Tag: week 8

Post-Week 8 Power Rankings

Another chalky, straight-forward week of football doesn’t cause too many changes in this week’s rankings, though a clear line of delineation is being formed after the first dozen.

Cover photo taken from San Francisco Chronicle.

1 – Chiefs (5-3)

Monday night didn’t prove anything we didn’t already know about the Chiefs.

They are an absolute buzzsaw at full strength that can beat you in any which way on either side of the ball. It might not have been the toughest opponent, but it was as dominant of a second half as you’ll see after a lackluster opening 30 minutes. And that means something in this league.

Again, I don’t care about records. You and I both know KC is the class of the NFL.

2 – Colts (7-1)

Speaking of buzzsaws, the Colts keep on being the Colts, and it’s quite the sight to see. To be balanced is one thing; to be profoundly dominant on each side of the ball is another. Indianapolis is flirting with rarified air if they can keep up this level of play in the second half of the season.

By the way, Jonathan Taylor should 100% be in the MVP race. If he breaks the single-season touchdown record, he should get it. Life’s too short to give the MVP to another quarterback.

3 – Lions (5-2)

Bye week blues. Try not to go too crazy on JJ McCarthy in his first game back in the lineup.

4 – Rams (5-2)

Bye week blues x2. Might as well have another one with the Tyler Shough-led Saints on tap.

5 – Seahawks (5-2)

Bye week blues x3. See you on Sunday night. Tell JSN to go easy on us.

6 – Packers (5-1-1) 1

This is the best I’ve felt about the Packers in over a month, and it mainly has to do with Jordan Love. I know he’s been playing at an elite level all year, but games like Sunday night’s show just how good he can be, even if it was against a pitiful defense.

I still have some mixed feelings about Green Bay, and I still want to see more out of that defense — maybe I just have high standards. But that was a hell of a win.

7 – Buccaneers (6-2) 1

This team needs to get healthy. That was as sleepy of a win as you’ll see in the NFL, and this offense has been unwatchable for two weeks now.

This bye week couldn’t be coming at a better time.

8 – Bills (5-2)

Happy Super Bowl week, Buffalo! Usually you win this one in the regular season.

We’ll cross that bridge when we get there. In the case of Sunday’s game, I didn’t really leave feeling any different about this Bills team. The passing offense is still an eye sore, but James Cook and Josh Allen are still awesome. And the defense looked solid, albeit against Andy Dalton.

I honestly feel like the Bills have just been lollygagging and waiting to get to the Chiefs game. So I’m expecting to see their best effort on Sunday. Anything short of that will be a failure, and a cause for concern.

9 – Patriots (6-2) 1

Another week of the Patriots thrashing a cupcake behind Drake Maye’s excellence. Keep getting used to it folks, because it’s only going to continue!

The sophomore QB is remarkably impressive and firmly in the MVP race for a good reason. I wanted to see how he’d play against an elite defense, and he delivered in a massive way. He’s just that dude. And this Pats team is more than capable of winning this division.

10 – Eagles (6-2) 1

The Eagles keep on winning games with something impressive to hang their hat on, and I leave every week feeling more perplexed by them.

AJ Brown is out and the defense expects you to run, but you still run wild. But when AJ is out there, you can’t run the ball. And sometimes he goes nuclear, but other times he’s invisible. And the defense is mostly bad, but sometimes plays well.

I just don’t get it. And I don’t think I ever will. But it doesn’t matter, because the Eagles can sleepwalk to another division title. I hate football.

11 – Broncos (6-2) 1

Are the Broncos finally turning into the team that we thought they could be? Or have they just played the Jets, Giants and Cowboys in their last three games? I don’t know. Consistency has been a problem in Denver, so I’d like to see more of it before I jump to any conclusions.

But, Bo Nix has eight touchdowns in his last five quarters and this offense is really humming now that RJ Harvey has found a groove. The defense might need to step it up a bit — especially with Pat Surtain trending towards a stint on the IR — but if the offense plays like this, it shouldn’t be a problem.

12 – Chargers (5-3) 2

Speaking of inconsistent teams finding a groove, the Chargers feel back in form now that their reinforcements are back. Justin Herbert looks comfortable and mobile, the offensive line is holding up well now that Joe Alt is in there and the defense looked much better than they did in previous weeks.

I don’t know how much I trust the Chargers to remain at this level of play, but the upcoming schedule is hilariously soft — seriously, Google it — so they’ve got some time to keep it going.

13 – 49ers (5-3) 4

Hmmmmmmmmm. Maybe I was right a few weeks ago when I said the success in spite of the injuries was becoming unsustainable. Because that was San Francisco’s worst performance of the season by a comfortable margin.

I still largely have faith in this roster and this coaching staff, and the schedule is still pretty manageable. But I just wonder what this is going to look like down the stretch.

14 – Steelers (4-3) 1

Yeah, you just can’t win with this defense.

The lack of playmakers on offense can’t be masked by a Steelers-esque defensive unit because it doesn’t exist. They are just dreadful on that side of the ball. And it’s going to cost them the easiest division title they ever would have had while Lamar Jackson is in the AFC North.

Oh well! No sympathy from me.

15 – Vikings (3-4)

I really have no semblance of a clue what’s happening in Minnesota. The QB situation is just so strange; Carson Wentz being trotted out there for possession after possession felt like malpractice and I never believed that JJ McCarthy wasn’t healthy enough to play. Now, the Vikings have reaped what they’ve sown.

Unless JJ McCarthy looks like a real quarterback now that he’s back, this season is lost. And it might not even matter, because this defense has lost the plot. It’s damn near over in Minnesota.

16 – Bears (4-3)

So I guess the Bears aren’t very good. Who woulda thunk.

That defense that I said was the strong suit? Yeah, they gave up 30 to Tyler Huntley. Generational top selection Caleb Williams? He has shown little to no progression in a year-and-a-half in the pros. Wunderkind Ben Johnson’s new-look offense? It sucks.

The Bears are just the definition of mid right now. And that’s okay. I just thought we’d see more by now. And I don’t know that we will.

17 – Panthers (4-4)

Not going to take much stock in a blowout loss to the Bills with Andy Dalton playing quarterback. Let’s get Bryce Young healthy and back out there.

18 – Jaguars (4-3) 4

The Jaguars might be getting the biggest boost that a team on a bye has ever gotten. That’s how stinky some of the teams that dropped below them are.

19 – Texans (3-4) 4

Are… we back?

I know better than to get my hopes up, but Sunday’s win was inspiring. CJ Stroud looked like himself again, the defense absolutely feasted and it felt like I was watching the Houston Texans again. Maybe, just maybe they’ve found something.

And if they have, they need to run with it, because the playoffs aren’t entirely out of reach.

20 – Ravens (2-5) 5

Hey, keep doing that when Lamar Jackson is back in the lineup.

Listen, there’s a reason why the Ravens are the favorites to win the AFC North at 2-5. They are still the best team in that division, and they still have the best quarterback in that division. If the defense — which is getting healthy again — does its part, and the rest of the offense chips in, they’ll do it. Because this schedule is a joke.

21 – Cowboys (3-4-1) 2

Yeah, the Cowboys are just an unserious football team. The offense is fun and all when they’re playing a below average defense, but their own defense is not good enough to succeed when playing anybody.

At least the coaching staff victory lapped their “analytics” plays against a Washington team that had Chris Moore and Robbie Chosen — who is no longer on the damn roster — at wideout!

22 – Commanders (3-5) 2

Like I said with the team at No. 1, Monday night didn’t show me anything I didn’t already know about my football team. They just kinda suck. There isn’t anything they do well on either side of the ball, and without their Superman quarterback on the field, they do nothing of note. And when they can’t take advantage of their most inspired start to a game this season, they don’t deserve to win at all.

So, let’s focus on getting No. 5 back out there and try to salvage some wins going into the bye. Who knows what he can do on the other side of it.

23 – Falcons (3-4) 5

I guess it’s over? Even though everything was all good just 10 days ago?

I suppose the major takeaway from Sunday’s embarrassment is that those screaming for Kirk Cousins have been silenced. We’re good off that. We don’t need to see him play ever again, and his contract with Atlanta will go down in the history books as an all-time fleece. But when Penix gets back, it’s not going to look much better.

24 – Bengals (3-5) 3

If I still awarded a weekly Team of Shame, the Bengals would’ve ran away with it this week. Because good lord, that’s how you throw away a season right there.

When Zac Taylor is fired around New Year’s, this loss can be pointed at as the straw that broke the camel’s back regardless of how the second half of the season plays out.

25 – Giants (2-6) 1

Seeing Cam Skattebo go down like that just sucks. It sucks for the Giants, it sucks for the NFL and it sucks for the kid. Prayers up for a speedy recovery and a major comeback.

Losing him clearly had an effect on the Giants on Sunday, and I feel like those effects will continue as the season goes on. This new culture is built around him, Jaxson Dart and Malik Nabers. Now, it’s just the rookie QB. And he can’t do it alone.

26 – Cardinals (2-5)

Kyler Murray gets what feels like his last dance coming out of this bye week. Time to see what he and the rest of this Cardinals team are made of.

27 – Dolphins (2-6) 2

Performances like Sunday’s are what Miami is capable of any given week. The problem is that they will never be consistent enough to do it in succession.

Still, it had to feel good for a team that’s been through the ringer this season. We’ll see if that consistency can come from anywhere.

28 – Browns (2-6) 1

He won’t fare much better, but it’s only a time before we see Shedeur Sanders, right?

Oh, and Myles Garrett is a dawg, but he has no one to blame but himself. You signed the dotted line, dude.

29 – Saints (1-7) 1

The days of Spencer Rattler maybe being good are gone.

The days of Tyler Shough being ass are here.

30 – Raiders (2-5)

A week without Raiders football. What a relief.

31 – Jets (1-7) 1

Gotta feel good for Aaron Glenn and Justin Fields. Particularly the quarterback, who got chastised by his owner and fans of all 32 NFL teams, then led his team back and laid his cards on the table with how tough things have been for him.

We’re always rooting for you, Justin.

32 – Titans (1-7) 1

Just not worth talking about in any capacity.

Week 8 Picks

It’s the week of byes intra-conference matchups as the NFL’s shortest slate to date features a number of high-profile NFC vs. AFC clashes in primetime and otherwise.

Cover photo taken from NBC Bay Area.

Last Week: 11-4

Season Total: 71-36-1

Vikings 23-20 Chargers

Thursday, 8:15 p.m. ET, Prime Video

Both defenses haven’t been at their best. Both quarterbacks haven’t been at their best. Both head coaches are trustworthy, but — let’s be honest — haven’t been at their best. What the heck is going to happen?

Honestly, I don’t know. But underdogs have been trusty in primetime, and I think if Carson Wentz can protect the ball — big ask, I know — I like the Vikings offense to move the ball on this LA defense. If Brian Flores can bounce back, I think that’ll be enough for Minnesota to escape with a win.

Falcons 27-19 Dolphins

Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, CBS

I have no idea who will start or end this game at quarterback for the Falcons, but I also know that it won’t matter. Either one of Michael Penix Jr. or Kirk Cousins should and will win this game for Atlanta.

And I have no idea who will be let in the building on Monday morning in Miami.

Bengals 22-13 Jets

Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, CBS

News flash Aaron Glenn: we all know Tyrod Taylor is starting. And we all know how that’ll end.

Flacco-Chase buddy ball for the win.

Patriots 20-17 Browns

Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, FOX

The only reason this feels like a trap game for the Patriots is because this is by far the best defense they’ll have played so far this season. You can argue it’s the only competent one, but I won’t stoop that low. Point being, this is a test for Drake Maye and that offense to prove that they can do it against anyone.

They won’t need to do too much assuming that the Browns offense is its usual self. If New England’s defense can stop Quinshon Judkins, they’ll be fine.

Eagles 24-20 Giants

Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, FOX

I know we’re just 2.5 weeks removed from the Giants beating the Eagles, but I don’t know if New York can do it again, especially being on the road this time.

AJ Brown and Saquon Barkley being banged up gives me pause, but they should be fine, and this Eagles offense just put together a masterclass that gives them positive momentum rolling into this one. I know Jaxson Dart will be able to move the ball against Philly’s defense because I’ve already seen it once. But I just don’t know if they can complete the sweep.

Bills 27-20 Panthers

Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, FOX

Even if Andy Dalton starts for Carolina, they’re going to give Buffalo a challenge. This is an elite rushing team against a Bills D that has struggled against the run. And that passing game has found its groove, even if it was with Bryce Young and not the Red Rifle.

In any case, the Bills can’t lose this game. They haven’t won in a month, they had a bye week to get ready, and they need to lock in ASAP. I know this is a potential look-ahead spot with the Chiefs on deck next week, but they should have this one.

Ravens 26-23 Bears

Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, CBS

Lamar Jackson should be back in this game, and that should be enough for Baltimore to win. But he’ll need to be Superman on a bad hammy, and that scares me a little.

This Bears team is no slouch as long as Caleb Williams isn’t turning the ball over. He is in no way the reason why they’re winning, but he can be the reason they lose. If he stays under control and gets a good game out of his running backs, Chicago’s playmaking defense might be able to do enough to put them over the top.

But I simply can’t pick Caleb over Lamar regardless of these polar opposite defensive units.

49ers 21-17 Texans

Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, FOX

I can’t faithfully pick Houston to beat anyone with the state of their offensive line. It’s genuinely unfathomable to be as bad as they are up front. The young Niners defense is going to make life hell for CJ Stroud, and I will be in shambles watching it.

Maybe the Texans defense can make some plays to keep them around like they did on Monday night. But can the offense do anything with that? My guess is no.

Buccaneers 26-19 Saints

Sunday, 4:05 p.m. ET, FOX

The Bucs might be beat up and coming off a short week, but they’ve still got the bodies to beat a very bad Saints team, though anything goes in this rivalry.

It’d be a hell of a win for New Orleans, who isn’t playing awful ball, but ain’t great either. Expect a big Baker bounce back.

Broncos 27-24 Cowboys

Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET, CBS

I originally thought this was an unstoppable force meeting an immovable object, but the Broncos defense showed a concerning number of cracks last week. I’ll choose to believe that was a bad game, but it’s not getting easier against Dallas’ world-beating offense.

The fact of the matter is I still don’t trust the Cowboys defense. They’re not playing practice squad WRs this week like they were against Washington — they’re going to need to revert to their zone scheme, which Bo Nix should be able to dice up. And Denver should be able to run the ball, which has been a weakness for them in recent weeks. That should be enough to get the job done at home.

Colts 31-13 Titans

Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET, CBS

Next!

Steelers 23-20 Packers

Sunday, 8:20 p.m. ET, NBC

I’ll be honest with you guys. I have zero read on this game whatsoever.

I don’t like either defense — Pittsburgh’s is straight up bad while Green Bay’s doesn’t make enough splash plays for how talented they are. Both quarterbacks are playing well, but I know either of them can make a mistake at any given moment.

Honestly, I’m just riding with the Steelers because I believe in the Aaron Rodgers revenge game. We saw how he performed against the Jets, and while that team is significantly worse than the Packers, I think he’ll get up for this one because he’s a psycho with a point to prove. In any case, it’s going to be absolute cinema.

Chiefs 45-10 Commanders

Monday, 8:15 p.m. ET, ESPN

Let’s get this one over with.

Reinforcements might be coming on offense, and changes might happen on defense. But it won’t matter. We’re onto Seattle.

Post-Week 8 Power Rankings

With contenders falling and certain teams rising, the Power Rankings continue to shift as we head towards the midway point of the season.

Cover photo taken from ESPN.

1 – Eagles (7-1)

2 – Ravens (6-2) 1

3 – Chiefs (6-2) 1

4 – Jaguars (6-2) 1

5 – 49ers (5-3) 1

6 – Dolphins (6-2)

7 – Cowboys (5-2)

8 – Bengals (4-3) 2

9 – Lions (6-2)

10 – Seahawks (5-2) 2

11 – Bills (5-3)

12 – Browns (4-3) 4

13 – Chargers (3-4) 5

14 – Steelers (4-3)

15 – Vikings (4-4) 1

16 – Jets (4-3) 1

17 – Texans (3-4) 4

18 – Saints (4-4) 5

19 – Rams (3-5) 4

20 – Colts (3-5) 1

21 – Titans (3-4) 3

22 – Broncos (3-5) 4

23 – Falcons (4-4) 3

24 – Buccaneers (3-4) 3

25 – Commanders (3-5) 4

26 – Packers (2-5) 4

27 – Patriots (2-6) 2

28 – Giants (2-6)

29 – Bears (2-6) 2

30 – Raiders (3-5)

31 – Panthers (1-6) 1

32 – Cardinals (1-7) 1

Week 8 Picks

Hectic week(end), so this week’s picks are just my winners and score predictions. In a slate filled with toss-ups and pick ’ems, let’s just hope I do better than last week.

Cover photo taken from Sporting News.

Last Week: 5-8

Season Total: 57-49

Bills 26-17 Buccaneers

Thursday, 8:15 p.m. ET, Prime Video

See: here.

Cowboys 23-20 Rams

Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, FOX

Vikings 20-17 Packers

Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, FOX

Titans 16-13 Falcons

Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, CBS

Colts 19-16 Saints

Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, FOX

Dolphins 27-20 Patriots

Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, CBS

Jets 20-10 Giants

Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, CBS

Steelers 24-23 Jaguars

Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, CBS

Eagles 30-20 Commanders

Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, FOX

Texans 23-17 Panthers

Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, FOX

Seahawks 21-20 Browns

Sunday, 4:05 p.m. ET, FOX

Chiefs 26-12 Broncos

Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET, CBS

Ravens 27-13 Cardinals

Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET, CBS

Bengals 23-20 49ers

Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET, CBS

Chargers 22-16 Bears

Sunday, 8:20 p.m. ET, NBC

Lions 24-14 Raiders

Monday, 8:15 p.m. ET, ESPN

All stats taken from ESPN.

Post-Week 8 Power Rankings

Amidst the trade deadline and another great week of football, there are plenty more shakeups in this week’s rankings.

Cover photo taken from Dallas Morning News.

1 – Eagles (7-0)

The NFL’s best teams destroying some of its worst is never exactly the most revealing thing in the world. Sunday showed me once again that the Eagles can absolutely decimate you through the air if they want to. Their dominance in the run game is well-documented, but people forget just how good of a passer Jalen Hurts has become. It helps that AJ Brown is continuing to shred secondaries. This team is just so incredible on both sides of the ball, and is only going to get better defensively with the acquisition of Robert Quinn. How they’re not the universal #1 across the media is beyond me.

2 – Bills (6-1)

The Bills would probably tell you that they didn’t play the way they wanted to on Sunday night. They obviously got off to a great start, but after going up 24-7, they phoned in the rest of the game. Josh Allen threw two really bad picks to take points off the board, their defense let up, and they just looked lethargic. They luckily didn’t have to continue playing their best ball to stave off a bad Packers team, but I would’ve liked to have seen a more complete performance out of them, especially coming off a bye.

3 – Chiefs (5-2)

The Chiefs had the week off ahead of a suddenly huge primetime showdown with the Titans at home on Sunday night. If they look even slightly as good as they did against San Francisco, then we should see some more fireworks out of this team.

4 – Cowboys (6-2) 1

This team just keeps on playing better and better. I think that giving up points in bunches to the Bears makes them look worse, but they went up 28-7 in the blink of an eye. The rest of the game was simply keeping Chicago’s offense in front of them, hence the big numbers from them. It doesn’t change the fact that this defense continues to play like the best in the NFL, and their offense finally poured in a great performance highlighted by a hat trick from Tony Pollard. They are so dominant defensively that any above average game from their offense means they win by 20+. I think the league should be a lot more scared of Dallas than they might be right now.

5 – Vikings (6-1) 1

The Vikings are still winning games by closer margins than they’d like, but all that matters is that the winning ways are continuing. The streak has reached five games, and they looked very solid on Sunday, especially offensively. Kirk Cousins played a great game and everyone on that side of the ball continues to contribute greatly. Now, TJ Hockenson is being added into the mix after being traded by Detroit. I’m not sure how he’ll fit into the system, but in due time, he should be another great weapon for Cousins. I still want to see the defense sure up the secondary, but they’ll continue to get away with it as long as this offense keeps their scorching ways going.

6 – 49ers (4-4) 3

Who would have thought that Christian McCaffrey would make a huge impact in this offense after a full week of practice? CMC became the first player since LaDainian Tomlinson in 2005 to throw, run for, and receive a touchdown in a single game. He was an absolute nightmare for the Rams, as he will continue to be for any and all defenses in the future. The rest of the offense looked just fine without Deebo Samuel, highlighted by another good game from Brandon Aiyuk, and the defense got back on track thanks to Nick Bosa being fully healthy again. His impact on the defense simply cannot be overstated, and it showed in bunches on Saturday. This team bounced back in a huge way from last week’s embarrassment, and I think they’re only going to get better. They are so much better than their record.

7 – Ravens (5-3) 1

This team is one of the hardest to make heads or tails of. I love Lamar Jackson, but I don’t know how to feel about the weapons around him. Nobody can stay healthy, but he continues to make it work. I don’t like this defense very much, but they played a solid game on Thursday. As a whole, I think this team is getting by on having a great QB and a generally talented roster, but we continue to see that they can’t play full games. I think they can be elite if they get healthy, but that feels unlikely for the time being. We’ll see how far Lamar can take them.

8 – Titans (5-2) 2

Honest question: how many people know that the Titans have won 5 games in a row? I feel like this team is getting completely lost in the mix of everyone else. It could be because of their cupcake schedule or their awful division, which is totally fair, but we have to put some respect on Tennessee. Winning on the road in a divisional game with a backup QB in his first career start isn’t easy. Handing the ball off to Derrick Henry over and over again is pretty easy though. He had his fourth consecutive 200 yard rushing performance against Houston. That is genuinely unfathomable stuff. None of the Titans wins on this streak have come against teams with winning records, nor have any of them been by more than 7 points. I know it’s not impressive, but they’re running away with the division and Henry is playing like an OPOY candidate. If no one else will respect them, I will.

9 – Seahawks (5-3) 3

How fun is this team? Everything they do is awesome. I never thought I’d see myself enjoying Seahawks football or them even being this good, but they are, and I am. They just keep on winning, and continue to do so in impressive fashion. Their defense stood out the most on Sunday, limiting the Giants all game long, allowing just 53 rushing yards from Saquon Barkley. Geno Smith did his thing again, DK Metcalf looked fine after suffering a minor injury last week, Tyler Lockett made amends for an uncharacteristic drop, and of course Kenneth Walker kept on scoring. This team now sits atop the division with a full game lead. I don’t know how long they’ll stay there with the Niners nipping at their heels, but it might be a tighter race than we thought.

10 – Dolphins (5-3) 3

Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle are the best WR duo in the league. That argument has been put to bed. It might get to the point where they become one of the best duos we’ve ever seen. Both of them are so incredibly dynamic and talented. It makes every Dolphins game a must-watch. It helps that Tua Tagovailoa is playing solid ball. Granted, they won’t be playing the worst defense in the NFL every week. Moreover, their own defense needs to play vastly better than they did on Sunday. They should never have been a 27-17 hole in the first half alone. I will say that I loved the fact that they shut out the Lions in the second half. And the pass rush is getting a huge boost thanks to trading for Bradley Chubb. I love the way this team is playing, and they are so much better with Tua at the helm. Their playoff push is imminent against a fairly easy schedule.

11 – Bengals (4-4) 5

Last week, I declared that the Bengals were back. Then, Ja’Marr Chase’s injury was decreed way more serious than any of us expected. I’ve said for over a year that Chase is one of the most valuable players in the league thanks to his ability to alter the way this offense works and is played against by opposing defenses. With him out on Monday night, you could see just how much worse this team is. The Browns weren’t moved at all by just Tee Higgins and Tyler Boyd, who are typically open because of the attention that Chase gets. They couldn’t run the ball effectively without a threat of deep shots. They were absolutely manhandled, giving the rest of the league the blueprint to shut this team down while Chase is out. The next few weeks are a bit easy on paper, so Cincy better hope they can notch some ugly wins while #1 gets healthy.

12 – Giants (6-2) 5

The Giants finally lost a game they deserved to lose. About time! Their offense was an absolute sham for sixty minutes as their patented running game did a whole lot of nothing and Daniel Jones played his worst game of the season. Moreover, their defense, which has been so solid all year long, let up a lot of big plays and long drives. They were able to force some turnovers and get pressure, but it just wasn’t enough this time. And that’s what I’ve been waiting to see. The Giants have had a winning formula for a while, but it was only going to take them so far. Their games against actual teams will go like they did on Sunday. Luckily for them, their schedule is remarkably easy, with their next two games being at home against the Texans and Lions, so wins should still be pouring in for them.

13 – Jets (5-3) 2

The Breece Hall injury effectively ruined the Jets season. Now they can’t run the ball, which means the offense rests on the shoulders of Zach Wilson. And he is the worst starting QB in the league. I’m not afraid to say that there are several backups in the league, including his own, that are better than he is. If the Jets want to win, they should have Flacco under center. Wilson’s inability to read defenses and inexplicable tendency to hand the ball right to them multiple times a game is holding this team back so much. Despite the fact that they couldn’t run the ball, the Jets might have won on Sunday if it wasn’t for those boneheaded picks. Their defense could have played better, but I’m placing all the blame on the guy who was unfathomably selected #2 overall last year. He is the problem.

14 – Chargers (4-3)

I don’t know what the rest of the Chargers season will look like as they come out of their bye week, but I’m having a hard time feeling good about it. They’re still super banged up and simply not great across the board, and Justin Herbert needs to elevate his level of play. I don’t like their chances this week coming across the country to play a solid Falcons team.

15 – Falcons (4-4) 4

I’ve felt pretty good about the Falcons for a while now, and suddenly they have sole possession of first place in their division. That’s merely a product of how bad it is, but I’m not going to sit here and say this team isn’t good. Perhaps they should have lost on Sunday, but they found a way to win, as good teams do. Their offense continues to play very well, especially at home, but their defense sorely misses AJ Terrell. I think the secondary play can and will hold them back in future games, but for now, they’re content to be .500 in spite of their last two defensive performances.

16 – Rams (3-4) 1

I honestly might have the Rams too high here. As I’ve said all year, this team is the definition of mid. With Cooper Kupp nursing an injury, they could look like one of the worst teams in the NFL this week. He is their entire offense, although Allen Robinson is contributing ever so slightly. Matt Stafford is doing nothing, nor is the defense. The only good thing about this team is #10, as has been the case since the start of the year. If he can’t go this week, you’ll see just how reliant this team is on him.

17 – Cardinals (3-5) 1

The Cardinals looked exactly how I thought they would look on Sunday. They were competitive all game long, but when it came down to it, they could not execute. It was very predictable, and for that reason, I’m not going to be that harsh to them. It was a tough road test against a very good team, and they played a solid game. DeAndre Hopkins’ return from suspension has proven to be massive for this offense as he put together yet another monster statline, but the rest of the offense is just lingering. They need to get healthy in the RB room if they want to be better. The defense isn’t good and they’ll just have to live with that. But if they slightly improve, they really could be a playoff team.

18 – Patriots (4-4) 3

This team is weird. I expected them to look better after last week’s thrashing in primetime, and they did. They still could have and should have looked better considering how bad the Jets played, but a win is a win, and they’re back to .500. I don’t know how much I buy this team on either side of the ball, and their inconsistency makes it that much harder to read them. Mac Jones still isn’t playing well, but the emergence of Rhamondre Stevenson makes this offense viable. The defense played much better, which is good to see. I just don’t see New England actually rising to the occasion and beating the good teams on their schedule.

19 – Browns (3-5) 4

I thought the Browns would play well on Monday night. I did not foresee them playing their best game of the year by far and winning by nearly 20 against their division rival. After the Ja’Marr Chase news broke, I figured the Browns would win (and rushed to take them +3.5), but I didn’t see it being so dominant. Jacoby Brissett played a solid game, Amari Cooper was spectacular, and their RB tandem of Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt finally returned to form. Chubb continues to play like the NFL’s best back, racking up TDs like it’s a video game. While the offense moved the ball up and down the field, perhaps the most impressive part of the performance was how their defense shut down and dismantled Joe Burrow and the Bengals offense from start to finish. Without Chase on the field, they couldn’t get anything going, and the Browns pass rush looked as good as we know they can be. I don’t know how many of these types of performances Cleveland has in them, but if they can get some more good momentum going with Deshaun Watson just 3 games away from returning, then perhaps they can turn their season around.

20 – Saints (3-5) 4

Like the team above them, I didn’t know the Saints had such a dominant performance in them. It certainly helps that Alvin Kamara is finally looking like himself again with an incredible 3-touchdown performance, but something got into their defense after being thrashed last week by Arizona. They absolutely locked down a very solid Raiders offense to the tune of the second shutout of the season thus far in the NFL. Josh Jacobs, who had been unstoppable coming into the game, had just 43 yards on the ground, and Davante Adams might as well have stayed in Vegas after just 1 catch for 3 yards. New Orleans’ dominance on both sides of the ball was very impressive, but it remains to be seen whether or not that can be replicated against the tougher teams on their schedule. This week’s primetime matchup with the Ravens should help us get a better understanding.

21 – Commanders (4-4) 4

Strap in folks, we’re going on our yearly Linsanity run. This year, it features 3 straight wins against 3 awful teams that will have this fanbase stirred up and ready for a “playoff push”. Left hand up, am I right? I wish people would temper their expectations. We should have lost to Chicago and Indianapolis, who both beat themselves. We realistically could have lost to Green Bay if it wasn’t for a defensive touchdown taken off the board. This team still is not good. However, it’s not all bad (for once). The defense has been playing very well, especially up front. I’m taking that with a grain of salt considering the offenses they’ve played. Taylor Heinicke has been… fine I suppose. The gameplan of throw it up to Terry McLaurin and praying has worked thus far since #17 is one of the best receivers in the NFL and continues to earn every penny of that extension. If there’s one good thing that comes from Heinicke starting, it’s that Terry gets the love he deserves. So yes, we are somehow back at .500 and on a streak. But the next two games are against the 6-1 Vikings and 7-0 Eagles. Prepare for this team to look as awful as they did on that 4-game losing streak.

22 – Packers (3-5) 4

The Packers have now lost four in a row. Despite that fact, they are content to continue with their roster being the same while the rest of the division around them makes moves. It’s a sign of the times in Green Bay. They seem perfectly fine with being bad. I do think they played alright on Sunday night, and it helps that Aaron Jones is becoming the central focus of the offense. But the defense is still getting torched, especially in the secondary, and they can’t throw the ball. The losing ways are going to continue for the Packers, and they have no one to blame but themselves.

23 – Buccaneers (3-5) 4

This has been perhaps the worst week of Tom Brady’s life, but I’m not here to beat him up. I’ll also lay off on beating up his team for once. Yes, this team sucks, but we already knew that. They’re the same team every single week, and that’s why they can’t win. They are simply not good at anything other than statpadding in the passing game. Every week is more of the same, so none of the Buccaneers’ struggles shock me anymore. They’ll just keep on plummeting.

24 – Raiders (2-5) 4

I should start a new rule where I don’t talk about your team if you get shut out. That seems fair. That being said, I can’t ignore how embarrassing the Raiders were on Sunday. They let a defense who has gotten gashed in nearly all of their games this year put them in a padded cell. Davante Adams had yet another game where he was invisible. Josh Jacobs’ hot streak ended and the rest of the team had no idea what to do, namely Derek Carr, who looked genuinely awful. We knew their defense was bad, so seeing them get gashed wasn’t shocking. But I never expected this offense to look so poor.

25 – Colts (3-4-1) 3

The first game of the Sam Ehlinger era went as expected. The Colts were simply mediocre all game long, and could have won thanks to being handed the game by the Commanders offense. But, their defense fell apart late, and they completely blew it. Ehlinger was painfully average, as was everyone else involved. Like so many other teams in this range, we know what we’re going to get out of Indianapolis every single week. It’s really shocking to see Jonathan Taylor continue to be a complete non-factor, but I’ve gotten used to it at this point. Teams won’t fear Ehlinger, and they don’t fear Taylor anymore either.

26 – Bears (3-5)

Despite another loss, it’s hard to not feel encouraged by what the Bears have been doing in recent weeks. Justin Fields has looked really solid and extremely comfortable as the offense around him continues to produce. He had a career day on Sunday with efficient passing and three total touchdowns. It helped that Chicago put themselves in a massive deficit early on, allowing Fields to put up numbers, but regardless, I was once again impressed. He looks much more comfortable in the pocket and is throwing the ball really well. The RB duo of David Montgomery and Khalil Herbert continues to shine as well. I’m not sure what the direction of this team is after dealing LBs Robert Quinn and Roquan Smith but trading for a WR in Chase Claypool, but I think they feel better about Fields too and are preparing to build around him for the future. I love to see that.

27 – Broncos (3-5) 2

Like so many other teams this week, the Broncos looked exactly how I expected them to on Sunday morning in London. The offense was able to put up enough points against a bad team, and the defense was able to shut down a solid offense when it mattered. They forced key turnovers in key moments, and it won Denver the game. I still think this team is relatively awful, but there’s no denying how good they are defensively. As I’ve said all year long, that defense will win them games against inferior competition. That is exactly what happened on Sunday.

28 – Panthers (2-6) 2

I feel pretty bad for the Panthers. Once again, they were competitive to the very end. They pulled off an incredible Hail Mary which should have won the game and missed two game winning kicks, including the extra point after that Hail Mary. D’Onta Foreman put up a monster statline in his first game as the team’s true RB1 and PJ Walker continued to look very solid as the QB1. I do think losing while putting up those numbers was the best-case scenario for this team, but it definitely stings.

29 – Jaguars (2-6) 2

Just about the only positive with the Jaguars right now is the fact that Travis Etienne has fulfilled the promise of being a true RB1. He had a huge game on Sunday morning in London and continues to be the best player on the offense. No one else is playing close to his level, especially QB Trevor Lawrence, who continues to lay a ton of duds on the field. His costly, bad interceptions lost the Jags the game, and he’s simply regressing. There’s nothing else but himself to blame it on. He has a RB, good WRs, a good coach, and a decent defense. He is the main reason this team is losing games.

30 – Steelers (2-6) 2

The Steelers have a real case for being the worst team in the NFL right now. Kenny Pickett hasn’t done anything in his starts, Najee Harris has regressed into Trent Richardson, and the defense is playing like one of the worst in the league. There isn’t a single thing this team does well. They are firmly in the running for the #1 pick, and it wouldn’t shock me at all if they end up with it by season’s end.

31 – Texans (1-5-1)

If you can’t beat a team playing their backup QB in his first start at home, then you’ve got problems. We all know the Texans have problems, though. None of this is remotely shocking. I think they could have and should have played better, but the Titans have absolutely owned them in recent years, namely Derrick Henry, who had his fourth straight 200-yard rushing day against Houston. Losing games is the best-case scenario for the Texans, so I’m sure they’re not too upset.

32 – Lions (1-6)

The Lions in a closed environment, especially at home, are simply different. It’s the only place where they can play like an actual football team. The offense got off to a blazing hot start on Sunday, but the second half was anything but. Getting shut out for the entire second half after putting up 27 in the first is a bit mind-boggling, but this is the Detroit Lions. Everything is mind-boggling. Now, they’ve dealt away TJ Hockenson and seem fully geared towards continuing the rebuild next year. It’s only a matter of time before Dan Campbell is sent on his way as well.

All stats taken from ESPN.

Week 8 Picks

Last week was my best of the year. Let’s see if the winning ways can continue in a slate stacked with marquee matchups.

Cover photo taken from Sporting News.

Last Week: 10-4

Season Total: 58-49-1

Ravens 20-17 Buccaneers

Thursday, 8:15 PM EST, Prime Video

This is a total coinflip. Both of these teams make it impossible to put faith in them to win games. The Bucs are at home and the public loves them, with this line shifting several points in their direction. But, they’ve also looked atrocious all year long. The Ravens are coming off a win, but it was rather unconvincing, as so many of their performances are. Still, I’m going to side with them to pull this out, and it’s mainly because of their run game. They are going to get guaranteed production out of Gus Edwards and Lamar Jackson, and maybe even Kenyan Drake. We just saw Tampa get bulldozed on the ground by Carolina, so the 5th ranked rushing offense should do the same. Moreover, it’s impossible to feel good about Tampa’s offense, even against a subpar Baltimore defense. If the only unit I can trust lies with the Ravens, then they’re my pick. Hopefully they can get their passing game going as well.

Broncos 13-10 Jaguars

Sunday, 9:30 AM EST, ESPN+

If you choose to wake up and watch this instead of spending your Sunday morning sleeping in, you are a sadist. This is going to be one of the worst games that the London NFL fans will ever have the displeasure of watching. I feel bad for them, genuinely. It’s still unknown whether or not Russell Wilson will suit up for the Broncos, but I don’t think it matters. This game will essentially be a repeat of last week’s game against the Jets, but since the Jaguars aren’t even half as good as New York, Denver should win this game regardless of who lines up under center. Their defense will keep the bumbling Jags offense in check and likely force multiple turnovers to set up just enough short fields to let their offense win the game. That feels way more likely than Jacksonville having some sort of offensive explosion.

Falcons 23-20 Panthers

Sunday, 1:00 PM EST, FOX

Are the Panthers back? It’s highly unlikely. Still, this is a division game, so it should be close enough. The Falcons are no longer locks ATS, so this feels like a reasonable margin of victory. Atlanta has a lot to work on offensively, especially in the passing game, and if Carolina’s defense plays like it did last week, then they could notch another win. The Falcons have to get Drake London and Kyle Pitts as well as their other WRs involved for their offense to function effectively. They can’t run the ball 40 times a game and hope to win. I don’t know how much I trust them to do that in this game, but I think last week provided them enough of a wakeup call for them to look like they did a couple of weeks ago.

Cowboys 21-10 Bears

Sunday, 1:00 PM EST, FOX

I would say this is a total mismatch, but I don’t think that’s entirely the case. Yes, the Cowboys have arguably the best defense in the NFL and the Bears have looked largely incompetent offensively for the majority of the season. But, last week was their best game yet, and they looked really good against a solid Patriots D. If they can replicate that performance, or at least that level of playcalling and execution, then perhaps they can stick around. Moreover, Chicago’s defense played a very solid game on Monday night, and Dallas’ offense is nothing impressive. This game feels like it plays into the Bears’ hands as both teams currently stand, but I just can’t bet against the Cowboys defense with how incredibly they’re playing right now. I think they’ll lock things down for a game very similar to last week’s.

Dolphins 28-20 Lions

Sunday, 1:00 PM EST, CBS

The only reason I think this game will be close is because the Lions haven’t given us any indication that they can’t play offense at home. It’s seemingly the only place they can function. There’s no way Detroit can keep up if they don’t get their key offensive pieces back, but Amon-Ra St. Brown will play, and D’Andre Swift should as well. But, they can’t function whatsoever on the other side of the ball, so the uber-talented Dolphins offense should have a field day. Their defense also had a turnaround performance on Sunday night, so we’ll see if they can keep that going and replicate it. This really shouldn’t finish as a one-possession game.

Vikings 26-23 Cardinals

Sunday, 1:00 PM EST, FOX

While this may look like a clear-cut shootout on paper, I don’t think there will be an explosion of points on the board on Sunday. I think both of these defenses are competent enough to keep the other team in check. But, I think both of these offenses are good enough to make this one very entertaining. The Vikings are well-rested off their bye and the Cardinals played last Thursday, so there shouldn’t be any fatigue for either squad. It’s two solid squads going at it with pretty much no limitations, other than Arizona’s thin backfield. But Eno Benjamin looked great in his start last week, and should be able to handle the load well. This is honestly a tighter than matchup than most people would think, but I have to take the better team in Minnesota. It helps that they’re at home and coming off a bye. Their offense should put up their typical numbers and pull away late for a hard-fought win.

Raiders 31-24 Saints

Sunday, 1:00 PM EST, CBS

Now this is a shootout. I wouldn’t be surprised to see both teams go over 30 points in this game. Yes, the Saints are still very thin on offense, but that didn’t stop them from scoring 34 last week. The Raiders are also finally catching their stride offensively thanks to giving Josh Jacobs the volume of touches that he deserves. He has emerged as an OPOY candidate and should have another great game against a porous New Orleans defense. Vegas’ defense still isn’t one to put much faith in, but if this game turns out to be the shootout that I anticipate, then I can definitely trust their offense to put more points on the board. Andy Dalton is starting again for the Saints, and I think he can put up some good numbers, but this isn’t a game I think the Saints are built to win as their offense currently stands.

Jets 21-17 Patriots

Sunday, 1:00 PM EST, CBS

Does someone want to explain to me why the Jets are getting points in this game? I know they lost Breece Hall, but Michael Carter is a solid backup, and James Robinson is bound to make a big impact in this backfield. And it’s not like the Patriots have some sort of vaunted defense; the Bears just gashed them for 60 minutes on Monday. While I have little to no faith in Zach Wilson, I don’t think he needs to do much at all for the Jets to beat a bad Patriots team that has no idea what it’s doing on offense. New England is dealing with a self-made QB fiasco, and nobody has any clue what the resolution will be. Will Mac Jones be the starter moving forward? Is Bailey Zappe going to continue to play in games? A 2-QB system doesn’t work in this league. The Jets, despite their injuries, are the better team and are dealing with a lot less internal dysfunction right now than the Patriots, so I have more than enough faith in them to win at home. What an incredible statement that is to type out.

Eagles 28-13 Steelers

Sunday, 1:00 PM EST, CBS

This might be the most warranted double-digit spread I’ve ever seen. The Eagles, who are the league’s best team, are coming off a bye to face a Steelers team that is in absolute shambles at home. This will not be close whatsoever. Pittsburgh, despite playing a solid game defensively last week, has no idea what it’s doing on either side of the ball, whereas Philly is the most balanced team in the league. They will have a field day offensively, running all over the Steelers decimated defense, and they will make life hell for Kenny Pickett on the other side of the ball. Wins don’t come much easier than this for an undefeated team.

Titans 21-10 Texans

Sunday, 4:05 PM EST, CBS

The Texans have proven to us that they are tough out, especially in the division. They beat the Jaguars and tied with the Colts. However, they now get the best team in the division, so this one should be a loss. Tennessee is playing boring but winning football right now, simply riding Derrick Henry and their defense to wins. Considering Houston’s brutal run defense, which is the worst in football, Henry should have a field day. And while I like Davis Mills, he’ll be under duress all game long against Tennessee’s elite pass rush. I’d like to think that this one will be close, but I just don’t see that happening.

Commanders 22-19 Colts

Sunday, 4:25 PM EST, FOX

What was supposed to be one of multiple Carson Wentz revenge games is now a marquee matchup between backup QBs Taylor Heinicke and Sam Ehlinger. What a time to be alive. This game will likely be an unwatchable pile of garbage, but the one thing I have no doubt about is that it will be close. Both of these defenses are playing well enough to limit the production of bad offenses with backup QBs under center. It’s just a matter of which of those two can make the plays necessary to win the game. Considering I haven’t seen anything from Sam Ehlinger since he was wearing burnt orange on Saturdays, I’ll trust Taylor Heinicke, who has been in this situation before, to pull out a close on Sunday afternoon.

49ers 24-17 Rams

Sunday, 4:25 PM EST, FOX

I’m rocking with the exact same score I predicted in the first meeting between these teams. Even though that game was a relative blowout for the Niners, who have upgraded since that game, I trust the rematch to be slightly closer, especially with the Rams coming off a bye. But, I just don’t see the 49ers losing after being embarrassed last week. Moreover, they’ll be coming off a full week for Christian McCaffrey to practice and continue being integrated, so he should be a big time difference maker in this game against an average Rams defense. Unless Matt Stafford and LA come out of their week off with a suddenly reinvigorated offense, they just can’t win this one. San Francisco always has their number and their defense is bound to make amends for last week’s pitiful outing.

Seahawks 24-19 Giants

Sunday, 4:25 PM EST, FOX

It’s truly remarkable to think that this game between two teams I picked to have a combined 4 wins is the only one this week between two teams with winning records. The state of the NFL in 2022 is a wacky one. This should be fun, with two young teams that are vastly overachieving meeting head to head in what should be a great environment in Seattle. I’m done giving the Seahawks the benefit of the doubt at home, but I think that will play a factor. Daniel Jones hasn’t been anything great and can be affected by something like crowd noise. But, I do think his impact on this team’s success has been more than negligible. If he can continue throwing the ball efficiently and making plays with his legs, then he can hand the rest of the game to Saquon Barkley, who can win any game on his own. But Seattle’s defense is only getting better, and their offense has been great all year long. New York has a good defense that certainly has what it takes to bottle the Seahawks offense up, especially if DK Metcalf doesn’t play, but I’m putting my faith in Geno Smith and Kenneth Walker to lead Seattle to victory yet again and stretch their first place lead.

Bills 31-14 Packers

Sunday, 8:20 PM EST, NBC

Going into the season, this was one of the games of the year. Many saw this as a Super Bowl preview. Now, it’s a blowout waiting to happen with Buffalo being double digit favorites against a stumbling Green Bay team with no direction. The Bills will be well-rested off their bye and should absolutely dismantle this Packers team that couldn’t even find a way to beat the Commanders. Their offense will let things fly through the air and their defense will make Aaron Rodgers look like the moody drama queen he is all game long. Just take Bills -10.5 and don’t look back.

Bengals 30-20 Browns

Monday, 8:15 PM EST, ESPN

Simply put, these are two teams going in completely opposite directions. I know divisional primetime games are always close and low scoring and whatnot, but I just don’t see that being the case here. The Browns are bound to get ripped apart by Cincinnati’s elite passing attack that is only getting hotter as the weeks pass. I would like to think Cleveland’s rushing attack will do their usual thing, but the Bengals have a very stout defense that shouldn’t let too much by them. And we all know Jacoby Brissett can’t win this game with his arm. I think this is another huge game waiting to happen for Joe Burrow and company, even on the road.

All stats taken from ESPN.

Post-Week 8 Power Rankings

The Packers upset the Cardinals in a Thursday Night classic to leapfrog all the way to the #1 spot in this week’s Power Rankings. (h/t Christian Petersen, Getty Images)

1 – Packers (7-1) 6

Against all odds, the Packers pulled off the impossible last Thursday. Going on the road to take on the only undefeated team in football without their top 3 WRs, their LT, their star CB and pass rusher, or even a defensive coordinator, they out-played the Cardinals from start to finish en route to the biggest win of the season in the NFL thus far. It wasn’t flashy, it wasn’t electric, but it was incredible team football to pull off a feat that nobody thought they could. It was more than enough to put them at #1. Aaron Rodgers is playing like he’s in his prime, making something out of nothing, and this defense has been extremely physical and continues to make play after play despite being riddled by injuries. They ran the ball all over a good defense and looked like the best team in football. In my opinion, that’s just what they are.

2 – Cardinals (7-1) 1

I’m not going to punish the Cardinals too hard for losing. They were the 32nd team in the league to do so. They played well enough to be within a single play of beating the Packers, and that was with DeAndre Hopkins missing most of the game. I was a bit concerned with Kyler Murray, as he struggled for the majority of the game and seemed to be hurt once it was over. Hopefully he’s alright. I was also concerned with the defensive performance out of Arizona, as they were ran all over and had a hard time stopping the Packers’ practice squad WR core. But, it was a big game against a fantastic team, and in the NFL, these things happen. This team is still great and a very close loss to the best team in football doesn’t discount 7 weeks worth of top tier play.

3 – Rams (7-1) 1

The Rams are playing a lot better than it might seem by putting them at 3, but you have to keep things in perspective. Since their lone loss to the Cardinals, they have played a Seahawks team that lost Russell Wilson mid-game, the Giants, Lions, and Texans. So, yes, they look fantastic. I honestly think they look like the best team in the league. But their opponents have been dreadful, and they still lost a game to a team above them. I don’t always give teams the advantage just because of a head-to-head matchup, but I think this is an exception. Still, I love watching this team play, and they’re only getting better. The acquisition of Von Miller from Denver solidifies their pass rush as one of the best in football to go along with a star-studded secondary, and their offense needs no introduction at this point. As it stands, from a roster perspective, this is probably the best overall team in the league.

4 – Cowboys (6-1) 1

I don’t know what it is with this team, but they have something. That ever-enticing it factor that they talk about is very apparent in Dallas. Going on the road in a primetime game against a good Vikings team was going to be hard enough, but Dak Prescott was ruled out just before the game due to his calf issues. With backup QB Cooper Rush getting the start, I certainly had no faith in the Cowboys to win. So, naturally, he threw for 325 yards and 2 TDs including the game-winner in the final minute. Oh, and their defense shut down a star-studded Minnesota offense all game long to the tune of 278 total yards and a staggering 1-for-13 on 3rd down conversions. No matter what the circumstance or who the opponent, all this Cowboys team does is persevere and win. They have playmakers everywhere on offense to make up for any lack at any position, and their defense is seemingly getting better by the week. In a dreadful division and an already weak schedule, it’s hard to foresee this team losing many more games this season. We’re all doomed.

5 – Buccaneers (6-2) 2

Can we all pump the brakes for a second? Let’s be adults about this. Did the Bucs lose on Sunday? Yes. Was it bad? Kind of. Losing to a backup QB who hasn’t played in this league in several years is never a good thing. But, there are some facts that need to be taken into account. For starters, like I said above with Arizona, a close loss to a good team doesn’t discount half a season’s worth of excellent football. Moreover, Tampa was without two key offensive pieces in Antonio Brown and Rob Gronkowski in addition to their never-ending defensive injury list. Oh, and the Saints have had the Bucs’ number in a huge way since Brady got there, as he’s now 0-3 against them in the regular season. This is just how the NFL works. I’m trying to be rational here and I’m giving the Bucs a pass because I know they’re still one of the NFL’s best teams and I believe in Tom Brady. But let’s not lose to any more backups, ok?

6 – Bills (5-2) 2

I’m not very fond of good teams playing bad teams close. If I expect it to happen, then sure. But you guys know how I feel about the Miami Dolphins. A team this good should not be struggling with a team that bad for that long. I know I always say division games are close, but the Bills have a history of destroying the Dolphins in recent years. In any case, they pulled away late and got the job done (and covered, thank you very much). Even if I didn’t like this one game for the Bills, it doesn’t change the fact that I’ve loved how they’ve looked otherwise. This is still one of the best offenses in football, and is the best statistical defense in the league by a large margin. They’ll be just fine, especially with their cupcake schedule.

7 – Titans (6-2) 1

Tennessee pulling through in overtime and picking up a win to cement their spot atop the AFC South on Sunday was absolutely massive. It would have been huge anyways, but the news that they’ll be without Derrick Henry for 6-10 weeks with a foot injury makes it that much bigger. This team runs through their star RB, and without him, I have no idea how they’re going to look. Luckily, they have a cushion to figure things out, now 3 games up in the division. I like Ryan Tannehill, but this offense doesn’t necessarily have a plethora of weapons. I have a bad feeling that without Henry, this team will fall apart. But, Mike Vrabel is a good head coach, and this team just finds ways to win. It’s just such a shame to lose one of the NFL’s best and most beloved players. I hope that they keep it together.

8 – Bengals (5-3) 2

There is nothing that irks me more than great teams losing to terrible teams. Remember how I treated the Titans for losing to the Jets? So, you might be wondering why I’m not putting the Bengals in timeout this week. Well, it’s fairly simple to be honest. They were absolutely jobbed. Cincy stopped the Jets on a crucial 3rd down deep in their own territory, but the refs called an inexplicable unnecessary roughness call on the Bengals for a helmet-to-helmet collision in which the New York player lowered his head way down and into the collision itself. Thus, the Jets were gifted a first down and ended up driving to cut the lead. After an unlucky tipped INT and another touchdown, it was upset city. It’s not the Bengals’ fault. Granted, you shouldn’t really be in that situation against a team as bad as the Jets in the first place, but Mike White came out and played an incredible game that none of us could have seen coming. For all these reasons, and the fact that they’ve been one of the best teams in the NFL thus far, I’m cutting the Bengals some slack this week.

9 – Ravens (5-2)

The Ravens had a much-needed bye in Week 8 ahead of a tough matchup this week with the Vikings. Hopefully they took the time during the off week to figure out their defensive issues, because we all know that if they don’t tighten up that side of the ball, there will be more losses to come.

10 – Raiders (5-2) 1

One normal week is all I ask for with the Raiders. Just one. Only a franchise like this can lose to their bye week. You guys know the story with Henry Ruggs III by now, so I won’t get into it. Only time will tell how that affects this team moving forward.

11 – Chargers (4-3) 1

I’m not entirely sure what happened to this team. The Chargers defense has taken a complete nosedive, as even after a bye week, they were torn apart by a average to above average Patriots offense. The other side of the ball hasn’t been pretty either, as Justin Herbert and company have struggled mightily in back to back games. All of a sudden, the young star QB has a turnover problem, and the once potent weapons around him have disappeared. I haven’t heard Mike Williams’ name called since the Browns game. You would think that a team this talented and well-coached would look significantly better coming off a bye, but that wasn’t the case. The schedule isn’t terrible moving forward, so hopefully this team buttons itself up in the next few weeks, otherwise they could get lost very quickly in a wild AFC playoff race.

12 – Saints (5-2) 4

I will finally give the Saints the credit that they very much deserve, but I still have some concerns moving forward with this team. The obvious one is that Jameis Winston will miss the remainder of the season with an ACL injury in what was an unfortunate situation on a high tackle on Sunday. Trevor Siemian was effective in relief and got the win against a great Bucs team, but I don’t know how I feel about him as a full-time starter moving forward. What I do know is that this team just finds ways to win. It has been the case for years now. Whenever Drew Brees went down with injury, the backup was ready to go and this team didn’t lose a beat. Who’s to say that won’t be the case with Siemian under center? This defense is spectacular and the offense gets the job done. With a favorable schedule and a great team from top to bottom, this can easily be a playoff team. We just have to see if Siemian is built for it.

13 – Patriots (4-4) 4

The evil empire is inevitable. The Patriots are back after some huge wins and find themselves right in the thick of the AFC wild card race. Honestly, I think this team is a heck of a lot better than a lot of other teams in the conference that are just treading water right now. This defense is finally playing up to their talent, and the offense has seemingly figured itself out. It wasn’t going to be instantly effective with Mac Jones under center, but the rookie seems to have found his groove, and this offense looks extremely efficient because of that. It’s a perfect formula to win games, and this team has proven that they can play up to some elite competition. Now that they can get over the hump and beat those great teams, I don’t see how this team doesn’t find their way into the playoffs.

14 – Steelers (4-3) 5

Well, well, well. We meet again, Pittsburgh. I dreaded this happening, but alas, I saw it coming from a mile away. After 3 straight good-looking wins, the Steelers appear to be back. Their defense has been spectacular, and their offense is doing just enough to put up more points than the opposing team. The offensive line is playing better, and the passing attack has been surprisingly effective throughout this win streak. But it’s no secret that this team’s forte is their defense. As long as they continue suffocating opponents all game long, especially on the ground, then this team will have what it takes to make the playoffs. What they’ll do once they get there is yet to be seen, but the Steelers are back to playing their brand of football, and they’re looking good doing it.

15 – Colts (3-5) 2

Yikes. That was just… yikes. I’ll give the Colts credit for a couple of things. For starters, they jumped out to a double digit lead early on Sunday and looked unstoppable. That is, until they started getting stopped. That all culminated in perhaps the worst play I’ve ever seen from a QB at any level of football, as Carson Wentz “threw” a beyond inexplicable pick six while being tackled in his own endzone to almost lose the game with less than 2 minutes left in the game. But, Wentz and Indy bounced back and went down to tie the game and force OT, which is another thing I want to give them credit for. A team can easily be derailed by such a poor sequence of events, but they overcame that adversity. Overtime, however, brought more unfortunate happenings. Another poor Wentz pick set up the game-winning FG for the Titans to bury this team 3 games behind Tennessee in the standings. This was so winnable for the Colts, but they got the Carson Wentz of old, and that’s what ruined them. I still think Wentz has been very good this season, as has the rest of the team, but it’s a huge uphill battle from here. Do they have what it takes to climb that hill?

16 – Chiefs (4-4) 1

What do you want me to say about the Chiefs? You are all seeing the same product I am. This team didn’t look great in recent weeks, that’s no secret. But it’s time to call them what they are right now: bad. Their offense is invisible. When they do get things going, they become a turnover factory. They can’t run the football, and their pass protection has been dreadful. Travis Kelce has become a non-factor. And the defensive woes need no introduction. Not even Patrick Mahomes can right a ship sinking this fast. It’s ugly, it’s unfortunate, and it hurts to see. But, this is what the Chiefs are right now. I don’t know what it will take to save them.

17 – Browns (4-4) 3

Alright Cleveland, what’s your excuse? Whatever it is, I don’t want to hear it. The Browns are finally healthy on offense, so it’s only right that they put together their worst offensive performance in their biggest game of the season thus far. Even with Baker Mayfield, Nick Chubb, and Jarvis Landry back, this team refused to move the ball on Sunday against an albeit excellent Steelers defense. Odell Beckham Jr. is as invisible as ever and probably won’t even be on this team by this time next week. The defense hasn’t been bad, but their offense hasn’t been able to do enough to show for anything, which is not something I was expecting to type out this season. Baker is still a problem, but not having a run game to make up for that will set this team back. I don’t expect them to have that problem against most teams, but when it happens, the Browns are hopeless.

18 – 49ers (3-4)

The Niners’ win in Chicago on Sunday was pretty nice. There’s not much I can say about it. It’s what I expected out of this team, and I’m glad they proved me wrong. I will say that I was impressed with their offensive performance, as Jimmy Garoppolo looked very good and the run game was dominant led by Elijah Mitchell. The defense didn’t play as well as I thought they would, but when you win by double digits, you can’t complain too much. If the 49ers can channel this into more good performances against good teams, then they can definitely turn this season around. Unfortunately, I just don’t see that being the case.

19 – Vikings (3-4) 7

I am being extremely harsh to the Vikings this week, but it’s what they deserve. I’ve had such high hopes for them, and time and time again, they fail to deliver on that promise. They couldn’t even beat a backup QB at home on Sunday. The Cowboys are a great team, but come on now. With the offense at full strength, you have to put together more than just 16 points, even against a good defense. This team was inexplicably 1/13 on 3rd down. Their defense played well enough to win the game, but the offense refused to do anything all game long. I don’t know who to blame, and I don’t to waste any time or energy thinking of an answer. I will simply take this team off the pedestal that I’ve had them on for so many weeks.

20 – Panthers (4-4) 3

Good on this team for avoiding the embarrassment of losing to the Falcons. I didn’t think they had it in them, but apparently they do. It doesn’t mean very much to me, however. It was still an extremely poor offensive showing, and that was to be expected. Once again, Sam Darnold left the game, this time after getting popped by a defender. Even when he was in the game, this offense was invisible. At least Christian McCaffrey is coming back soon. Or so they hope.

21 – Seahawks (3-5) 1

Unlike what I predicted, the Seahawks saved themselves from the embarrassment of losing to the Jaguars. Good for them. Behind a strong performance by Geno Smith and both star WRs, alongside a cosmically-rare good defensive performance, the outcome on Sunday was never in doubt. I still don’t have much faith in this team with Geno under center, but the good news is that Russell Wilson seems to be progressing fast in his recovery and should be back in the coming weeks. Once he’s back, things could get back on track, but I still think this defense holds the Seahawks back too much for them to be in the playoff picture.

22 – Broncos (4-4) 2

On Sunday, the Broncos won perhaps the worst professional football game I’ve ever watched. They weren’t impressive in doing so. In fact, they almost fumbled the game away at the end (literally). But, they proved to be the lesser of two terribles and came away with the flimsiest win you’ll ever see. There’s nothing more I can say about that. On the topic of Von Miller, however, I think the trade benefits Denver greatly. Yes, Miller is a franchise legend, but he was set to be a free agent this offseason and he surely wasn’t coming back. Now, they get a 2nd and a 3rd, as well as some money off the books. Great value.

23 – Eagles (3-5) 1

The Eagles put together perhaps the most confusing blowout I have ever seen on Sunday in Detroit. I knew they’d beat the Lions, but I didn’t think it would be that bad. Moreover, I still can’t explain how they put up the numbers they did. Jalen Hurts barely did anything all game, nor did their pass-catching threats. The entire offense ran through 2 backup RBs in Boston Scott and Jordan Howard, who is somehow still in the league. In any case, it was a good win for a team that needed it and is now sitting alone in 2nd place in the NFC East. Unfortunately, blowing out the Lions means next to nothing.

24 – Falcons (3-4) 3

There’s nothing I can say about this team. The most notable thing that happened to a Falcons player this week was Matt Ryan’s hand getting stepped on. The offense laid a complete dud and while the defense wasn’t bad, it wasn’t enough. It’s not very often that we can say that about the Falcons. It’s ok Atlanta. At least the Braves just won the World Series.

25 – Giants (2-6)

Credit to the Giants for sticking around all game long on Monday night. Nobody gave them a chance, but they were in it till the very end. They went out with a whimper, but we are all about moral victories here in the NFC East. The loss was like so many others for the Giants this season. The defense did its thing, but the offense couldn’t find a pulse and it ended up being their downfall. There are plenty of problems on that side of the ball, so I don’t know who to blame, but I’m not trying to point fingers anyways.

26 – Bears (3-5)

I was honestly impressed with the Bears on Sunday. At least, from an offensive perspective. Justin Fields looked solid, making some good looking throws and having one of the best runs of the season for a touchdown. But, the defense was a complete mess from start to finish, and their offense couldn’t do enough to overcome that. But, if their offense continues to get better, than perhaps this team will find themselves winning games again this season.

27 – Washington (2-6)

No, I won’t talk about this team. I refuse to. It is a waste of time, and I am sick of it. You couldn’t pay me to care about these sorry losers right now. They have broken me.

28 – Jets (2-5) 3

Honestly, good for the Jets. They didn’t deserve to win on Sunday, but they did more than enough to do so anyways. Mike White looked absolutely awesome and he 100% deserves to be this team’s starting QB moving forward. I saw more from him in one game than I have ever seen from Zach Wilson. He’ll get another chance to prove himself on national TV on Thursday night in Indy, and while I don’t think he’ll have another 400-yard day, I’m not ruling out the possibility of him putting together a nice game. In any case, he needs to be the starter, even when Wilson returns from injury.

29 – Jaguars (1-6) 1

Remind me to never put my faith in the Jaguars again. Thank you very much.

30 – Dolphins (1-7)

Credit to the Dolphins for somehow hanging around with the Bills for most of the game on Sunday. That might be the highlight of their season for all of 2021.

31 – Lions (0-8) 2

Uh… yeah. The story of this team used to be scrappy losses. Now it’s getting 40-pieced by the Eagles. It’s just bad. They’ll surely win a game eventually, but it’s getting harder and harder to envision that happening.

32 – Texans (1-7)

The Houston Texans are a football team. Honestly, they’re barely that anymore. That is literally all that can be said about this team.

All stats taken from ESPN.