Week Eight Power Rankings: Relentless Rams still on top

Each week, we will list the 32 NFL teams in order of best to worst and see how far each one climbs up or falls down the list during the course of the regular season.

Last week's rankings

Here's this week's 1-32:

1 Los Angeles Rams unchanged
Record: 7-0
Last week: Won 39-10 at San Francisco
This week: 9.5-point favourites at home to Green Bay

The juggernaut just keeps on rolling. The Rams are looking stronger by the week and beat the 49ers without injured wide receiver Cooper Kupp. Expectations are sky high.

2 New England Patriots unchanged
Record: 5-2
Last week: Won 38-31 at Chicago
This week: 14-point favourites at Buffalo

The Pats have scored at least 38 points in each of their last four games since their defeat in Detroit. Bill Belichick's team look in ominous shape and if Rob Gronkowski returns from injury this week they should continue their serene progress.

3 Kansas City Chiefs unchanged
Record: 6-1
Last week: Won 45-10 at home to Cincinnati
This week: Ten-point favourites at home to Denver

The Chiefs bounced back in style from their defeat against the Patriots. An average of 37.1 points per game is verging on the ridiculous.

4 Minnesota Vikings unchanged
Record: 4-2-1
Last week: Won 37-17 at New York Jets
This week: One-point favourites at home to New Orleans

Mike Zimmer's team have posted three straight victories and their progress has grabbed little attention with other teams in the NFC scoring a host of points. This week's clash with New Orleans will be a real test.

5 New Orleans Saints up one
Record: 5-1
Last week: Won 24-23 at Baltimore
This week: One-point underdogs at Minnesota

The league's second-highest scorers put on a great fourth-quarter show against the Ravens to maintain their excellent start. Another difficult clash awaits this week, but they have a great chance to boost their credentials.

6 Baltimore Ravens down one
Record: 4-3
Last week: Lost 24-23 at home to New Orleans
This week: Two-point favourites at Carolina

Throwing away a 17-3 lead won't boost anyone's confidence, but that should help to guard against complacency against a decent Panthers side. The Ravens still look like a playoff-calibre team.

7 Los Angeles Chargers up two
Record: 5-2
Last week: Won 20-19 against Tennessee at Wembley
This week: Bye

The Titans' unsuccessful decision to go for two at the end of the Wembley clash gave the Chargers their fifth win and only the Rams and Chiefs have beaten them. They can be pleased with their pre-bye work.

8 Carolina Panthers up two
Record: 4-2
Last week: Won 21-17 at Philadelphia
This week: Two-point underdogs at home to Baltimore

The Panthers tend to struggle on the road, so a victory at the home of the Super Bowl champions should be a real shot in the arm. A meeting with the Ravens will guard against any slacking off.

9 Philadelphia Eagles down one
Record: 3-4
Last week: Lost 21-17 at home to Carolina
This week: Three-point favourites at Wembley against Jacksonville

The Eagles are not convincing and have beaten only a poor Giants team in their last four matches. A change of environment could help to bring out the best in them.

10 Jacksonville Jaguars down three
Record: 3-4
Last week: Lost 20-7 at home to Houston
This week: Three-point underdogs at Wembley against Philadelphia

The Jaguars appear all at sea and it is becoming plain that Blake Bortles' days are probably numbered at quarterback. Their defence needs more support if they are to revive their bid to make the playoffs.

11 Green Bay Packers unchanged
Record: 3-2-1
Last week: Bye
This week: 9.5-point underdogs at Los Angeles Rams

The Packers have had a week off to contemplate a difficult trip to the Rams. Aaron Rodgers will have to play out of his boots for them to be the first team to claim LA's scalp, and then he'll have to keep doing it for the rest of the season.

12 Atlanta Falcons unchanged
Record: 3-4
Last week: Won 23-20 at home to New York Giants
This week: Bye

Maybe it is too early to say that the Falcons have rescued their season with successive victories before their bye. They still have lot of work to do if they are to force their way into the picture, particularly without injured running back Devonta Freeman.

13 Pittsburgh Steelers unchanged
Record: 3-2-1
Last week: Bye
This week: Eight-point favourites at home to Cleveland

The bye week has been and gone and there is still no sign of running back Le'Veon Bell. Yet the Steelers are in their customary position at the top of the AFC North and they have lost only twice to Cleveland in their last 17 meetings. Maybe they will be this season's late developers.

14 Denver Broncos up one
Record: 3-4
Last week: Won 45-10 at Arizona
This week: Ten-point underdogs at Kansas City

The Broncos tore the Cardinals apart but their three victories have all come against weak teams - they also beat Seattle and Oakland - and the path to the playoffs look difficult with the Chiefs and Chargers blocking their route.

15 Washington Redskins up one
Record: 4-2
Last week: Won 20-17 at home to Dallas
This week: Pick game at New York Giants

Washington are a team on the up and they have the potential to take the NFC East by the scruff of the neck. Plenty of tough matches lie ahead, though, if they are to be a force in January.

16 Cincinnati Bengals down two
Record: 4-3
Last week: Lost 45-10 at Kansas City
This week: 4.5-point favourites at home to Tampa Bay

The Bengals have slipped to two straight defeats and there is a chance they could fall further behind in the AFC North if they don't beat the Bucs, as New Orleans and Baltimore await before Week 12.

17 New York Jets unchanged
Record: 3-4
Last week: Lost 37-17 at home to Minnesota
This week: 7.5-point underdogs at Chicago

The Jets suffered a defeat after two encouraging wins and it would be no surprise if their campaign follows a similar pattern until Christmas.

18 Chicago Bears unchanged
Record: 3-3
Last week: Lost 38-31 at home to New England
This week: 7.5-point favourites at home to New York Jets

The Bears have sunk from the top of the NFC North to the bottom of that competitive division. Their defence, lauded at the start of the season, have conceded 69 points in the last two games.

19 Tennessee Titans up one
Record: 3-4
Last week: Lost 20-19 to Los Angeles Chargers at Wembley
This week: Bye

Going all-out for victory at Wembley demonstrated the optimism at the Titans and they are still firmly in the AFC South race, but they need to address their current slump during their bye week.

20 Detroit Lions up five
Record: 3-3
Last week: Won 32-21 at Miami
This week: Three-point favourites at home to Seattle

The Lions are on the march and demonstrated they can come out on top in an away game after encouraging home successes over Green Bay and New England. They have the potential to push on, particularly as they have finally found a running game.

21 Miami Dolphins down two
Record: 4-4
Last week: Lost 32-21 at home to Detroit
This week: Lost 42-23 at Houston

Injuries have started to hit the Dolphins hard and they have won just one of their last five games. Their encouraging start to the campaign seems a long time ago.

22 Houston Texans up four
Record: 5-3
Last week: Won 20-7 at home to Jacksonville
This week: Won 42-23 at home to Miami

The Texans have now surpassed the number of victories they chalked up last year and are at the top of the AFC South. It's beginning to look like a division that may not take much winning, so don't rule them out.

23 Tampa Bay Buccaneers up one
Record: 3-3
Last week: Won 26-23 at home to Cleveland
This week: 4.5-point underdogs at Cincinnati

The Bucs needed a 59-yard field goal to beat the Browns in overtime and they refuse to go away in the hyper-competitive NFC South, but they face tough away games against the Bengals and the Panthers.

24 Seattle Seahawks down two
Record: 3-3
Last week: Bye
This week: Three-point underdogs at Detroit

There wasn't a great amount of expectation surrounding the Seahawks at the start of the season, so a 3-3 record is not too bad. They need to win the sort of game they face this week if they are to force their way into the wildcard picture, because the Rams look streets ahead.

25 Dallas Cowboys down four
Record: 3-4
Last week: Lost 20-17 at Washington
This week: Bye

The Cowboys' campaign continues to be too stop-start for them to be considered genuine contenders but perhaps the signing of Raiders receiver Amari Cooper will give them a lift.

26 Cleveland Browns down three
Record: 2-4-1
Last week: Lost 26-23 at Tampa Bay
This week: Eight-point underdogs at Pittsburgh

Another defeat in overtime for the Browns, but is it all down to bad luck? They have a dismal record against the Steelers and the pressure is mounting on head coach Hue Jackson.

27 San Francisco 49ers unchanged
Record: 1-6
Last week: Lost 39-10 at Los Angeles Rams
This week: One-point favourites at Arizona

They won't be the only team to be blown away by the Rams this season but coach Kyle Shanahan can learn plenty about his roster in the next few weeks. Just don't expect them to make much headway with their quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo ruled out long term.

28 New York Giants unchanged
Record: 1-6
Last week: Lost 23-20 at Atlanta
This week: Pick match at home to Washington

Eight late points at Atlanta gave their Monday Night Football scoreline an optimistic look. Further struggles look likely.

29 Indianapolis Colts up two
Record: 2-5
Last week: Won 37-5 at home to Buffalo
This week: Three-point favourites at Oakland

A comprehensive win over the Bills gave the Colts a lift and another success over the Raiders looks within their scope. Whether they can be competitive against some of the game's leading lights is another matter.

30 Arizona Cardinals unchanged
Record: 1-6
Last week: Lost 45-10 at home to Denver
This week: One-point underdogs at home to San Francisco

Another poor offensive performance from the Cardinals. Giving Josh Rosen as much time to develop as a quarterback will be the key for the rest of the season because they won't be extending their campaign.

31 Buffalo Bills down two
Record: 2-5
Last week: Lost 37-5 at Indianapolis
This week: 14-point underdogs at home to New England

It seems obvious to suggest the Bills won't make progress while their offence is so poor and they missed injured running back LeSean McCoy against the Colts.

32 Oakland Raiders unchanged
Record: 1-5
Last week: Bye
This week: Three-point underdogs at home to Indianapolis

The Raiders gained a first-round pick by trading Amari Cooper to the Cowboys. Thinking about next season already looks the best idea for them.

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