The Tennessee Titans got kicked out of our Power Rankings last week, as the Lions rallied. Tennessee losing in overtime also saved the Chargers for one week, despite their horrible 7-6 loss at Cleveland.

At the top of the standings, a clear eight teams have emerged, and the only issue is how we move between them in that tier. I’ve got San Francisco at the top, the Falcons also on the rise, with the Bears dropping despite the close win at home over Carolina. We could see more movement within this tier as the season goes, but I don’t see teams moving down for a few weeks beyond it.

How is Atlanta not #1 as the only undefeated? Sure, there are arguments to be made for all teams. While many see 7-0, I see 1-0 against the Broncos, and 6-0 against teams I have in the bottom third of my rankings. Every other team in the top eight has played at least three games against teams I have ranked in the top half.

Collectively, my top 8 are of course split in their games against each other, and have won 64% against the next 8, 88% against the group after that, and 93% against the bottom tier.While it may appear there is parity when you look at all the teams bunched between 3-4 and 4-3, that’s a lot of imbalanced schedules and luck. I expect Denver and New England, for example, to make hay when the schedule lightens.

This week’s nominees for eviction are San Diego and Philadelphia with their debacles, along with Cincinnati, the scuffling Arizona Cardinals, and the Washington Redskins. We’ll evict two this week. We’ve gotten rid of every team with fewer than 3 wins so far, now we get to the middle of the table.

  1. San Francisco 49ers (6-2)
  2. New York Giants (6-2)
  3. Atlanta Falcons (7-0)
  4. Green Bay Packers (5-3)
  5. Houston Texans (6-1)
  6. Chicago Bears (6-1)
  7. New England Patriots (5-3)
  8. Denver Broncos (4-3)
  9. Miami Dolphins (4-3)
  10. Pittsburgh Steelers (4-3)
  11. Seattle Seahawks (4-4)
  12. Baltimore Ravens (5-2)
  13. Dallas Cowboys (3-4)
  14. Minnesota Vikings (5-3)
  15. Detroit Lions (3-4)
  16. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3-4)
  17. Indianapolis Colts (4-3)
  18. Washington Redskins (3-5)
  19. Arizona Cardinals (4-4)
  20. St. Louis Rams (3-5)*
  21. Philadelphia Eagles (3-4)
  22. Cincinnati Bengals (3-4)
  23. San Diego Chargers (3-4)

 

ELIMINATED: Carolina Panthers (1-6), New York Jets (3-5), New Orleans Saints (2-5), Buffalo Bills (3-4), Oakland Raiders (3-4), Tennessee Titans (3-4), Cleveland Browns (2-6), Jacksonville Jaguars (1-6), Kansas City Chiefs (1-6)

 

Who Should Be Evicted After Week 8? (Pick Two)

  • San Diego Chargers (3-4) (63%, 412 Votes)
  • Philadelphia Eagles (3-4) (33%, 217 Votes)
  • Arizona Cardinals (4-4) (25%, 162 Votes)
  • Cincinnati Bengals (3-4) (12%, 78 Votes)
  • Washington Redskins (3-5) (10%, 65 Votes)

Total Voters: 659

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[photo via US Presswire]