We are now into the middle third of the 2024 NFL season, and that is when things really start to shake out with the playoff picture. We now have a good idea of where teams stand in our NFL Power Rankings and how the tiers of teams are shaping up in terms of floors and ceilings.
However, with the NFL’s variable nature, power ranking all 32 teams can be a tough task. Therefore, here at Pro Football Network, we have tried to remove the judgment element from the process by creating our PFN Power Ranking+ (PFN PR+) metric. This metric combines our internal Offense+ and Defense+ metrics, sprinkles in some special teams, and then applies a level of correction for the strength of schedule a team has played.
Those are the top-level ingredients, but there’s much more depth that goes into creating the PFN PR+ numbers.
Is this system perfect? Absolutely not, and as we continue to research, we will continue tinkering with the elements that make up the PFN PR+. That may be at the Offense+ or Defense+ level, or it may be adding a fifth element that our analysis determines should be included in the overall rankings.
As things stand, this is the recipe that we are comfortable with entering Week 9, and accordingly, we have created our first official set of the PFN PR+ for the 2024 season.
1) Detroit Lions (6-1)
- Offense+ Rank: 4
- Defense+ Rank: 5
- Special Teams Rank: 7
- SOS Rank Through Week 8: 25
The Detroit Lions have separated themselves from the pack slightly over the past few weeks. They have dominated when they should dominate, and they do just enough to beat teams that are at a similar level to them. Beating the Vikings on the road is a real jewel in the crown for Detroit and demonstrates that they can go on the road and beat good teams.
While all their metrics are impressive, they have not been thoroughly tested to this point, with their schedule ranking eighth-easiest to this point. They are looking out at the third-hardest remaining schedule, so we should get a good idea of what they are made of and their true Super Bowl credentials in the second half of the season.
However, with Jared Goff playing some of the best football of his career and currently ranking as the sixth-best quarterback in the league in 2024, they look well-set-up. This week in Lambeau will tell us a lot. If they can go outdoors and win convincingly against a good team, we will start to see how battle-hardened they are.
2) Kansas City Chiefs (7-0)
- Offense+ Rank: 5
- Defense+ Rank: 10
- Special Teams Rank: 26
- SOS Rank Through Week 8: 20
The Kansas City Chiefs machine keeps rolling on, but they have done it without being particularly convincing. Five of their seven wins have been by less than a score, and they have faced just the 20th-hardest schedule to this date. Using PFN’s expected win percentage, the Chiefs are currently 3.01 wins above expectation at this point, suggesting that there might be some regression to come.
The Chiefs’ schedule starts to get a little tougher in the coming weeks as they face the 12th-hardest remaining schedule this season. They have caught a little bit of a break facing the Tampa Bay Buccaneers without Mike Evans and Chris Godwin, but then the difficulty ramps up with games against the Denver Broncos and Buffalo Bills in the following weeks.
It is impressive that the Chiefs have swept to a 7-0 record without ever truly looking dominant. We know this team has the ability to turn it on when it really matters, and that will make them hard to beat. Under Andy Reid and Patrick Mahomes, they have become hardened and experienced winners. If they get through the next three weeks unscathed, we start to hear whispers about potentially going 17-0.
3) Minnesota Vikings (5-2)
- Offense+ Rank: 15
- Defense+ Rank: 3
- Special Teams Rank: 9
- SOS Rank Through Week 8: 5
There was always a feeling that this Minnesota Vikings team could come back down to earth a little after their 5-0 start. Losing to the Los Angeles Rams last Thursday does not look good on the surface, but that was a very different Rams team to any we have seen this season with both Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua back close to full health.
The Vikings’ résumé in the first seven weeks is strong, with wins over good teams, a trip to London, and the fifth-hardest schedule overall. They have a few games to put things right, with the Indianapolis Colts, Jacksonville Jaguars, and Tennessee Titans presenting a particularly easy stretch over the coming weeks. That will give the offense time to figure out how it can cope without Christian Darrisaw for the rest of the year.
The Vikings remain in play for the NFC North this season. Sam Darnold is doing just fine, ranking as the QB14 this season, and the Vikings’ schedule is considerably easier than that of the Lions (17th vs. 3rd). It would not be a surprise to see the Vikings as not just the NFC North winners but the No. 1 seed in the conference when the dust settles.
4) Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-4)
- Offense+ Rank: 3
- Defense+ Rank: 25
- Special Teams Rank: 13
- SOS Rank Through Week 8: 2
It has been a tough month for the Buccaneers, with three losses in four games and injuries to key pieces on their offense. Despite the losses, they retain their spot in the top five of our rankings. Additionally, Tampa has faced the second-hardest schedule to date through the first eight weeks.
It may seem bizarre to say with games against the Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers looming, but the Buccaneers have the easiest remaining strength of schedule when you look at the full picture. After their bye, they get one of the easiest run-ins that you could wish for, and they have a real chance to run the table in those final seven games.
There is every chance that things could look messy this week. The defense is a major concern right now, but their one saving grace is that they have been better in the red zone than out of it. If they can hold teams to just three points rather than seven in key spots, they will give this uber-talented offense a chance to win games.
5) Baltimore Ravens (5-3)
- Offense+ Rank: 1
- Defense+ Rank: 24
- Special Teams Rank: 27
- SOS Rank Through Week 8: 13
There is no denying that Sunday was an ugly result for the Baltimore Ravens, but it is worth remembering that Kyle Hamilton dropped an easy game-winning pick. That does not reduce the concern that their defense allowed 29 points to Jameis Winston and a relatively low-key Cleveland Browns offense. That is the sixth time they have allowed 25 or more points this season; in the last four in a row, they have allowed 23 points or more.
The Ravens rank 24th in Defense+, 26th in Defensive EPA per play, and 26th in terms of points allowed. The one saving grace is that they are a top-12 team defensively inside the red zone. When you have the most explosive offense and the best quarterback in the league this year, stopping teams from finding the end zone when inside your 20-yard line will always give you a great chance.
The Ravens’ schedule is tough coming up, ranking fifth-hardest across the entire slate. It begins with the Broncos this week. There is very little letup in this schedule the rest of the way, and their Week 11 and Week 16 games with the Steelers loom large as potential division deciders.
6) Buffalo Bills (6-2)
- Offense+ Rank: 6
- Defense+ Rank: 12
- Special Teams Rank: 28
- SOS Rank Through Week 8: 23
The Buffalo Bills are sitting pretty in the AFC at 6-2. Their offense is among the elite, their defense is good, and they have the 10th-easiest remaining schedule coming up. With a win this week, the Bills will ensure they have at least a four-game lead over anyone else in the division with nine weeks remaining. They would also be 3-0 in the division, having yet to play the New England Patriots.
Those two road losses to the Ravens and Houston Texans are still a concern because they are the best teams they have faced on the road this year. Their next real road test will be in Detroit in Week 15, but they have a chance to make a statement when they host the Chiefs and 49ers in Weeks 11 and 13, either side of their bye.
7) Denver Broncos (5-3)
- Offense+ Rank: 24
- Defense+ Rank: 1
- Special Teams Rank: 4
- SOS Rank Through Week 8: 29
Despite the metrics telling us that the Denver Broncos are the seventh-best team in the league through Week 8, there is still an expectation that this could be a house of cards ready to crumble. Part of that is that the Broncos have played the fourth-easiest schedule to this point and have the eighth-easiest schedule facing them in the remaining weeks.
Have a day, rook. 👏 pic.twitter.com/hYTDHh9751
— Denver Broncos (@Broncos) October 28, 2024
The real test for this team starts this week as they travel to the Ravens before they head to Kansas City in Week 10. Those will be the biggest overall tests they have faced to date. However, it is worth noting that their defense did hold the Buccaneers’ third-ranked offense to just seven points in Week 3, so it will be intriguing to see if they can do the same to Baltimore and Kansas City.
We always knew the Broncos would need to rely on their defense and special teams to carry their offense this year, and they have done it superbly. However, the offense has managed to be league-average inside the red zone, which is helping them hold their own, having scored 25 or more points four times this year.
8) Washington Commanders (6-2)
- Offense+ Rank: 2
- Defense+ Rank: 20
- Special Teams Rank: 19
- SOS Rank Through Week 8: 30
This past week was always going to be an interesting test for the Washington Commanders as they faced one of the best defenses in the league. But the injury to Jayden Daniels meant we did not get a true glimpse of what they look like against a top defense. The biggest positive from the last-second win on Sunday was that the defense continued to show that it is a solid unit when not facing elite offenses.
It is easy to doubt the Commanders’ credentials when you think that they have played the third-easiest schedule in the league, but they have the ninth-easiest remaining schedule, so things do not get much harder from here. The defense is not incredible by any means, but they have done well restricting opponent scoring, allowing the 10th-most points per game this year.
The Commanders need to make sure they do not overlook the Giants this week, with the Steelers and Philadelphia Eagles looming on the horizon in Weeks 10 and 11. That Week 11 game with the Eagles is the first of two that could decide the direction of the NFC East.
9) San Francisco 49ers (4-4)
- Offense+ Rank: 9
- Defense+ Rank: 16
- Special Teams Rank: 30
- SOS Rank Through Week 8: 21
For the majority of the first half it was starting to look like the San Francisco 49ers could be in serious trouble in 2024, and then they turned it on in the third quarter and blew away the Dallas Cowboys. They will be slightly concerned Dallas got back in the game in the fourth quarter after their wobbles against the Arizona Cardinals and Los Angeles Rams earlier in the year.
As things stand on Tuesday of Week 9, the 49ers are still the projected favorites to win the NFC West according to PFN’s Playoff Predictor, but there are some red flags here. Their schedule to this point has not been overly difficult, and they are only 4-4. Two of the losses you could have projected in the Vikings and Chiefs, but the Cardinals and Rams losses leave them in a tricky spot.
The 49ers have the seventh-hardest remaining schedule over the rest of the season, which is a concern when the Cardinals and Rams both have schedules that rank in the bottom half the rest of the way. San Francisco largely controls its own destiny still, but it really needs to go 3-0 in its remaining divisional games.
10) Pittsburgh Steelers (6-2)
- Offense+ Rank: 20
- Defense+ Rank: 6
- Special Teams Rank: 2
- SOS Rank Through Week 8: 27
Monday night was far from a comprehensive performance for the Pittsburgh Steelers, but they head into their bye week at 6-2 and in control of the AFC North. The hard work is only just beginning for the Steelers, who have played the sixth-easiest schedule to date and will face the sixth-hardest schedule after their bye. Included in that is all six games against their divisional rivals.
The defense has been very good, and it has given the offense the scope to be inconsistent but still result in wins more often than not. Week 8 was just the Steelers’ third win of the season by one score or less, meaning they have had three dominant wins; both of their losses have been by a combined six points.
11) Los Angeles Chargers (4-3)
- Offense+ Rank: 25
- Defense+ Rank: 4
- Special Teams Rank: 8
- SOS Rank Through Week 8: 24
The Los Angeles Chargers have bounced around these Power Rankings over the first half of the season, but they appear to be emerging as a legitimate contender in the AFC playoff picture. They have done it by relying on their defense, and they desperately need their offense to come to the party in the second half of the season.
While the Chargers may look like a product of a relatively easy schedule to this point, they have the sixth-easiest schedule going forward. That puts them in a great position to push for a Wild Card spot, and there are only two teams within a game of them in the current playoff picture.
12) Houston Texans (6-2)
- Offense+ Rank: 18
- Defense+ Rank: 7
- Special Teams Rank: 23
- SOS Rank Through Week 8: 18
The Houston Texans took a huge stride toward winning the division in Week 8. Completing the sweep over the Indianapolis Colts means they are now essentially 2.5 games ahead of their main division rivals. With just nine games to play, that is a strong position to be in. But the Texans will need to be better, especially on offense in the second half of the season.
The offense has been league-average so far this year, and they have relied on the defense to keep them in games. The Texans have only scored more than 24 points once since Week 2, and that lack of ability to score has meant that they have won all but one of their games by less than a score. Part of the problem has been that C.J. Stroud has been average this year, ranking 18th with a C+ grade.
13) Philadelphia Eagles (5-2)
- Offense+ Rank: 13
- Defense+ Rank: 11
- Special Teams Rank: 16
- SOS Rank Through Week 8: 28
Many have underestimated the Eagles this season, but their win over the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 8 will have changed that slightly. Going on the road and winning in a dominant fashion against a team many view as an AFC Super Bowl contender will have opened some eyes. They are now on a three-game winning streak and sitting in seventh in the NFC playoff picture.
The underlying numbers are still somewhat unconvincing, and there is definitely an element of the Eagles having played a soft schedule to this point. However, the schedule going forward remains relatively easy, ranking as the third-easiest this season. They remain in a great position to make the playoffs, even if things are tightly packed in the NFC right now.
14) Green Bay Packers (6-2)
- Offense+ Rank: 11
- Defense+ Rank: 18
- Special Teams Rank: 25
- SOS Rank Through Week 8: 17
The Packers’ record in 2024 is better than their underlying metrics would suggest it should be. The only notable teams they have beaten were the Texans (with the final kick of the game) and the Jekyll and Hyde Cardinals. Meanwhile, they lost to the Eagles back in Week 1 and then lost convincingly to the Vikings, even if the final scoreline was closer than the game itself appeared.
Nothing about this team is convincing, but nothing is concerning right now. Their special teams are not great, but they are a relatively small part of their overall performance. Their offense is also caveated by the fact that Malik Willis led them for 2.5 games this season. They have a solid foundation, but now they have to deliver on that potential.
The first intriguing game will be this week when they host the Lions. Beating the top team in the Power Rankings will be a huge boost for the Packers and give them a real win of substance. However, this game also ushers in a brutal stretch of games to end the season that ranks as the toughest schedule in the final 10 weeks.
15) Seattle Seahawks (4-4)
- Offense+ Rank: 14
- Defense+ Rank: 17
- Special Teams Rank: 18
- SOS Rank Through Week 8: 9
The Seattle Seahawks have been a tough team to judge, but they may very well be exactly what their record and ranking show them to be: league average. The only metric that they really excel at is red-zone offense, where they rank in the top five. That has helped them be efficient scoring points, but they still only rank 13th in points per game.
The only win on the Seahawks record that looks impressive right now is beating the Broncos in Week 1, but even that came against a rookie quarterback making his first NFL start. Their other three wins have come against teams ranked below them, and three of their wins have come against teams ranked above them.
They remain very much in the middle of the NFC playoff race, but our simulations have them on the outside when the season ends more often than not.
16) New York Jets (2-6)
- Offense+ Rank: 17
- Defense+ Rank: 8
- Special Teams Rank: 32
- SOS Rank Through Week 8: 15
The New York Jets are intriguing, sitting in the middle of our Power rankings, given that they are 2-6 and just lost to the Patriots. However, the underlying numbers suggest that this is not a bad team. The defense has been on a downward trend since Robert Saleh’s departure, and that is perhaps even a bigger concern than the offensive ranking, which has only been 17th to this point.
The Jets’ remaining schedule ranks as the seventh-easiest in the league, but they have run themselves out of chances at this point. At most, they can realistically afford to lose two more games this season if they want to make the playoffs. However, as you look down that schedule that is not an unreasonable ask, with only the Bills ranking inside the top 10 of these rankings.
For that to happen, the Jets will need to arrest the decline on defense and improve the play of an offense that ranks 17th and a quarterback in Aaron Rodgers, who ranks 21st this season.
17) Chicago Bears (4-3)
- Offense+ Rank: 23
- Defense+ Rank: 2
- Special Teams Rank: 10
- SOS Rank Through Week 8: 31
Forget the heartbreaking loss for the Chicago Bears in Week 8 because the underlying element of that game is more important as we look at their potential this season. That game was a microcosm of what we have seen this year, with the defense doing a great job restricting the Commanders and the offense struggling to step up to the moment against a league-average defense.
Caleb Williams’ step back in terms of his QB+ was perhaps the most concerning element. He had improved week over week leading into the bye. However, his best games had come against the Rams, Carolina Panthers, and Jacksonville Jaguars, who have had among the worst defenses in the league this year. With the second-hardest remaining schedule, the Bears will need more from their rookie quarterback in the coming weeks.
18) Los Angeles Rams (3-4)
- Offense+ Rank: 12
- Defense+ Rank: 23
- Special Teams Rank: 20
- SOS Rank Through Week 8: 4
The Los Angeles Rams are on a two-game winning streak, but the manner of their victory over the Vikings was even more exciting than the result. The offense was superb, scoring 30 points and operating at its very best with Kupp and Nacua back in the fold. It has not been pretty, but the Rams have done a superb job getting to 3-4 with the fourth-toughest schedule and without two of their main playmakers.
The defense will be a concern going forward because this unit has looked exploitable, allowing 20 or more points in all but one of their games. However, the offense in its current form is capable of topping 20 points with regularity. The schedule gets easier from here and there is a believable path to both a playoff spot and potentially even the division title.
19) Arizona Cardinals (4-4)
- Offense+ Rank: 8
- Defense+ Rank: 31
- Special Teams Rank: 17
- SOS Rank Through Week 8: 1
If you can figure out the Cardinals this year and have a sure-fire way of predicting how they will play, please reach out to me @BenRolfePFN with the answer because they are the most befuddling team right now. Ultimately, this ranking suits them almost perfectly. In the last five games, they have lost two by 20+ points each and won three by a combination of four points.
The underlying metrics for the Cardinals’ offense are better than the actual performances have been. Despite having a top-10 offense in Defense+ and a top-five offense in red-zone EPA per play, they are 18th in points per game. Things with this team just don’t fully add up, and we are still waiting to see which version of them will emerge through the rest of the year.
The defense is bad in general but has been above average in the red zone. That has kept them in games this year and allowed them to win three of their last four by an average of 1.33 points per game. If this defense remains this bad, the offense will have to be almost perfect.
20) New Orleans Saints (2-6)
- Offense+ Rank: 21
- Defense+ Rank: 19
- Special Teams Rank: 14
- SOS Rank Through Week 8: 10
We have seen the New Orleans Saints divebomb through these rankings, essentially mirroring their fall through the standings. This should be the nadir of their ranking with Derek Carr expected back this week and a matchup with the Panthers. If Carr can stay healthy, this team still has a real shot to make a playoff run despite being on a six-game losing streak and losing by 20+ points for three straight weeks.
The defense has pretty much stabilized as a league-average unit. That is fine when paired with a good offense, but it’s a problem when paired with a Spencer Rattler offense. Additionally, the Saints have the second-easiest schedule going forward, which gives them a great chance to win the seven or eight games they will need to win to have a chance of making the playoffs.
21) Atlanta Falcons (5-3)
- Offense+ Rank: 10
- Defense+ Rank: 27
- Special Teams Rank: 24
- SOS Rank Through Week 8: 12
The Atlanta Falcons may be the most surprising of the teams ranked in the bottom half, given that they are currently atop the NFC South and third in the NFC playoff picture. However, their metrics tell a story that this is a team that has overachieved in getting to 5-3. Just one of their wins is by more than one score, with the other four wins being by a combined 14 points.
The numbers tell you that this is an average team at best. The offense is good without being great, which is fine if the defense wasn’t one of the worst in the league. There is every chance this team will still win the division because they have the fourth-easiest remaining schedule, and both the Buccaneers and Saints are dealing with injury issues that have limited them.
The problem for the Falcons will be whether they can be competitive against better teams if they do make the playoffs. They very well could end up facing the NFC North runner-up or the third-placed team in that division, both of which are likely to be superior teams on the field unless things change.
22) Cincinnati Bengals (3-5)
- Offense+ Rank: 7
- Defense+ Rank: 29
- Special Teams Rank: 12
- SOS Rank Through Week 8: 22
Week 8 proved what our numbers have shown this season — the Bengals are distinctly a below-average team and mirror their 3-5 record. Wins over the Panthers, Browns, and Giants prove little about their ability to win games against better competition.
Their schedule remains middling, but to get to nine or 10 wins, they will have to put together some better quality wins than they have so far. The offense can get them there, but the defense is a real problem, having allowed over 35 points on three occasions this year and 24 or more on five occasions.
23) Indianapolis Colts (4-4)
- Offense+ Rank: 19
- Defense+ Rank: 22
- Special Teams Rank: 15
- SOS Rank Through Week 8: 11
It is somewhat impressive that the Colts are 4-4 and only two games back in the division. Anthony Richardson is playing as one of the worst quarterbacks this year, and somehow the team is winning despite both that and the defense ranking in the bottom half. To be where they are with their level of performance is both impressive and concerning when we look ahead.
The range of outcomes for this team is as wide as the range for Richardson himself. If they did not win another game this year, you would likely not bat an eyelid. But equally, if they end up 10-7 and in the playoffs, it would not be all that stunning either. Most likely, we are looking at an 8-9 or 9-8 record where they stay in the playoff picture until the last few weeks without ever being that exciting.
24) New York Giants (2-6)
- Offense+ Rank: 29
- Defense+ Rank: 13
- Special Teams Rank: 21
- SOS Rank Through Week 8: 6
Monday’s game against the Steelers was indicative of what we have seen all year from the Giants. The defense fought hard to keep them in the game, limiting opponents to field goals and forcing turnovers, only for the offense to squander every opportunity they were given.
It has certainly been a tough start for the Giants, with their schedule ranking as the sixth-hardest. Things should get easier from here, with their remaining schedule ranking eighth. However, even with that, the offense has to improve considerably. Daniel Jones’ QB+ for the season is ninth-lowest with a grade of D+, and the offense is among the bottom five in several categories.
25) Dallas Cowboys (3-4)
- Offense+ Rank: 22
- Defense+ Rank: 26
- Special Teams Rank: 5
- SOS Rank: 7
For the briefest of time during the first half on Sunday Night Football, the Cowboys threatened to be back as a competitive force in the NFC. Then they fell apart spectacularly in the third quarter before attempting to rally in the fourth quarter, by which point it was too late.
The Cowboys’ schedule does not get much easier, ranking as the ninth-hardest the rest of the way, which is why our playoff predictor gives them a less than 10% chance of making the postseason. For them to have any chance, Dak Prescott has to play better than he is, ranking 24th in QB+ with a grade of D+. Without improvement from Prescott, this offense will not get to the point it needs to be to overcome the defense’s issues.
26) Tennessee Titans (1-6)
- Offense+ Rank: 31
- Defense+ Rank: 15
- Special Teams Rank: 31
- SOS Rank Through Week 8: 3
All the talk entering Week 8 was how the defense of the Tennessee Titans had been a bright spot for them, and then they got boat-raced by the Lions. While you can forgive a defense for having trouble with the Lions’ offense, this performance was the latest in a line of worsening performances from the Titans’ defense. It is now merely a league-average unit, incapable of protecting a poor offense.
It has been a particularly brutal start for the Titans, and things will get easier, but not to the point where we should consider them a playoff contender in any form. The biggest question going forward should be whether they address the quarterback position in the 2025 NFL Draft, as they may well be picking in the top five.
27) Cleveland Browns (2-6)
- Offense+ Rank: 32
- Defense+ Rank: 9
- Special Teams Rank: 3
- SOS Rank Through Week 8: 26
It was a special win for the Cleveland Browns in Week 8 for many reasons, and not least because this fan base had been clamoring for Jameis Winston for a while now. There was also a lot of emotion around the stadium following the passing of Jim Donovan, and whether that inspired the players is hard to judge, but it certainly added to the feeling around the game.
"You can't even write stories this good, folks"
It was an emotional finish in the radio booth for @NathanZegura and @AndrewSiciliano 📻 pic.twitter.com/Ltpe92dCjH
— Cleveland Browns (@Browns) October 27, 2024
The offense has been weighing this team down, and Winston gave them the boost they needed. They are a long way from being a challenger, but the defense and special teams are good, and the offense could now be close to the league average. The schedule is tough going forward, ranking as the fourth-hardest — that will be tough to overcome.
28) Jacksonville Jaguars (2-6)
- Offense+ Rank: 16
- Defense+ Rank: 30
- Special Teams Rank: 6
- SOS Rank Through Week 8: 16
It might have been the Jacksonville Jaguars’ sixth loss in Week 8, but the fact that they were able to compete with the Packers to that level is promising. A 30-27 result very much underlines what this team has been this year, with the offense being fine but the defense being a problem. Trevor Lawrence has been better in recent weeks, and they will need that to continue to have any shot of making a run.
The issue is that the remaining schedule ranks 11th-toughest the rest of the way, and there is not much room for error at this point. They have struggled in the red zone both offensively and defensively, which has been their undoing, especially offensively, where they rank 31st in points per game. Get better in those crucial spots and maybe they have a chance at a Wild Card spot.
29) Las Vegas Raiders (2-6)
- Offense+ Rank: 28
- Defense+ Rank: 21
- Special Teams Rank: 11
- SOS Rank Through Week 8: 8
We saw the Raiders throw everything at the Chiefs in Week 8, but it was not enough because this team is not very good overall. The schedule has been really tough (and will get easier), but we are still talking the 15th-toughest schedule the rest of the way. With Gardner Minshew back at quarterback and a lack of quality playmakers, it is hard to see how this offense improves.
The defense is below-league-average, despite having a star in Maxx Crosby and a defensive-minded coach, which is a huge shame. There are so many holes on this roster right now that the future looks pretty bleak.
30) Miami Dolphins (2-5)
- Offense+ Rank: 26
- Defense+ Rank: 14
- Special Teams Rank: 29
- SOS Rank Through Week 8: 32
We saw some signs of life for the Miami Dolphins in Week 8, but ultimately, they fell short once again. This time, it was the defense that really let them down; having entered the week ranked in the top 10, they finished it close to the league average. Chances are their strong performances were a product of a weak schedule to enter the year, and if so, then this offense needs to hit overdrive.
Having a league-average defense does not preclude you from challenging for the playoffs, but it means you need a top-10 offense at the very least. The Dolphins’ offense was good this week, ranking second among the 32 teams to take the field this week, which is a promising sign.
This team should only rise through these rankings in the coming weeks, but the ceiling is the uncertainty. It is not too late to make a run for the playoffs, and they face the 13th-easiest remaining schedule, so they have an outside chance of getting to 10-7 or 9-8. The margin of error is slim; they cannot afford too many more losses like Sunday.
31) New England Patriots (2-6)
- Offense+ Rank: 30
- Defense+ Rank: 28
- Special Teams Rank: 1
- SOS Rank Through Week 8: 19
A win over the Jets in Week 8 does not change anything about this team. They remain in a tier of their own in our Power Rankings. They are not as bad as the Panthers because being that bad is a special level reserved just for that team, but they are still a bad team overall. They rank in the bottom five for both offense and defense, and that shouldn’t be changing any time soon.
32) Carolina Panthers (1-7)
- Offense+ Rank: 27
- Defense+ Rank: 32
- Special Teams Rank: 21
- SOS Rank Through Week 8: 14
There is not much more left to say on this subject. This season has been one of the ugliest for any NFL team in recent memory. They should stick with Bryce Young because they have to find out if he can be a starter in the future. The focus cannot be on the results but on the offense’s performances. If he can get this offense to league-average acumen, maybe they have something.