NFL Power Rankings Week 8: New No.1 Crowned

 

And then there was one.

After seven weeks of an unpredictable NFL season, only the Pittsburgh Steelers remain undefeated.

The road ahead for Pittsburgh isn’t easy, though, with several contenders in the AFC hot on the Steelers’ tails nearly halfway through the season. 

Here are the official Power Rankings for Week 8 of the 2020 NFL season.

WEEK 8 POWER RANKINGS

1. PITTSBURGH STEELERS (6-0)

LAST WEEK RANKING: 3

WEEK 8: @ BALTIMORE RAVENS (5-1)

Pittsburgh’s journey to being the league’s sole undefeated team peaked by defeating the only other perfect AFC team, the Tennessee Titans.

The Steelers defeated the Titans, 27-24, after Tennessee kicker Stephen Gostkowski missed a potential game-tying field goal with 18 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter.

Ben Roethlisberger struggled the most he has post-injury, throwing three interceptions and producing a 51.5 quarterback rating (QBR) in the win. He was able to find JuJu Smith-Schuster and Diontae Johnson often, hpwever, as both finished the game with nine catches. Johnson led the Steelers with two touchdown grabs.

2. KANSAS CITY CHIEFS (6-1)

LAST WEEK RANKING: 2

WEEK 8: VS. NEW YORK JETS (0-7)

The Chiefs kept rolling in Week 7.

Kansas City decimated the Denver Broncos, 43-16, on Sunday behind a dominant performance from all three areas of play. Patrick Mahomes did enough to secure Kansas City’s sixth win of the year, but it was the defensive and special teams performances that resulted in the Chiefs’ most complete victory of this season.

In the second quarter, safety Daniel Sorensen intercepted a Drew Lock pass and took it back 50 yards, putting Kansas City up 17-6.

Minutes later, Byron Pringle responded to a Denver field goal with a 102-yard kickoff return touchdown, pushing the Chiefs to a 24-9 lead.

Sunday also was the debut of Le’Veon Bell in a Chiefs uniform. The former Steelers and Jets tailback was slowly integrated into the high-performance offensive system, rushing for 39 yards on six carries.

3. SEATTLE SEAHAWKS (5-1)

LAST WEEK RANKING: 1

WEEK 8: VS. SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS (4-3)

The Seahawks’ first loss of the season came by way of a “Game of the Year” candidate.

Seattle fell to the Cardinals, 37-34, in a quarterback duel between Russell Wilson and Kyler Murray.

Murray got the better of Wilson, thrashing the Seattle defense for 360 passing yards and three touchdowns on 34-for-48 passing. Wilson put up three touchdowns but threw three interceptions that contributed to his side’s defeat.

One interesting thing to rip out of the defeat was Wilson’s targeting of Tyler Lockett. Wilson hit his slot receiver 15 times on 20 targets as Lockett amassed 200 receiving yards. For comparison, Lockett was targeted only five times in Seattle’s Week 6 win over the Vikings.

4. BALTIMORE RAVENS (5-1)

LAST WEEK RANKING: 4

WEEK 8: VS. PITTSBURGH STEELERS (6-0)

The Ravens come off a Bye Week well rested and ready to reclaim the top spot in the AFC North.

Baltimore was the preseason favorite to take the divisional crown this year, but the early season surge by the Steelers has put the Ravens on the outside looking in.

The first meeting between the sides in Week 8 could play an instrumental role in how the division looks in December.

5. GREEN BAY PACKERS (5-1)

LAST WEEK RANKING: NR

WEEK 8: @ MINNESOTA VIKINGS (1-5)

The Packers bounced back from an embarrassing defeat to the Buccaneers with a 35-20 win over the struggling Houston Texans.

Aaron Rodgers looked like his normal self, throwing for 283 yards and four touchdowns in the win. He found Davante Adams for 196 yards on 13 catches.

The Green Bay defense struggled to contain Deshaun Watson but was able to hold the Texans’ offense to two touchdowns on 365 yards of total offense.