Arizona Sports NFL Power Rankings Week 8: Eagles No. 1, Patriots creep up

Oct 24, 2017, 4:22 PM

Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Nelson Agholor (13) celebrates with teammates, after catching a touchdown pass form quarterback Carson Wentz, second form left, during the second half of an NFL football game against the Washington Redskins, Monday, Oct. 23, 2017, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

(AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

BY VINCE MAROTTA

Arizona Sports

As we near the midway point of the 2017 NFL season, the search is still on for at least one great team.

The Philadelphia Eagles, who got four more touchdown passes from Carson Wentz in a 34-24 win over the Washington Redskins Monday night, appear to be the closest thing to that adjective. Wentz has been spectacular, with 11 touchdowns and two interceptions over his last three games — all Philly wins. In fact, the Eagles have reeled off five straight wins to retain the top spot in our Arizona Sports NFL Power Rankings.

The New England Patriots had their best defensive effort of the season, holding Atlanta to 343 yards and seven points in a 16-point win over the Falcons in a Super Bowl rematch in Foxborough. Despite looking downright average over the season’s first four weeks, the Pats have won three straight to move up to No. 2.

As far as our hometown Arizona Cardinals, well, yeah. After making their biggest jump in Week 7, the Cardinals plummeted once again thanks to a 33-0 beatdown on English soil at the hands of the Los Angeles Rams.

Here’s a look at the 1-32 pecking order from our panel heading into Week 8.

Ties will go to the team that receives the majority of higher rankings from our panel.

Burns | Jurecki | Lapinski | Marotta | Morgan

Biggest Risers: Jacksonville Jaguars ▲10
Biggest Fallers: Denver Broncos ▼10

1. Philadelphia Eagles (6-1)

Shift: —
Hi: 1
Lo: 2
Comment: Carson Wentz made his MVP case on MNF, but losing nine-time Pro Bowl LT Jason Peters is a blow. — Morgan
Next: vs. San Francisco

2. New England Patriots (5-2)

Shift: ▲1
Hi: 1
Lo: 2
Comment: Patriots 3-0 on the road and 2-2 at home. Defense is getting better. — Jurecki
Next: vs. LA Chargers

3. Pittsburgh Steelers (5-2)

Shift: ▲1
Hi: 3
Lo: 5
Comment: For the latest Steelers news, check Martavis Bryant’s Instagram page. — Lapinski
Next: at Detroit (Sunday night)

4. Kansas City Chiefs (5-2)

Shift: ▼2
Hi: 3
Lo: 7
Comment: Showing some cracks the last couple of weeks. — Burns
Next: vs. Denver (Monday night)

5. Seattle Seahawks (4-2)

Shift: —
Hi: 3
Lo: 7
Comment: Russell Wilson is a marvel. — Marotta
Next: vs. Houston

6. Los Angeles Rams (5-2)

Shift: ▲1
Hi: 5
Lo: 6
Comment: The Rams turned the NFC West into a two-team race with a knockout blow to the Cardinals and QB Carson Palmer. — Morgan
Next: Bye Week

7. Minnesota Vikings (5-2)

Shift: ▲3
Hi: 3
Lo: 8
Comment: Playing a back up quarterback in Case Keenum and they are 5-2 in the NFC North. — Jurecki
Next: at Cleveland

8. New Orleans Saints (4-2)

Shift: ▲6
Hi: 8
Lo: 13
Comment: Only the Eagles (five in a row) are on a longer winning streak than the Saints (four) right now. — Lapinski
Next: vs. Chicago

9. Dallas Cowboys (3-3)

Shift: ▲7
Hi: 6
Lo: 13
Comment: Ezekiel Elliott celebrated his legal reprieve from suspension with 219 yards from scrimmage and a career-high 3 TDs. — Morgan
Next: at Washington

10. Jacksonville Jaguars (4-3)

Shift: ▲10
Hi: 9
Lo: 14
Comment: Nobody’s allowing less points per game (15.7) than the Jags. Let that sink in. — Lapinski
Next: Bye Week

11. Houston Texans (3-3)

Shift: ▲1
Hi: 9
Lo: 18
Comment: Coming off the bye week and they get Duane Brown back at LT. — Marotta
Next: at Seattle

12. Buffalo Bills (4-2)

Shift: ▲5
Hi: 9
Lo: 16
Comment: Tyrod Taylor finding ways to win, McCoy still effective in the running game. — Jurecki
Next: vs. Oakland

13. Washington Redskins (3-3)

Shift: ▼2
Hi: 10
Lo: 17
Comment: Look at their losses, they’re not that bad. — Burns
Next: vs. Dallas

14. Atlanta Falcons (3-3)

Shift: ▼6
Hi: 12
Lo: 20
Comment: The high-flying Falcons offense has scored 17 or less in three straight games. — Marotta
Next: at NY Jets

15. Carolina Panthers (4-3)

Shift: ▼9
Hi: 10
Lo: 20
Comment: I don’t know what makes me laugh more: Cam’s constant turnovers or his ridiculous wardrobe. — Marotta
Next: at Tampa Bay

16. Miami Dolphins (4-2)

Shift: ▲6
Hi: 10
Lo: 25
Comment: Miami has won 12 straight games when the margin is seven points or less. The NFL record is 14. — Morgan
Next: at Baltimore (Thursday night)

17. Detroit Lions (3-3)

Shift: ▼2
Hi: 14
Lo: 20
Comment: Very middle-of-the-road NFL team. — Burns
Next: vs. Pittsburgh

18. Green Bay Packers (4-3)

Shift: ▼5
Hi: 13
Lo: 22
Comment: Hard to take them seriously without Aaron Rodgers. — Lapinski
Next: Bye Week

19. Denver Broncos (3-3)

Shift: ▼10
Hi: 15
Lo: 19
Comment: Quarterbacks and O-line struggling; the defense can only do so much. — Jurecki
Next: at Kansas City

20. Tennessee Titans (4-3)

Shift: —
Hi: 15
Lo: 21
Comment: Can’t feel great about needing overtime to beat the Browns in a battle of field goals. — Marotta
Next: Bye Week

21. Oakland Raiders (3-4)

Shift: ▲4
Hi: 12
Lo: 27
Comment: They don’t really need Beast Mode do they? — Burns
Next: at Buffalo

22. Los Angeles Chargers (3-4)

Shift: ▲5
Hi: 17
Lo: 23
Comment: Winners of three straight — and nearly won three of their first four, too. — Lapinski
Next: at New England

23. Baltimore Ravens (3-4)

Shift: ▼2
Hi: 21
Lo: 25
Comment: Going 1-4 against teams outside of Ohio probably won’t get it done. — Lapinski
Next: vs. Miami (Thursday night)

24. Arizona Cardinals (3-4)

Shift: ▼6
Hi: 22
Lo: 27
Comment: A sorry day in London town laid the Cardinals low and has the Valley down. — Morgan
Next: Bye Week

25. New York Jets (3-4)

Shift: ▼2
Hi: 20
Lo: 28
Comment: They had a chance to win a division game on the road against the Dolphins but McCown threw an interception. — Jurecki
Next: vs. Atlanta

26. Chicago Bears (3-4)

Shift: ▲2
Hi: 23
Lo: 29
Comment: I knew I should have picked up Eddie Jackson for my fantasy team. Bears beat Panthers by two TDs with 153 yards. — Jurecki
Next: at New Orleans

27. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2-4)

Shift: ▼3
Hi: 24
Lo: 28
Comment: The Bucs were a fashionable preseason playoff pick. Two months later, Tampa is so out of fashion. — Morgan
Next: vs. Carolina

28. Cincinnati Bengals (2-4)

Shift: ▼2
Hi: 26
Lo: 28
Comment: Starting to think Vontaze Burfict and the Steelers don’t like each other. — Lapinski
Next: vs. Indianapolis