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NFL power rankings after Week 8

It's been so long since the NFL saw a healthy Rob Gronkowski that it forgot how to defend him -- or more precisely, forgot he is basically uncoverable. As long as he's healthy, Tom Brady should have nothing to gripe about up north. The pass defense will be tested Sunday against Denver.

It’s been so long since the NFL saw a healthy Rob Gronkowski that it forgot how to defend him -- or more precisely, forgot he is basically uncoverable. As long as he’s healthy, Tom Brady should have nothing to gripe about up north. The pass defense will be tested Sunday against Denver.  (Darren McCollester / Getty Images)

By Jon Meoli
Baltimore Sun

Week 8 brought turmoil in these power rankings, but the third Ravens loss of the season wasn’t enough to bump them out of the top 10. As always, these rankings are over-reactionary, pretty much subjective, and still objectively correct.

5. Dallas Cowboys (6-2; LW 3)

Washington snapped Dallas’ six-game win streak in rather ugly fashion, though Dallas seems to be the same team even after the loss. This division will be settled late in the season when the Cowboys meet Philadelphia twice in three weeks, and the Cowboys are in good shape.  (Ronald Martinez / Getty Images)

8. Indianapolis Colts (5-3; LW: 4)

The Colts came down to earth the same way the Ravens did this week -- an injury to their top cornerback, Vontae Davis, made the whole defense vulnerable. Indianapolis, however, can score with anyone, so they might have the chance to win some shootouts coming up.  (Joe Robbins / Getty Images)

9. Cincinnati Bengals (4-2-1; LW: NR)

Like the Lions, Cincinnati is missing a ton of weapons but for the most part, is getting it done. The Bengals have two crucial division wins and will get stars like A.J. Green back for the rest of their division games in the second half. This team just gets it done.  (Andy Lyons / Getty Images)

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10. Ravens (5-3; LW: 6)

The Ravens cling to the last spot in this top-10, but the Sunday night game against Pittsburgh is much bigger than it looked a week ago. This defense is drastically different without cornerback Jimmy Smith, and will basically determine this team’s success going forward.  (Karl Merton Ferron / Baltimore Sun)

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Jon Meoli

Jon Meoli covers the Orioles for The Baltimore Sun. A Connecticut native and graduate of Loyola Maryland, he joined The Sun in April 2014 after nearly three years covering news for the Towson Times. He is a hockey player and a bogey golfer.

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