NFL Week 8 Power Rankings

The NFL regular season approaches the halfway mark in Week 8 with no undefeated teams and a wide open Super Bowl betting field. While early standings don’t give much away, five teams remain at the top of this week’s power rankings, any of which could be Super Bowl champions in just over three months time.

(1) Denver Broncos (5-1-0) 

Each week we rediscover why the Denver Broncos are the best team in the NFL. This week, QB Peyton Manning calmly made NFL history in prime time on Sunday night, throwing four TD passes to pass Brett Favre’s all-time mark, demolishing the San Francisco 49ers, 42-17, in the process.

The Broncos are undefeated SU and ATS in their last three, winning by no fewer than 14 points in each, while generating an NFL-best 31.5 points per game. Denver is also third in passing yards per game and third-best against the rush, and remain strong 3/1 favorites in Super Bowl betting..

(2) Indianapolis Colts (5-2-0) 

In Week 8, the Colts embarassed the Cincinnati Bengals, 27-0, at Lucas Oil Stadium. QB Andrew Luck continued to silence doubters with another big day, throwing for 344 yards and two TDs, further padding his NFL-leading stats.

The Colts’ defense has also been a revelation, holding opponents to just 311.1 total yards per game and 19.4 points per game while going 6-1 ATS. Oddsmakers have started to warm up to the Colts’, who have jumped to 12/1 in Super Bowl odds published at bettingsports.com, after sitting with pre-season odds as long as 22/1.

(3) Dallas Cowboys (6-1-0) 

Running back DeMarco Murray has been the straw that stirs the drink in Big D, receiving the ball on the rush almost 80% of the time. Murray leads the NFL in rushing yards with 913 and set an NFL record in Week 8 with his seventh consecutive 100-yard game.

Veteran QB Tony Romo has also enjoyed a renaissance season, tossing 12 TD passes while leading Dallas to a division lead few observers thought was possible. The result has been a big boost in the Cowboys Super Bowl odds, which have jumped from 66/1 prior to Week 1 to 9/1 today.

(4) Green Bay Packers (5-2-0)

Following four straight wins, SU and ATS, the Packers continue to maintain heavy 8/1 odds in Super Bowl betting at sportbooks available through bettingsports.com.

The Packers won by double digits in three of those four, allowing just 18 points per game, but face an increasingly difficult schedule and currently share the lead in the NFC North with the Detroit Lions. But under QB Aaron Rodgers’ increasingly wily veteran leadership, the Packers are poised for a strong run to playoff contention.

(5) Baltimore Ravens (5-2-0) 

Skepticism abounded this summer about the Ravens’ outlook this season. With the Cincinnati Bengals emerging as a legitimate Super Bowl contender and the Pittsburgh Steelers and Cleveland Browns showing steady improvement, there were some predictions of a lost season for Baltimore.

The Ravens have turned that talk on its head, with five SU and ATS wins in their last six and the NFL’s stingiest defense. Combined with the strong play of QB Joe Flacco, the Ravens have seized the division lead, but still trail the favorites in Super Bowl betting, with long odds of 18/1.