Hot News: NFL Power Rankings Week 8: Predicting Post-Monday Night Football Standings

Jack Dempsey/Associated Press

The 2014 NFL regular season has been full of twists and turns, and the Monday Night Football matchup between the Houston Texans and the Pittsburgh Steelers is the perfect way to close the seventh week.

For the football fans whose teams have already played or were on bye, the focused has shifted to the Week 8 power rankings and where every franchise stands before Monday's marquee matchup.

Here is where every team is ranked heading into Week 8. 32. Oakland Raiders

A loss to Arizona in Week 7 was another tough blow for the Oakland Raiders, but a matchup against the Cleveland Browns in Week 8 could be the key to the first victory of the season for the silver and black. 31. Jacksonville Jaguars

The Jacksonville Jaguars stunned Cleveland Sunday and pulled out the team's first win of the season. Led by rookie quarterback Blake , the future looks bright in Jacksonville. Now the team plays in-state rivals the Miami Dolphins. 30. Tennessee Titans

The Tennessee Titans had Washington beat, but the team's inability to put the Redskins away resulted in a fourth-quarter scoring drive and a loss. The Titans have plenty of talent, but the franchise can't put it all together. 29. Minnesota Vikings

Led by rookie quarterback Teddy , the Minnesota Vikings played well Sunday but were unable to beat the Buffalo Bills in a thrilling 17-16 game. Minnesota is still a young team, and winning close games is a skill that will be learned over time. 28. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Few teams needed the bye week as much as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. With two weeks to rest and prepare for the Week 8 meeting with Minnesota, the Buccaneers will be looking for their second victory of the season. 27. New York Jets

The acquisition of wide receiver Percy adds more talent to the roster, but the New York Jets have a quarterback in Geno Smith who currently struggles to utilize the talent already on the roster. If 't make an instant impact, New York's struggles will continue for the remainder of the season. 26. St. Louis Rams

Judging from the play of the special teams unit, the Seattle Seahawks underestimated the St. Louis Rams. St. Louis has dealt with injuries on both sides of the ball, but a 28-16 victory over the defending champions is a major confidence boost. 25. Washington Redskins

It 't pretty, but the Washington Redskins managed to pull out a win over Tennessee in Week 7. Redskins fans can't wait to get Robert Griffin III healthy, so the team has a better chance to win each and every week. 24. New York Giants

Sunday was New York's chance to show the league they are still alive in the NFC East, but a loss to Dallas proves it's a two-horse race in the division between the Cowboys and the Eagles. The Giants are on the outside looking in. 23. Atlanta Falcons

With an inconsistent rushing attack and a defensive unit struggling against the pass and the run, the Atlanta Falcons continue to struggle. The 29-7 loss to Baltimore shows where the franchise stands against true postseason contenders. 22. Chicago Bears

Many fans felt the Chicago Bears were just beginning to play well and be a threat in the NFC, but a loss to Miami has ended that conversation. Turnovers continue to plague the team, and Chicago will continue to fail as long as fumbles and interceptions are regular occurrences. 21. Cleveland Browns

This is the same Cleveland Browns team that beat Pittsburgh and New Orleans, but the players somehow found a way to lose to the Jacksonville Jaguars. Everyone in the organization needs to take a hard look at the personnel and the game plan. 20. Pittsburgh Steelers

A Monday Night Football matchup against the Houston Texans will be tough for Pittsburgh, but Ben Roethlisberger has the experience and talent to lead his team to a win. As long as Pittsburgh's defense steps up, the Steelers should take the victory. 19. Miami Dolphins

One of the hardest teams in the NFL to decipher is the Miami Dolphins. The roster is filled with talented players, but putting it all together each week remains one of the team's biggest issues. A win over Chicago in Week 7 and a matchup with Jacksonville in Week 8 is a good way to build confidence. 18. Houston Texans

Meeting the Pittsburgh Steelers Monday night won't be easy, but the Houston Texans have an elite defense and an offense unit with the ability to put points on the board. Houston just needs to get all the pieces working well together at the same time. 17. New Orleans Saints

The New Orleans Saints lost to Detroit Sunday. A preseason Super Bowl contender, New Orleans has been one of the most disappointing franchises in the league this season. If the team 't turn it around fast, the Saints will have to shake up the roster and coaching staff. 16. Carolina Panthers

The Carolina Panthers are one of the biggest enigmas in the NFL. With an elite defense and a talented quarterback in Cam Newton, the Panthers should be much better than they are. The road only gets tougher as Carolina hosts Seattle in Week 8. 15. San Francisco 49ers

The San Francisco 49ers were utterly dismantled by the Denver Broncos on Sunday. All of San Francisco's weaknesses were exploited by Peyton Manning, but the team has a Week 8 bye to mentally recover and focus on a tough second half of the year. 14. Kansas City Chiefs

After resting during a Week 6 bye, the Kansas City Chiefs bounced back with a huge win over San Diego. Led by the rushing attack of Jamaal Charles, Kansas City will be a postseason contender if the defense continues playing at an elite level. 13. Cincinnati Bengals

The Cincinnati Bengals were shut out on Sunday against Indianapolis. For one of the best teams in the league, Cincinnati's lopsided loss to the Colts is either a one-week anomaly or the start of a downward spiral out of contention in the AFC. 12. Buffalo Bills

Despite benching starting quarterback E.J. Manuel for Kyle Orton, the Buffalo Bills are still putting up a fight each week. While the Bills were able to beat Minnesota, the injuries to Fred Jackson and C.J. Spiller are major causes for concern. 11. Detroit Lions

Even without wide receiver Calvin Johnson in the lineup, the Detroit Lions are still managing to win big games. When the league's best receiver returns, the offensive unit will become even more dangerous. 10. Baltimore Ravens

The Baltimore Ravens have faced adversity on and off the field this season but have remained one of the best teams in the AFC. A win over Atlanta was expected, but Baltimore must be ready for a Bengals team looking to bounce back after a tough loss. 9. San Diego Chargers

A loss to the Kansas City Chiefs was a tough pill to swallow for the San Diego Chargers, but Andy Reid is almost unbeatable after a bye week. The Chargers must take their lumps and get ready for a Thursday Night Football matchup with Denver. 8. New England Patriots

The battle with the Jets was closer than many expected, but the New England Patriots managed to pull out another victory. Led by the improved play of the offensive unit, Tom Brady and the Patriots have regained their elite postseason form. 7. Arizona Cardinals

One of the most teams in the NFL today is the Arizona Cardinals. Despite serious injuries on both sides of the ball, Arizona still has one of the best defenses and an offensive unit that can put points on the board when needed. 6. Dallas Cowboys

As long as the Dallas Cowboys continue running the ball well with Murray, the team will remain a Super Bowl contender. If Murray gets injured at any point this season, though, Dallas will be in serious trouble. 5. Green Bay Packers

The Green Bay Packers utterly dominated the Carolina Panthers in every facet of the game on Sunday. Green Bay cemented its spot in the upper echelon of the NFL with its performance in Week 7. 4. Indianapolis Colts

Many fans expected the AFC battle between Indianapolis and Cincinnati to be a great game, but the Colts dominated their foes on both sides of the ball. If Indianapolis' defense can play that well in the postseason, the Colts will be Super Bowl contenders. 3. Philadelphia Eagles

A Week 7 bye is exactly what the Philadelphia Eagles needed to be ready for the long second half. With a chance to rest and recover, the 5-1 Eagles will be ready for a tough Week 8 matchup against Arizona. 2. Seattle Seahawks

The Seattle Seahawks are now 3-3 this season. Back-to-back losses should be a concern for the defending champions, but the franchise still boasts the best defense in the league and a talented offensive unit. The team must put it all together quickly, though. 1. Denver Broncos

Led by the record-breaking performance of Peyton Manning, the Denver Broncos dismantled San Francisco and looked like the best team in the league during the process. Denver looks Super Bowl bound again.

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