There is a new No. 1 in our NFL power rankings this week.
And it's a team not many probably expected to be in this position.
The surprise top team in the NFL right now? The Minnesota Vikings.
Minnesota vaulted to No. 1 in our NFL Week 8 power rankings after defeating the Indianapolis Colts, 16-10, in NFL Week 7 on Oct. 25, to improve to 6-0 on the season.
The Vikings are the only undefeated team left in the NFL and were ranked No. 3 in our NFL Week 7 power rankings.
The Vikings passed the previously ranked No. 1 San Francisco 49ers, who lost to the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday, 29-0, and the previously ranked No. 2 Kansas City Chiefs, who fell to the Seattle Seahawks, 20-3 on Sunday Night Football, to take over the top spot in this week's NFL power
rankings.
Minnesota was ranked No. 18 in our Week 1 NFL power rankings, which were based on Super Bowl odds. Before Week 1, the Vikings were +5000 to win the Super Bowl. They are now at +1800.
The Vikings are the fourth team to be ranked No. 1 in our NFL power rankings this season, joining the Los Angeles Rams (NFL Week 1), Baltimore Ravens (NFL Week 2) and San Francisco 49ers (NFL Week 3 through NFL Week 7).
How long can Minnesota stay ranked No. 1? The schedule gets much more difficult for the Vikings in the weeks ahead, with the Detroit Lions, Buffalo Bills, Green Bay Packers and San Francisco 49ers over the next four weeks.
Here's how all 32 teams in the NFL stack up after NFL Week 7 (with the Dallas Cowboys and Philadelphia Eagles still set to face off on Monday Night Football Oct. 26). Previous ranking in parentheses.
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32. Los Angeles Chargers (32)
The 0-6 Chargers are the only winless team in the NFL. When will they get their first win? Justin Herbert and company face the Los Angeles Rams this week.
- NFL Week 7: Off
- NFL Week 8: At Los Angeles Rams (Nov. 1)
31. Tennessee Titans (30)
The Titans showed a lot of fight in the game against the Browns, losing on a last-second field goal. But Tennessee is now 0-4 at home.
- NFL Week 7: Lost to Cleveland Browns, 27-24 (Oct. 25)
- NFL Week 8: At Cincinnati Bengals (Nov. 1)
30. Miami Dolphins (31)
Malik Willis went 14-for-21 for 208 yards, with two touchdowns, while adding a rushing score to help the Dolphins win their first game of the season.
- NFL Week 7: Beat New York Jets, 28-25 (Oct. 25)
- NFL Week 8: New England Patriots (Nov. 1)
29. Washington Commanders (28)
Will the bye week work wonders for Jayden Daniels and the Commanders? They have a very winnable game at home against the Eagles in Week 8.
- NFL Week 7: Off
- NFL Week 8: Philadelphia Eagles (Nov. 1)
28. Philadelphia Eagles (27)
The Eagles have lost four straight games entering a pivotal NFL Week 7 game against the Dallas Cowboys on Monday Night Football on Oct. 26.
- NFL Week 7: Dallas Cowboys (Oct. 26)
- NFL Week 8: At Washington Commanders (Nov. 1)
27. Indianapolis Colts (26)
Should the Colts make a change at QB? Daniel Jones was 13-for-22 for 108 yards, with an interception, for Indianapolis in the loss to the Vikings.
- NFL Week 7: Lost to Minnesota Vikings, 16-10 (Oct. 25)
- NFL Week 8: At Jacksonville Jaguars (Nov. 1)
26. New York Jets (25)
Geno Smith and the Jets fell behind early and almost came back on the Dolphins. They shouldn't have put themselves in that position to begin with.
- NFL Week 7: Lost to Miami Dolphins, 28-25 (Oct. 25)
- NFL Week 8: Las Vegas Raiders (Nov. 1)
25. New Orleans Saints (24)
The Saints had 17 carries for 18 yards in this game. Ouch. Yes, it's hard to run on Pittsburgh, but you should be able to get more than 18 yards on the ground.
- NFL Week 7: Lost to Pittsburgh Steelers, 16-10 (Oct. 25 in Saint-Denis, France)
- NFL Week 8: Off
24. Arizona Cardinals (21)
Should the Cardinals make a change at QB? This team is 2-5 with Jacoby Brissett as the starting QB, in last place in the NFC West.
- NFL Week 7: Lost to Denver Broncos, 30-16 (Oct. 25)
- NFL Week 8: At Dallas Cowboys (Nov. 1)
23. Houston Texans (19)
That was a costly loss for the Texans, who fell further behind the idle Jaguars in the AFC South. Houston is 0-4 at home.
- NFL Week 7: Lost to New York Giants in overtime, 27-21 (Oct. 25)
- NFL Week 8: Off
22. Dallas Cowboys (23)
The Cowboys have lost two straight entering their pivotal NFC East showdown with the Eagles in NFL Week 7 on Monday Night Football.
- NFL Week 7: At Philadelphia Eagles (Oct. 26)
- NFL Week 8: Arizona Cardinals (Nov. 1)
21. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (29)
The Buccaneers dominated the Panthers. Baker Mayfield only threw the ball 11 times, going 7-for-11 for 64 yards in the win, in his return to the lineup for Tampa Bay.
- NFL Week 7: Beat Carolina Panthers, 43-13 (Oct. 25)
- NFL Week 8: Atlanta Falcons (Nov. 1)
20. Las Vegas Raiders (18)
The Raiders started the season 3-0. They are now 3-4. When should the team turn to Fernando Mendoza at QB?
- NFL Week 7: Lost to Los Angeles Rams, 35-21 (Oct. 25)
- NFL Week 8: At New York Jets (Nov. 1)
19. Los Angeles Rams (22)
Los Angeles is no longer in the NFC West basement after beating the Raiders. Can Matthew Stafford and company still compete in the NFC? We wouldn't count them out.
- NFL Week 7: Beat Las Vegas Raiders, 35-21 (Oct. 25)
- NFL Week 8: Los Angeles Chargers (Nov. 1)
18. Atlanta Falcons (20)
Every time we are ready to write off the Falcons' chances this season, they surprise us. Beating the previously undefeated 49ers certainly counts as a surprise. This team could win the NFC South.
- NFL Week 7: Beat San Francisco 49ers, 29-20 (Oct. 25)
- NFL Week 8: At Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Nov. 1)
17. Carolina Panthers (12)
We were very high on the Panthers heading into this game. We were wrong. Tampa Bay's defense smothered Bryce Young and the Panthers, giving us major concerns about Carolina's chances to win the NFC South.
- NFL Week 7: Lost to Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 43-13 (Oct. 25)
- NFL Week 8: At Green Bay Packers (Oct. 29)
16. New England Patriots (5)
The Patriots are 3-0 at home, but an abysmal 1-3 on the road. That has to change if this team wants to contend in the AFC.
- NFL Week 7: Lost to Chicago Bears, 30-24 (Oct. 22)
- NFL Week 8: At Miami Dolphins (Nov. 1)
15. Baltimore Ravens (8)
Did the Ravens think the game ended at halftime? Baltimore led Cincinnati 13-0 after two quarters before falling, 35-13. That's a loss that can linger with a team, even if it played without Lamar Jackson.
- NFL Week 7: Lost to Cincinnati Bengals, 35-13 (Oct. 25)
- NFL Week 8: At Buffalo Bills (Nov. 1)
14. Green Bay Packers (6)
Yes, the Packers lost to the Lions, but Josh Jacobs gives Green Bay an added dimension for an offense that could pay dividends down the stretch.
- NFL Week 7: Lost to Detroit Lions, 20-17 (Oct. 25)
- NFL Week 8: Carolina Panthers (Oct. 29)
13. New York Giants (17)
The Giants don't win pretty, but they continue to win. New York is now 4-2-1 on the season. J.J. McCarthy was 20-for-28 for 252 yards in his first start for New York.
- NFL Week 7: Beat Houston Texans in overtime, 27-21 (Oct. 25)
- NFL Week 8: Off
12. Detroit Lions (13)
The Lions broke the Packers' 3-game win streak with their win over Green Bay, a huge win for Detroit, which improved to 4-2 with the win, instead of falling to 3-3. The NFC North race could be very interesting.
- NFL Week 7: Beat Green Bay Packers, 20-17 (Oct. 25)
- NFL Week 8: Minnesota Vikings (Nov. 1)
11. Seattle Seahawks (11)
This team probably deserves to be higher in our NFL power rankings after the dominant win over the Chiefs. The problem is, the Seahawks are just 4-3, with losses against the Commanders, 49ers and Broncos.
- NFL Week 7: Beat Kansas City Chiefs, 20-3 (Oct. 25)
- NFL Week 8: Chicago Bears (Nov. 2)
10. Cincinnati Bengals (14)
Yes, the Ravens were without Lamar Jackson, but Joe Burrow and the Bengals scored 35 unanswered points on Baltimore in the second half. That's impressive.
- NFL Week 7: Beat Baltimore Ravens, 35-13 (Oct. 25)
- NFL Week 8: Tennessee Titans (Nov. 1)
9. Pittsburgh Steelers (9)
Aaron Rodgers and the Steelers have now won three games in a row heading into their rematch with the Browns. Better have some popcorn ready for that game.
- NFL Week 7: Beat New Orleans Saints, 16-10 (Oct. 25 in Saint-Denis, France)
- NFL Week 8: Cleveland Browns (Nov. 1)
8. Cleveland Browns (15)
The Browns could be the surprise of the NFL season. They are now 5-2 thanks to another last-second field goal. Can they win the AFC North? They look like they could be a contender.
- NFL Week 7: Beat Tennessee Titans, 27-24 (Oct. 25)
- NFL Week 8: At Pittsburgh Steelers (Nov. 1)
7. Chicago Bears (16)
The Bears' offense is hard to stop with Caleb Williams in the lineup, and Ben Johnson continues to receive praise for his coaching. Is Chicago a legitimate NFC title threat? They look like it to us.
- NFL Week 7: Beat New England Patriots, 30-24 (Oct. 22)
- NFL Week 8: At Seattle Seahawks (Nov. 2)
6. Jacksonville Jaguars (7)
The Jaguars didn't play in Week 7, but they came out as winners after the Colts, Texans and Titans all lost, increasing Jacksonville's lead in the AFC South.
- NFL Week 7: Off
- NFL Week 8: Indianapolis Colts (Nov. 1)
5. Denver Broncos (10)
Bo Nix and the Broncos have suddenly won three in a row entering their AFC West showdown against the Chiefs, which could have huge division implications.
- NFL Week 7: Beat Arizona Cardinals, 30-16 (Oct. 25)
- NFL Week 8: Kansas City Chiefs (Nov. 1)
4. Kansas City Chiefs (2)
The Chiefs are now 5-1 after getting humbled by the Seahawks. Kenneth Walker III only had 36 yards on 14 carries in his return to Seattle.
- NFL Week 7: Lost to Seattle Seahawks, 20-3 (Oct. 25)
- NFL Week 8: At Denver Broncos (Nov. 1)
3. San Francisco 49ers (1)
The 49ers had six turnovers in their 6-0 start. They had four turnovers in their loss to the Falcons, their first loss of the season. The Falcons didn't have a turnover. Is it any wonder San Francisco lost?
- NFL Week 7: Lost to Atlanta Falcons, 29-20 (Oct. 25)
- NFL Week 8: Off
2. Buffalo Bills (4)
The Bills also were a winner without playing in NFL Week 7, with the Patriots and Jets losing to help Buffalo extend its lead in the AFC East.
- NFL Week 7: Off
- NFL Week 8: Baltimore Ravens (Nov. 1)
1. Minnesota Vikings (3)
Do the Vikings really deserve to be ranked this high? 6-0 is 6-0. Minnesota's defense gives it a shot in every game. Imagine how good it can be if Kyler Murray and the offense starts to get on the same page.
- NFL Week 7: Beat Indianapolis Colts, 16-10 (Oct. 25)
- NFL Week 8: At Detroit Lions (Nov. 1)
Reach Jeremy Cluff at jeremy.cluff@arizonarepublic.com. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter @Jeremy_Cluff.
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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: NFL power rankings Week 8 see big changes after 49ers, Chiefs losses
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