As if you needed another reason to lock into a television all day on Sunday, the NFL once again proved why they are king of the world during the fall and winter. If you’re a fan of exciting finishes, the Giants at Broncos was where it was at. Need a Thursday night barn burner to get your weekend started right? Great! Here’s a Bengals upset win over the Steelers. Week 7 had it all, and we’ve still got 11 more weeks of the regular season until the playoffs. While some divisional races already feel
over, many others are just getting started. With the action of the NFL in full swing heading into Week 8, we’ll take a look at who is up and who is down in this installment of our WCG NFL Power Rankings.
1. Indianapolis Colts (6-1) Previous Week: 2
Daniel Jones and the Colts keep on winning. Hell, they aren’t just winning, they are dominating. Who could have seen that coming? Not me. That’s for sure. Right now, there aren’t many (if any) teams playing better football. Every time I think that a reality check is coming, they blow through that checkpoint and keep on rolling. This team is for real, especially in a weak AFC. With the Jaguars losing back-to-back games, the AFC South is looking more and more like the Colts’ to lose.
2. Detroit Lions (5-2) Previous Week: 4
After a disappointing loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 6, the very banged up Lions defense put on an impressive performance on Monday night. Some how, some way, they were able to slow down a Buccaneers offense that has been scoring points all season. If the defense can consistently play at a high level, they are going to be hard to stop. Now they’ll head into a much needed Week 8 bye.
3. Los Angeles Rams (5-2) Previous Week: 7
The Rams are hitting their stride right around the mid-point of the season. This is a well-rounded group, and one that I picked to represent the NFC in the Super Bowl. So far, the NFC is stacked with multiple good teams, but none have really stood out as the “elites”. The Rams might be doing exactly that after their 35-7 drubbing of the Jaguars in London. Quarterback Matt Stafford looks excellent, and star receiver Puka Nakua should be back soon. Look out, NFC West.
4. Green Bay Packers (4-1-1) Previous Week: 5
The Packers might not be the flat-out dominating team that they were over the first two weeks of the season, but this is a group that knows how to win and should get better as the season goes on. Despite being on the ropes most of the afternoon, they came through when it mattered most and closed out the game in the final minutes. They find themselves as the top seed in the NFC heading into Week 8. Next up: A Sunday night showdown against Aaron Rodgers and the Steelers.
5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (5-2) Previous Week: 1
The Buccaneers offense is banged up, and they finally hit a wall on Monday night against a stout Lions defense. Although there’s still plenty of reason to believe that quarterback Baker Mayfield is an MVP candidate, he was inaccurate for most of the night, and for the first time this season, couldn’t deliver when they needed it. These types of games happen, but losing Mike Evans for an extended amount of time after just getting him back is a tough blow. Luckily, the offense has plenty of weapons when healthy.
6. Buffalo Bills (4-2) Previous Week: 6
Following a (4-0) start, the Bills are taking a mid-season trip on the struggle bus over their last two contests. The bye week is coming at a good time and should allow this veteran coaching staff to reevaluate their approach and gear up for a second-half run. This is one of the more talented teams in the league, but like the Eagles, they need to figure out what has gone wrong over the last two weeks.
7. Kansas City Chiefs (4-3) Previous Week: 10
Last week, I asked if the Chiefs are back, and it appears they are. Granted, this game was a low-hanging fruit situation, but they did exactly what they needed to and dominated the Raiders. With Rashee Rice back in the mix and Travis Kelce starting to look more like himself, there’s plenty of reason to believe that their slow start was just that. Look out, AFC, the juggernauts appear to have figured it out again.
8. Seattle Seahawks (5-2) Previous Week: 8
The Seahawks impressive run continued on Monday night, and it feels weird not to move them up, yet here we are. If anything, their lack of movement is purely based on what has gone on in front of them. Regardless, this is an explosive offense, with a hard-hitting defense. The NFC West continues to be an absolute slaughterhouse, that will sort itself out when the Top 3 teams start playing each other more in the coming weeks.
9. Philadelphia Eagles (5-2) Previous Week: 12
Following back-to-back losses, the Eagles got back on track at home against the Vikings. It wasn’t always pretty, and the defense still isn’t playing to last year’s level, but the passing offense got going in a big way on Sunday. Considering how much the Commanders have stumbled, the Eagles appear well on their way to a second-straight NFC East title.
10. San Francisco 49ers (5-2) Previous Week: 11
Somehow, some way, the 49ers keep winning. All of this, despite a load of injuries that doesn’t seem to be letting up. What Kyle Shanahan and his coaching staff continue to do with this depleted roster is beyond impressive. The NFC West is a three-team race for now, but if the first seven games are any indication, San Francisco is in it for the long haul.
11. Pittsburgh Steelers (4-2) Previous Week: 3
In what feels like typical Steelers fashion, Thursday night’s loss to the Bengals served as a reality check. Despite having so much money tied up in their defense, they’ve given up 30-plus points in half of their games this year. Aaron Rodgers continues to look much better than expected, but this feels like a team that should run away with the AFC North, but somehow won’t. We’ll see how they rebound in Week 8.
12. Denver Broncos (5-2) Previous Week: 13
In many ways, the Broncos don’t look as good as they did for the majority of 2024, yet they are (5-2) and in control of first place through the first seven weeks of the season. Winning ugly isn’t always a bad thing, and it’s hard to argue against the Broncos after overcoming a 19-point fourth-quarter deficit. Just imagine how much more dominant they would be if Bo Nix didn’t wait until the second half to start playing good football.
13. New England Patriots (5-2) Previous Week: 14
There’s not enough that can be said for the turnaround that Mike Vrabel and his coaching staff have created so far in New England. Over the last few seasons, this has been one of the worst teams in the league. Not only has this turned it around on both sides of the ball, but second-year quarterback Drake Maye continues to play at a high level. With the Bills on their bye, the Patriots slide into sole possession of first place heading into Week 8.
14. Chicago Bears (4-2) Previous Week: 18
Since their brutal (0-2) start, the Bears have been on a roll. For the most part, it hasn’t been pretty, but a four-game winning streak later, they finally find themselves out of the NFC North cellar and able to realistically talk about a potential playoff run. Quarterback Caleb Williams might have had his worst performance of 2025, but the run game got going (222 rushing yards), which helped their offense maintain their streak of 20-plus point performances to open the season.
15. Jacksonville Jaguars (4-3) Previous Week: 9
Simply put, the Jaguars are struggling. Following its impressive (4-1) start, they’ve lost two in a row. More importantly, their defense isn’t dominating, and the offense is struggling. Quarterback Trevor Lawrence has yet to take the next step, no matter which offensive mind takes the team over. They’ll head into a much-needed Week 8 bye, where hopefully they can figure this thing out. They are exceeding expectations, but considering their hot start, the last two results have been beyond disappointing.
16. Atlanta Falcons (3-3) Previous Week: 17
The Falcons are clearly improved from their 2024 version, but it was not a great end to Sunday night’s affair against the 49ers. Second-year quarterback Michael Penix took his lumps, and it’s fair to wonder if he’s going to be healthy for Week 8. This is a quality team, but it’s worth wondering what their ceiling is. With the division slowly slipping away, and Atlanta currently being in third place, there’s plenty of work to do over the final 11 games of the season to break through into the playoffs.
17. Los Angeles Chargers (4-3) Previous Week: 15
The Chargers’ entire season has derailed over the last few weeks, and it’s hard to feel like it’s not due to health, especially on the offensive line. Quarterback Justin Herbert was playing some of the best football of his career, then Joe Alt went down. Since that point, their defense has taken a noticeable step back, and Herbert has been battered. Losing their top two running backs hasn’t helped either. Shockingly, they are still right in the mix for a playoff spot, but they need to right the ship soon.
18. Washington Commanders (3-4) Previous Week: 16
Two weeks ago, it felt like the Commanders were about to round into form after their impressive 27-10 victory against the Chargers on the road. Since that point, they’ve lost two straight, including an embarrassing 44-22 loss to the Cowboys. Even more concerning, all those concerns about Jayden Daniels’ longevity are starting to come to fruition. He left Sunday’s game with a hamstring injury after already missing two games earlier in the season. Washington’s roster age and lack of depth have shown up so far this year.
19. Minnesota Vikings (3-3) Previous Week: 19
The Carson Wentz experience continues to be… Well, a rollercoaster. He might be throwing for a ton of yards, and the overall numbers might look good, but the interceptions and overall play aren’t anywhere near what Minnesota got from Sam Darnold a year ago. At some point, they’ll need to make a long-term decision at quarterback, but for now, the Vikings remain a middling team with questions at quarterback. The remainder of their schedule is quite daunting, so that the next few weeks will be telling.
20. Cincinnati Bengals (3-4) Previous Week: 26
Are the Bengals back?! If you asked anyone on my Twitter timeline after Thursday night’s win, the overreactions would have leaned to a heavy “yes”. In reality, the sane spectator would continue to take a “wait and see” approach. The defense is not good, and while veteran quarterback Joe Flacco had an impressive game, there aren’t many teams where he can target Jamar Chase 20-plus times and get away with it. With Joe Burrow still not expected back until December, this group still has an uphill battle just to get back into the mix. Count me as someone who isn’t remotely sold.
21. Carolina Panthers (4-3) Previous Week: 21
The Panthers keep winning, even if it’s not pretty. A lot of the time, you can get a gauge on how good a team is by how they look against bad teams. If Sunday was any indication, it wasn’t by much. With that being said, quarterback Bryce Young did get hurt, and their defense dominated a disastrous Jets offense. With their schedule tightening up in a big way, we’re about to find out how serious the Panthers are.
22. Dallas Cowboys (3-3-1) Previous Week: 22
The Cowboys continue to be one of the hardest teams in the league to figure out. Just one week after blowing a game against the Panthers, they come out in front of a national audience and dominate a division rival. To nobody’s surprise, the offense is elite. Quarterback Dak Prescott is playing great football, and George Pickens’ change of scenery has taken his game to a new level. The biggest question right now is Matt Eberflus and his defense. Do they have enough horses up front to get to nine or 10 wins? I’m not sold.
23. Baltimore Ravens (1-5) Previous Week 25
I would say the bye week is coming at the right time for the Ravens, but I’d argue that it came two weeks too late. At (1-3), the Ravens still had a chance to dig themselves out of a hole. At (1-5), their margin for error is minimal, at best. The good news is that they should get MVP quarterback Lamar Jackson and All-Pro linebacker Roquan Smith back in Week 8. The bad news is that they won just a single game with both players in the lineup before their injuries. The Ravens are either about to go on an incredible run, or they could be surprise sellers at the deadline. We’ll know soon enough.
24. Houston Texans (2-4) Previous Week: 20
Houston, we have a problem. Following back-to-back wins against a pair of one-win teams, reality hit hard coming out of their bye week. The Seahawks were simply the better team on Monday night and it was clear from the opening whistle. It’s easy to wonder if Bobby Slowik was the biggest issue on offense last year, because Nick Caley’s six-game body of work hasn’t exactly inspired confidence. The AFC South is all but out of reach at this point. Their only saving grace is a woeful crop of AFC teams at the bottom of the playoff picture. Even so, there are a trio of (4-3) teams that all look considerably better than the Texans through seven weeks.
25. Arizona Cardinals (2-5) Previous Week: 23
The disastrous losing streak has reached five games in Arizona, with no end in sight. Despite playing in multiple close games, their (2-0) start hasn’t led to anything resembling a winning team. A -13 point differential in those losses or not, finding ways to lose in Year 3 of a rebuild doesn’t inspire much confidence for the future. Quarterback Kyler Murray should be back soon, but this feels like a team that is on the verge of imploding. In a loaded division like the NFC West, it feels like their season is lost, barring an impressive winning streak soon.
26. New York Giants (2-5) Previous Week: 24
In the matter of 15 minutes on the game clock, the Giants went from being “back” to “here we go again”. Squandering a 19-point fourth-quarter lead is inexcusable. It’s even worse when a team blows the lead and gets it back with less than 40 seconds on the game clock, and still finds a way to lose on a last-second field goal. I can’t even imagine the emotional rollercoaster that Giants fans were on (and are still on), but this doesn’t go into the “positive” column at the end of the year when Brian Daboll is trying to justify another year of his job.
27. Cleveland Browns (2-5) Previous Week: 29
The Browns might not be very good, but they’ve got enough talent to make it difficult for most teams—especially the bad ones. On Sunday, they might have put the final nail in the coffin for the Dolphins in 2025 for that regime. Rookie quarterback Dillon Gabriel wasn’t asked to do much, but with that defensive performance and Quinshon Judkins’ success running the ball, that’s all they needed.
28. Las Vegas Raiders (2-5) Previous Week 27
Things continue to go from bad to worse in Vegas for Pete Carroll and the Raiders. After a competitive start to the season, their inability to score points offensively is becoming an issue. Granted, they did pick up their second win last week, but it was against a Titans team that looks far away from competing for anything. Geno Smith’s struggles have continued, and the run game with Ashton Jeanty continues to struggle. Now, we’ll see how much time Maxx Crosby misses after being ruled out in the second quarter. 31-0 is a bad look, no matter the opponent.
29. New Orleans Saints (1-6) Previous Week: 28
In many ways, the Saints were never in the game on Sunday against Chicago. Yet, the Bears’ inability to put the game away allowed the Saints to hang 14 points to bookend the conclusion of the first half and the start of the second half. In the end, their four turnovers and lack of juice on offense did them in yet again. We knew this would be a rough season, and so far, it has played out as exactly that.
30. Miami Dolphins (1-6) Previous Week: 30
I really don’t know what to say at this point.. Things continue to go from bad to worse in Miami with no end in sight. Getting beaten by better teams is one thing. Being blown out by the Browns, not great, Tom. Not great. Tua Tagovailo continues to struggle (three interceptions and a safety), and the defense can’t stop a nosebleed. One head coach has already been fired, and it appears that Mike McDaniel is not far behind. Despite the impending changes coming, they’ll have to wait at least another week after it was announced that no staff changes would be made following another embarrassing week on the field.
31. Tennessee Titans (1-6) Previous Week: 31
The first half of Mike Vrabel’s homecoming looked promising, but the game quickly got out of hand in the second half. As we’ve learned with years of proof to lean on, mid-season coaching changes with rookie quarterbacks rarely pan out for the best. Cam Ward can still have a bright future, but the Titans failed to avoid the same mistakes many teams made before them. Now they’ll have to live (and survive) in the bed they created for themselves.
32. New York Jets (0-7) Previous Week: 32
I don’t even have words for this team at this point. Aaron Glenn was supposed to be part of a sweeping culture change, and so far, his seven-game tenure has been nothing short of a disaster. Their best game was Week 1 when they almost upset the Steelers. Since that point, it’s been primarily downhill. Quarterback Justin Fields was benched, and in his place, backup Tyrod Taylor threw two interceptions and completed less than 50% of his passes. If general manager Darren Mougey were smart, he’d be trading anyone who isn’t a part of the future. This roster needs a complete overhaul, outside of a few core pieces. The bigger question is whether Glenn and his staff will “earn” a Year 2.
