AC 2010 NFL power rankings week 8

Seven weeks into the 2010 NFL season and one conference is much, much better than the other. These power rankings are for week 8 of the season.

"So, are you putting any NFC teams in the top ten of your power rankings this week?" a buddy asked me on Sunday night. I did, but only two. It's actually somewhat astonishing how much better the AFC is than the NFC at this point of the season. Other than the Giants and Falcons, I don't know if there's a team in the NFC that would make the playoffs in the AFC. Well, maybe in the AFC West.

32. Buffalo Bills (0-6): Getting closer, Buffalo, but the only winless team in football remains last in my NFL power rankings. Don't see that changing with a trip to Kansas City coming up.

31. Dallas Cowboys (1-5): Not a typo in the slightest. The Cowboys are the NFL's most disappointing team and their season died a death on Monday when they lost Tony Romo(notes). Things could not possibly get worse for the Cowboys right now.

30. San Francisco 49ers (1-6): Mad Mike says these guys can still make the playoffs. Know what? I'm not even going to come up with a punch line. That sentence is joke enough.

29. Denver Broncos (2-5): The Broncos are bad. They're really bad. And Kyle Orton(notes) has started to play like, well, Kyle Orton.

28. Carolina Panthers (1-5): Hey, no worries about a winless season this year. That's a plus.

27. Detroit Lions (1-5): The Lions are getting healthier with each week, and they've got a few big wins in them once November comes. You just wait.

26. San Diego Chargers (2-5): The not-so-super Chargers are banged up. They're making bad mistakes. It's probably time for a coaching change. Bad times in San Diego.

25. Cincinnati Bengals (2-4): Will the Bengals manage to play a full 60 minutes once in 2010? Another disappointing team.

24. Minnesota Vikings (2-4): This Brett Favre(notes) thing has gone from kind of funny to really sad. The Vikes need to save their season by telling the old man to have a seat.

23. Cleveland Browns (2-5): Good for the Browns, who beat the defending Super Bowl champs for the third straight year. They're another squad that has a few surprise wins in them during the second half of the year.

22. Jacksonville Jaguars (3-4): The Jags are so bad on D, a Jon Kitna(notes)-led offense might beat them. Really.

21. Arizona Cardinals (3-3): A slightly concussed Max Hall(notes) or a healthy Derek Anderson(notes)? Yeah, I'd start the woozy guy, too.

20. St. Louis Rams (3-4): The Rams move up in my power rankings despite the loss because, quite honestly, I do think they're better than any of the teams ranked 21-32 at this point.

19. Oakland Raiders (3-4): Can't get too excited about Oakland's big win. Again, Denver is a terrible football team.

18. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-2): The Bucs have yet to beat a team that's over .500. The 4-2 record counts all the same, though.

17. Chicago Bears (4-3): Jay Cutler(notes) and his offensive line are absolutely killing this team. Throwing four interceptions when facing the Redskins pass defense is inexcusable.

16. Miami Dolphins (3-3): Yeah, the fumble/non-fumble thing sucks. You've got to score touchdowns to win in this league, Miami.

15. Seattle Seahawks (4-2): The Seahawks are still difficult to figure out, but they've finally won two straight games. A real playoff team wins in Oakland this Sunday.

14. New Orleans Saints (4-3): Four interceptions. A loss at home to the Browns. Injuries on offense. The Saints are lucky to be this high in power rankings.

13. Washington Redskins (4-3): The Redskins are finding ways to win, but does anybody really think that, after seven weeks of football, this is a top ten team?

12. Philadelphia Eagles (4-3): I wanted to believe in the Eagles, but then that whole "27 points in the fourth quarter" thing happened. They get Vick back after the bye week. Then they get the Colts.

11. Green Bay Packers (4-3): Brett Favre gave the Packers the game, and they still almost found a way to blow it.

10. Kansas City Chiefs (4-2): Give the Chiefs some credit for bouncing back after two straight losses. They should be able to beat Buffalo in week 8.

9. Houston Texans (4-2): Will the Houston pass defense be able to stop Peyton Manning(notes) this week? I say no, as Manning gets revenge for that first week loss.

8. Indianapolis Colts (4-2): Peyton Manning is without several targets. Who will step up for the Indy offense?

7. Atlanta Falcons (5-2): The Falcons really didn't want to win last Sunday. Hey, neither did Cincy.

6. New York Giants (5-2): The Big Blue Wrecking Crew has knocked out five QBs this season. That's just scary.

5. Baltimore Ravens (5-2): Can't believe they almost lost at home to the Bills. I couldn't argue if you put the Ravens lower after that game.

4. Tennessee Titans (5-2): I was impressed with Tennessee's victory on Sunday, and they've got a solid red zone defense.

3. New England Patriots (5-1): New England is doing it again, and you just know the Pats aren't going anywhere.

2. Pittsburgh Steelers (5-1): Luck is fine and all, but having it certainly doesn't keep Pittsburgh at the top of my NFL power rankings.

1. New York Jets (5-1): The Jets, Giants and Red Bulls (yes, an MLS reference): New York football rules at the end of October.

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