NFL Power Rankings Week 8: Something scary for each team

Chicago Bears quarterback Nick Foles is sacked by Los Angeles Rams linebacker Justin Hollins. (AP Photo/Kelvin Kuo)

Like a lot of things — this NFL season included, of course — Halloween will be a little different this year, with traditions from trick or treating to bobbing for apples a little out of the question in many areas.

But at least one relatively new tradition will carry on. For this week's power rankings, our expert NFL panel has come up with something scary (either scary good or scary bad) for each team in the league.

This week, the panel includes editors Geoff Lowe and Craig Battle, and staff writers Mike Johnston and Donnovan Bennett.

1. Pittsburgh Steelers

2020 record: 6-0
Last week: 2
Something scary: The offence

The Steelers are 6-0 for the first time since 1978, when they won the Super Bowl. Their defence gets the headlines, but their consistent offence is the scariest aspect of their team. They’ve scored at least 25 points in each of their first six games thus far — only eight teams have ever done that. (DB)

2. Kansas City Chiefs

2020 record: 6-1
Last week: 3
Something scary: They're getting stronger

The Chiefs' offence was a monster before adding Le'veon Bell. But naysayers asked: After falling out of favour with the Jets, how much did Bell really have left? Turns out: quite a bit. (CB)

3. Seattle Seahawks

2020 record: 5-1
Last week: 1
Something scary: They can't stop anything

Fresh off their first loss, the Seahawks are giving up 479.2 yards per game — worst in the league and a full 53.3 more than the second-worst Atlanta Falcons. (CB)

4. Tennessee Titans

2020 record: 5-1
Last week: 4
Something scary: Derrick Henry is ahead of schedule

The star RB typically heats up in the second half of the season, but this year he’s already rolling. Through six games in 2019, Henry had 416 yards and averaged 3.68 yards per attempt. This year through six games the defending rushing champ has a league-leading 663 yards on the ground and a 4.64 average. (MJ)

5. Baltimore Ravens

2020 record: 6-0
Last week: 5
Something scary: They're not better looking — but they might be better

Everyone is down on the Ravens as they haven’t won with the style points they did a year ago. What’s scary for the rest of the league is they have a better record than they did a year ago at this time and they are now coming off a bye, so they’ll be rested and ready. (DB)

6. Green Bay Packers

2020 record: 5-1
Last week: 6
Something scary: Davante Adams

I know everyone was scared when the Packers didn’t draft a wide receiver for Aaron Rodgers, but he already has what might be the best one in the game. Despite battling injuries, Davante Adams has two games this season of 150+ receiving yards and two or more receiving touchdowns. The rest of the NFL's receivers have two such games combined. (DB)

7. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

2020 record: 5-2
Last week: 9
Something scary: They signed Antonio Brown

The Bucs appear to be coming into their own, and in the past two weeks have shown glimpses of a dominant, well-rounded squad. Brown’s proven potential to have a negative impact on a locker room could be scaring some Bucs fans right now. Don’t mess with a good thing. On the other hand, if AB can produce like the four-time All-Pro that he is, then the Bucs’ offence will be rather terrifying for opposing defences. Brown is eligible to return Week 9. (MJ)

8. Buffalo Bills

2020 record: 5-2
Last week: 7
Something scary: Josh Allen is coming back down to earth

Nothing is more terrifying for Bills fans than catching a quick glimpse of what could be, only to have it disintegrate in front of their eyes. OK, that might be a bit of an overreaction to Josh Allen’s recent play, but the last three weeks certainly haven’t been pretty. After throwing 12 TDs to just one interception while completing over 70 per cent of his passes in the first four weeks of the season, Allen has a 63 per cent completion rate while throwing four TDs and three interceptions in the last three games – play more in line with what we saw from No. 17 in his first two seasons. (GL)

9. Los Angeles Rams

2020 record: 5-2
Last week: 11
Something scary: The defence is that good

Even in a Monday nighter when their offence couldn't fully get untracked, the Rams' defence was good enough to nearly shut out the Bears — Chicago's lone TD was scored by their defence. Jalen Ramsey and Aaron Donald might be the best one-two defender punch in the league. (CB)

10. New Orleans Saints

2020 record: 4-2
Last week: 10
Something scary: The uncertainty of Michael Thomas’s future with some trade rumours floating around

Thomas has been out since Week 1 due to an ankle injury, was disciplined for punching a teammate in practice and has been recently dealing with a hamstring injury. The Saints have Super Bowl aspirations. Winning a championship will be a markedly easier task if Thomas is back on the field for the Saints. (MJ)

11. Arizona Cardinals

2020 record: 5-2
Last week: 12
Something scary: Kyler Murray can take a punch

Against his divisional rival and fellow sub-six-foot QB in Russell Wilson, Murray watched his team spot Seattle 10 first-quarter points ... then stormed back to get the final 13 in the fourth quarter and overtime. On the day, Murray accounted for four touchdowns and one interception to Wilson's three TDs and three INTs. (CB)

12. Chicago Bears

2020 record: 5-2
Last week: 8
Something scary: The anemic offence

Even though Nick Foles has been an improvement since taking over as starter quarterback, the offence is underperforming. Being new to the team isn’t a good enough reason for that as Foles isn’t new to the offence Matt Nagy runs. The Chargers, Buccaneers, Panthers, Colts, Bengals and Patriots all have new quarterbacks and are averaging more yards per game than the Bears. (DB)

13. Indianapolis Colts

2020 record: 4-2
Last week: 13
Something scary: T.Y. Hilton hasn’t been his usual self

The same was said of the WR last year, but then he was dealing with injuries. This year, it’s more that he’s simply not integral to the offence. Andrew Luck was the Colts QB the last time Hilton had a 100-yard game. Is he still capable of big games? Having Hilton get back on track would be of major assistance to Philip Rivers. (MJ)

14. San Francisco 49ers

2020 record: 4-3
Last week: 18
Something scary: They're baaaa-aaaack

The 49ers can thank the schedule makers for their respectable record to this point, but make no mistake: Sunday's dismantling of the Patriots was a return to form for the defending NFC champs. (CB)

15. Cleveland Browns

2020 record: 5-2
Last week: 15
Something scary: They may have to choose between their star receiver and former first-overall pick quarterback

After Odell Beckham Jr. was injured on Sunday, Baker Mayfield was 22 for 23, and the only incompletion was a spiked ball. It’s not a coincidence. In the last two seasons, Mayfield has a passer rating of 80 with Beckham on the field, and 117 when he isn’t on the field. This year, Mayfield-to-Beckham has equaled a 53.8 completion percentage, 6.9 yards per attempt, 28.2 off-target percentage and a 63.6 QBR. Mayfield to all other Browns receivers has a 78.6 completion percentage, 10.6 yards per attempts, 10.7 off target percentage, and a 96.2 QBR. (DB)

16. Las Vegas Raiders

2020 record: 3-3
Last week: 16
Something scary: Josh Jacobs' Sunday output

Behind an offensive line that missed a bunch of practice time last week, Jacobs put up 17 yards on 10 carries — 17 yards worse than his previous career low. The sophomore running back was expected to break out this season, but has yet to hit 100 yards in a game. (CB)

17. Miami Dolphins

2020 record: 3-3
Last week: 17
Something scary: Fitzpatrick benching could end Dolphins’ playoff hopes

What was most shocking about Ryan Fitzpatrick’s benching was the timing, as the journeyman finally had many believing these Dolphins had a shot at pushing for the playoffs. Now, Brian Flores has put that very much at risk. Of course, the call to move to Tua Tagovailoa could turn out to be brilliant, but there’s always high risk in making the move to a rookie QB. (GL)

18. Los Angeles Chargers

2020 record: 2-4
Last week: 20
Something scary: They're alive!

Sure, it was just Justin Herbert's first win in five games (and it was against the Jaguars), but the Chargers are back in the playoff hunt thanks to the rookie QB's deadeye play to date. Also, the 2-4 record is deceiving: This Frankenstein's monster of new and old parts (enh, I had to try...), has just a -5 point differential on the season. (CB)

19. Carolina Panthers

2020 record: 3-4
Last week: 19
Something scary: Joey Slye’s leg power

The kicker was in the spotlight for kicking perhaps the most impressive missed field goal of all-time when he was inches short of hitting a would-be record 65-yarder in a nail biter against the Saints.

20. New England Patriots

2020 record: 2-4
Last week: 14
Something scary: Bill Belichick’s worst start in 20 years

When Tom Brady left New England for greener pastures in the off-season, many would’ve bet Bill Belichick had a better chance of finding success without his long-time QB than vice versa. Through seven games of their first season apart, that prediction couldn’t have been more wrong. At 2-4 after a lopsided loss to the 49ers, Belichick’s Patriots are off to their worst start since 2000 – his first year as head coach. (GL)

21. Detroit Lions

2020 record: 3-3
Last week: 23
Something scary: The ending of the Falcons game

It’s a sad state of affairs when the best play your defence has made all year is letting an opposing running back score. And the scary thing about it is you almost messed it up when one of your players momentarily forgot. (DB)

22. Philadelphia Eagles

2020 record: 2-4-1
Last week: 24
Something scary: The injuries continue to pile up

If it feels like we’re writing about the Eagles’ injuries every week, it’s because we are. As Doug Pederson and Carson Wentz look to take advantage of the NFC (L)East, players around them continue to go down. Lane Johnson (day-to-day with an MCL sprain) and DeSean Jackson (out six to eight weeks with a high ankle sprain) are just the latest. If Philadelphia can get healthy and find consistency, the division should be theirs, but getting healthy and finding consistency are easier said than done in football’s worst division. (GL)

23. Cincinnati Bengals

2020 record: 1-5-1
Last week: 25
Something scary: Baker Mayfield

Bengals fans must be haunted by Mayfield, who is now 5-1 versus their team. Mayfield versus the rest of NFL is just 12-18. (DB)

24. Denver Broncos

2020 record: 2-4
Last week: 21
Something scary: Lock's Jekyll-and-Hyde act

When Drew Lock started taking snaps last season, he had a 111.4 QB rating in his first two games (his Dr. Jekyll period) and a sub-80 rating in the final three (Mr. Hyde) — and Broncos' fans worst fears were that he was more Hyde than Jekyll. And they might've been right. So far this season, he's already missed time with injury, and put up a 63.3 rating — throwing just one touchdown versus four interceptions. (CB)

25. Houston Texans

2020 record: 4-2
Last week: 26
Something scary: The (lack of) run stopping

Aside from the first two weeks of the season, Deshaun Watson has been very good and his efforts are being completely wasted by a defence that’s allowing more rushing yards than every team beside the lowly Cowboys. The upcoming trade deadline could see Houston sell off some expiring contracts. (MJ)

26. Washington Football Team

2020 record: 2-5
Last week: 31
Something scary: Winning their way out of a franchise QB

Washington finds itself in second place in the NFC East thanks to it being one of the worst divisions we’ve ever seen, and as a result the team could end up with more wins than is good for it. With Dwayne Haskins riding pine and Kyle Allen clearly a stop-gap QB, this team should be striving to draft the next franchise QB in 2021, but instead it’s beating rivals and falling further back in the draft order. (GL)

27. Atlanta Falcons

2020 record: 1-6
Last week: 27
Something scary: Their losses are defying logic

Even scoring late, go-ahead touchdowns backfires on this team. Todd Gurley accidentally ran in for a TD (accurate even though it sounds odd — see the Bears write-up above) with 64 seconds remaining against the Lions. The problem was that gave Detroit the ball back, and Matt Stafford chewed up the Atlanta D on the winning drive.

28. Minnesota Vikings

2020 record: 1-5
Last week: 28
Something scary: Things are only going to get worse

Yannick Ngakoue was the lone bright spot of the Vikings’ season, and now he’s gone. The fire sale in Minnesota has begun. (DB)

29. Dallas Cowboys

2020 record: 2-5
Last week: 22
Something scary: Mike McCarthy’s stint as head coach couldn’t be going worse

Sandwiched in between embarrassing losses, Cowboys players publicly criticized McCarthy's coaching staff only to have McCarthy call out the players for their response to Jon Bostic’s vicious and dirty hit on Andy Dalton on Sunday. Given the in-fighting and the mounting injuries, things couldn’t be going worse for McCarthy in Dallas. How much longer this nightmare continues is up to Jerry Jones. (GL)

30. Jacksonville Jaguars

2020 record: 1-6
Last week: 29
Something scary: They might be turning to Mike Glennon at quarterback

No offence to Mr. Glennon, although that’s just not a fun way to tank. Glennon is 6-16 as an NFL starter so it could be effective, but it won’t be nearly as fun as watching Gardner Minshew run around trying to make plays. (MJ)

31. New York Giants

2020 record: 2-5
Last week: 30
Something scary: Daniel Jones will be haunted by his hilarious stumble forever

While NFL Twitter had a field day with what will likely be the funniest highlight of the 2020 season, Jones woke up Friday morning with his own version of the butt fumble. Giants fans may have been frightened by how quickly their team coughed up an 11-point lead on Thursday night in Philadelphia, but the GIF of his hysterical stumble will haunt Jones forever. (GL)

32. New York Jets

2020 record: 0-7
Last week: 32
Something scary: The Jets just played the best game of their season, and still lost

Adam Gase’s decision to relinquish play-calling duties to his offensive coordinator paid off in the first half against the Bills on Sunday, and the Jets put together their best effort of the season as a result. Despite some serious second-half struggles on offence, New York kept Buffalo out of the end zone all game, but it still wasn’t enough to get their first win of the season – just the latest disappointment in what has been a nightmare season in the Big Apple. (GL)

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