Each week of the NFL season, The Baltimore Sun will rank all 32 NFL groups. The rankings will have in mind not simply weekly efficiency, accidents and roster depth, however how nicely every group measures up as Super Bowl contenders.
Here are the rankings heading into Week 8:
Super Bowl favorites
1. Buffalo Bills (5-1, No. 1 final week)
2. Philadelphia Eagles (6-0, No. 2)
3. Kansas City Chiefs (5-2, No. 3)
If there have been any lingering doubts in regards to the Chiefs’ offense after the Tyreek Hill commerce, they have been put to relaxation Sunday. Kansas City averaged 9.1 yards per play in a 44-23 win over the 49ers, as Patrick Mahomes threw for 423 yards and three touchdowns towards one of many league’s finest defenses. JuJu Smith-Schuster and Marquez Valdes-Scantling mixed for 235 receiving yards, tight finish Travis Kelce caught six passes for 98 yards and Mecole Hardman turned the primary extensive receiver within the Super Bowl period to have at the least two speeding touchdowns and one receiving landing in the identical recreation. The protection additionally flexed its muscle, sacking Jimmy Garoppolo 5 instances and pressuring him into two interceptions, together with one ultimately zone close to the tip of the primary half. Mahomes continues to be one of many hardest quarterbacks to defend within the league, and his new weapons have held up their finish of the cut price.
The flawed contenders
4. New York Giants (6-1, No. 5)
5. Minnesota Vikings (5-1, No. 4)
6. Baltimore Ravens (4-3, No. 7)
7. Cincinnati Bengals (4-3, No. 10)
8. Dallas Cowboys (5-2, No. 8)
This felt just like the week the Giants have been going to return again right down to earth. The Jaguars entered Sunday because the betting favorites, however New York as soon as once more discovered a option to win, this time stopping extensive receiver Christian Kirk on the 1-yard line as time expired to safe a 23-17 victory. Daniel Jones has grow to be probably the most harmful dual-threat quarterbacks within the league (sure, actually), passing for 202 yards and a landing and speeding for 107 yards and a rating as Jacksonville targeted on limiting star working again Saquon Barkley, who lastly bought going within the fourth quarter. Rookie edge rusher Kayvon Thibodeaux has made a direct affect along with his constant strain on the quarterback, and unheralded contributors like veteran cornerback Fabian Moreau are making huge performs. Injuries to rookie proper sort out Evan Neal (knee), tight finish Daniel Bellinger (eye) and left guard Ben Bredeson (knee) will take a look at the Giants’ depth, however there’s no query coach Brian Daboll has constructed a tricky group that’s proving even harder to beat.
In the AFC North, the race between the Ravens and Bengals is heating up. While Baltimore exorcised some demons by lastly holding on to a fourth-quarter lead in a 23-20 win over Cleveland, Cincinnati confirmed off the offensive firepower that led it to a shocking Super Bowl berth in a 35-17 win over Atlanta. Joe Burrow threw for 481 yards and three touchdowns, together with his NFL-best twelfth passing landing of fifty or extra yards since 2021. The Bengals almost had three 100-yard receivers in Tyler Boyd (155), Ja’Marr Chase (130) and Tee Higgins (93), reminding everybody that this stays probably the most explosive offenses within the league.
The Ravens desperately wanted a win, regardless of how ugly, and it may set them up for a powerful run towards a sequence of mediocre groups. The huge query is the play of quarterback Lamar Jackson, who was held to 120 passing yards, the sixth fewest of his profession, on simply 16 makes an attempt. Baltimore’s resurgent working recreation behind the returning Gus Edwards bought the job achieved Sunday, however the Ravens want the Jackson that confirmed up within the first three weeks of the season to be a reputable postseason contender. Despite all of the blown leads and irritating moments, nonetheless, the Ravens sit atop the division and rank fourth in general effectivity, in keeping with Football Outsiders’ DVOA. This continues to be a great group that might be fairly scary come playoff time.
On the cusp of competition
9. Miami Dolphins (4-3, No. 17)
10. New York Jets (5-2, No. 11)
11. Los Angeles Rams (3-3, No. 12)
12. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3-4, No. 9)
13. Tennessee Titans (4-2, No. 16)
From high to backside, the AFC East has a reasonably sturdy case to be the very best division in soccer. The return of Tua Tagovailoa from a concussion helped the Dolphins safe a 16-10 win over the Steelers on Sunday evening, however the third-year quarterback appeared rusty, throwing 4 near-interceptions that Pittsburgh defenders dropped. It took three picks from the Miami secondary towards rookie quarterback Kenny Pickett to salt this one away, because the Dolphins’ offense produced simply 127 yards within the second half. A wholesome Tagovailoa with Jaylen Waddle and Tyreek Hill stays a reputable risk, however outdoors of an unbelievable fourth quarter towards the Ravens approach again in Week 2, it has been disappointing.
The Jets haven’t been dominant, however they’ve prevented turnovers and performed sound protection on the way in which to 4 straight wins, the newest 16-9 over the Broncos and backup quarterback Brett Rypien. Sunday’s victory got here at a value, nonetheless, as star rookie working again Breece Hall (torn ACL) and Alijah Vera-Tucker (triceps) have been each misplaced to season-ending accidents. Hall had been the engine of the Jets’ turnaround, averaging 5.8 yards per carry whereas being a dependable receiver. Second-year quarterback Zach Wilson has put up modest numbers since his return from a knee harm, however he’ll have to hold extra of the load to maintain the offense forward of schedule. There’s extra strain on Wilson and a younger protection led by rookie cornerback Sauce Garnder to maintain the Jets within the playoff race.
There wasn’t a extra surprising end result on Sunday, and possibly this whole season, than the Buccaneers’ 21-3 loss to the Panthers. Carolina had simply fired coach Matt Rhule and traded star working again Christian McCaffrey to the 49ers, but third-string quarterback P.J. Walker outplayed Tom Brady in an unbelievable win. Brady now has a dropping report by means of his first seven video games of a season for the primary time since 2002 — his first full season as an NFL starter and the one wholesome season of his profession through which he didn’t make the playoffs. His determination to return again from a short retirement seems extra bewildering by the week. There’s nonetheless loads of expertise on this group, nevertheless it hasn’t been sufficient to stop 4 losses in 5 video games. Now security Antoine Winfield Jr. is out with a concussion, additional depleting a banged-up secondary. A fast turnaround to play the Ravens on Thursday evening couldn’t come at a worse time.
The wild playing cards
14. Seattle Seahawks (4-3, No. 19)
15. Los Angeles Chargers (4-3, No. 6)
16. Arizona Cardinals (3-4, No. 23)
17. San Francisco 49ers (3-4, No. 14)
18. Green Bay Packers (3-4, No. 13)
19. Las Vegas Raiders (2-4, No. 24)
20. Washington Commanders (3-4, No. 29)
21. Chicago Bears (3-4, No. 30)
22. New England Patriots (3-4, No. 15)
23. Jacksonville Jaguars (2-5, No. 21)
Through the primary seven weeks, the very best rookie class within the league belongs to Seattle. Running again Kenneth Walker broke out with 168 yards and two touchdowns in Sunday’s 37-23 win over the Chargers, simply the newest standout efficiency from a 2022 draft choose on this roster. Charles Cross and Abraham Lucas have been rock-solid offensive tackles. Cornerback Tariq Woolen is tied for the league lead with 4 interceptions. Cornerback Coby Bryant and edge rusher Boye Mafe have been beneficial contributors. Journeyman quarterback Geno Smith has been a revelation, maybe incomes himself a long-term cope with the franchise. Seattle is in first place within the vaunted NFC West, and it doesn’t really feel like a fluke.
Is it time to panic in Green Bay? With a 23-21 defeat to Washington, the Packers have misplaced three straight for the primary time since 2018, and the offense seems fully damaged. Running backs Aaron Jones and A.J. Dillon, who have been meant to be the engine of this offense as a bunch of younger receivers bought on top of things, mixed for simply 38 yards on 12 carries towards one of many league’s worst run defenses. Aaron Rodgers seems extra like a 38-year-old quarterback on his final legs than a two-time reigning Most Valuable Player; he didn’t try a move greater than 10 yards within the air till the ultimate two minutes of the primary half Sunday. The protection isn’t residing as much as excessive expectations both, permitting backup quarterback Taylor Heinicke to throw two landing passes and giving up 166 speeding yards. There’s nonetheless loads of time for coach Matt LaFleur and Rodgers to show this season round, nevertheless it’s going to take some heavy lifting.
The basement
24. Indianapolis Colts (3-3-1, No. 20)
25. Atlanta Falcons (3-4, No. 18)
26. Cleveland Browns (2-5, No. 25)
27. Denver Broncos (2-5, No. 22)
28. Pittsburgh Steelers (2-5, No. 26)
29. Carolina Panthers (2-5, No. 32)
30. New Orleans Saints (2-5, No. 27)
31. Detroit Lions (1-5, No. 28)
32. Houston Texans (1-4-1, No. 31)
After a irritating loss to the Ravens through which an officiating controversy may need price them an opportunity to tie the sport, the Browns are left to marvel the place precisely this season — and possibly this whole franchise — is heading. They traded a boatload of draft picks, together with three first-rounders, for quarterback Deshaun Watson and gave him $230 million assured regardless of the previous Texans star being accused of sexual assault and misconduct by greater than two dozen girls. When he does ultimately return to the sphere after his 11-game suspension, the Browns could be fully out of playoff competition. Team house owners Jimmy and Dee Haslam made it clear the place they stood on the accusations towards Watson after they made the deal, selecting to look the opposite approach in favor of Watson’s star energy. No contrived statements or charitable donations can wash away the callousness of that transfer, and now they’re left with a dropping group. Things may solely worsen from right here, each on and off the sphere.
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Source: www.bostonherald.com