2026 NFL Power Rankings Week 8

I wanted to follow up on last week’s opening about the lack of home field advantage in the NFL these days. We saw that trend on full display again in Week 7 and I think it will continue into the winter months.
I am not counting the Steelers-Saints game since that was played in Paris. Across the rest of the league, home teams went 5-8 straight up and just 3-10 against the spread. Home teams are now below .500 straight up on the season (52-53-1).
Hosts are just 9-18 ATS over the last two weeks and 16-27 ATS over the last three. They are 45-62 (42%) ATS overall this season.
Further, the big dogs had another strong week with the Giants beating the Texans outright as double-digit favorites and the Colts making the number stick at +6.5 against the Vikings. Underdogs of 5.0 or more this season are now 6-1 ATS over the last two weeks and 22-9 ATS on the season.
Finally, prime time underdogs finally came back to earth with a 0-3 SU and ATS week. They are still 9-4 SU and 10-3 ATS on the season.
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Here are my Week 8 NFL Power Rankings:
1. San Francisco 49ers (6-1) — That was a tough situation for the 49ers last week. They had to travel across the country for an early kickoff on a short week off a Monday Night Football win. This team desperately needs its bye week to get some offensive players back healthy.
2. Kansas City Chiefs (6-1) — Sunday’s 20-3 bludgeoning at the hands of the Seahawks was the first time in five years that the Chiefs lost by more than two scores. Patrick Mahomes has only lost by three (or more) scores five times in his career. Kansas City is 4-0 ATS in its last four games following an ATS loss.
3. Buffalo Bills (5-1) — Buffalo has gone 4-0 ATS in their last four games following a bye. I am interested to see what, if any, defensive adjustments the Bills made during their week off. This week will be the sixth meeting between the Bills and Ravens since 2021. Buffalo is 4-1 SU in those games, with three wins by three points or fewer.
4. Minnesota Vikings (6-0) — I have been on the Vikings bandwagon since July. However, even I am running out of patience with their putrid offense. They were finally healthy at the skill positions and coming out of a bye week. They only managed six points through three quarters against a bad defense and finished the game for just 275 yards. Gross. Minnesota is 8-0-1 ATS in its last nine NFC games and 5-0 ATS in its last five road games. They are on an 11-game winning streak dating back to last year.
5. Jacksonville Jaguars (4-2) — Jacksonville returns from its bye week to host the Colts as one of the week’s largest favorites. Jacksonville has gone 6-0 ATS in its last six home games against opponents with a losing road records. But NFL favorites of 5.0+ this year are a horrendous 9-22 ATS. Jacksonville is 7-2 ATS in its last nine against Indianapolis.
6. Chicago Bears (5-2) — That 3rd-and-9 conversion between Caleb Williams and Rome Odunze is as good of an NFL play as you will ever see. That was a huge spot, too; if the Bears don’t covert there then, up 27-21, they would’ve given the ball back to the Patriots near midfield. That throw was otherworldly and it was nice to see Odunze, who has been inching toward ‘bust’ territory, make a big play. The Bears are 4-0 ATS in their last four games as an underdog.
7. Denver Broncos (5-2) — The Broncos have covered five consecutive games as home underdogs. They are 3-1 SU in their last four games against the Chiefs, including their Week 1 loss at Arrowhead. The underdog is 7-3 ATS in the last 10 Broncos-Chiefs games and the home team is 8-2 ATS in this series.
8. Seattle Seahawks (4-3) — Seattle delivered one of the most impressive defensive performances of the season, holding Kansas City to three points in a 20-3 Sunday night victory. The Seahawks have covered five consecutive games as favorites, a situation that applies Monday night against Chicago. Seattle faces a Bears team that is 5-2 ATS this season and 3-0-1 ATS in its last four games as an underdog.
9. New England Patriots (4-3) — I would hope that last Thursday’s Bears-Patriots game would put an end to the ridiculous ‘Drake Maye is better than Caleb Williams’ debate. Maye is an excellent quarterback. I have no beef with the man. But Williams is on a different level, physically and mentally, than Maye. Also, A.J. Brown looks slow and overweight. I don’t see the light switch turning on for him.
10. Los Angeles Rams (3-4) — That was vintage Sean McVay right there. He just took a box of mismatched Legos and built the Castle of Greyskull. The Rams are still in desperation mode right now, sitting below .500 and in third place in the division. We will see if they play with the same level of urgency this week. The Rams are 8-2 ATS in their last 10 home games.
11. Cincinnati Bengals (4-2) — I’ve said for over a decade now: the bye week is not the benefit that everyone thinks it is. The Bengals were a perfect example last week. They came out sluggish and out of rhythm in the first half at Baltimore before turning on the jets in the final 30 minutes. Double-digit favorites are 1-3 ATS this season and favorite of 9.5 or more have gone 2-5 ATS so far in 2026.
12. Detroit Lions (4-2) — That was a completely misleading final score in Detroit last week. The Lions and Packers combined for nearly 750 yards but just 37 points. There were eight(!) different drives of 10+ plays in that game. Four of them resulted in zero points and the other four produced 20 of the 37 points.
13. Pittsburgh Steelers (5-2) — Teams that have played international games this season and then played the following week without a bye are just 2-7 ATS this season. The Rams and 49ers both covered in Week 2 after their opener in Australia. The next seven teams to play overseas and then play again the next week are 0-7 ATS.
14. Baltimore Ravens (4-3) — According to Josh Dubow of the Associated Press, the Ravens became the first NFL team since 1950 to lose by 20-plus points after leading by 13 or more points at halftimes. That is now back-to-back blown double-digit halftime leads to divisional opponents (they were up 10-0 against the Browns and 13-0 against the Bengals) and that is now Baltimore’s 17th blown double-digit lead since 2020.
15. Green Bay Packers (4-3) — That was ugly. The Packers can complain about the officials, but they have no one to blame but themselves for blowing what would’ve been a massive win in Detroit. Dropped passes, fourth down failures (just take the points!), missed field goals and brutal penalties all did in The Pack, who will have to turn around and rebound quickly on Thursday night.
16. Atlanta Falcons (3-4) — The Falcons have gone 7-1 ATS in their last eight games as road underdogs and 4-0 ATS in their last four visits to Tampa Bay. The road team is also 5-1 ATS in the last six between Atlanta and Tampa Bay and six straight (and seven of eight) meetings have been decided by six points or less.
17. Carolina Panthers (3-3) — Just when everyone was ready to buy into the Panthers as an ascending NFC South team – they go and do THAT. Four turnovers and a 30-point home wipeout to Tampa Bay. You can’t be a good football team and lose games 59-37 and 43-13, both of which are actual scores from Panthers games this year.
18. Las Vegas Raiders (3-4) — Las Vegas was a no show for its last East Coast trip, falling behind 28-7 to the Patriots in a 45-17 blowout. Vegas has now lost four straight. But all four losses have come against teams in my Top 10. The Raiders have gone 7-1 ATS in their last eight AFC games and 5-0 ATS in their last five games following an ATS loss.
19. Dallas Cowboys (3-4) — The Cowboys did end up winning by 17 on Monday in Philadelphia. But you could hardly describe that game as a dominating effort by Dallas. They let Philadelphia’s third string hang around into the fourth quarter, with Philly down just 28-21 with the ball. More idiotic penalties in the first half helped keep the Eagles in that game and there is just no way I can trust this team.
20. New York Giants (4-2-1) — New York is 5-2 ATS this season, making the Giants one of the best bets on the board through the first half of the season. The Giants are on a bye and will see if they can maintain momentum on the other side of it.
21. Houston Texans (2-5) — The NFL always gives teams off international games the option of taking their bye the following week. Houston played in London two weeks ago. They have their bye this week. Why not just take it after the international game? The Texans are just 2-5 ATS this season and 1-4 ATS when favored. I hope they enjoy their week off, one week too late.
22. New Orleans Saints (2-5) — For being just a weak offensive team (No. 21 in total offense), the Saints are oddly effective in the red zone. New Orleans has converted 77.3 percent of their red zone trips into touchdowns this season. The Saints have a bye this week.
23. Cleveland Browns (5-2) — The Browns are 5-2 ATS overall and 4-2 ATS as underdogs. They have covered five consecutive AFC North games and are 5-0 ATS in their last five games played on grass. Cleveland has won each of its last two games against the Steelers and are 4-2 SU in its last six against Pittsburgh.
24. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2-5) — Wow. I was not expecting a first half knockout from the Bucs last week at Carolina. Now we will see if they can claw their way back into the NFC South race by beating a Falcons team that has had their number.
25. Washington Commanders (1-4-1) — How the hell did this team beat the Seahawks? Washington comes off its bye in a good situational spot against a beat-up Eagles team that is playing on a short week. Washington has revenge for a 24-22 loss to the full-strength Eagles in Week 1. The favorite is just 3-6 ATS in this series.
26. Indianapolis Colts (2-5) — The line on the Colts-Jaguars game moved two full points after the Quenton Nelson trade. That’s a little aggressive for an offensive lineman being dealt, even if he is a Pro Bowler. I understand that movement is anticipating other potential deals as the Colts look to start a fire sale. But these guys are 4-2 ATS in their last five games and have covered three of four as an underdog.
27. Philadelphia Eagles (2-5) — You have to give this team a ton of credit for the way they have battled the last two weeks. By my count, the Eagles played most of Monday’s game with just three of their original offensive starters. They have now lost five straight games and are just 2-7 SU, 1-8 ATS in their last nine games dating back to last year.
28. Arizona Cardinals (2-5) — Arizona has covered four consecutive meetings with the Cowboys and four straight visits to Dallas. The underdog is also 4-0 ATS in the last four meetings between these teams. I have no idea how the Cardinals defense plans to stop the Cowboys offense. The question becomes whether or not Arizona’s offense, which has just 34 points in the last two games, can score enough to keep up with Dallas.
29. Los Angeles Chargers (0-6) — The Chargers are the only team without an ATS victory and they are 0-9 SU and ATS dating back to last season.
30. New York Jets (2-4) — The Jets are 6-13 ATS in their last 19 games as a favorite. Yet somehow these idiots are favored again this week against the Raiders.
31. Miami Dolphins (1-5) — I told you that first win was coming. The Dolphins have steadily improved as the season has gone on. They will still be overmatched on most Sundays. But they are going to come to compete. The Dolphins are 7-3 SU and 8-2 ATS in their last 10 games against the Patriots.
32. Tennessee Titans (1-6) — Not being able to pump the ball in with three chances for the one-yard-line completely turned the tide of that game. A touchdown there would’ve put Tennessee up 21-7. Instead, they were outscored 10-0 the rest of half and would never regain the lead. The Titans are 3-7 and 2-8 ATS in their last 10 games against the Bengals.
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