All of a sudden, Week 8 of the 2024 NFL Season is about over, so let's get into our power rankings as we head into Week 9. I really want this NFL season to slow down, but alas, it won't. We've now seen the bulk of Week 8 games and will soon see Week 9 begin. As we get late into the season, games are going to be more meaningful, and the NFL Trade Deadline also approaches.
The deadline follows the Week 9 games, so there's really only a week left before the deadline passes. It'll be interesting to see which teams make what moves, and since we're that much closer, I bet some trades happen this coming week.
There is again a ton of moment in our latest NFL power rankings. Let's see who rose and who fell!
NFL Power Rankings, Week 9: Biggest risers and fallers after Week 8
32. Carolina Panthers (1-7)
At one point in this game, the Carolina Panthers held a 7-0 lead against the Denver Broncos, and it was legitimately shaping up to be a trap game for Denver, but the Broncos are just too good of a football team to let that happen, so the Panthers again got blown out and now officially have the worst record in all of football at 1-7.
Getting a franchise QB in the 2025 NFL Draft has to be this team’s top priority, as they have virtually nothing else going for them on offense. The offensive line does have some potential and there may be a receiver or two worth keeping around.
The same goes for the defense, but Carolina still has a long way to go.
31. Tennessee Titans (1-6)
The Tennessee Titans are the worst team in the AFC and I’m not sure it’s even close at this point. They hung around early on against the Detroit Lions and then proceeded to allow about 682 points. Another brutal loss for the Titans puts them at 1-6 on the season and gives them the worst record in the AFC as we head to the NFL trade deadline in a week.
Tennessee is another team that must take a QB in the 2024 NFL Draft.
30. New York Jets (2-6)
This is just embarrassing, and I am sick and tired of seeing people say things like “oh they’ll go on a run soon” or “they’ll figure it out, they’re just too talented.” I mean, this is just nasty stuff from the New York Jets, a team that as the second-worst record in the AFC, a bad, washed up QB, and a team coached by an interim head coach. There is nothing redeeming about this Jets’ team period, and losing to the New England Patriots in Week 8 seems to unofficially but officially be the dagger in their season.
You could have argued that them being able to get to 3-5 could have given them some hope the rest of the day, but with them being 2-6 and falling further down the AFC standings, the New York Jets are circling the drain and need to look toward rebuilding in the 2025 NFL Draft.
29. New England Patriots (2-6)
How about the scrappy New England Patriots? They beat the New York Jets in Week 8 and have won their second game of the season. Did anyone think the Patriots and Jets would have the same record through eight games in 2024? I surely didn’t. Rookie QB Drake Maye left the game with a head injury, which is never good, but the Pats still found a way.
It’ll be interesting to see what New England does when the 2025 NFL Draft rolls around, as they need some offensive line help and some wide receiver help. It’s still a long road for the Patriots to get back on track, but there is some to like with this team. We’ll have to see just how long Drake Maye has to miss given his head injury, which could end up being serious.
The Patriots come in at no. 29 on our latest NFL power rankings.
28. Las Vegas Raiders (2-6)
You know, there is something that must be said about just how dysfunctional and inept an NFL franchise can be. Not only are the Las Vegas Raiders horrible in 2024, but they have at least been consistent in being dysfunctional in the 21st century. It’s impressive how bad they are, and I just wonder how much better this team would be if they had a real NFL head coach, because Antonio Pierce is just embarrassing.
I don’t know where the Raiders go from here with the remainder of the 2024 NFL Season, but it would not shock me to see the team making an in-season firing of Pierce, as he’s just not NFL head coach material at the moment.
Vegas also needs to be looking at the 2025 NFL Draft to try and reset with a QB, as neither Gardner Minshew nor Aidan O’Connell is close to the answer. GM Tom Telesco did draft Justin Herbert, so that could provide some hope for Raiders’ fans.
27. Jacksonville Jaguars (2-6)
Close losses can sometimes be “good” losses if that makes sense, but that’s usually reserved for the elite teams who lose games against other elite teams or teams who are truly rebuilding. But for the Jacksonville Jaguars, close losses have to be the worst type given the situation they are in. The team truly should not be this bad, and they still have several incredibly tough opponents coming up. They did need to steal a win like this, but they could not get it done.
It would not shock me to see the team firing Doug Pederson at some point, as there is just no hope left in 2024 for Pederson and this Jags’ team. Jacksonville is too talented to be this bad, and I think I say that nearly every week. Big changes are coming for this franchise.
26. New York Giants (2-5)
The New York Giants are probably going to get their tails kicked against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Monday Night Football. They’re 2-5 on the season and will likely soon be 2-6. They could take it a step further and sell at the 2024 NFL Trade Deadline. This team was doomed from the start with Daniel Jones at QB.
And no coaching job from Brian Daboll was going to improve Daniel Jones enough. The G-Men just need to reset at quarterback with someone in the 2025 NFL Draft, so them losing in Week 8 does get them a step further to picking high in the NFL Draft next April.
The Giants have been among the worst teams in football for quite some time now, and their weird decision to extend Daniel Jones just prolonged their suffering that much longer. It’s not been a good period of time for Giants’ fans.
25. Cleveland Browns (2-6)
How about the Cleveland Browns? In their first game after losing Deshaun Watson to a torn Achilles in Week 7, the Browns managed to take down the Baltimore Ravens. It was the Jameis Winston game for sure. Winston was throwing the ball all over the place and did enough for the Browns to earn their second win of the season.
Overnight, the Browns may go from a team that everyone wanted to lose to a team that everyone wants to win with Winston in the lineup. He’s a funny guy, objectively speaking, and seems to be beloved in the locker room as well.
The Browns are not going to make the playoffs or anything this season, but they do have a a much better chance to win games with Jameis Winston under center than they did with Watson.
It’ll be interesting to see if they take a QB in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft.
24. New Orleans Saints (2-6)
The New Orleans Saints must embrace the rebuild and must trade players at the NFL Trade Deadline. It was odd that they decided to extend RB Alvin Kamara. Actually, it was a stupid decision. Kamara is a good RB, but he’s past his prime and just does not help his team for the long-term.
They should have traded Kamara, but here we are. The Saints got blown out in Week 8 against the Los Angeles Chargers. The game never felt close, and the Saints continue to lose after winning their first two games of the 2024 NFL Season.
A six-game skid has this team at the bottom of the barrel. General Manager Mickey Loomis must pick up the phone and make some deals if he hopes to fix this team, but honestly, I am not sure he’ll be there to try and get this mess fixed.
It’s been a season to forget for the New Orleans Saints.
23. Miami Dolphins (2-5)
The Miami Dolphins lost on a last-second field goal against the Arizona Cardinals, who have already hit their 2023 win total in 2024. The Cardinals got to 4-4 on the year, and the Dolphins drop to 2-5. There did seem to be a decent chance that this team could have gotten to 3-4, which would have kept their season alive. The return of Tua Tagovailoa from his concussion did make many of us think that Miami could have begun to stack some wins, and this felt like a win they needed to have.
Well, they lost, and now they are three games under .500. It’s been a year to forget for the Dolphins as well. The team must invest more into their offensive line and QB room next offseason, as Tua Tagovailoa has not proven to be a reliable player in terms of availability.
22. Indianapolis Colts (4-4)
The Cincinnati Bengals are not a good team, folks. They’re kind of like the New York Jets in that many people, for some reason, simply think that both teams will just manage to turn it around at some point.
What if… they don’t? I mean, the Bengals’ defense is bad and Joe Burrow can’t do it all himself. To make matters worse, it’s not like the Bengals lost a close game in Week 8; they got blown out at home by the Eagles.
The Bengals need to totally rebuild their defense in the offseason, as they’ll begin to waste away Joe Burrow’s career if they cannot fix this unit. This was as embarrassing of a loss as the Bengals have had in quite some time if you ask me.
21. Cincinnati Bengals (3-5)
The Cincinnati Bengals are not a good team, folks. They’re kind of like the New York Jets in that many people, for some reason, simply think that both teams will just manage to turn it around at some point.
What if… they don’t? I mean, the Bengals’ defense is bad and Joe Burrow can’t do it all himself. To make matters worse, it’s not like the Bengals lost a close game in Week 8; they got blown out at home by the Eagles.
The Bengals need to totally rebuild their defense in the offseason, as they’ll begin to waste away Joe Burrow’s career if they cannot fix this unit. This was as embarrassing of a loss as the Bengals have had in quite some time if you ask me.
20. Los Angeles Rams (3-4)
The Los Angeles Rams got a must-win on Thursday Night Football against the Minnesota Vikings. It was a huge win that saved their season. The Rams most definitely have some work to do still, but with two wins in a row, this team improved to 3-4 and is actually still very much in the NFC West race.
Matthew Stafford is still playing at a high level and the defense is playing good football as well. I actually predicted the LA Rams to go quite far this year, but a ton of injuries have hurt their season. The team seemed to float WR Cooper Kupp in trade talks recently, but with them having won two games in a row, I am not sure they want to trade Kupp at all.
You also have to consider how much longer Matthew Stafford plans on playing, as that decision to play into the Rams’ actions.
19. Dallas Cowboys (3-3)
The Dallas Cowboys are currently playing on Sunday Night Football against the San Francisco 49ers and have an early lead. I do believe the 49ers come out with this win, but the Cowboys would remain in a decent spot in the NFC Wild Card race with a win. If you ask me, this team is not built to win the division, and the Washington Commanders are 6-2 already, so the Cowboys do have some work to do.
Dallas doesn’t have a good run game and just isn’t nearly as good on defense as they were last year. Their former defensive coordinator, Dan Quinn, did leave to be the Commanders’ head coach, and it seems like Quinn leaving is having a huge impact on the unit.
The Cowboys aren’t a great team at all. They feel average at best and have a ton of work to do when the 2025 NFL Offseason rolls around.
18. Arizona Cardinals (4-4)
I tried to tell you all! I’ve been saying for months now that the Arizona Cardinals would be better than people thought in 2024, and here they are having already hit their win total from 2023. Not only is the team now 4-4 on the season, but the Seattle Seahawks are also 4-4, and depending on what happened on Sunday Night Football, the San Francisco 49ers may have dropped to 3-5.
Could the Cardinals… win the NFC West this season? It’s not impossible at this point. The Cardinals must see if they can add a defensive player at the NFL trade deadline. To me though, this team was set to try and make some type of all-in push in 2025, as they most definitely need another year of adding some roster talent.
Cards’ GM Monti Ossenfort has done a nice job thus far but simply need more time to put some better players around Kyler Murray and needs to fix the defense.
17. Seattle Seahawks (4-4)
The Seattle Seahawks began the 2024 NFL Season 3-0, and their fans would have made you believe that they were a legit team. Well, they’re now 4-4 on the season after getting their rear end handed to them against the Buffalo Bills in Week 8. It was a truly embarrassing performance by Mike Macdonald’s defense, which we have been led to believe is an elite unit.
The Seahawks are not going to go far this year, as they have some limitations at QB and clearly aren’t playing all that well on defense. My guess is that they try to bring in a rookie QB in 2025 and try to add more talent along the offensive line as well.
The defense will probably be just fine for the long-term if you ask me. Seattle drops to 4-4 with this loss and are no. 17 in our latest NFL power rankings.
16. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-4)
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have a huge problem, gang. Their defense is just awful and is going to be the thing that holds them back. Not having Mike Evans or Chris Godwin also hurts, but their defense has been a huge issue for most of the season. QB Baker Mayfield is playing out of his mind this year, but again, it’s not going to matter if the D cannot figure it out. They just don’t seem to have the infrastructure on that side of the ball if you ask me.
They lost a close game to the Atlanta Falcons in Week 8 and again gave up a ton of points and yards. Baker Mayfield isn’t good enough to carry a bad defense, so I am not sure this team is going to make the postseason in 2024 unless something changes. The Bucs most definitely have some work to do this coming offseason on that side of the ball. Fixing the defense has to be their top priority.
15. Los Angeles Chargers (4-3)
The LA Chargers beat the New Orleans Saints in Week 8. This wasn’t a special win or anything; the Saints aren’t good and the Chargers are average but well-coached. LA just needs more talent on offense, as Justin Herbert is not throwing to great players out there. The Chargers did win the Jim Harbaugh sweepstakes, and this is definitely going to be a multi-year process.
LA may end up going all-in next offseason in trying to fix their playmaking unit on offense and even adding some bodies to the interior offensive line. Once they do that, this team could be quite complete on paper and may end up back in the AFC contention window. The Chargers improve to 4-3 on the season but do feel like quite the average team if you ask me.
LA faces the Browns on November 3rd.
14. Chicago Bears (4-3)
Probably the most brutal way to lose a game if you ask me. The Chicago Bears took the lead late against the Washington Commanders, and then gave up a game-losing Hail Mary. It was caught by WR Noah Brown in the back of the end zone, and something that was just insane to witness. Chicago drops to 4-3 on the season, but they are still in a decent spot if you ask me. Rookie QB Caleb Williams still looks fine and the team is still above .500. A brutal loss like this can’t be over analyzed too much.
In the long-term, I’m sure Bears’ fans won’t remember this if the team ends up being good for the long-term. They do fall to last place in the NFC North, but it’s not their year anyway. I would expect at the very least that Chicago’s defense can still keep them in most, if not all games. The offense is still going to have to take their lumps from time to time, but the Bears will be fine.
13. San Francisco 49ers (3-4)
As I type these words, the San Francisco 49ers are playing the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday Night Football, and I do believe the 49ers will end up winning this one. The Niners would improve to 4-4 on the season, and they’d join the Arizona Cardinals and Seattle Seahawks at 4-4. The Los Angeles Rams are still lurking at 3-4, so this division could very much come down to the final week or so, which is interesting.
The 49ers have dealt with a ton of injuries this year, and most notably, RB Christian McCaffrey has not yet seen the field, which is a huge blow to San Francisco’s offense. The 49ers’ window also seems to be closing, so them being able to instill a new era of 49ers’ football is going to be interesting to witness in the coming months and years.
12. Atlanta Falcons (5-3)
The Atlanta Falcons are a great team on offense, but definitely are quite soft on defense. QB Kirk Cousins threw four touchdowns on the day and how has 14 TDs through eight games for the Falcons. It’s not a bad thing that the Falcons may have to rely on Kirk Cousins more to win games, as he’s been insanely efficient for years now, but he’s also an aging QB, and he won’t be able to do it all each week.
The Falcons must find a way to fix their limp defense, but they are 5-3 on the season and have swept both games versus the Tampa Bay Buccaneers this year, which is huge for their NFC South chances in 2024. Atlanta is a good football team.
11. Denver Broncos (5-3)
Folks, the Denver Broncos are a good football team, and I am tired of people doubting them. Yes, they aren’t going to win the Super Bowl this year, but they’re 5-3 through eight games, on pace for 11 wins, and just saw their rookie QB Bo Nix throw for three touchdown passes and have four total in their Week 8 blowout win over the Carolina Panthers.
Bo Nix most definitely had the best performance of his professional career. He was much calmer in the pocket and the footwork was the best it’s been. He was in command of the offense and just carved up the Panthers’ defense. The Broncos have to be feeling good about themselves thus far, as they have won five of their last six games, including now to games in a row.
It might be worth your time to buy some Denver Broncos’ stock, as this team is inching closer toward the postseason in 2024. They are nearly at the top 10 in our latest NFL power rankings, and they absolutely should be this high.
10. Minnesota Vikings (5-2)
The Minnesota Vikings have now lost two games in a row to the Detroit Lions and the Los Angeles Rams. The QBs they lost to were Jared Goff and Matthew Stafford, who may be the two best QBs in the NFC. While the Vikings are a very good team, it is not a huge shock to see them starting to lose some, as Sam Darnold just isn’t quite good enough to run with the big-guns in the NFC.
Let’s lay this out; Darnold has been quite good in the 2024 NFL Season for the Vikings. He’s a huge reason why this team is still 5-2 and very much in the divisional race, but there is a ceiling with Darnold, and I believe that the Vikings’ front office and coaching staff probably realize that.
They have JJ McCarthy waiting in the wings and will probably start him in 2025. Darnold has been a nice story, but he will be the player to hold this team back in the end.
9. Pittsburgh Steelers (5-2)
I mean, the Pittsburgh Steelers are winning games no matter how much I disagree with their QB situation. Head coach Mike Tomlin decided to give Russell Wilson a start in their Week 7 victory over the New York Jets, and it did pay off, especially when the second half rolled around. It will be interesting to see how Tomlin navigates this QB situation the rest of the way, but Wilson clearly gives them more of a threat in the passing game.
But Justin Fields is obviously the better runner, so I guess it could be a scenario where it’s “pick your poison.”
I am not sure the Pittsburgh Steelers will win the AFC North this year, and I don’t think they are able to make a playoff run, but they’ll again win nine or 10 games.
8. Baltimore Ravens (5-3)
The Baltimore Ravens could not win every single one of their games, right? They won five in a row coming into this game and lost a tight game against the Cleveland Browns in Week 8. It was the first game after the Browns lost QB Deshaun Watson to a torn Achilles, and with Jameis Winston as the starter, the offense showed obvious signs of life, so it does kind of confirm that the Browns were being held back on offense by Watson himself, which is s shame, but that’s just how it’s gone.
Cleveland moved to 2-6 on the season, and Baltimore now drops to 5-3. They have a home game in Week 9 against the Denver Broncos, who are 5-3, perhaps shockingly depending on who you ask. The Ravens will look to get right against Denver, but I am not sure that game is going to be as easy of a win as it could have been before the season began.
7. Philadelphia Eagles (5-2)
To their credit, the Philadelphia Eagles are beginning to stack wins and are starting to show signs of their old selves. I have been critical of this team for quite some time, but you can’t really argue with them being 5-2 on the season and firmly in the NFC East race. Philly has their flaws, but a blowout win in Week 8 at the Bengals was quite impressive.
Jalen Hurts is scoring touchdowns at an insane tick lately, and we’re beginning to get to a point where the Eagles shedding this dysfunctional label that did plague them only a few weeks ago. I’m not sure this team is nearly good enough to make a playoff run, but unless they can top the Commanders in the NFC East, they should be able to earn the 5th Wild Card seed in the NFC playoffs.
6. Green Bay Packers (6-2)
A win is a win. Jordan Love needs to quit throwing so many interceptions. Just because he’s playing in the same team that Brett Favre did does not mean he has to play like him. Well, the Green Bay Packers are a team on the cusp of ascending into the highest tier of NFL teams we have today.
It would be nice to see Love take care of the ball more, as it does seem like that could be the only thing that holds this team back. They finished the 2023 NFL Season on a high note and ended up going 9-8 in the regular season. Since the start of 2023, they’re 15-10, so this team is beginning to find themselves and stack some wins.
They are just about keeping pace with the Detroit Lions in the NFC North in the 2024 NFL Season thus far.
5. Washington Commanders (6-2)
Are. You. Kidding. Me?? I audibly gasped when I saw the Washington Commanders connect on the Hail Mary to win the game. It was just flat-out amazing to see live. The team fell behind with just seconds left after the Chicago Bears punched it into the end zone late. It came down to that Hail Mary, which is a play that almost never hits unless you’re Aaron Rodgers.
Somehow, Jayden Daniels threw a good enough ball for it to be tipped to WR Noah Brown, who was in the back of the end zone. The Commanders snatch victory from the jaws of defeat and now improve to 6-2 on the season, which keeps their lead in the NFC East. The Philadelphia Eagles are lurking right behind them at 5-2, but the Commanders are the better team and do have the better QB.
Their magical season with rookie QB Jayden Daniels just keeps getting better and better, doesn’t it?
4. Buffalo Bills (6-2)
So, Josh Allen threw his first interception of the season today. This is not a drill! I am sure that Allen could not care less that he threw a pick, as the Buffalo Bills came into Seattle and just tore apart the Seahawks, who are now 4-4 on the season after beginning the year 3-0.
With the Arizona Cardinals and Los Angeles Rams winning this week, the NFC West is getting interesting. I am typing this out before the San Francisco 49ers’ Sunday Night Football game, so I have no idea what happened there!
Well, Buffalo now has a four-game lead in the win column in the AFC East and may legitimately clinch the division with multiple weeks left in the 2024 NFL Season. I am still not sure if this team is good enough to go on a deep playoff run and make the Super Bowl, but they are winning like they have in recent seasons.
3. Houston Texans (6-2)
How about the Houston Texans? They just find a way to get it done. They aren’t blown out their opponents, but again managed to win in Week 8, beating the Indianapolis Colts, sending Indy down to 4-4, which does give them a nice lead in the AFC South now.
Houston improves to 6-2 as we approach the halfway point of the season. I went all-in this season on the Texans, as I predicted CJ Stroud to win the NFL MVP award and the Texans to win the Super Bowl. They do have a great record, but I’m going to need to see more from this team before thinking they can make a Super Bowl run.
They just aren’t dominant on either side of the ball, and that is a bit if a concern, but them being able to win without being truly elite in much is also impressive.
2. Kansas City Chiefs (7-0)
The Kansas City Chiefs won a ho-hum game against the lowly Las Vegas Raiders in Week 8, getting them to 7-0 on the season. Kansas City is the lone unbeaten team in the NFL, and it’s not clear when their first loss is going to come. Patrick Mahomes threw one interception on the day, so he’s now thrown at least one interception in every single game this season. He’s got eight touchdown passes against nine interceptions this season, which is interesting.
The Chiefs’ defense is most definitely carrying this team, but it was a full team effort for KC in Week 8. Kansas City looks to become the first team in NFL history to win three Super Bowls in a row. Right now, I am not sure the offense is playing well enough for that to happen, but only time will tell.
1. Detroit Lions (6-1)
I don’t care what the records say; the Detroit Lions are absolutely the best team in football. They took apart the Tennessee Titans in Week 8, and they should have. Now 6-1 on the season, the Lions maintain their stay atop the NFC North, but the Minnesota Vikings are one game behind, and the Green Bay Packers are just one game behind in the loss column.
To me, this is the most talented team in the NFL, and I’ve predicted them to make it to the Super Bowl this season. That looks like a good prediction thus far. Jared Goff is playing at an MVP level through seven games, and the defense is definitely figuring themselves out finally.
It’ll be interesting to see just how far Dan Campbell can take this team, as we’ve see Goff play in the Super Bowl before, so we know he’s capable of getting a team there.
There you have it, our latest NFL power rankings.