aiyuk (torn ACL) will be a big one, but the hope is that Deebo Samuel and Jaun Jennings will return for Week 8 when they host the Cowboys on Sunday Night Football.
The 49ers play in a relatively weak division, so their poor record won’t hurt them too much. However, this team does not resemble their 2023 self at all.
Next Game: Sunday, Oct. 27 vs. Cowboys
15. Seattle Seahawks (4-3) 
Previous Ranking: 16
The Seattle Seahawks are tough to predict because they can look so different week to week, but they played an awesome game in Atlanta in Week 7.
Geno Smith was fantastic, and Kenneth Walker was productive despite battling the flu. At 4-3, the Seahawks still have a great chance to win the NFC West despite their Week 6 loss to the 49ers.
Next Game: Sunday, Oct. 27 vs. Bills
16. Los Angeles Chargers (3-3) 
Previous Ranking: 14
It's tough to get excited about the Los Angeles Chargers until they fix their offense. They only scored 15 points against the Cardinals and failed to get into the end zone.
They have some injuries at wide receiver, but they lack playmakers, and Greg Roman needs to open up this offense. This was a winnable game that the Chargers let slip away due to several unforced errors.
Next Game: Sunday, Oct. 27 vs. Saints
17. Arizona Cardinals (3-4) 
Previous Ranking: 22
This was a gritty performance by the Arizona Cardinals. Despite several injuries on the defensive side of the ball, they got a walk-off win against the Chargers on Monday Night Football.
Kyler Murray and James Conner made every play they needed, and the Cardinals are now right back in the thick of things in the NFC West.
Next Game: Sunday, Oct. 27 vs. Dolphins
18. Denver Broncos (4-3) 
Previous Ranking: 21
The Denver Broncos have had a few dominating wins this season, including one against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers early in the year. However, their win against the Saints was phenomenal, especially since the defense continues to play at an elite level.
This wasn’t a special game by Bo Nix by any means, but he hasn’t hurt them much during the last few games. Sitting at 4-3, it’s time to consider the Broncos a legitimate threat to make the postseason in 2024.
Next Game: Sunday, Oct. 27 vs. Panthers
19. Dallas Cowboys (3-3) 
Previous Ranking: 17
The Dallas Cowboys were on bye in Week 7, and they desperately needed it. They have one of the most banged-up rosters in the NFL but could get two All-Pros back in Week 8: Micah Parsons and Daron Bland.
The Cowboys will need to be much better coming out of the bye if they want to have any chance of making the playoffs, but reinforcements should be on the way on defense.
Next Game: Sunday, Oct. 27 vs. 49ers
20. Cincinnati Bengals (3-4) 
Previous Ranking: 18
The Cincinnati Bengals are slowly climbing back towards .500, and they got a gritty win against the Browns in Cleveland. The offense has not played well in a few weeks, but the defense has stepped up, and the special teams have made plays.
If all three phases can start to click, maybe this could be a wild-card team that no one would want to face in Round 1.
Next Game: Sunday, Oct. 27 vs. Eagles
21. Indianapolis Colts (4-3) 
Previous Ranking: 20
The Indianapolis Colts have a major problem at quarterback. They are winning games with Anthony Richardson, but not because of him. At one point, the second-year quarterback was 4-of-18 for 63 yards against the Dolphins.
The offense just isn’t working with him under center, and there is no doubt it was more explosive with Joe Flacco in charge. Still, the Colts have to stick with Richardson to find out what they have in their former No. 4 overall pick, but his play is regressing nearly every week.
Next Game: Sunday, Oct. 27 vs. Texans
22. New York Jets (2-5) 
Previous Ranking: 19
The New York Jets have a lot of big-name players on their roster and will be adding another, Haason Reddick, in Week 8. Still, this just isn’t a good team.
It’s a collection of assets that don’t know how to play together and crumble whenever they face any adversity. The good news for the Jets is that the schedule is incredibly soft in the next month, so it wouldn’t be a stretch to see them back at .500 soon. But make no mistake about it; this is not a contender.
Next Game: Sunday, Oct. 27 vs. Patriots
23. Los Angeles Rams (2-4) 
Previous Ranking: 24
Believe it or not, the Los Angeles Rams still have a good chance to win the NFC West. They are only a half-game back from the 49ers and two games back from the Seahawks.
And with Cooper Kupp expected to play on Thursday Night Football, this could be a team that looks significantly better in the second half of the season. They got a much-needed win against the Raiders, albeit an ugly one. Now, they sit at 2-4 with a huge game upcoming against the Vikings.
Next Game: Thursday, Oct. 24 vs. Vikings
24. Miami Dolphins (2-4) 
Previous Ranking: 26
The Miami Dolphins managed to score just 40 points in the four games that Tua Tagovailoa (concussion) missed. And that is with Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle at full strength during that stretch.
This offense doesn’t work without Tagovailoa, and Mike McDaniel needs to take a long look at his offense this offseason to make it more quarterback-friendly.
Next Game: Sunday, Oct. 27 vs. Cardinals
25. New York Giants (2-5) 
Previous Ranking: 25
It sure seems like Week 7 was the end of the Daniel Jones era in New York. The former first-round pick from Duke was sacked seven times before being benched for Drew Lock.
The New York Giants scored just three points as the Eagles ran for 269 yards on Sunday. The Giants will travel to Pittsburgh to take on the Steelers on Monday Night Football, which is another game where they are huge underdogs.
At some point, the Giants will have to pull the plug on Jones and embrace the fact that they will be in the quarterback market in 2025.
Next Game: Monday, Oct. 28 vs. Steelers
26. New Orleans Saints (2-5) 
Previous Ranking: 23
Remember when the New Orleans Saints were 2-0 and felt like the team to beat in the NFC South? They have now lost five straight games, and the injuries continue to mount.
Spencer Rattler is a significant downgrade from Derek Carr, and the lack of weapons has crushed this offense. It might be a while before this team is competitive again.
Next Game: Sunday, Oct. 27 vs. Chargers
27. Las Vegas Raiders (2-5) 
Previous Ranking: 27
There is no denying that the Las Vegas Raiders have suffered many injuries during the first seven weeks, including a thumb injury to Aidan O’Connell.
However, they are a poorly coached team with no direction on either side of the ball. They are among the league leaders in turnovers and penalties, a clear sign of a bad team. And after a magical second half of the season in 2023 from Antonio Pierce, everything has fallen apart.
Next Game: Sunday, Oct. 27 vs. Chiefs
28. Cleveland Browns (1-6) 
Previous Ranking: 28
Things were already going poorly for the Cleveland Browns, and now, Deshaun Watson has suffered a torn Achilles, which will cause him to miss the rest of the season.
It’s the second year in a row that Watson has suffered a season-ending injury, and he’s appeared in just 19 games since the team traded for him back in 2022.
The biggest shame was that Watson was actually playing fairly well against the Bengals before the injury, and now the Browns will have to reset with Dorian Thompson-Robinson or Jameis Winston under center. Yikes.
Next Game: Sunday, Oct. 27 vs. Ravens
29. Jacksonville Jaguars (2-5) 
Previous Ranking: 30
The Jacksonville Jaguars completed their two-game showcase in London, going 1-1. They aren’t contenders in 2024, but the good news is that it appears that they have found their next No. 1 receiver in Brian Thomas Jr.
He caught two touchdowns in Week 7 and has been among the most productive rookie receivers in this class. Jacksonville got a good one in Thomas, and that should give it a lot of confidence moving forward.
Next Game: Sunday, Oct. 27 vs. Packers
30. Tennessee Titans (1-5) 
Previous Ranking: 29
The Tennessee Titans got off to a fast start against the Bills, taking a 10-0 lead. But they were outscored 34-0 the rest of the way, as Buffalo’s offense was able to do whatever they wanted.
Mason Rudolph got the start at quarterback, and everything looked about the same. Sitting at 1-6, the Titans look like they are back in the quarterback market going into the 2025 offseason.
Next Game: Sunday, Oct. 27 vs. Lions
31. New England Patriots (1-6) 
Previous Ranking: 32
The New England Patriots are a bad team with a young head coach. However, Drake Maye has given this team some life. He was fantastic against the Jaguars despite New England using their 12th different offensive lineman already.
The receivers did not play well, and Pop Douglas only played one snap in the second half due to an illness. Yet, Maye stood out. The Patriots are well on their way to a top-five pick, but it appears they have their franchise quarterback in place.
Next Game: Sunday, Oct. 27 vs. Jets
32. Carolina Panthers (1-6) 
Previous Ranking: 31
The Carolina Panthers are the clear-cut worst team in the NFL through seven games. They have now lost by double digits in four straight games, and their offense continues to regress.
Andy Dalton threw one of the worst pick-sixes that you will ever see, and it is fair to wonder when Bryce Young will return to the lineup.
Next Game: Sunday, Oct. 27 vs. Broncos
