We’re about two months into the regular season of the NFL for the 2024-25 series, and at this point, we can pretty much tell which teams are strongest teams in the NFL right now. While there have been some wild upsets, as usual, for the most part, the strongest teams in the NFL have proven themselves each week. The strongest teams in the NFL have both powerful offenses and defenses, as well as a strong coaching staff. Let’s get into the Power Rankings.
Week 8 Power Rankings: The Strongest Teams in the NFL
Detroit Lions
This is my No. 1 pick. The Detroit Lions have earned it. They lost to the Buccaneers early in the season, but considering hardly any of their starters played in the preseason, I’m going to choc that up to the newness of being back.
Lead draft writer Eric Edholm stated of NFL.com has the Lions as No. 3 on his roster of the best teams, stating, “If Hutch returns this season, it’ll be for the Super Bowl, and even that’s no guarantee, so the Lions might want to consider adding more pass rushers. But they have the requisite fearlessness and explosiveness befitting a championship-level team, and that can’t at all be dismissed.”
Eric Woodyard of ESPN has them at No. 2., noting of safety Brian Branch, “Branch was a proven playmaker as a rookie in 2023, with three interceptions as mainly a nickel cornerback. But in Year 2, Detroit’s coaching staff decided to switch the 23-year-old to safety to allow him more freedom to roam within their system.”
He added, “Branch is an early breakout star for the defense with four interceptions and 11 passes defended in five appearances this season. After the Lions’ victory Sunday, Branch said defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn was putting him in “positions to make plays.”
Kansas City Chiefs
Many NFL analysts and experts would say the Kansas City Chiefs are the strongest team in the NFL right now, because they’re the only undefeated team. But, I don’t agree. I have them at No. 2. When you look at their schedule to date, they really haven’t played as tough a schedule as some of the other teams in the NFL. At some point, they’re going to fall.
Still, the experts at NFL.com have Kansas City as No. 1 on their tally.
“Plenty of people doubted the Chiefs’ ability to hoist another Lombardi Trophy when they were winning games this way a year ago, but I doubt many of those folks feel similarly now,” Edholm stated.
ESPN also has the Chiefs at No. 1, with Adam Teicher stating, “Conner, 24, has made a number of plays as a slot corner, safety and linebacker. In the fourth quarter of what would be a one-point win over the Bengals, Conner recovered a fumble and returned it for a touchdown to give the Chiefs a lead. He later sacked quarterback Joe Burrow on third down to end Cincinnati’s final possession, giving the ball back to Kansas City for its winning field goal drive.”
Baltimore Ravens
No. 3 on my tally is the Baltimore Ravens. Quarterback Lamar Jackson was off to a slow start, but he’s hot now.
Edholm of NFL.com says of the Ravens, “In a prime-time showdown at The Pirate Ship, the Ravens played the hits. Lamar Jackson was terrific, Marlon Humphrey had his first two-pick game, Derrick Henry came on late to close it out, and, as it turns out, Mark Andrews’ demise was greatly exaggerated. Baltimore’s defense showed some signs of trouble prior to Mike Evans leaving the game, but the Ravens clamped down hard with interceptions on back-to-back Buccaneer drives.”