NFL: Patriots Rise & Rams Fall
The eighth full weekend of the NFL season is in the rearview mirror, and that means it's time for our weekly rankings from Caleb Henderson and Charles Post. The New England Patriots stymied the Los Angeles Chargers, 21-13, behind 333 yards from Tom Brady. The Los Angeles Rams had a bye week, which resulted in a couple of teams jumping over them, including the Minnesota Vikings and Seattle Seahawks, who beat the Cleveland Browns and Houston Texans, respectively.
1. Philadelphia Eagles (7-1, +0): The Eagles started off somewhat slowly, but then jumped all over the winless San Francisco 49ers for a 33-10 blowout victory. It's another win in a long line of them for Philadelphia, led by MVP candidate QB Carson Wentz. He threw for 211 yards on 18-32 passing for two touchdowns. The Eagles will welcome the Denver Broncos to town, who are on a downslide. And we'll get to see recently acquire RB Jay Ajayi and how he adjusts to the transition from Miami to Philadelphia.
Team MVP: Carson Wentz (QB) - 2,063 yards & 19 TDs.
2. New England Patriots (6-2, +1): The Patriots have looked like their normal selves over the past couple of weeks and it's partially because of QB Tom Brady's excellence. He started strong and finished with 333 yards and one touchdown on 32-47 passing. New England has now won four straight games against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, New York Jets, Atlanta Falcons, and Los Angeles Chargers, and they've climbed all the way up to the second spot in our rankings. They are idle in Week 9.
Team MVP: Tom Brady (QB) - 2,541 Yards & 16 TDs.
3. Kansas City Chiefs (6-2, -1): The Chiefs lost back-to-back games to the Pittsburgh Steelers and Oakland Raiders, but they've gotten back on track for the time being this week, with a Monday Night Football victory over division rival, the Denver Broncos. QB Alex Smith had 202 yards, including 133 yards to TE Travis Kelce on seven receptions. Kansas City travels to face the Dallas Cowboys in Week 9 and we'll see if the 'Boys have RB Ezekiel Elliott or if his suspension will remain intact.
Team MVP: Kareem Hunt (RB) - 763 Yards & 4 TDs.
4. Pittsburgh Steelers (6-2, +0): The Steelers are now on quite a roll, which was apparent on Sunday Night Football, when they defeated the Detroit Lions, 20-15, on the road. Although they gave up 423 yards to QB Matthew Stafford, they were able to force five field goals, instead of giving up touchdowns. RB Le'Veon Bell went for 76 yards on 25 carries in his return to the state of Michigan. The Steelers also have a bye week this upcoming Sunday before they get back to action in Week 10.
Team MVP: Ben Roethlisberger (QB) - 2,062 Yards & 10 TDs.
5. Minnesota Vikings (6-2, +1): The Vikings are all of a sudden at the top of the NFC North and are creating a ton of space between them and their rivals. The Green Bay Packers are likely experiencing a lost season when QB Aaron Rodgers went down for the season, and the Detroit Lions have lost three straight games after starting 3-1, and the Vikings have taken advantage. QB Case Keenum threw for 288 yards against the Cleveland Browns, and Minnesota will have the week off on Sunday.
Team MVP: Case Keenum (QB) - 1,610 Yards & 7 TDs.
6. Seattle Seahawks (5-2, +1): The Seahawks' offense is rolling all of a sudden, after struggling earlier in the year. It appears that the offensive line has started to figure things out, and it really showed against the Houston Texans in a 41-38 thriller. QB Russell Wilson tossed for 452 (!) yards and four touchdowns on 26-41 passing and he's etched himself into the MVP conversation with a trio of strong starts. Seattle hosts the Washington Redskins on the Sunday.
Team MVP: Russell Wilson (QB) - 2,008 Yards & 15 TDs.
7. Los Angeles Rams (5-2, -2): The Rams didn't play this past weekend, having their bye, and it cost them a couple of spots, but they'll be able to regain position when they get the New York Giants on Sunday. It's a must win for Los Angeles in order to keep pace with the Seattle Seahawks in the division, especially since they have already lost to their division rival. QB Jared Goff and RB Todd Gurley have looked like a dominant duo and they should be able to take down the Giants in the Meadowlands.
Team MVP: Jared Goff (QB) - 1,719 Yards & 9 TDs.
8. Buffalo Bills (5-2, +1): The Bills are one of the biggest surprises of the year, as most people didn't have them pegged to make a playoff run. Right now, Buffalo is in line to reach the postseason. QB Tyron Taylor is playing the best ball of his career, and RB LeSean McCoy is having a very good campaign. McCoy ran for 151 yards on 27 carries and one touchdown against the Oakland Raiders last week. The Bills will take on the lowly New York Jets on Thursday Night Football and it'd be a horrible time to slip up and lose to a lesser opponent.
Team MVP: LeSean McCoy (RB) - 521 Yards & 3 TDs.
9. New Orleans Saints (5-2, -1): The Saints have now won four straight games after starting the season 1-2, including wins over the Carolina Panthers and Detroit Lions, and it ended with another home victory against the Chicago Bears. The offense is led by future Hall of Fame QB Drew Brees, and he played great against the Bears, putting up 299 yards on 23 completions. They'll have another home game in Week 9, this time facing off against divisional opponent, the 2-5 Tampa Bay Buccaneers,
Team MVP: Drew Brees (QB) - 1,951 Yards & 11 TDs.
10. Carolina Panthers (5-3, +1): The Panthers slipped out of our rankings for a couple of weeks after being upset by the Philadelphia Eagles and Chicago Bears, but after a dominant 17-3 win against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, they're back for the time being. QB Cam Newton is the biggest indicator whether the Panthers can make a run in the postseason, and if he can play like he did against the New England Patriots, then they could make a serious run. They'll host the Atlanta Falcons in a big time division game.
Team MVP: Cam Newton (QB) - 1,841 Yards & 10 TDs.
Top Ranked Team:
Week 1 Top-10 - Dallas Cowboys.
Week 2 Top-10 - Kansas City Chiefs.
Week 3 Top-10 - Kansas City Chiefs.
Week 4 Top-10 - Kansas City Chiefs.
Week 5 Top-10 - Kansas City Chiefs.
Week 6 Top-10 - Kansas City Chiefs.
Week 7 Top-10 - Philadelphia Eagles.
Week 8 Top-10 - Philadelphia Eagles.
Player of the Week:
W1 - Kareem Hunt (Kansas City Chiefs) - 148 Yards, 1 TD, 42-27 win vs. Patriots.
W2 - Tom Brady (New England Patriots) - 447 Yards, 3 TDs, 36-20 win vs. Saints.
W3 - Jared Goff (Los Angeles Rams) - 292 Yards, 3 TDs, 41-39 win vs. 49ers.
W4 - Deshaun Watson (Houston Texans) - 283 Yards, 4 TDs, 57-14 win vs. Titans.
W5 - Carson Wentz (Philadelphia Eagles) - 304 Yards, 4 TDs, 34-7 win vs. Cardinals.
W6 - Deshaun Watson (Houston Texans) - 225 Yards, 3 TDs, 33-17 win vs. Browns.
W7 - Amari Cooper (Oakland Raiders) - 210 Yards, 2 TDs, 31-30 win vs. Chiefs.
W8 - Russell Wilson (Seattle Seahawks) - 451 Yards, 4 TDs, 41-38 win vs. Texans.
Photo Credit: Sports Illutsrated & Zimbio.
