NFL power rankings: Week 8

As the NFL approaches the halfway point, the picture is becoming clearer in most divisions. The NFC West and NFC North are shaping up to be close contests, while several other races are starting to settle. The NFC South, though, remains hard to read, with no team seeming eager to take control.

Here are this week’s rankings, along with each team’s position last week and its change.

1. San Francisco 49ers — previously 3rd, up 2 spots.
2. Buffalo Bills — previously 4th, up 2 spots.
3. Kansas City Chiefs — previously 2nd, down 2 spots.
4. Chicago Bears — previously 7th, up 3 spots.
5. Seattle Seahawks — previously 1st, down 4 spots.
6. Jacksonville Jaguars — previously 8th, up 2 spots.
7. Minnesota Vikings — previously 9th, up 2 spots.
8. Detroit Lions — previously 15th, up 7 spots.
9. Denver Broncos — previously 10th, up 1 spot.
10. Los Angeles Rams — previously 6th, down 4 spots.
11. Pittsburgh Steelers — previously 18th, up 7 spots.
12. Green Bay Packers — previously 22nd, up 10 spots.
13. New York Giants — previously 14th, up 1 spot.
14. Carolina Panthers — previously 11th, down 3 spots.
15. New England Patriots — previously 19th, up 4 spots.
16. Houston Texans — previously 27th, up 11 spots.
17. Cincinnati Bengals — previously 16th, down 1 spot.
18. Cleveland Browns — previously 25th, up 7 spots.
19. Baltimore Ravens — previously 5th, down 14 spots.
20. Las Vegas Raiders — previously 17th, down 3 spots.
21. Tampa Bay Buccaneers — previously 30th, up 9 spots.
22. Dallas Cowboys — previously 12th, down 10 spots.
23. Washington Commanders — unchanged at 23rd.
24. New York Jets — previously 29th, up 5 spots.
25. Philadelphia Eagles — previously 13th, down 12 spots.
26. Atlanta Falcons — previously 21st, down 5 spots.
27. New Orleans Saints — previously 24th, down 3 spots.
28. Arizona Cardinals — unchanged at 28th.
29. Indianapolis Colts — previously 20th, down 9 spots.
30. Miami Dolphins — previously 31st, up 1 spot.
31. Los Angeles Chargers — previously 26th, down 5 spots.
32. Tennessee Titans — unchanged at 32nd.

Biggest rise: Houston Texans (+11)

Houston looks far more competitive after opening the season 0-4. The Texans’ wins have come against the Titans and Jaguars, but beating Jacksonville offered a glimpse of what this team can do when things click.

The loss to the Giants was a costly one for Houston’s playoff hopes. The Texans will need help to make the postseason, particularly with the defense struggling. Still, C.J. Stroud has found his footing again and is looking more like the franchise quarterback he appeared to be during his first season.

There’s no obvious reason the defense can’t improve. If it does, and the offense keeps producing, Houston could become a genuinely good team. Not long ago, the Texans looked like one of the league’s weakest sides; now they seem closer to the middle of the pack, with room to climb.

Biggest fall: Baltimore Ravens (-14)

The Ravens are in a difficult spot. They’ve lost three straight, but the bigger concern is who will play quarterback for the rest of the season. Baltimore has already seen how challenging life is without Lamar Jackson, and now Tyler Huntley is out as well.

For now, the team may have to do what it can and hope to stay afloat. There’s enough talent to pick up a few more wins, perhaps, but the defense hasn’t made enough impact for Baltimore to rely on Derrick Henry alone and remain competitive. It’s a rough turn for the Ravens, who may have to look ahead to 2027.