NFL Power Rankings (Week 8): Colts, Saints, Broncos Remain Undefeated

The NFL Power Rankings for Week 8 saw the little change in the Top 4 teams -- and why should it? Three remained undefeated and Minnesota lost because the Pittsburgh Steelers had two runbacks (and poor Vikings tackling) for touchdowns from Minnesota turnovers inside the red zone. Indianapolis and New Orleans retain the top positions in the NFL Power Rankings in all the lists and the Denver Broncos hold #3 in all three. In fact, Week 8 finds CBS, ESPN, and Fox Sports all in agreement with the Top 7 teams, except for the top two -- and they alternate. Indianapolis heads ESPN's and CBS' NFL Power Rankings, while New Orleans tops Fox Sports' list.

New Orleans showed what kind of team they had this week, going down quickly and early to the tough and tenacious Miami Dolphins, trailing at halftime 24-10. But the Saints put on a second half show, scoring 36 points to Miami's 10 and winning 46-34. Just another game where Drew Brees and crew scored over 45 points (their fourth).

Indianapolis scored over 40 for the first time this year against the winless St. Louis Rams.

The highly touted New York Giants lost their second game in a row as the tougher-than-they-look Arizona Cardinals beat them on Sunday Night Football. ESPN apparently feels it a fluke, letting the Giants slide into the 8th spot, while CBS and Fox Sports both dropped them to #10. ESPN placed the Cards in the No. 10 position, while CBS and Fox Sports gave them the respect they deserved by placing the one spot up on the New York Giants at #9.

For the last team making the Top 10, each of the NFL Power Rankings chose a different team. ESPN threw the Dallas Cowboys, hot off an impressive win over the Atlanta Falcons, at No. 9. CBS placed the Philadelphia Eagles at No. 8 after their victory over Washington. Fox Sports put the Baltimore Ravens in the No. 8 position, even though they've dropped three games already.

The biggest loser in the Week 8 NFL Power Rankings was the Chicago Bears, dropping eight places in ESPN's power rankings, eight spots in CBS', and five places in Fox Sports' NFL listings.

The biggest winner in the rankings was Dallas in ESPN's rankings, jumping ten notches to #9. With CBS, the biggest mover was the Texans, moving up five spots to #16. In the Fox Sports NFL Power Rankings, Arizona also jumped the most -- nine positions.

So how is it that Indianapolis keeps getting ranked above the New Orleans Saints? Strangely enough, because nobody believes in them. But Indianapolis plays San Francisco and Houston their next two games, then play the hard-charging New England Patriots at home. That will be their test.

But if the New Orleans Saints continue to rack up 45+ points every game, there is no reason to believe they will not supplant the Colts in the coming weeks. New Orleans also plays New England -- in Week 13. They play a tough Atlanta Falcons next week, but then have Carolina, St. Louis, and Tampa Bay. Of the three, Carolina is the only team with victories (2).

Of the teams to watch, New England is the team that seems to be hitting their stride, winning their last two games with a combined score of 94-7. However, on the flip side of that coin, both teams, Tennessee and Tampa Bay, remain winless.

NFL Power Rankings (Week 8)

ESPN NFL Power Rankings (Week 8)

1. (1) Indianapolis Colts
2. (2) New Orleans Saints
3. (4) Denver Broncos
4. (3) Minnesota Vikings
5. (6) New England Patriots
6. (9) Cincinnati Bengals
7. (8) Pittsburgh Steelers
8. (5) New York Giants
9. (19) Dallas Cowboys
10. (16) Arizona Cardinals

CBS NFL Power Rankings (Week 8)

1. (1) Indianapolis Colts
2. (2) New Orleans Saints
3. (4) Denver Broncos
4. (3) Minnesota Vikings
5. (7) New England Patriots
6. (8) Cincinnati Bengals
7. (9) Pittsburgh Steelers
8. (10) Philadelphia Eagles
9. (13) Arizona Cardinals
10. (6) New York Giants

Fox Sports NFL Power Rankings (Week 8)

1. (1) New Orleans Saints
2. (2) Indianapolis Colts
3. (3) Denver Broncos
4. (4) Minnesota Vikings
5. (6) New England Patriots
6. (8) Cincinnati Bengals
7. (9) Pittsburgh Steelers
8. (10) Baltimore Ravens
9. (18) Arizona Cardinals
10. (5) New York Giants

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For comparison, see NFL Power Rankings for Week 7.

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Sources:

ESPN.go.com
CBSSports.com
FoxSports.com