NFL Power Rankings, Week 8: Lions reclaim top spot, while Colts vault up to No. 2; Chiefs lurking

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The NFL.com Power Rankings jinx struck again.

One week after I elevated the Tampa Bay Buccaneers into the top spot — hesitantly, I might add — they let me down by losing at Detroit, and not in the heartbreaking, last-second kind of way. Add in some bad injury news, and I’m sinking the Bucs, cruelly and unmercifully.

On the flip side, the top spot again belongs to the Lions — and you better believe I double-checked to make sure they are indeed on a bye this week. But even with the humbling loss at Kansas City in Week 6, Detroit has a strong case for No. 1.

Speaking of the Chiefs, if the playoffs started today, they would not be in them. However, ask yourself this: Are they one of the best teams going right now? For me, it’s an obvious yes. Seeding, after all, only means so much in mid-October. Right now, New England would be the AFC’s No. 2 seed with Denver at No. 3.

As you’ll see below, a few teams made jumps (or falls) that might not appear befitting of what simply happened since we last met. Some of this is just cleaning up the rolls a bit and taking a wider-lens look at certain squads. Or, as I like to call it with my kids, redoing last week’s homework. There was a fair amount of that this week.

NOTE: Up/down arrows below reflect movement from the Week 7 Power Rankings.

Detroit’s undermanned secondary stepped up in a massive way in Monday’s statement victory over Tampa Bay. The home team entered the night alarmingly shorthanded in the defensive backfield, and then Rock Ya-Sin had to miss some snaps with cramps. The Lions knew Baker Mayfield would keep coming, but they kept answering the bell. Despite dominating play in the first half, Detroit only led 14-3 at the break, having left a ton of points on the field with two turnovers, a turnover on downs and a missed field goal. Jared Goff’s pick before halftime helped gift the Buccaneers points, but the Lions’ offense responded with a touchdown on its first drive of the third quarter and the defense played incredibly well all night, especially considering the circumstances. The Lions might have taken the Chiefs’ best punch in Week 6, but they took out their frustrations on a good Bucs team that they might see again in January.

I admit I am out of excuses for not putting Indianapolis higher. The loss to the Rams and a close shave against the Cardinals had me slightly pumping the brakes, but there’s no doubt the Colts have a top-three offense right now. It’s humming at exceptional levels — zero turnovers, zero offensive penalties and only three negative-yardage plays at the Chargers. That and another 38 points will do, thank you very much. Any serious MVP list probably needs Daniel Jones and Jonathan Taylor on it right now. Taylor was on another heater Sunday and is now up to 10 rushing TDs, re-approaching his 2021 level of dominance these days, while Jones appears in total command. And a hat tip to Indy’s defense, which set a first-half tone and made a big stop late after bending a little. The Colts are still for real.

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