After losing two games in a row, the Denver Broncos (6-2) have turned things around with back-to-back wins in games they had to have. Now, the team must get focused and ready to travel to Oakland for a game that could very well decide the AFC West.
The power rankings for all 32 teams are back this week so let’s take a look at where each team comes in at the midway point of the season.
32. Cleveland Browns (0-8): Could we witness the NFL’s second 0-16 season? It’s not that far fetched. The Browns host Dallas in Week 9, so that zero is unlikely to go away this week.
31. San Francisco 49ers (1-6): The Niners just had their bye week, but will they have solved any of their problems in that time? Not likely.
30. Jacksonville Jaguars (2-5): It’s been a truly disappointing season for the Jags, one that has cost offensive coordinator Greg Olson his job. Will head coach Gus Bradley be next?
29. Chicago Bears (2-6): Though a win over the Minnesota Vikings on Monday Night Football was impressive, this is still a really bad football team.
28. New York Jets (3-5): A win over the Browns isn’t going to do much to change people’s perception of this team, including Joe Namath, who called for a QB change to Bryce Petty.
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27. Indianapolis Colts (3-5): The Colts managed to knock Alex Smith out of the game twice in Week 8, only to watch Nick Foles come in and throw two touchdowns.
26. Los Angeles Rams (3-4): This team has more questions than answers surrounding it. How long until we see Jared Goff? When will Todd Gurley get going? How much longer will the Jeff Fisher era last?
25. Baltimore Ravens (3-4): Four straight losses have shown us how good this team really is, and that their 3-0 start was an aberration.
24. Carolina Panthers (2-5): The Panthers finally looked like the Panthers again by blasting the Cardinals in Week 8, but when you only have two wins through half the season, No. 24 is being generous.
23. Miami Dolphins (3-4): Jay Ajayi has led this team to back-to-back wins and coming off a bye week, Adam Gase could really start to turn things around.
22. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3-4): Oh, what a win over the Oakland Raiders would have done for this team. They had them beat, too. Once this young team learns to win games like that, they’ll be dangerous.
21. Cincinnati Bengals (3-4-1): This team has a lot of holes on the defensive side of the ball, but they should still have a much better record right now.
20. New Orleans Saints (3-4): Perhaps no team got a bigger win in Week 8 than the Saints, who defeated the Seahawks. Wins like that can turn a season around.
19. Arizona Cardinals (3-4-1): It looked like this team had it figured out in recent weeks, but then it laid an egg in Carolina, much like it did in last year’s NFC Championship Game.
18. Detroit Lions (4-4): The Lions dropped a big opportunity in Week 8 against the Texans. On another note, can we drop the Matt Stafford for MVP talk?
17. San Diego Chargers (3-5): Considering all the players this team has seen leave the field due to injury this year, many for the entire season, this could be the best 3-5 team in league history.
16. Washington Redskins (4-3-1): A winning record is still good for last place in the NFC East.
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15. Tennessee Titans (4-4): If you’ve followed our power rankings this year, you’ll know that I told you to watch out for this team. When they get that running game going . . . watch out.
14. New York Giants (4-3): This might be the only team in the NFC East that can challenge the Cowboys. How will they respond after the bye week?
13. Buffalo Bills (4-4): There’s no shame in getting beat by the Patriots with Tom Brady, we all saw it coming. But things won’t get any easier as the Seahawks are on deck next.
12. Philadelphia Eagles (4-3): It will be tough to bounce back from a crushing overtime defeat against Dallas in Week 8, a game they clearly should have won.
11. Houston Texans (5-3): This team is lucky it plays in the AFC South, but they’ll still likely host a playoff game due to the fact that they do.
10. Green Bay Packers (4-3): Aaron Rodgers seemed to finally get it going in Week 8, but he’s still throwing to guys who should be on the practice squad. That will catch up to them eventually.
9. Kansas City Chiefs (5-2): The team currently in third place in the AFC West cracks the top 10? That division is tough this year, and the Chiefs are just a half game back.
8. Seattle Seahawks (4-2-1): A tie and a loss in the last two weeks and Russell Wilson clearly looks a lot less than 100 percent. This team could have problems.
7. Minnesota Vikings (5-2): Back-to-back losses and all of the sudden, this team doesn’t look so good anymore, particularly when you look at its offensive line.
6. Pittsburgh Steelers (4-3): This team will go as Ben Roethlisberger goes. If he comes back and can be effective soon, they’re a Super Bowl contender. Without him, they’re a fringe playoff team at best.
5. Oakland Raiders (6-2): The Raiders are 5-0 on the road for the first time since 1977 and they have a golden opportunity to take over first place in the AFC West next Sunday night.
4. Atlanta Falcons (5-3): The talk of Matt Ryan for MVP can continue, especially as he rallied his team for a huge win over the Packers in Week 8.
3. Denver Broncos (6-2): The Broncos have turned it around after losing two games in a row, but they must find a way to go on the road and beat the Raiders on Sunday night. They can’t lose ground in a tight division race.
2. Dallas Cowboys (6-1): They’ve got the running game going and the defense is playing well. In addition, Dak Prescott is not your ordinary rookie. Are they the best team in the NFC? Time will tell, but right now, you’d have to say yes.
1. New England Patriots (7-1): An easy choice for No. 1 and it’s really not that close. This team looks close to unstoppable now that Brady is back and settled in.
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