PurplePTSD: Week 8 NFL Power Rankings

Press release from the PurplePTSD:

Josh Frey

2021-10-26

To this point in the NFL season, the majority of games have been pretty competitive. Week 7 showed us that we’ve been spoiled though as there were more double-digit margins than we’ve seen in any other week thus far. To cap off a pretty mellow week of football, we got some sloppy prime time games in monsoon conditions. Because of that, there wasn’t a ton of change in the rankings this week, but a couple teams that were seen as Super Bowl contenders continue to tumble while a couple surprising groups rise into the top 10.

1. Arizona Cardinals

        Last Week: 31-5 win @ HOU

        Trending: —

        This Week: 10/28 vs GB

In one of the stranger phenomenons in NFL history, we saw two teams with five points at one point during Sunday’s games. Arizona went down early after a safety, but they bounced back and dominated the final three quarters of their matchup with the Texans. Now they get another big test on Thursday night against Green Bay in what could be a playoff preview.

2. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

        Last Week: 38-3 win vs CHI

        Trending: +2

        This Week: 10/31 @ NO

The Buccaneers jumped out to an early start not only because of Tom Brady, but because of their defensive prowess. Tampa Bay forced five turnovers in all, and they dominated this game from start to finish. Brady also became the first QB to throw for 600 touchdowns. 

3. Los Angeles Rams

        Last Week: 28-19 win vs DET

        Trending: —

        This Week: 10/31 @ HOU

In Matthew Stafford’s first game against his former team, the Rams eventually got the better of the Lions. Detroit made it interesting by breaking out all the stops of their playbook, but it wasn’t quite enough. The defense forced Jared Goff into some bad throws down the stretch, and LA kept pace with Arizona. 

4. Green Bay Packers

        Last Week: 24-10 win vs WSH

        Trending: +1

        This Week: 10/28 @ ARI

The Packers got very little production from their running game on Sunday, but a big performance from Aaron Rodgers carried Green Bay to a win. The defense gave up a ton of yards, but they did enough to lock down near the goal line. A short week with a matchup in Arizona with Cardinals awaits them now. 

5. Dallas Cowboys 

        Last Week: Bye

        Trending: +1

        This Week: 10/31 @ MIN

Dallas spent the week resting up on their bye, and along the way, they increased their lead in the NFC East with Washington and Philly losing. Now, they head to Minnesota for what could be a shootout against the Vikings. 

6. Baltimore Ravens

        Last Week: 17-41 loss @ CIN

        Trending: -4

        This Week: Bye

After what was arguably the most impressive win of the regular season in week 6, Baltimore found themselves on the losing end of a dominant performance this week. The Ravens defense did nothing to slow down Cincinnati, and they allowed Ja’Marr Chase to run wild downfield. This loss will certainly leave a bad taste in their mouth as they head into their bye second in the AFC North.

7. Buffalo Bills

        Last Week: Bye

        Trending: —

        This Week: 10/31 vs MIA

The Bills got a much needed week off after their failed attempt to stop Derrick Henry and the Titans. They should be able to ease their way into the second part of their schedule against a floundering Miami Dolphins squad. 

8. Los Angeles Chargers

        Last Week: Bye

        Trending: +1

        This Week: 10/31 vs NE

The third team in the top 10 coming off a bye, LA may have needed it the most. They had a devastating loss against Baltimore last time they played, and their next game might not be any easier against Bill Belichick’s Patriots. The Chargers should be prepared for it, though. 

9. Cincinnati Bengals

        Last Week: 41-17 win vs BAL

        Trending: +6

        This Week: 10/31 @ NYJ

It’s long overdue that we start paying this Bengals squad some respect in the AFC. They have already surpassed their win total from 2020, and now after a dominant win over Baltimore, they hold the tie-breaking division lead in the AFC North. The Joe Burrow/Ja’Marr Chase connection is special, and they should be able to increase their division lead as they go against the Jets.

10. Tennessee Titans

        Last Week: 27-3 win vs KC

        Trending: +8

        This Week: 10/31 @ IND

Following an impressive win over Buffalo, Tennessee matched that performance, and may have even surpassed it, with a dominant win over the Chiefs. Kansas City was held scoreless in the first half for the first time since 2016, and Patrick Mahomes could do nothing against the Titans secondary. 

11. Cleveland Browns

        Last Week: 17-14 win @ DEN

        Trending: —

        This Week: 10/31 vs PIT

Despite not having Baker Mayfield at QB, the Browns were able to put together enough offense behind Case Keenum to come away with a win. It also helped that the defense did a great job of limiting Denver’s opportunities throughout the night. As they sit in third place in the AFC North, this upcoming game against Pittsburgh is almost must-win to keep pace with the contenders. 

12. New Orleans Saints

        Last Week: 13-10 win @ SEA

        Trending: +1

        This Week: 10/31 vs TB

The Saints offense continues to run almost exclusively through Alvin Kamara as the RB carried the team to a win in Seattle. New Orleans had a terrific game plan defensively, and Marshon Lattimore did an excellent job of limiting DK Metcalf outside of his one big TD reception. The team could get another big reinforcement as David Onyemata is eligible to return to the team. 

13. Minnesota Vikings

        Last Week: Bye

        Trending:-1

        This Week: 10/31 vs DAL

The Vikings got a chance to heal up this week, and depending on how practice goes, they could return Michael Pierce to their defensive unit. That pass-rush from the interior could be crucial with a Halloween night matchup against the Cowboys. 

14. San Francisco 49ers

        Last Week: 18-30 loss vs IND

        Trending: -4

        This Week: 10/31 @ CHI

In monsoon conditions against the Colts, San Francisco got very little going on the offensive side of the ball. Jimmy Garoppolo had two bad interceptions down the stretch of the game, and while Carson Wentz had a rough night as well, Jonathan Taylor carried the offensive load for much of the game. 

15. New England Patriots

        Last Week: 54-13 win vs NYJ

        Trending: +1

        This Week: 10/31 @ LAC

As has usually happened on an annual occurrence, the Patriots dominated the New York Jets at home this weekend. Mac Jones continues to improve as the signal caller for New England, and the defense stepped up in a big way. We’ll see if this momentum continues against a very good Chargers squad. 

16. Pittsburgh Steelers

        Last Week: Bye

        Trending: -2

        This Week: 10/31 @ CLE

Speaking of teams in need of healing up, the Steelers bye couldn’t have come at a much better time, either. Pittsburgh has had a mass of injuries on both sides of the ball, but their defense has been especially banged up. With a divisional matchup against the Browns coming up, this was a great time to get some extra rest.

17. Las Vegas Raiders

        Last Week: 33-22 win vs PHI

        Trending: —

        This Week: Bye

The Raiders have not allowed the Jon Gruden drama to have an effect on their play, and a lot of that credit has to go on the shoulders of Derek Carr. Josh Jacob’s left this game early on with an injury, but the quarterback kept this offense flowing for the entirety of the game. Las Vegas heads into their bye on a great note, given the circumstances. 

18. Kansas City Chiefs

        Last Week: 3-27 loss @ TEN

        Trending: -10

        This Week: 11/1 vs NYG

The Chiefs continue to plummet in terms of defensive rankings this year, now being in the bottom-two of points allowed, yards allowed, passing yards allowed, rushing yards allowed, and first downs allowed. Patrick Mahomes left this game early with a scary hit to his head, and while he seems to have dodged a bullet this time, the Chiefs need to do a much better job of protecting their $500 million QB.

19. Indianapolis Colts

        Last Week: 30-18 win @ SF

        Trending: +3

        This Week: 10/31 vs TEN

Despite horrible conditions in San Francisco, the Colts came away with an incredibly impressive win. Before the season started, this looked like a team that had playoff implications, and we are finally beginning to see that potential. Next week will prove if it is real as they go against the Titans. 

20. Denver Broncos

        Last Week: 14-17 loss vs CLE

        Trending: —

        This Week: 10/31 vs WSH

Denver’s offense just couldn’t get enough going in this game, and their pass rush did not put any sort of pressure on Case Keenum. After starting the year 3-0, they have now fallen in four consecutive games. Maybe a matchup with an equally underwhelming Washington team can jumpstart them. 

21. Atlanta Falcons

        Last Week: 30-28 win @ MIA

        Trending: +5

        This Week: 10/31 vs CAR

Don’t look now, but Atlanta has now won three of their last four games. Granted, this one was against a very disappointing Dolphins team, but the fact that they were actually able to complete their game-winning drive this time should be a good sign for them. They now get to play a Panthers team that just benched Sam Darnold this week.

22. Seattle Seahawks

        Last Week: 10-13 loss vs NO

        Trending: -3

        This Week: 10/31 vs JAX

In a Monday night game where conditions resembled the Sunday night game to a tee, the Seahawks offense got virtually nothing going outside of a first quarter 84-yard touchdown connection between Geno Smith and DK Metcalf. It was a decent day for the defense, and they got some good pressure on Jameis Winston, but Alvin Kamar proved to be too much to handle.

23. Washington Football Team

        Last Week: 10-24 loss @ GB

        Trending: —

        This Week: 10/31 @ DEN

If Taylor Heinicke had just ran the ball into the end zone rather than try to dive, this game may have turned out much differently. Instead, the Football Team has now lost three straight games, and the offense has sputtered out in each of the last two. 

24.  Chicago Bears

        Last Week: 3-38 loss @ TB

        Trending: -3

        This Week: 10/31 @ SF

There was very little good to take away from this game for the Bears. Justin Fields had a five turnover performance, and while the defense had its moments, Tom Brady is simply on a different level right now. Khalil Herbert may have had another great game running the ball, but he can only do so much when the QB play is sub-par.

25. Philadelphia Eagles

        Last Week: 22-33 loss @ LV

        Trending: -1

        This Week: 10/31 @ DET

The Eagles just do not have the defensive firepower to hang with a balanced attack such as that of the Raiders. Especially along the front seven, they had very little answer for Vegas’ overpowering offensive line. They should look to get back to winning against an inferior Detroit team, though. 

26. Jacksonville Jaguars

        Last Week: Bye

        Trending: +1

        This Week: 10/31 @ SEA

The Jaguars got to enjoy their first win in over a year a little bit longer. This week, they head to Seattle to see if they can turn their single win into a winning streak. 

27. New York Giants

        Last Week: 25-3 win vs CAR

        Trending: +3

        This Week: 11/1 @ KC

This game sleep-walked its way through the first quarter, but after that, the Giants just dominated both sides of the field. Daniel Jones had a good game against a Panthers defense that has been great for much of the year, and New York’s own defense obliterated Carolina’s offense.

28. Carolina Panthers

        Last Week: 3-25 loss @ NYG

        Trending: -3

        This Week: 10/31 @ ATL

Sam Darnold got himself benched in this one, so that by itself sums up how awful this game was for Carolina. Chuba Hubbard got very little going as well in a game where the Panthers really could have used a spark. Now, they have to go to Atlanta to play a suddenly hot Falcons team. 

29. Detroit Lions

        Last Week: 19-28 loss @ LAR

        Trending: +2

        This Week: 10/31 vs PHI

Detroit may have lost, but at least they made it fun. The Lions pulled off two fake punts and an onside kick against the Rams, but it became painfully clear in this game how much better Matthew Stafford is than Jared Goff. 

30. Miami Dolphins

        Last Week: 28-30 loss vs ATL

        Trending: -2

        This Week: 10/31 @ BUF

Tua Tagovailoa did his best to drag this Dolphins team to a win, but his defense really let him down in this one. Atlanta had their way against that unit, and while Tagovailoa had a pair of interceptions, he deserves credit for keeping Miami in this game. 

31. New York Jets

        Last Week: 13-54 loss @ NE

        Trending: -2

        This Week: 10/31 vs CIN

Obviously, the biggest story from this game is the fact that Zach Wilson left with a knee injury that could force him to miss time. If that is the case, it’s unlikely that New York will be very competitive for the next couple weeks. 

32. Houston Texans

        Last Week: 5-31 loss vs ARI

        Trending: —

        This Week: 10/31 vs LAR

Once again, the Texans were not able to play very competitive football against a great team. Houston has consistently looked like the worst team in the league for the past month now, and that shouldn’t change anytime soon.

This press release was produced by the PurplePTSD. The views expressed here are the author’s own.