By Bill Seals - Fred Altieri
Sports Reporters - PFWA Members 

2023 NFL Power Rankings – Week 8

 

October 26, 2023

Brevin Townsell - LA Rams

Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua - 8 catches / 154 yards vs Steelers on Sunday

1. Kansas City Chiefs (6-1): Quarterback Patrick Mahomes took advantage of the Chargers porous pass defense to throw for 424 yards and four touchdowns in 31-17 win over the Chargers. Travis Kelce caught 12 passes for 179 yards and one touchdown. The Chiefs have a three-game lead in the AFC West over the second-place Raiders. Next: -7.5 at Denver Broncos - Sun, Oct. 29 – O/U: 46.5 (ATS: 5-2 – O/U: 2-5)

2. Philadelphia Eagles (6-1): The Eagles got tested in Philadelphia and passed the test, defeating the Dolphins, 31-17. The Eagles held the high-powered Dolphins offense to 244 yards and one offensive touchdown. Next: -6.5 vs Washington Commanders – Sun, Oct. 30 – O/U: 43.5 (ATS: 4-2-1 – O/U: 3-4)

3. Baltimore Ravens (5-2): Quarterback Lamar Jackson had one of the best games of his career, completing 21 of 27 passes for 357 yards, and three touchdowns in leading the Ravens to a rout of the Lions, 38-6. The Ravens gave the NFL a look at how good their offense can be, and it was impressive. Next: -8.5 at Arizona Cardinals – Sun, Oct. 29 – O/U 44 (ATS: 5-2 – O/U: 2-5)

4. Jacksonville Jaguars (5-2): Quarterback Trevor Lawrence threw for 204 yards and rushed for 59 yards in a 31-24 victory over the Saints. Lawrence has 206 yards rushing through seven games. Next: -2.5 at Pittsburgh Steelers - Sun, Oct. 29 – O/U: 41.5 (ATS: 5-2 – O/U: 4-3)

5. Dallas Cowboys (4-2): The Cowboys are coming off a bye and they need to get their offensive weapons going. Running back Tony Pollard, wide receiver CeeDee Lamb, wide receiver Brandin Cooks, and tight end Jake Ferguson are all capable of contributing more on offense. Next: -6.5 vs Los Angeles Rams - Sun, Oct. 29 – O/U: 45 (ATS: 4-2 – O/U: 3-3

6. San Francisco 49ers (5-2): The 49ers lost their second consecutive game, both on the road, this one to the Vikings, 22-17. Christian McCaffrey scored both 49ers touchdowns, extending his consecutive touchdown streak to 16 games. Next: -3.5 vs Cincinnati Bengals – Sun, Oct. 29 – O/U: 43.5 (ATS: 4-3 – O/U: 4-3)

7. Miami Dolphins (5-2): The Dolphins struggled offensively in a 31-17 loss to the Eagles. Wide receiver Tyreek Hill had 11 receptions for 88 yards and one touchdown as he continued on a pace for over 150 receptions and over 2,000 yards. Next: -9.5 vs New England Patriots - Sun, Oct. 29 – O/U: 47 (ATS: 5-2 – O/U: 4-3)

8. Detroit Lions (5-2): The Lions were on a roll going into Baltimore, and then got physically rolled by the Ravens, 38-6. The Lions turned into paper Lions in this game and need to prove this Sunday that the loss to the blowout loss to the Ravens was an aberration. Next: -8.5 vs Las Vegas Raiders – Mon, Oct. 30 – O/U: 45.5 (ATS: 5-2 – O/U: 4-3)

9. Cleveland Browns (4-2): The Browns survived to beat the Colts, 39-38 in Indianapolis. The Browns defense had held opponents to 200 yards per game on defense but were shredded for 456 yards by the Colts offense. Next: +3.5 at Seattle Seahawks – Sun, Oct. 29 – O/U: 38.5 (ATS: 3-3 – O/U: 3-3)

10. Buffalo Bills (4-3): Despite losing on Sunday, the Bills got rookie tight end Dalton Kincaid going on Sunday. Kincaid, a first-round draft pick out of Utah, caught 8 passes for 75 yards. The Bills need to get him going and find a running attack that is not centered on quarterback Josh Allen to become a complete offensive unit. Next: -8.5 vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Thu, Oct. 26 – O/U: 42.5 (ATS: 3-4 – O/U: 3-4)

11. Seattle Seahawks (4-2): Former UCLA wide receiver Jake Bobo caught four passes for 61 yards, which included a terrific toe-tap catch along the sideline for an 18-yard touchdown reception in the Seahawks win over the Cardinals. Next: -3.5 vs Cleveland Browns - Sun, Oct. 29 – O/U: 38.5 (ATS: 4-2 – O/U: 2-4)

12. Pittsburgh Steelers (4-2): The Steelers have perfected winning ugly and took another ugly win on Sunday in defeating the Rams, 24-17. The Steelers are proof that a good head coach can find a way to win games and get the most out of a roster that is not great. Next: +2.5 vs Jacksonville Jaguars – Sun, Oct. 29 – O/U: 41.5 (ATS: 4-2 – O/U: 1-5)

13. Minnesota Vikings (3-4): The Vikings may have saved their season with a 22-17 win over the 49ers. The Vikings have a favorable schedule over the next five weeks, which could help them make a playoff run. Rookie first round pick Jordan Addison continues to impress at wide receiver, catching 7 passes for 123 yards and two touchdowns. Next: -1.5 at Green Bay Packers – Sun, Oct. 29 – O/U: 42.5 (ATS: 3-3-1 – O/U: 1-6)

14. Cincinnati Bengals (3-3): The Bengals are coming off their bye week and should be well rested. They will need to be with their upcoming opponents in the next five weeks: The 49ers, the Bills, the Texans, the Ravens, the Steelers. Next: +3.5 at San Francisco 49ers – Sun, Oct. 29 – O/U 43.5 (ATS: 2-3-1 – O/U: 2-4)

15. Los Angeles Rams (3-4): Rookie wide receiver Puka Nacua continued his torrid receiving pace catching 8 passes for 154 yards in the Rams loss to the Steelers. Nacua leads the NFL in receptions with 58 through seven games and is third in receiving yardage with 752. Competitive in every game this season, the Rams have been their own worst enemy. The team did address the kicking issue by releasing Brett Maher on Tuesday and signing former Arizona Wildcat kicker Lucas Havrisik on Wednesday. Next: +6.5 at Dallas Cowboys – Sun, Oct. 29 – O/U: 45 (ATS: 4-2-1 – O/U: 2-5)

13. Atlanta Falcons (4-3): Despite three lost fumbles from quarterback Desmond Ritter, the Falcons managed to defeat the Buccaneers, 16-13 in Tampa Bay, on a 51-yard field goal from kicker Younghoe Koo with no time left on the clock. Next: -2.5 at Tennessee Titans – Sun, Oct. 29 – O/U: 35.5 (ATS: 2-5 – O/U: 1-6)

17. Houston Texans (3-3): The Texans are coming off a bye. The Texans are starting five rookies: Quarterback C.J. Stroud, defensive end Will Anderson, wide receiver Tak Dell, linebacker Henry To'oTo'o, and center Jarrett Patterson. The team has a bright future. Next: -3 at Carolina Panthers – Sun, Oct. 29 – O/U 43.5 (ATS: 4-2 – O/U: 2-4)

18. New York Jets (3-3): The Jets are coming off a bye and have seemed to find a formula that works for them. Good defense, committed to running the football, good special teams play and mistake free football. Of course, that is a formula that should work for every NFL team. Next: -3 at New York Giants - Sun, Oct. 29 – O/U: 36.5 (ATS: 4-2 – O/U: 3-3)

19. New Orleans Saints (3-4): The Saints were unable to hold on defensively to the Jaguars in a 31-24 loss. But the defense is not the problem with the Saints. They struggled to run the ball against the Jags and quarterback Derek Carr threw a costly pick-six interception. Next: +1.5 at Indianapolis Colts – Sun, Oct. 29 – O/U: 43.5 (ATS: 1-5-1 – O/U: 1-6)

20. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3-4): The Bucs found a way to lose at home to the Falcons, 16-13 on a 51-yard field goal with no time left on the clock. The Bucs could not run the football, had costly penalties, and an interception from quarterback Baker Mayfield did not help. Next: +8.5 at Buffalo Bills - Thu, Oct. 26 – O/U: 42.5 (ATS: 3-3 – O/U: 1-5)

21. Indianapolis Colts (3-4): Colts quarterback Gardner Minshew is the starter for the remainder of the season unless a trade occurs before the trade deadline of October 31st. Minshew threw for 305 yards and two touchdowns but had four turnovers in the loss to the Browns. Next: -1.5 vs New Orleans Saints – Sun, Oct. 29 – O/U: 43.5 (ATS: 4-3 – O/U: 5-2)

22. Washington Commanders (3-4): The Commanders 14-7 loss to the Giants seemed like a missed opportunity for the Commanders. Any shot at the playoffs will not happen if a team cannot score more than seven points in a game, especially versus the Giants. Next: +6.5 at Philadelphia Eagles – Sun, Oct. 29 – O/U: 43.5 (ATS: 3-4 – O/U: 3-4)

23. Tennessee Titans (2-4): The Titans are coming off their bye week and made headlines trading two-time All-Pro safety Kevin Byard to the Eagles for safety Terrell Edmunds, a fifth round and six round draft picks in the 2024 NFL draft. Will running back Derrick Henry be traded? Next: +2.5 vs Atlanta Falcons – Sun, Oct. 29 – O/U: 35.5 (ATS: 3-3 – O/U: 1-5)

24. Green Bay Packers (2-4): The Packers lost a winnable game in Denver, 19-17. The Packers are young and are going to make mistakes. But quarterback Jordan Love has to learn that throwing a deep ball into double coverage with 1:40 left in the game and trailing by two points is not a smart move. Next: +1.5 vs Minnesota Vikings - Sun, Oct. 29 – O/U: 42.5 (ATS: 3-3 – O/U: 3-3)

25. Los Angeles Chargers (2-4): The Chargers lost to the Chiefs again, 31-17 in Kansas City. Playing what Chick Hearn would have described as a "matador defense," the Chargers gave up 321 passing yards and three touchdowns passes in the first half. Justin Herbert and the offense failed to score in the second half, as the struggles as the offensive struggles continue. Hmmm... Charger fans wondering what the problem could be. Next: -8.5 vs Chicago Bears - Sun, Oct. 29 – O/U: 46.5 (ATS: 2-4 – O/U: 2-4)

26. Chicago Bears (2-5): Backup quarterback Tyson Bagent, who played his college football at Shepherd University in West Virginia, led the Bears to an impressive 30-12 win over the Raiders. Bagent completed 21 of 29 passes for 162 yards and one touchdown, adding 24 yards rushing on three carries. The key statistic for the Bears was no turnovers. Next: +8.5 at Los Angeles Chargers - Sun, Oct. 29 – O/U: 46.5 (ATS: 2-4-1 – O/U: 6-1)

27. Las Vegas Raiders (3-4): The Raiders are coming off an embarrassing 30-12 loss to the Bears. The Raiders are struggling to score points, cannot run the football, lead the NFL in turnover ratio with a -10 and are wasting the talents of wide receiver Davante Adams and running back Josh Jacobs. Next: +8.5 at Detroit Lions - Mon, Oct. 30 – O/U: 45.5 (ATS: 3-4 – O/U: 2-5)

28. New York Giants (2-5): The Giants held on for a 14-7 win over the Commanders. The Giants got six sacks from the defense and 118 yards in total offense from running back Saquon Barkley, including a 32-yard touchdown reception in the victory. Next: +3 vs New York Jets – Sun, Oct. 29 – O/U: 36.5 (ATS: 2-5 – O/U: 1-6)

29. New England Patriots (2-5): Just when you thought the Patriots were finally dead, they managed to rise up again for a stunning upset victory over the Bills. The Patriots came into the game averaging 12 points per game, but somehow managed to score 29 points in defeating the Bills. Next: +9.5 at Miami Dolphins – Sun, Oct. 29 – O/U: 47 (ATS: 2-5 – O/U: 2-5)

30. Denver Broncos (2-5): The Broncos edged the Packers in Denver, 19-17. The Broncos have close wins over the Packers and Bears. The are still looking for their first AFC win and the next two weeks versus the Chiefs and Bills will be challenging for them, to say the least. Next: +7.5 vs Kansas City Chiefs - Sun, Oct. 29 – O/U: 46.5 (ATS: 1-5-1 – O/U: 4-3)

Mike Nowak - LA Chargers

Chargers wide receiver Josh Palmer - 5 catches / 133 yards vs Chiefs on Sunday

31. Arizona Cardinals (1-6): The Cardinals lost again, this time to the Seahawks, 20-10. The real story on the Cardinals is when will quarterback Kyler Murray will be on the field for a real game. Murray, coming off an ACL injury from last season, has the ability to make the Cardinals a better team this season and add some explosiveness to the Cardinals offensive unit. Next: +8.5 vs Baltimore Ravens - Sun, Oct. 29 – O/U: 44 (ATS: 3-4 – O/U: 4-3)

32. Carolina Panthers (0-6): The Panthers are coming off their bye week, and hopefully they are ready to win a few games, since their first-round pick belongs to the Bears. This week's battle features Panthers quarterback Bryce Young vs. quarterback C.J. Stroud of the Texans. Young was the first pick in the 2023 NFL Draft and Stroud was the 2nd pick of the 2023 NFL Draft. Young and Stroud have been friends since their middle school days in Southern California. Next: +3 vs Houston Texans - Sun, Oct. 29 – O/U: 43.5 (ATS: 0-5-1 – O/U: 3-3)

 

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