We’ve hit the halfway mark of the NFL season and the top of the Power Rankings has pretty much remained static since we first flipped the calendar to October. There’s not a ton of change at the top, but the middle continues to be in turmoil.
At the top, the AFC and NFC both look to be two-horse races, with the Chiefs and Patriots setting up a late January showdown in the AFC Championship and the New Orleans Saints and Los Angeles Rams doing the same in the NFC.
Here are your Against the Spread Power Rankings for Week 8 of the NFL season.
1. Los Angeles Rams (7-0, ATS: 5-2): The conversation has shifted from the Rams being the best team in the NFL to a possible 16-0 regular season. If they survive the gauntlet over the next month (Packers, at Saints, Seahawks and Chiefs in Mexico City), it could happen. Last week: 1
Related: NFL Betting Guide | Week 8 Odds
2. New England Patriots (5-2, ATS: 4-3): The Patriots are apparently in the market for Patrick Peterson. Good for him and bad for everyone else. Last week: 4
3. Kansas City Chiefs (6-1, ATS 7-0): Huge bounce back win (and a dominating one at that) against a contending Cincinnati team. Last week: 4
4. New Orleans Saints (5-1, ATS: 4-2): Dropping the Saints one spot on a bye after their recent performances doesn’t seem fair, but with what the Chiefs did to the Bengals, who could they jump?. Last week: 3
5. Minnesota Vikings (4-2-1,ATS: 4-3): The Vikings have clawed out of their early-season hole, but now host a Saints team that can hang 30 on anyone. Last week: 7
6. Pittsburgh Steelers (3-2-1, ATS: 3-3): Time for a rematch against the Browns. Maybe finish it in regulation this time. Last week: 9
7. Los Angeles Chargers (5-2, ATS: 4-3): They’re atop the potential Wild Card standings entering the bye and Joey Bosa is slated to return next. The Chargers are definitely trending upward. Last week: 10
8. Cincinnati Bengals (4-3, ATS: 4-3): That was an ugly display against Kansas City, Cincy. That’s not how a real contender shows up in prime time. Last week: 5
9. Baltimore Ravens (4-3, ATS: 4-3): If the Ravens are really going to be contenders, they need to start winning the close games against good teams. Last week: 6
10 Washington Redskins (4-2, ATS: 4-2): The Redskins suddenly have a clear path to the playoffs and it’s through their own crappy division. Last week: 11
11. Carolina Panthers (4-2, ATS: 3-3): That was a clutch performance last Sunday, Cam Newton. Now make the most of it by winning two in a row. Last week: 14
12. Philadelphia Eagles (3-4 ATS: 2-5): The Eagles aren’t out of it by any means, but that window to a Super Bowl gets narrower by the day. Last week: 8
13. Chicago Bears (3-3, ATS: 3-3): Over the last two weeks, Khalil Mack has three tackles. Last week: 12
14. Green Bay Packers (3-2-1 ATS: 2-4): An upset win over the Rams can flip the script in Green Bay in a hurry. Last week: 15
15. Detroit Lions (3-3, ATS:5-1): The NFC North is there for the taking and the Lions have as good a chance as anyone to take it. Last week: 26
16. Jacksonville Jaguars (3-4,ATS: 3-4): Right after they dropped the latest game in which they were favored, someone immediately tweeted. “The Jaguars are frauds.” That sums it up. Last week: 13
17. Miami Dolphins (4-3, ATS: 4-3): More and more it looks like Brock Osweiler will take this team as far as he can take them this season. Last week: 16
18. Atlanta Falcons (3-4, ATS: 2-5): After three straight heart attack games, the Falcons get a much-needed bye. Last week: 22
19. Houston Texans (4-3, ATS: 2-5): If the Texans keep this up, they’ll have no excuse to fire Bill O’Brien at the end of the season and that would just be a disaster. Last week: 17
20. Seattle Seahawks (3-3, ATS: 4-2): Since Russell Wilson’s second season, the Seahawks are 6-1 coming off the bye. Bet accordingly. Last week: 20
21. New York Jets (3-4, ATS: 3-4): The Jets are a team that’s playing for nothing that no one wants to play for. Last week: 18
22. Dallas Cowboys (3-4, ATS: 3-4): It’s getting to the point where Jason Garrett obviously wants to get fired. Last week: 19
23. Tennessee Titans (3-4, ATS: 4-3): The Titans are discovering all new and exciting ways to lose. Last week: 21
24. Denver Broncos (3-4, ATS: 2-5): The path to a top five NFL Draft pick continues with a trip to Kansas City this week. Last week: 23
25. Indianapolis Colts (2-5, ATS: 3-4): Of the teams on the NFL’s garbage heap, the Colts draw the fewest flies. Last week: 25
26. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3-3, ATS: 2-4): And just like that, the Dirk Koetter firing clock resumes ticking. Last week: 29
27. Cleveland Browns (2-4-1, ATS: 5-2): They’re obviously better, but for a Cleveland Browns team, they look a lot like the Cleveland Browns. Last week: 24
28. Buffalo Bills (2-5, ATS: 3-4): The Bills are historically bad on offense. Like one of the worst units in the history of the sport. Last week: 27
29. San Francisco 49ers (1-6, ATS: 2-5): C.J. Beathard will give birth to Aaron Donald Jr. in nine months. Last week: 28
30. Oakland Raiders (1-5, ATS: 2-4): Amari Cooper is gone. Is Derek Carr that far behind? Last week: 30
31. New York Giants (1-5, ATS: 2-4): Speaking of Derek Carr, New York doesn’t look like a bad landing spot. Last week: 31
32. Arizona Cardinals (1-5, ATS: 3-3): The Cardinals are battling now for the NFL’s No. 1 draft pick. How bad do they want it? Last Week: 32
