Week 8 Power Rankings: Bears face a steep climb to the playoffs

The Chicago Bears enjoyed a well-earned bye week on Sunday, but what they saw from the rest of the division had to be somewhat disquieting. The Green Bay Packers defeated the Houston Texans 24-22 at home. Granted, the Texans were severely short-handed, and Jordan Love threw another pair of picks, but that’s still a win over an excellent opponent. At the same time, the Detroit Lions and Minnesota Vikings took turns clobbering each other until the Lions won on a walk-off field goal.

That leaves the 4-2 Bears in last place in the division, but one game back from the lead, and currently slotted into the 7th seed in the NFC playoff race. Never in NFL history has a division sent all four teams to the playoffs, and a lot could change as only two divisional games have been played so far. However, when I look around at the rest of the NFC, I think the North has a good shot of making history.

Let’s get into this week’s power rankings and see where Chicago stands with the rest of the league. For the first time since Week 3, the #1 team from last week will remain the same, but we have a new face at the bottom of the rankings.

1. Detroit Lions (Last week: 1)

If the Lions were supposed to be in trouble without Aiden Hutchinson, they did not get the memo. With an electric win on the road, they handed the Minnesota Vikings their first loss of the season and reclaimed the top spot in the NFC North.

We’ve got @DanMillerFox2 on the for Jake Bates’ game-winner ? pic.twitter.com/xndvsPmpAA

— Detroit Lions (@Lions) October 21, 2024

2. Baltimore Ravens (Last week: 3)

Lamar Jackson is just special, truly one-of-one. The reigning MVP is already putting together a strong case for his third MVP award while guiding his team to a 5-game winning streak.

3. Minnesota Vikings (Last week: 2)

Despite the loss, the Vikings are still one of the most dangerous teams in the league. They’re about to enter a soft spot in their schedule and can potentially reclaim their place at the top of the NFC North.

4. Buffalo Bills (Last week: 9)

Through seven weeks, Josh Allen still has yet to throw an interception. If he can continue scoring at the same rate while protecting the ball better than he ever has, the Bills could end the year as Super Bowl favorites.

5. Green Bay Packers (Last week: 6)

If we compare Jordan Love to Green Bay quarterbacks past, the comparison has to be Brett Favre. Love is a reckless gunslinger on the field who now has 8 interceptions to 15 touchdowns, both of which are the most in the NFL, despite missing two games. The Packers can clearly win with him, but you have to worry if those turnovers will cost them in the playoffs. Case in point: on Green Bay’s final drive in the NFC Divisional Round last year, Love made an ill-advised throw across his body into triple coverage that was intercepted, ending their season.

6. Kansas City Chiefs (Last week: 8)

Somehow, someway, the Chiefs are 6-0 despite Patrick Mahomes in the midst of the worst season of his career. The three-time Super Bowl champion has more interceptions than touchdowns. If there’s ever a year for an AFC contender to knock Mahomes off his perch, it’s right now.

7. Chicago Bears (Last week: 7)

The Bears had a bye week, so they stay at seven. Next up is a matchup with the 5-2 Washington Commanders, and whether Jayden Daniels will be able to play or not, a win there would go a long way to making Chicago a legitimate contender in the NFC.

8. Houston Texans (Last week: 5)

The Texans have a serious problem with their offensive line. They let quarterback CJ Stroud take an absolute beating on Sunday, and he posted his worst NFL stat line as a result. If this trend continues, Houston’s status as a contender will look increasingly fraudulent.

According to @NextGenStats, CJ Stroud has been pressured on 50% (!) of dropbacks today

— Mina Kimes (@minakimes) October 20, 2024

9. Atlanta Falcons (Last week: 4)

What was that? The Falcons got stomped out at home by a Seahawks team riding a 3-game losing streak and now face a pivotal matchup with the Bucs, the only other threatening team in the NFC South. It’s still early, but you almost have to call that one a “must-win” for Atlanta.

10. Washington Commanders (Last week: 12)

The Commanders dominated the Panthers from start to finish, but that was expected. The bigger story from this week is Jayden Daniels’s health. Washington is facing a Top 5 Chicago Bears defense next week, and if their star quarterback can’t go or can’t play at 100%, they could be in real trouble.

#Commanders rookie QB sensation Jayden Daniels is undergoing tests today to determine the severity of his rib injury, per sources. Initial tests on Sunday showed no fractures, but further tests today and possibly in the coming days will provide more clarity. pic.twitter.com/kaE05ugPRa

— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) October 21, 2024

11. Pittsburgh Steelers (Last week: 17)

It took seven weeks and a quarterback change, but Pittsburgh’s offense is finally churning right along. That 37-15 dismantling of the New York Jets was a huge vindication for head coach Mike Tomlin, who took some major heat for choosing to bench Justin Fields after a 4-2 start. His decision proved wise, and the Steelers now look like legitimate contenders in the AFC.

12. Indianapolis Colts (Last week: 13)

The Colts won an ugly showdown with the Dolphins in which Anthony Richardson looked lost for much of the afternoon. He has to start stringing together some good games this year, or the Colts will be back in the quarterback market before too long.

13. Seattle Seahawks (Last week: 18)

The losing streak ends at three. Seattle badly needed this one, and it showed on the field as they dismantled the Falcons in their own building. Now at 4-3 and atop the NFC West, the Seahawks have a big game next week against the Bills and a chance to prove that this wasn’t a fluke.

14. Cincinnati Bengals (Last week: 15)

Despite back-to-back wins, it’s still hard to trust the Bengals. They dug quite a hole to start the season and the playoffs may already be beyond their reach with the way division rivals Steelers and Ravens are playing.

15. Denver Broncos (Last week: 16)

The Broncos are riding high right now, victors in 4 of their last five contests, and now they have a matchup with the lowly Panthers. Say what you want about Bo Nix and his struggles, but the Broncos are winning with him and are currently seventh in the AFC.

16. Philadelphia Eagles (Last week: 19)

Saquon Barkley’s revenge game went about as well as he could have imagined. He ran wild over the Giants for 176 yards and a touchdown. It was a good win for Philly, but they still have a lot to prove.

17. San Francisco 49ers (Last week: 11)

The Niners are in big trouble. Injuries to their star players are piling up, with Deebo Samuel probably to miss some time and Brandon Aiyuk out for the year, and Brock Purdy is not the type of quarterback to overcome those losses. It’s time to worry if San Francisco’s Super Bowl window is sliding shut.

18. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Last week: 10)

Losing to the Ravens on Monday night when they had a chance to build a lead in the NFC South was bad enough, but the Bucs will now be without their two best playmakers for a while. Chris Godwin, in his best season yet, is likely out for the year, and five-time Pro Bowler Mike Evans will be evaluated Tuesday to see if he will need to be sidelined.

If Evans goes to IR, I don’t see how the Bucs will recover from these losses.

#Bucs WR Mike Evans also is scheduled to undergo an MRI this morning on his hamstring and his timeline is TBD. Two big losses for Tampa Bay. https://t.co/BXvbWWnND4

— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) October 22, 2024

19. LA Chargers (Last week: 14)

Justin Herbert threw for 350 yards and zero interceptions on Monday night, but the Chargers still lost. Worse, they didn’t score a single touchdown. Their third-down efficiency was atrocious, and head coach Jim Harbaugh made some conservative field goal decisions. He needs to figure out how to fix this offense and fast.

20. Dallas Cowboys (Last week: 20)

The Cowboys had a bye this week, giving them more time to stew over that 47-9 beatdown the Lions gave them in Week 6. If they can’t beat a severely short-handed Niners team next week, their season may be over.

21. LA Rams (Last week: 22)

Injuries are the main reason the Rams are just 2-4 after Week 7, but that’s how it goes in the NFL. Until they get healthy, they are not a very good team. It may be time to consider trading Matt Stafford (maybe Cooper Kupp, too) away and starting a true rebuild.

22. Jacksonville Jaguars (Last week: 28)

Good news: the Jaguars beat one of the worst teams in the league and got their second win of the season. Bad news: they may have saved Doug Pederson’s job.

23. Arizona Cardinals (Last week: 26)

Ugly wins are better than ugly losses, which Arizona got. They’ll take it, but this team is farther back than some expected them to be. Notably, rookie receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. has been awful the past three games. He needs to be the game-changer he was projected to be for the Cardinals to have sustained success.

24. New England Patriots (Last week: 24)

Of all the teams at the bottom, the Patriots are probably in the best position. They have Drake Maye, who sure looks like a franchise quarterback, though of course it’s still way too early to tell. If they can develop him correctly in his rookie year, the Patriots will be set up for future success.

25. New York Jets (Last week: 21)

If you haven’t yet hit the panic button on the Jets, that time has come. They are 0-2 since firing head coach Robert Saleh, and their defense just got gashed for 37 points by Russell Wilson, who last started a game on Christmas Eve of 2023.

26. Miami Dolphins (Last week: 25)

Tua Tagovailoa will try to make his comeback in Week 8, which would be his first action since he suffered a concussion in Week 2. However, I don’t know whether he’ll be able to save the Dolphins’ season or stay healthy the rest of the season.

27. New Orleans Saints (Last week: 27)

Not only are the Saints non-competitive this year, but their salary cap issues may keep them irrelevant for the next two seasons. At a time when the NFC South seems wide open, the Saints are in big trouble.

Saints 2025 Cap (97M OVER projected cap):

Carr: 51M on, 60M if cut, 41M if traded
Hill: 17M on, 17M if cut/traded
Ramczyk: 29M on, 23M if cut/traded
Jordan: 20M on, 23M if cut/traded

So those 4 players, you don’t create any cap savings.

Kamara: 28M on, 10M if cut
Lattimore:…

— nick wright (@getnickwright) October 18, 2024

28. New York Giants (Last week: 23)

I’m not sure how head coach Brian Daboll can say that Daniel Jones is still their starting quarterback when he was forced to bench Jones in Sunday’s blowout loss. His job security must be rock-solid if he’s truly comfortable rolling with a quarterback who has not thrown a touchdown pass at home in his last six home games.

Daboll said Daniel Jones will remain the QB going forward.

— Dan Duggan (@DDuggan21) October 20, 2024

29. Las Vegas Raiders (Last week: 29)

After trading away Davante Adams, the Raiders have thrown in the towel for the 2024 season. Consider them firmly in the race for the first overall pick because they cannot leave the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft without a new quarterback.

30. Tennessee Titans (Last week: 28)

The offense looked better with Mason Rudolph playing in place of Will Levis, but the outcome was the same. The Titans are a mess right now, and I don’t think there’s an easy fix.

31. Cleveland Browns (Last week: 32)

With DeShaun Watson out for the year with an Achilles’ tear, the Browns might win another game or two. But make no mistake: this team is still adrift with no hope in sight for as long as Watson’s contract is valid.

32. Carolina Panthers (Last week: 31)

I don’t know how they did it, but the Panthers have gotten worse from last year. The Washington Commanders might be 5-2, but their defense has been horrendous, and they weren’t even at full strength. How the Panthers failed to score a single point against this unit until garbage time is a question that only our top scientists can answer.

The only valid argument thus far for starting Andy Dalton was that he would at least give head coach Dave Canales a reasonable evaluation of his other pieces by playing mediocre football, something Bryce Young could not do. But after the last three games, that no longer carries water. Young has to start because the Panthers have to know for certain whether he can be their franchise quarterback before the year is done. They may end up with the first overall pick in the 2025 draft, but the upcoming quarterback class is not one you want to spend such a rich selection on.