NFL Power Rankings, Week 8: Chiefs roll, Ravens maul the Lions
By Grant Tuttle
17. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3-3)
Last Week: 14 (-3)
Baker Mayfield and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are starting to look more like the team that I expected to see at the beginning of the year: A bottom-tier unit. This week, despite heroics from Mike Williams, the Bucs only managed 13 points at home. Don't look now, but we may see this team begin its freefall to awfulness.
18. Cincinnati Bengals (3-3)
Last week: 19 (+1)
(BYE WEEK)
19. Tennessee Titans (2-4)
Last Week: 18 (-1)
(BYE WEEK)
20. Los Angeles Chargers (2-4)
Last Week: 20 (-)
The Chargers put up a bit of a fight with the Chiefs early in the game, but could not get anything going consistently against Kansas City's stifling defense. Ultimately this week's game was another flashing neon sign that it's time to move on from Brandon Staley. With the talent on that football team, being 2-4 should be an embarrassment.
21. Minnesota Vikings (2-4)
Last Week: 25 (+4)
It's a big deal to beat a team like the 49ers. The Vikings looked very good this week which looked much better than they had all season. Perhaps they have found something? Time will tell.
22. Washington Commanders (3-4)
Last Week: 16 (-7)
Washington may also be a team that is collapsing before our very eyes. After a strong start to the season, they are now one of two teams that can say, "We lost to the Giants." The Commanders seem like the kind of team that could lose 4-5 games in a row and end up as one of the league's worst in terms of record by year's end. They could be, as Tom Petty wrote, "Freefallin'."
23. New York Jets (3-3)
Last Week: 23 (-)
(BYE WEEK)
24. New Orleans Saints (3-4)
Last Week: 26 (-2)
New Orleans is one of the most, as the kids say, "mid" teams in the NFL this year. They don't seem like they do any one thing well. Not a great defense like the one we've seen in previous years. Not a great offense like the ones during the Sean Payton era. Just boring, sad football that no one really gets excited about watching.