The Minnesota Vikings take over the top spot in the NFC power rankings after Atlanta handed San Francisco its first loss, while Seattle’s rout of Kansas City and Detroit’s walk-off win reshape the conference’s top five entering NFL Week 8.
Minnesota reached 6-0 behind a defense that has allowed a league-low 74 points, and Tampa Bay climbed three spots after a 43-13 rout at Carolina. Philadelphia stays last after Dallas handed the Eagles their fifth straight loss on Monday night.
Here are our NFC power rankings entering Week 8, from Nos. 16 to 1.
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16. Philadelphia Eagles (Prev: 16)
- Last week: vs. Dallas Cowboys, L 38-21
- Next week: at Washington, Sun., Nov. 1, 8:20 p.m. ET
Saquon Barkley returned after missing two games and scored on the opening drive, and Tanner McKee’s 4-yard touchdown pass to rookie Makai Lemon gave Philadelphia a 21-20 lead in the third quarter. The defense couldn’t protect it, though, as Dallas ran for 204 yards and the Eagles didn’t record a tackle for loss.
Philadelphia is 2-5 without Jalen Hurts and hasn’t shown it can win a close game with McKee. A Sunday night trip to Washington puts the Eagles up against another NFC East team missing a key starter.
15. Arizona Cardinals (Prev: 13)
- Last week: vs. Denver Broncos, L 30-16
- Next week: at Dallas, Sun., Nov. 1, 1 p.m. ET
Arizona followed its upset of the Rams by giving up the big plays it avoided in Los Angeles. Bo Nix ran 62 yards for the longest touchdown of his career, and RJ Harvey turned a short screen into a 52-yard score.
Jacoby Brissett threw 48 passes for 272 yards, but the Cardinals didn’t find the end zone often enough to keep pace. At 2-5, they drop two spots before facing a Dallas offense that just ran for more than 200 yards.
14. Washington Commanders (Prev: 14)
- Last week: Bye
- Next week: vs. Philadelphia, Sun., Nov. 1, 8:20 p.m. ET
Washington spent its bye absorbing the loss of Terry McLaurin, who tore the patellar tendon in his left knee against San Francisco and will miss the rest of the season. McLaurin led the team with 230 receiving yards.
Stefon Diggs now heads a thin receiver room for Jayden Daniels, and rookie Antonio Williams is in line for more snaps. The 1-4-1 Commanders hold their spot because the teams below them lost, and hosting a five-game losing streak gives them their best chance at a second win.
13. New Orleans Saints (Prev: 11)
- Last week: vs. Pittsburgh Steelers (Paris), L 16-10
- Next week: Bye
New Orleans ran for 18 yards on 17 carries in the NFL’s first regular-season game in France, which put the entire offense on Tyler Shough. He completed 30 of 38 passes for 278 yards and found Devaughn Vele for a fourth-down touchdown, but Daniel Carlson missed a 52-yard try with 9:27 left that would have made it a 3-point game.
The Saints never led and head into their bye at 2-5. Failing to build on the Giants’ win costs them two spots.
12. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Prev: 15)
- Last week: at Carolina Panthers, W 43-13
- Next week: vs. Atlanta, Sun., Nov. 1, 1 p.m. ET
Baker Mayfield returned from a dislocated thumb and threw only 11 passes because Tampa Bay ran 49 times for 258 yards. Bucky Irving scored twice, and the defense forced four turnovers while the Bucs built a 33-6 halftime lead.
“With all of these handoffs, I don’t know, my thumb might be pretty sore,” Mayfield said. The Buccaneers had played 12 straight one-score games before Sunday, so a blowout division win on the road earns a three-spot jump. Hosting Atlanta gives them a second straight NFC South game to build on it.
11. Dallas Cowboys (Prev: 10)
- Last week: at Philadelphia Eagles, W 38-21
- Next week: vs. Arizona, Sun., Nov. 1, 1 p.m. ET
Dallas ended a two-game losing streak by running through Philadelphia. Javonte Williams carried 25 times for a career-high 155 yards, the most by a Cowboys back since Ezekiel Elliott in 2018, and Dak Prescott threw three touchdown passes, two to CeeDee Lamb.
Still, the Cowboys slip a spot because the Giants and Rams also won, and a 3-4 team with the league’s 30th-ranked defense in EPA per play hasn’t earned the edge over them. Arizona’s visit gives Dallas a chance to reach .500.
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10. New York Giants (Prev: 12)
- Last week: at Houston Texans, W 27-21 (OT)
- Next week: Bye
J.J. McCarthy won his first start with New York 27 days after his trade from Minnesota, and Cam Skattebo bounced back from a week without a touch to run for a career-high 124 yards. Skattebo’s 42-yard run in overtime set up Devin Singletary’s 30-yard walk-off touchdown.
McCarthy said afterward the Giants need to “stay humble and hungry.” New York outgained Houston 420-237, and at 4-2-1 the Giants lead the NFC East heading into their bye.
9. Carolina Panthers (Prev: 5)
- Last week: vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers, L 43-13
- Next week: at Green Bay, Thu., Oct. 29, 8:15 p.m. ET
Bryce Young was sacked five times and threw for 163 yards with two interceptions and a lost fumble. Tampa Bay also recovered a muffed punt and returned a blocked extra point for 2 points after Young’s 50-yard touchdown pass to Darren Waller.
“It hurts the team, and that’s on me,” Young said. The four-spot drop reflects how lopsided the loss was, but a 3-3 record still leads the NFC South. Losing right tackle Taylor Moton to an ankle injury complicates a short-week trip to Lambeau Field.
8. Atlanta Falcons (Prev: 9)
- Last week: vs. San Francisco 49ers, W 29-20
- Next week: at Tampa Bay, Sun., Nov. 1, 1 p.m. ET
Atlanta forced four turnovers, committed none and scored 13 points off San Francisco’s mistakes. Michael Penix Jr. completed 25 of 34 passes for 213 yards and three touchdowns, and rookie linebacker Kendal Daniels sealed it with an interception and a fumble recovery in the final three minutes.
Head coach Kevin Stefanski called the turnover margin “a great recipe for winning in this league.” The win snapped a two-game skid, and the 3-4 Falcons can get back to .500 at Tampa Bay.
7. Green Bay Packers (Prev: 6)
- Last week: at Detroit Lions, L 20-17
- Next week: vs. Carolina, Thu., Oct. 29, 8:15 p.m. ET
Green Bay wasted too many scoring chances at Ford Field. Rookie kicker Trey Smack missed from 26 and 35 yards, and the second miss kept the Packers from taking a late lead before Detroit drove for the winning kick.
Smack has missed seven field goals this season, and that’s the main reason a one-score road loss only drops the 4-3 Packers one spot. They host Carolina on Thursday night with the kicking situation unresolved.
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6. Los Angeles Rams (Prev: 8)
- Last week: at Las Vegas Raiders, W 35-21
- Next week: vs. L.A. Chargers, Sun., Nov. 1, 4:05 p.m. ET
Matthew Stafford threw three touchdown passes, and his 11-yard score to Puka Nacua made him the franchise’s all-time leader with 155. He’s the first player to hold that record for two teams after setting the Lions’ mark of 282.
Kyren Williams added 99 rushing yards as Los Angeles built a 28-6 halftime lead. The 3-4 Rams climb two spots, and the winless Chargers come to SoFi Stadium on Sunday.
5. Detroit Lions (Prev: 7)
- Last week: vs. Green Bay Packers, W 20-17
- Next week: vs. Minnesota, Sun., Nov. 1, 1 p.m. ET
Jake Bates hit a 22-yard field goal as time expired, and Jared Goff threw for 303 yards and two touchdowns. Safety Brian Branch returned, and the 17 points were the fewest the Lions have allowed this season.
That improvement comes from a defense that still ranks 31st in EPA per play. Winning the head-to-head game moves the 4-2 Lions past Green Bay, and they get the first shot at unbeaten Minnesota on Sunday.
4. Chicago Bears (Prev: 3)
- Last week: vs. New England Patriots, W 30-24
- Next week: at Seattle, Mon., Nov. 2, 8:15 p.m. ET
Caleb Williams threw for 308 yards and two touchdowns without an interception, becoming the first Bears quarterback with consecutive 300-yard games since Mitchell Trubisky in 2018. Luther Burden III caught all four targets for 130 yards and a score, and Cairo Santos hit a career-long 58-yard field goal with 1:34 left.
“These nights are awesome,” Williams said. The 5-2 Bears slip only because Seattle’s win carried more weight, and the two teams meet Monday night.
3. Seattle Seahawks (Prev: 4)
- Last week: vs. Kansas City Chiefs, W 20-3
- Next week: vs. Chicago, Mon., Nov. 2, 8:15 p.m. ET
Seattle snapped a two-game skid by holding Kansas City to 3 points, which tied the fewest in Patrick Mahomes’ 153 career starts. The Seahawks outgained the previously unbeaten Chiefs 410-213, and Jaxon Smith-Njigba caught nine passes for 150 yards and a touchdown.
Sam Darnold threw another interception, so the turnover issue hasn’t gone away. But a defense that can shut down Mahomes lifts the 4-3 Seahawks past Chicago before the Bears visit Lumen Field.
2. San Francisco 49ers (Prev: 1)
- Last week: at Atlanta Falcons, L 29-20
- Next week: Bye
San Francisco lost the turnover battle 4-0. Brock Purdy’s two interceptions doubled his season total, and George Kittle lost a fumble in the final minute. “Too sloppy to win,” head coach Kyle Shanahan said.
With Mike Evans and Deebo Samuel inactive, Purdy said he saw “a lot of really cool things” from fill-ins Jordan Watkins and Jacob Cowing. The 6-1 49ers drop one spot and will use the bye to get healthier, including Christian McCaffrey after his thigh injury.
1. Minnesota Vikings (Prev: 2)
- Last week: vs. Indianapolis Colts, W 16-10
- Next week: at Detroit, Sun., Nov. 1, 1 p.m. ET
Minnesota trailed for more than three quarters and still won because Blake Cashman led a defense that harassed Daniel Jones all afternoon. Cashman had 12 tackles, two sacks, four passes defensed and three quarterback hits, and Harrison Smith made the game-sealing interception.
The Vikings have allowed a league-low 74 points and rank first in EPA per play allowed, which outweighs an offense that got little from Kyler Murray. As the NFC’s last unbeaten team, Minnesota takes over the top spot before visiting Detroit.
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