PFT's Week 8 NFL 2026 power rankings

1. Bills (last week No. 3; 5-1): For the first time ever, a team ascends to No. 1 without playing.2. Jaguars (No. 4; 4-2): For the first time ever, a team ascends to No. 2 without playing.3. Vikings (No. 5; 6-0): A four-game gauntlet is coming.4. 49ers (No. 1; 6-1): The bye week came at the best possible time.5. Chiefs (No. 2; 5-1): They badly need help at receiver. 6. Broncos (No. 6; 5-2): Take that, Ryan Fitzpatrick.7. Seahawks (No. 7; 4-3): Can they do to Caleb Williams what they did to Patrick Mahomes?8. Bears (No. 10; 5-2): The NFC Championship matchup we almost got in January happens on Monday night.9. Browns (No. 11; 5-2): If they can complete the sweep of the Steelers, they’ll control the division.10. Steelers (No. 13; 5-2): Sunday’s home game against Cleveland is the closest thing to a “must” win that any 5-2 team will ever have.11. Patriots (No. 8; 4-3): With the Packers and Lions looming, they can’t overlook the Dolphins. 12. Bengals (No. 14; 4-2): Ja’Marr Chase’s halftime speech may have saved the season.13. Lions (No. 18; 4-2): Can Jared Goff figure out the Brian Flores defense?14. Packers (No. 9; 4-3): They can’t let one loss become two on Thursday night.15. Ravens (No. 12; 4-3): It feels like the entire season hinges on the next two games (at Bills, Jaguars). 16. Rams (No. 17; 3-4): If they can keep running the ball the way they did on Sunday, they can start stacking wins.17. Giants (No. 21; 4-2-1): They’re becoming the most fun team to watch in the entire league.18. Falcons (No. 24; 3-4): More Jekyll, less Hyde.19. Raiders (No. 16; 3-4): Mendoza time is coming.20. Buccaneers (No. 29; 2-5): The NFC South is still theirs for the taking.21. Cowboys (No. 23; 3-4): The best solution for a bad defense is an offense that stays on the field for as long as it can.22. Panthers (No. 15; 3-3): Drinks are on the house.23. Texans (No. 19; 2-5): Has an elite defense ever fallen apart this quickly? 24. Saints (No. 20; 2-5): The win over the Giants may have saved Kellen Moore from a bye-week buh-bye. 25. Cardinals (No. 22; 2-5): It’s Carson Beck time. 26. Eagles (No. 25; 2-5): Lose to the 1-4-1 Commanders on Sunday night, and this season is over. (It may be anyway.)27. Titans (No. 26; 1-6): Will they ever win two in a row again? 28. Colts (No. 27; 2-5): The trade deadline could get very interesting. 29. Dolphins (No. 31; 1-5): Only five weeks until the next Jets game.30. Commanders (No. 30; 1-4-1): Did Dan Quinn know it was the bye week?31. Jets (No. 28; 2-5): The clock is ticking on Aaron Glenn.32. Chargers (No. 32; 0-6): “Last winless team in the league” wasn’t mentioned in their schedule-release video.