Draft Insiders’ NFL Power Poll – Week 8
New York, New York
Giants Hold on vs Jaguars
Chiefs Crush 49ers
Titans Outlast Colts
Team of the Week
Chiefs Drill 49ers
Players of the Week
NFC
Offense – RB Saquon Barkley – Giants
Defense – LB Micah Parson – Cowboys
AFC
Offense – QB Joe Burrow – Bengals
Defense – LB Matt Judon – Patriots
Rookies of the Week
Offense – RB Kenneth Walker – Seahawks
Defense – CB Sauce Gardner – Jets
Games of Week 8
Thursday – Ravens at Bucs – 8:30 pm – Prime
Sunday – 49ers at Rams – 4:30 pm – Fox
Sunday night – Packers at Bills – 8:20 pm – NBC
NFL Team Power Poll
Draft Insiders’ Staff
Ranking /Record /Team
#1 – 5-1 Bills
Bills are well rested after their bye week. Host the Packers n Sunday night in key interconference matchup. Bills are hoping to claim home field advantage through the AFC playoffs.
#2 – 6-0 Eagles
The Eagles are coming off their bye week and host the Steelers for Pa bragging rights. Eagles are hoping to stay the NFL’s only undefeated club through midseason. Added DE Robert Quinn this week.
#3 – 5-2 Chiefs
Chiefs bombed the 49ers coming off their loss to the Bills. They get their bye week here and look to regroup and defend their AFC West title and another run at the Super Bowl.
#4 – 5-1 Vikings
Vikings return from their bye week and host the Cardinals, looking to retain their nice lead in the NFC North. They have relied on their potent offense behind Kirk Cousins and wideout Justin Jefferson. One of the best NFC clubs over the first half.
#5 – 5-2 – Cowboys
The Cowboys bashed the Lions behind returning starter QB Dak Prescott. Prescott played well and will direct this attack going forward. Host the hot Bears in a game they look to stay among NFC contenders.
#6 – 6-1 Giants
The gritty Giants are playing sound football with minimal mistakes. Runner Saquon Barkley and QB Danny Jones are on the same page while their bend don’t break defense has been successful. They travel to Seattle where the Seahawks have proven to be a very tough assignment at home.
#7 – 3-3 Rams
Rams face the acid test at home this week vs the 49ers. Rams are coming off their bye week and face a beaten 49er club that was smashed by the Chiefs. Rams’ offensive line is still their biggest issue along with a weak ground game. This matchup may determine their direction in a division only separated by one game.
#8 – 4-2 Titans
The Titans won a huge game vs the Colts to take command on AFC South leadership. They play sound
football with strong ground game and sound defense that keeps them in contention. Travel to Houston for another South matchup.
#9 – 4-3 Bengals
The Bengals exploded behind another strong performance from Joe Burrow. Their offense looked the best of the season last week. Travel to Cleveland this Monday night for bitter rivalry with the Browns in a must win situation. Bengals and Burrow are 0-4 vs the Browns past two seasons.
#10 – 4-3 Chargers
The erratic Chargers came up empty vs the Seahawks with a weak defensive performance and a one- dimensional attack. They get a week to regroup with their bye and must stop the run better to win matchups with contenders.
#11 – 5-2 Jets
Jets had an impressive performance winning in Denver behind an aggressive defense. Their ground game takes a huge hit with the loss of rookie Breece Hall for the season. Host the desperate Patriots this Sunday in a pivotal AFC East matchup.
#12 – 3-4 49ers
The 49ers were thumped again while celebrating the McCaffrey trade. QB Jimmy Garoppolo had another subpar performance while their highly rated D failed to come up big in key spots. Travel to LA to face rival the Rams in a major NFC West contest with leadership implications.
#13 – 3-4 – Bucs
Bucs collapsed vs the lowly Panthers who harassed Tom Brady all game. They face a major test Thursday night vs the Ravens. They have slipped in most areas and are at a point where they need to step up vs playoff clubs to be considered a postseason threat.
#14 – 4-3 Ravens
The Ravens edged the Browns in a must win situation and remains at the top of the AFC North.
They travel to Tampa to face the equally erratic Bucs in a battle of two fading contenders with much to prove over the second half of the season.
#15 – 4-3 Dolphins
Dolphins came out aggressively vs the Steelers behind a hot hand of QB Tua Tagovailo. The Dolphin defense stuffed their attack keeping them in the competitive AFC playoff chase. Travel to Detroit looking to keep the momentum at midseason.
#16 – 4-3 Seahawks
Seahawks drilled the Chargers in an impressive effort behind another strong rushing game by rookie Kenneth Walker. They host the hot GMen in a contest with NFC playoff aspirations on the line.
#17 – 4-3 Cardinals
Cardinals were impressive vs the Saints after an inconsistent first half. They travel to Minnesota to face the explosive Vikings in which looks like a high scoring affair. QB Kyler Murray needs to step up over the 2nd half after a weak first half performance.
#18 – 3-4 Packers
The Packers lost to the struggling Commanders for their third straight defeat. Their young receiving corps has hindered Aaron Rodgers and their ground game can’t make up the difference. Travel to Buffalo for the Sunday night game where they face a huge task vs one of the premier clubs in the game.
#19 – 3-4 Patriots
The Pats came up flat vs the Bears on Monday night which dropped them to last place in the AFC East.
They return to QB Matt Jones this week over rookie Zappe. They travel to NY to face the Jets in a matchup with strong repercussions to the AFC playoff picture.
#20 – 3-3-1 Colts
Colts lost a key game to the Titans and benched starting vet QB Matt Ryan. They host the Commanders looking for a spark from young QB Sam Elfinger. This club needs to turn it around now to keep apace an AFC group where they come up short in most key areas.
#21 – 3-4 Falcons
Falcons failed to contain Joe Burrow over blowout. This defense fails in big spots continuously and has major issues throughout. Host the Panthers in an NFC South matchup.
#22 – 2-5 Saints
The Saints lost another high scoring wild game to the Cardinals. Their highly regarded defense has performed poorly and allowed the most points in the league. Host the equally desperate Raiders this Sunday.
#23 – 3-4 Commanders
The Commanders beat the Packers for a huge win behind Taylor Heinicke. Travel to Indy with a chance to get to the .500 mark.
#24 – 3-4 Bears
The Bears drilled the Patriots on Monday night in their best performance in a few seasons. QB Justin Fields took a major step up vs the Bill Belichick defense. Travel to Big D to face the Cowboys in another test of any postseason chances.
#25 – 2-5 Jaguars
Jaguars failed late again in a struggle with the Giants. QB Trevor Lawrence needs a better supporting cast, though has shown solid development in year two. Face Broncos in London this Sunday.
#26 – 2-4 Raiders
The Raiders are coming off a win over the Texans. Travel to New Orleans for a pivotal matchup to stay in the AFC playoff picture with six clubs within one game of .500.
#27 – 2-5 – Broncos
The Broncos continue to struggle offensively behind vet Russell Wilson. They are the lowest scoring offense in the league. Changes should be made with trading deadline next week. Travel to London with matchup with the Jaguars.
#28 – 2-5 Browns
Browns lost to the Ravens in another classic AFC North slugfest. Browns continue to struggle on both sides of the ball. Host the Bengals in a must win situation this Monday night for any playoff hopes.
#29 – 2-5 Steelers
Steelers are going through the growing pains on the post Big Ben era. Vet starter QB Matthew Trubisky and rookie top pick Kenny Pickett continue to rotate weekly. Travel to Philly attempting to turn a sliding franchise into the playoff race.
#30 – 1-4-1 Texans
Texans were overwhelmed by the Raiders last week. Host the Titans in an AFC South battle with only playing for pride vs the divisional leader.
#31 – 2-5 Panthers
Panthers jumped the Bucs for a surprising victory. Travel to Atlanta for another winnable game in the weak NFC South. More trade winds blowing in Carolina
#32 – 1-5 Lions
The Lions offense struggled for the second week in a row following a strong prior month. Host the Dolphins with the HC watch for Dan Campbell picking up stream.
Frank Coyle is a long-time scout with nationwide ties with NFL and college coaches, scouts and player agents. He is a member of the FWAA and voter in College player awards – Heisman, Outland, Nagurski, Lombardi, Thorpe, Biletnikoff etc for the past 30 years. He writes College Football Mondays weekly during the season. He was a longtime scouting consultant for the Senior Bowl, the nation’s premier postseason All-star game. He does sports radio shows for CBS and ESPN on a year-round basis related to NFL and College Football especially during the postseason team and All-star Bowl time. He has worked for CBS Sports, NBC Sports, Yahoo and Rivals sports publications and web sites
