Team Rankings

1–Minnesota Vikings6-0

No one has knocked off the Vikings through six games; the record reads 6-0. Many of their opponents were lesser sides; so take the record with a grain of salt.

They edged the Colts 16-10. Biggest swing: Kyler Murray broke off a 35-yard run down the stretch. Defensively Harrison Smith added an interception. They dropped the passer four times. Best unit: special teams play, 2nd. Shakiest: the offensive line, 31st.

2–San Francisco 49ers6-1

Week 8 done, the count is 6-1 in 49ers land.

Going into their week 8 off week, no luck with the Falcons: 29-20. Kaelon Black was stripped before the half, which settled it. Brock Purdy racked up 288 passing yards with one score; he threw two interceptions. Four turnovers did them in.

The grades favour the defensive front, 3rd of 32, and dislike the receivers, 24th.

3–Buffalo Bills5-1

Wins and losses leave the Bills at 5-1. It has come against one of the harder slates in the league.

It hung on the final stretch, a 33-30 result against the Raiders. Josh Allen passed for 255 with two touchdowns. Dorian Williams grabbed a pick.

4–Kansas City Chiefs5-1

At 5-1, the Chiefs are right where results place them.

A 20-3 thumping by the Seahawks was ugly from early on. Nohl Williams came up with an interception. Good grades for quarterback play (2nd); low ones for the receivers (27th).

5–Denver Broncos5-2

Three straight wins have lifted the Broncos to 5-2.

A 30-16 victory over the Cardinals was settled before the end. The door opened for them once Bo Nix ran 62 yards for a touchdown before the half. They committed 11 penalties for 114 yards, a self-inflicted wound.

The secondary ranks 7th. The backfield, ranked 30th, is the drag.

6–Chicago Bears5-2

The Bears stand at 5-2. They have had an easy draw, which caps how high they go.

A 30-24 victory against the Patriots, tight throughout. D'Marco Jackson delivered a pick.

7–Pittsburgh Steelers5-2

The Steelers have taken three straight, hence a 5-2 team ends up this high.

The Saints pushed them before falling 16-10. Top defender: Payton Wilson, with an interception. On the ground, Jaylen Warren gained 101 yards.

Trust the secondary (3rd), worry about the receivers (25th).

8–Cleveland Browns5-2

The Browns come out of week 7 with a mark of 5-2.

Getting past the Titans 27-24 needed every minute. Denzel Ward starred on defense, with an interception. Deshaun Watson threw for 308 yards but no touchdowns and was intercepted one time.

9–Jacksonville Jaguars4-2

Their record shows 4-2 heading into week 7.

Tight, and still beaten: 34-31 to the Texans. The worst moment: Ka'imi Fairbairn converted a 49-yard field goal with no time left. Trevor Lawrence had 306 yards through the air with four scores, and one interception. Travis Hunter made the defensive plays, with a pick. Quarterback play rates 3rd overall. The secondary, sitting 28th, is the concern.

10–Cincinnati Bengals4-2

4-2 so far for the Bengals.

They blew out the Ravens 35-13 as the visitors. Tee Higgins logged 148 receiving yards on 6 grabs plus one score. The defensive highlight: Demetrius Knight Jr., who had an interception.

11–Detroit Lions4-2

The Lions exit week 7 sitting 4-2.

They nipped the Packers 20-17. It tilted for them as Jared Goff hit Sam LaPorta on an 18-yard gain in the fourth. Defensively Brian Branch had a pick.

Running the ball, Jahmyr Gibbs totalled 116 yards. Lean on quarterback play (1st), fix the secondary (25th).

12–New York Giants4-2-1

Giants fans are looking at a 4-2-1 first month. Their slate has been soft; that tempers the ranking.

Ahead of the week 8 bye, the Texans took them deep and still lost 27-21 in overtime. J.J. McCarthy produced 252 passing yards but never found the end zone. Malik Nabers grabbed 7 passes for 111 yards.

13▲2Green Bay Packers5-3

Through eight games in the books, the Packers have a 5-3 record. Most of their opponents have been weaker clubs, so the record needs context.

They outlasted the Panthers 27-19. The moment that mattered came when Jordan Love found Christian Watson for a gain of 53 midway through the first half.

Christian Watson drew the targets on 8 catches and 113 yards. The Panthers quarterback was sacked six times.

14▼1New England Patriots4-3

The Patriots sit at 4-3. They did it against a demanding set of opponents.

The Bears prevailed 30-24. D'Marco Jackson stepped in front of Drake Maye before the half, and that was that. Dropping back, Drake Maye hit on 24 of 31 throws totalling 321 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception. Penalties were a problem: 10 in all, costing 71 yards.

15▼1Seattle Seahawks4-3

This is a 4-3 first stretch for the Seahawks.

One lopsided 20-3 win against the Chiefs in front of their own crowd. No snap counted more than the moment Ty Okada picked off Patrick Mahomes during the second period. Ty Okada produced a pick.

16–Baltimore Ravens4-3

Two consecutive losses have dropped the Ravens back to 4-3. The schedule has been kind; that keeps them from ranking higher.

Blown out 35-13 by the Bengals. It turned when Joe Burrow hit Tee Higgins for 44 yards in the fourth. They were penalised 10 times.

17▲1Los Angeles Rams3-4

3-4 through seven games for the Rams. The clubs they have met have been good ones, so the record carries weight.

They downed the Raiders 35-21 on the road. Lean on the secondary (2nd), fix special teams play (30th).

18▲1Las Vegas Raiders3-4

The Raiders have lost four straight and stand at 3-4.

A 35-21 defeat to the Rams was the latest result. A pick came from Nakobe Dean in the back end.

19▲1Atlanta Falcons3-4

Week 7 done, it is 3-4 for the Falcons.

A 29-20 win over the 49ers came without much late drama. The big moment: Kaelon Black put the ball on the ground in the second quarter.

They took the ball away four times. For the defense Jessie Bates added a pick.

20▲1Dallas Cowboys3-4

The Cowboys are 3-4.

The Eagles could not keep up, losing 38-21. DeMarvion Overshown intercepted Tanner McKee down the stretch, and that was the turn. CeeDee Lamb finished with 74 yards receiving on 5 catches plus two scores.

21▼4Carolina Panthers3-4

At 3-4 on the back of two consecutive losses, the Panthers need a stop. They slide four places, from 17th to 21st.

The Packers won 27-19. The play that hurt most: Jordan Love found Christian Watson on a 53-yard gain before the half. Zakee Wheatley delivered an interception.

The grades rate the backfield, 1st overall, and flag the secondary, 31st.

22–Arizona Cardinals2-5

The Cardinals leave week 7 at 2-5. Their opponents rank among the better sides, a point in their favour.

No luck against the Broncos: 30-16. Their day went wrong when Bo Nix raced in from 62 yards before the half.

Special teams play (31st) wants fixing; the tight ends (5th) do not.

23–New Orleans Saints2-5

After seven games played, the Saints own a 2-5 ledger.

Before their week 8 bye, a 16-10 setback against the Steelers was decided late.

The grades back the linebackers, 5th leaguewide, and mark down special teams play, 32nd.

24–Indianapolis Colts2-5

The Colts have dropped three in a row and sit at 2-5.

Close, but a loss: 16-10 against the Vikings. The game hinged on the play where Kyler Murray got loose for 35 in the closing quarter.

Jonathan Taylor piled up 95 yards on 18 runs with one touchdown. Adetomiwa Adebawore grabbed two sacks. Per the grading, the backfield is the best part of this team (6th) and the linebackers the soft spot (30th).

25–New York Jets2-5

At 2-5 after two straight defeats, the Jets are sliding.

A 28-25 loss to the Dolphins came down to a handful of plays. Hardest to watch: Malik Willis threw to Caleb Douglas for a score from 63 yards during the final quarter. Omar Cooper Jr. reeled in 5 throws for 115 yards with one TD.

Braelon Allen ran it 17 times for 104 yards. Build around the offensive line (1st), fret over the tight ends (30th).

26–Houston Texans2-5

The Texans check in at 2-5.

The scales tipped the other way as Cam Skattebo ran for 42 yards once the game went to overtime. They were called 10 times. Under center, C.J. Stroud completed 17 of 28 attempts for 153 yards, two scores.

The linebackers (27th) require work; the defensive front (1st) does not.

27–Philadelphia Eagles2-5

Five losses in a row have sunk the Eagles down to 2-5.

It got away when DeMarvion Overshown intercepted Tanner McKee late on. Best unit: the backfield, 5th. Weakest: the offensive line, 30th.

28–Tampa Bay Buccaneers2-5

2-5 to date for the Buccaneers.

It was a 43-13 blowout against the Panthers. Defensively Yaya Diaby added three sacks. They got to the quarterback five times.

Top group: the backfield, 10th. Shakiest: quarterback play, 31st.

29–Washington Commanders1-4-1

Their record stands at 1-4-1 after week 6. That record came against a stiff run of opponents.

A 23-17 defeat by the 49ers hinged on a few snaps. Jayden Daniels could not complete a key throw inside the last minute, and they never recovered. Jayden Daniels went 29 for 40 for 300 yards and two touchdowns.

Top group: special teams play, 10th. Worst: the receivers, 30th.

30–Miami Dolphins1-5

It has been a 1-5 opening for the Dolphins.

Topping the Jets 28-25 went down to the wire. Malik Willis found Caleb Douglas from 63 yards out for six down the stretch. That proved enough. Ollie Gordon II carried 25 times and gained 103 yards plus one TD. Defensively Michael Taaffe had an interception.

Through the air, Malik Willis posted 208 yards plus two touchdown passes.

31–Tennessee Titans1-6

Wins and losses put the Titans on 1-6.

The Browns came out ahead 27-24, a one-score game. Tony Pollard rushed for 129 yards from 25 runs and scored three times. Defensively Cordale Flott chipped in an interception. The engine, it is the defensive front at 8th; the leak is the tight ends at 27th.

32–Los Angeles Chargers0-6

0-6 is a hard spot; the Chargers have not climbed out. The teams they have faced have been strong.

The Chiefs beat them 22-6. Cam Hart led the defense, with a pick.

The tight ends are the weak spot, 32nd overall.