Heading into Week 9, there are three tiers of NFL teams. Nine teams are 2-5 or worse. Those teams are in the race for the first overall pick.
There’s another tier of teams that are legitimate Super Bowl Contenders. The other tier? Middle of the pack. It can go either way. They can make the postseason or finish with a top-10 pick. With another week of action in the books, let’s dive into the latest edition of our 2025 NFL power rankings.
Who are the top-ranking NFL teams after week eight?
32. New York Jets (32)
Well, they kept it to within a score again! That counts for something…right?
Benching Justin Fields for Tyrod Taylor somehow made the Jets offense even worse, as the latter threw two interceptions against a lousy Carolina defense in a 13-6 loss. Putting the game in his hands instead of using the ground game was quite the choice by Aaron Glenn, too.
The Jets remain football’s last winless team at 0-and-7. At least they’ll have plenty of hot 2026 QB draft prospects to choose from.
31. Tennessee Titans (30)
New head coach, same old issues for the Titans. They didn’t look any better under interim HC Mike McCoy in a humiliating 31-13 loss to the Patriots.
The Patriots held the ball for 37:22. The Titans turned it over twice and allowed Cam Ward to take five sacks. There was hardly anything to like about McCoy’s Titans’ debut.
Now at 1-6, Titans fans may as well start familiarizing themselves with the top 2026 NFL Draft prospects. That’s the one thing to look forward to instead of 10 more games of this unwatchable product on the field.
30. Miami Dolphins (28)
As if the Dolphins hadn’t hit rock bottom already…they come into Cleveland and lose 31-6 to the Browns. Honest question: Are they just purposely tanking?
Tua Tagovailoa had 12 completions for 100 yards, no touchdowns, and three interceptions in the loss. Probably a bad time to mention that his $212.4 million contract just kicked in this season, too.
Other than that, it’s not horrible in Dolphins land at all.
29. New Orleans Saints (29)
The Saints, once again, kept it closer than expected against a significantly better and deeper opponent. But Spencer Rattler’s three interceptions, coupled with a horrific rush D that allowed 222 yards, were too much to overcome in a 26-14 loss to the Bears.
The 1-6 Saints are showing some fight, unlike the NFL teams below them on our list. But with the trade deadline looming and several key starters likely on the move, it might not be long until New Orleans falls into top-three pick territory.
28. Baltimore Ravens (27)
The Ravens got a much-needed bye week, giving Lamar Jackson more time to rest before Baltimore hosts Chicago in Week 8.
At 1-5, the Ravens likely have to go 10-1 the rest of the way to make the postseason. Will a healthy Lamar Jackson put on the Superman cape and save the day? It’s a daunting task, but crazier things have happened. And remember, Baltimore’s schedule is awfully friendly the rest of the way.
27. Las Vegas Raiders (25)
When we think of the Raiders, we immediately think of this iconic quote from Michael Clarke Duncan’s “John Coffey” character in The Green Mile: “I’m tired, boss.”
The Raiders might as well have forfeited instead of showing up for a 31-0 beatdown in Kansas City.. And KC did the Raiders a solid by pulling their starters in the fourth quarter; otherwise, it would have been worse.
Las Vegas had 95 total yards in Sunday’s shutout loss. Good thing Tom Brady wasn’t there to watch the latest installment, that is, the 2025 Raiders humiliating themselves.
26. Cleveland Browns (31)
Dillon Gabriel and the offense didn’t have to do a whole lot in this one. They had just 206 yards of offense, but the Browns defense broke the Dolphins with four takeaways and two sacks on Tua Tagovailoa.
Rookie running back Quinshon Judkins posted three touchdowns in the blowout of Miami. It’s early, yes, but the decision to trade down with Jacksonville from the No. 2 spot looks like a massive win for Cleveland. Judkins and Mason Graham have been much greater impact players than Travis Hunter thus far this NFL season.
25. Arizona Cardinals (24)
On one hand, the Cardinals can be happy about nearly upsetting the powerhouse Packers without Kyler Murray. On the other hand, they can kick themselves for another fourth-quarter meltdown. Getting outscored 14-3 in the final frame and questionable play-calling on your final drive deep in Green Bay territory? Ugh.
Losers of five straight, there are no moral losses in Arizona. The playoffs aren’t happening. Marvin Harrison Jr. still hasn’t come around as advertised. The rebuilt defense isn’t getting any timely stops.
It’s a mess in Arizona, with signs that it’s only gonna get worse.
24. New York Giants (23)
Oof. That’s gotta hurt.
The Giants led 26-8 on the heavily-favored Broncos with five minutes left, only to let the impossible unfold. After giving up three straight touchdowns, Jaxson Dart rushed in the go-ahead score with 37 seconds remaining. Now the Giants were gonna be okay.
Nope. Jude McAtamney missed the extra point, so the lead stayed at two. The Broncos orchestrated a surgical drive that culminated in Wil Lutz’s game-winning field goal…when it should have been a game-tying kick.
Brutal, brutal chokejob. A Dart masterclass was wasted because of the defense. Yeah, Brian Daboll is just hurting his case to stay on as head coach in the NFL.
23. Houston Texans (21)
Welp. Any hope the Texans had of turning their season around for a playoff push was just flushed down the toilet.
The Texans forced four Seattle takeaways in a late Monday night football clash and still lost 27-19. The main reasons? No pass protection for CJ Stroud, whose 25 rushing yards led the team. Drops from his receiver didn’t help, either.
At 2-4, the Texans aren’t making a comeback. Turn off the lights. Let’s just see if they can avoid the AFC South basement.
22. Cincinnati Bengals (26)
In a legitimate “Game of the Year” candidate, Joe Flacco outdueled Aaron Rodgers in the “Uncles Bowl” in prime-time. Flacco turned back the clock with a gutsy performance, throwing for 342 yards, three touchdowns, and no interceptions in a 33-31 win over the Steelers.
At 3-4, the Bengals still have plenty of work to do. But if Flacco can follow the simple formula of feeding Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, who’s to say the Bengals can’t climb back into the wide-open AFC wild-card race?
21. Minnesota Vikings (19)
If JJ McCarthy’s return date is still unclear, the Vikings really need to bring in another quarterback. That has to be the last straw with Carson Wentz.
Wentz had two brutal interceptions in a 28-22 loss to the Eagles. They had every opportunity to win this game, but Wentz’s horrendous decision-making cost Minny. And did you see their remaining schedule? Gulp. What did these guys do to the NFL schedule makers?
Panic time in Minnesota, folks.
20. Washington Commanders (18)
Speaking of 2024 NFC playoff teams that need to panic…
The Commanders were playing terrible football before Jayden Daniels left in the third quarter with a hamstring injury. The comeback hopes in Dallas were over once he left, and Dallas made easy work of their NFC East foes with a 44-22 victory.
Washington lost five games last year. They’ve now lost four, and the schedule does no favors with the Chiefs, Seahawks, and Lions next on the schedule. It’s sink-or-swim mode in Washington, ladies and gentlemen.
19. Atlanta Falcons (17)
A maddening loss for the Falcons after a statement home win over the Buffalo Bills on Monday night. Just brutal.
The Falcons played like a team that didn’t get its beauty sleep, falling 20-10 to a banged-up 49ers team without its starting quarterback, two best defensive players, and top-two wide receivers. At 3-3, the Falcons are a mushy-middle NFL team that can’t seem to decide whether they wanna contend or miss the playoffs for the eighth straight year.
18. Dallas Cowboys (22)
The Jekyll-and-Hyde squad that is the 2025 Cowboys continues. Lose-win, lose-tie, lose-win. This time, a 44-22 demolition of the Commanders.
The Cowboys are who they are unless Jerry Jones has a big trade or two up his sleeve. This offense is as explosive as any other at full strength. The defense leaves a lot to be desired, but at least the Dak Prescott-led offense is enough to keep Dallas in the playoff race.
17. Carolina Panthers (20)
Don’t look now, but Dave Canales’ Panthers are 4-3 and very much in the playoff race after defeating the hapless Jets in a defensive slugfest.
We know the soft schedule has helped them pile up the W’s, but any Carolina fan would take a 4-3 start considering they lost their first two games. They get the chance to make a real statement to the rest of the NFL with the Bills coming to visit on Sunday.
16. Jacksonville Jaguars (12)
After a sloppy home loss to the Seattle Seahawks, the Jags traveled to London and got manhandled by the Los Angeles Rams 35-7.
Trevor Lawrence was sacked seven times on the day. Travis Etienne Jr. was held to 44 rushing yards. Though Travis Hunter finally broke through with his first 100-yard game and NFL touchdown, Brian Thomas Jr. was once again invisible.
It’s insane how the Jags are 4-3 at this point despite a tough schedule and a very frustrating passing game. Now on a bye week, Jacksonville has to figure out what’s going on with Thomas if they’re to get this offense going and stick around in the NFL playoff race.
15. Los Angeles Chargers (10)
The Chargers certainly look to be running out of gas with an unfortunate onslaught of injuries to key players. They were no match for Daniel Jones and the visiting Colts, who made easy work of Jim Harbaugh’s squad by a final score of 38-24.
The Bolts have now lost three of four following a perfect 3-0 start and no longer occupy the top spot in the AFC West. With a tough schedule ahead, Thursday’s showdown with Minnesota feels like a must-win.
14. Chicago Bears (16)
Hey, hey, what do you say? The Bears took down New Orleans 26-14 for their fourth straight win. And to think everyone in Windy City was freaking out after a 0-2 start.
As D’Andre Swift continues to get better in Johnson’s offense, Dennis Allen’s D is starting to figure it out after a horrific start as well. Chicago’s next four games are against teams that are .500 or worse, so don’t count them out in the race for the NFC North.
13. Kansas City Chiefs (15)
BREAKING: The Chiefs are back, and the dynasty is NOT over.
As expected, Rashee Rice’s return jolted the offense. He finished with two touchdowns on a day where KC outgained the Raiders 434-95 in total yards.
Throw in a Chargers loss to Indy, and it was a great week for Kansas City. They’ve won four of five following a 0-2 start. And it’s only gonna get better with Rice and Xavier Worthy improving the chemistry with Patrick Mahomes.
12. Pittsburgh Steelers (3)
This week’s most significant letdown loss has to go to the Steelers, who gave up 33 points to a Joe Burrow-less Bengals offense in a heartbreaking loss on Thursday night. Win that game, and they inch even closer to the AFC North.
But the Steelers let the Bengals plant a seed of doubt with 40-year-old Joe Flacco putting on a Burrow-like performance. But there’s little time to fret. They gotta turn the page and turn to the Packers in what will be a significant revenge game for Aaron Rodgers.
11. Buffalo Bills (8)
The Bills were on a bye week, buying more time to fix up some uncharacteristic mistakes before the second half stretch run. Things are a bit tense in Orchard Park right now, with the surging Patriots suddenly looking like the new team to beat in the AFC East.
10. Seattle Seahawks (13)
Despite four giveaways, the Seahawks made easy work of the visiting Texans in a 27-19 victory. The rushing game, Jaxson-Smith Njigba, and Mike Macdonald’s lights-out defense did the heavy lifting as Seattle picked up its fifth win in six games.
Seattle sure looks poised to end its three-year playoff drought in the NFL. Can they outlast the 49ers and Rams for the division crown? Time will tell, but 5-2 is a beautiful mark heading into the bye week.
9. Philadelphia Eagles (11)
…And all is well in Philly again for one week, at least.
Jalen Hurts and the Eagles’ passing game finally got going after consecutive losses, with the reigning Super Bowl MVP throwing for 326 yards and three touchdowns in a 28-22 victory over Minnesota.
DeVonta Smith and AJ Brown each finished with over 100 yards receiving and combined for three touchdowns. If they can do that against an elite Vikings’ defense, what’s stopping the defending champs from doing that more consistently going forward?
Buffalo has to visit a red-hot Carolina team in Week 8 before hosting the archrival Chiefs at Highmark Stadium two weeks later. In other words, they really need prime Josh Allen to return after consecutive sloppy performances.
8. San Francisco 49ers (9)
Another crisp and tidy performance by Kyle Shanahan’s 49ers, who keep gutting out wins no matter how many star players are missing.
Two hundred one yards from scrimmage and two touchdowns on Christian McCaffrey’s end paced the offense, with Robert Saleh’s defense turning in a lights-out performance after a horrific Week 6 performance in Tampa.
The 5-2 49ers are going to get healthy bodies back soon. Five of their next seven games are against teams without a winning record. Everything is pointing up in 49er land.
7. New England Patriots (14)
Don’t look now, but Drake Maye’s MVP-like run has guided New England to four straight wins and put it in sole possession of first in the AFC East. And, oh yeah, they’re in contention for the conference’s top seed.
Maye completed 91.3 percent of pass attempts in Sunday’s demolition, breaking Tom Brady’s single-game franchise record. He has seven touchdowns and zero picks during the four-game winning streak. And the New England defense has held NFL opponents to 20 points or fewer in each contest.
Yeah, the Patriots are finally back, folks.
6. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1)
There’s no shame in losing on the road to the Lions. The Bucs’ main concern is the health of Mike Evans, who may be done for the season after suffering a broken collarbone.
Hard not to feel for the Bucs and the future Hall of Famer. They still have Chris Godwin and Emeka Egbuka at wideout, yes, but this offense just functions at another level with Evans in the fold. Tampa still has the NFC South on cruise control, but the amount of injuries they’ve suffered will likely prevent the desired first-round bye.
5. Detroit Lions (7)
It wasn’t their prettiest showing offensively, but Dan Campbell’s Lions outlasted an injury-ravaged Buccaneers team 24-9 on ‘Monday Night Football’ for their fifth win in six outings.
Just another day at the office for Jahmyr Gibbs, who had 218 yards of offense and two total touchdowns. And don’t overlook the Lions D that has now held opponents to 17 points or fewer in three of their last four games.
The race for the NFC North division crown with the Packers is gonna be a dandy.
4. Green Bay Packers (6)
In the NFL, you take a victory in any style. The Packers had no business letting the Cardinals keep it that close with a backup quarterback in place, but we suppose it’s healthy to build up that close-game experience ahead of the postseason.
Green Bay is a clean 4-1-1 with old friend Aaron Rodgers, and the Steelers are next on the schedule.
3. Denver Broncos (5)
The Broncos looked done for when the Giants held a 26-8 lead in the fourth quarter. But Sean Payton’s resilient bunch pulled off one of the greatest regular-season comebacks in league history, putting up 33 points in the fourth quarter to squeak out a thrilling 33-32 win.
Winners of four straight, Denver sits atop the AFC West with a 5-2 record. Up next, a can’t-miss showdown with Dak Prescott’s Cowboys. A classic elite offense vs. elite defense showdown.
2. Los Angeles Rams (4)
The Rams had one of the biggest statement wins of Week 7, traveling to London and demolishing the Jaguars 35-7. How about five touchdowns from Matt Stafford to put a stamp on the statement?
The Rams have allowed just 10 points since their stunning Week 5 loss to the 49ers. They head into the bye week with a tidy 5-2 record and the one-win Saints next on the schedule.
1. Indianapolis Colts (2)
The Colts just keep finding new ways to impress.
After victories over non-contending Raiders and Cardinals teams, the Colts traveled to the West Coast and humiliated the Chargers 38-24. I mean, what do you do when Jones is having an MVP-like year with Jonathan Taylor, Alec Pierce, Tyler Warren, and Michael Pittman Jr. as his main weapons?
Oh, and don’t overlook a defense that’s up to 11 takeaways and 19 sacks on the year. The AFC’s top seed just keeps on rolling, with no signs of slowing down.
