1. New England Patriots
Record: 6-0
Week 8 opponent: vs. Miami Dolphins
Week 7 MVP: Tom Brady, the ageless wonder, who went 34-54 on a run-less afternoon, gaining 355 yards, two touchdowns, and zero interceptions to prove the AFC East still belongs to the Patriots.
One thing to know: Tom Brady was also the Patriots' leading rusher in Week 7 with 15 yards!
2. Green Bay Packers
Record: 6-0
Week 8 opponent: at Denver Broncos
Week 7 MVP: Nobody — they had a bye!
One thing to know: Getting running back Eddie Lacy back on track would be a huge boost to a beat-up offense missing its usual firepower. They'll get some of that firepower back this week though, as key deep-threat Davante Adams is set to play against the Broncos. He’s missed the last three games.
3. Cincinnati Bengals
Record: 6-0
Week 8 opponent: at Pittsburgh Steelers
Week 7 MVP: Nobody — they had a bye!
One thing to know: At the halfway point, the Bengals have been extremely impressive, but the NFL world is anxious to see how the second-half Bengals perform.
4. Carolina Panthers
Record: 6-0
Week 8 opponent: vs. Indianapolis Colts
Week 7 MVP: Jonathan Stewart. On a night that saw Cam Newton throw three interceptions, Stewart still ran for 125 yards, and has 253 rushing yards over the past three weeks.
One thing to know: Luke Kuechly made his return from concussion and tallied 11 tackles. He and Thomas Davis are among the most electric linebacker pairings in the NFL. The Panthers look like Super Bowl contenders.
5. Denver Broncos
Record: 6-0
Week 8 opponent: vs. Green Bay Packers
Week 7 MVP: Nobody — they had a bye!
One thing to know: Nobody believes in the Broncos' undefeated start. A matchup with undefeated Packers will go a long way in telling how serious this Broncos team is.
6. New York Jets
Record: 4-2
Week 8 opponent: at Oakland Raiders
Week 7 MVP: Ryan Fitzpatrick held up respectably against the Patriots, a team he notoriously struggles against, going 22-39 for 295 yards, two touchdowns, and zero interceptions.
One thing to know: While it's usually the offense letting the defense down, the Jets' defense couldn't get off the field on a four-minute, game-winning drive from the Patriots late in the fourth quarter.
7. Arizona Cardinals
Record: 5-2
Week 8 opponent: at Cleveland Browns
Week 7 MVP: Chris Johnson looks completely revitalized in Arizona. He rushed for 122 yards on Monday night (even if some of those were a little lucky).
One thing to know: Carson Palmer has been quietly very solid since coming off an ACL surgery last year. The 35-year-old QB has thrown for 2,012 yards and 16 touchdowns this season.
8. Seattle Seahawks
Record: 3-4
Week 8 opponent: at Dallas Cowboys
Week 7 MVP: Michael Bennett, who sacked Colin Kaepernick 3.5 times in the Seahawks dominating win over San Francisco.
One thing to know: Dez Bryant is set to return from injury on Sunday against Seattle, so expect him and Richard Sherman to battle all game.
9. Atlanta Falcons
Record: 6-1
Week 8 opponent: vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Week 7 MVP: We said this last week and we'll say it again: It's tough to come up with anyone else at this point. Devonta Freeman rushed for 116 yards, his third consecutive game with at least 100 yards. He’s been the best running back in the NFL this season.
One thing to know: The Falcons wide receivers have the second-most drops in the NFL right now, but this team is figuring out ways to win — even if it’s occasionally pretty ugly and against pretty bad teams.
10. Pittsburgh Steelers
Record: 4-3
Week 8 opponent: vs. Cincinnati Bengals
Week 7 MVP: After three weeks being held below 50 receiving yards, Antonio Brown exploded for 141 yards on six catches — a welcome sight to Steelers fans.
One thing to know: The Landry Jones experiment is over, and the Steelers are expecting to have Ben Roethlisberger back for a huge Week 8 showdown with the Bengals.
11. St. Louis Rams
Record: 3-3
Week 8 opponent: vs. San Francisco 49ers
Week 7 MVP: Todd Gurley. The rookie running back is an absolute force of nature. On Sunday, he rushed for 128 yards and his first two career touchdowns.
One thing to know: On the other side of the ball, the Rams defense continues to play really well. They sacked Josh McCown four times on Sunday, and they pressured the Cleveland QB on 17 of his 39 drop backs — the Rams' best number over the past two years.
12. New York Giants
Record: 4-3
Week 8 opponent: at New Orleans Saints
Week 7 MVP: Dwayne Harris. The former Cowboy broke free for 100 yards on a kickoff return to give the Giants the 27-20 edge.
One thing to know: Tom Coughlin won his 100th game as a Giant on Sunday, becoming the second coach in franchise history to reach the mark.
13. Minnesota Vikings
Record: 4-2
Week 8 opponent: at Chicago Bears
Week 7 MVP: Stefon Diggs. The rookie wide receiver has turned into a legitimate threat in Minnesota. On Sunday he logged 108 yards and a touchdown on just 9 targets.
One thing to know: Vikings’ center John Sullivan could be out for the season after a second back surgery.
14. Miami Dolphins
Record: 3-3
Week 8 opponent: at New England Patriots
Week 7 MVP: New head coach Dan Campbell has unlocked fourth-year running back Lamar Miller, who had 175 rushing yards and one touchdown on 14 carries.
One thing to know: The Dolphins seem well past their early-season crisis, and at the season's half-way point, are still very much in the playoff race.
15. Indianapolis Colts
Record: 3-4
Week 8 opponent: at Carolina Panthers
Week 7 MVP: T.Y. Hilton, who benefited from the Colts' need to throw the ball while trailing, pulling in four catches for 150 yards and two touchdowns.
One thing to know: Andrew Luck doesn't look healthy yet, but his regression in decision-making is baffling.
16. Oakland Raiders
Record: 3-3
Week 8 opponent: vs. New York Jets
Week 7 MVP: Rookie wide receiver Amari Cooper continues to impress, as he pulled down five catches for 133 yards and a touchdown.
One thing to know: The Raiders have already matched last season's win total!
17. Philadelphia Eagles
Record: 3-4
Week 8 opponent: Bye
Week 7 MVP: We’ll give it to Nolan Carroll II, who led the team with 9 tackles. It was an ugly offensive showing from the Eagles on Sunday.
One thing to know: Left tackle Jason Peters was carted off the field on Sunday, but according to ESPN the injury isn’t as bad as feared. He was only suffering from back spasms and is expected to play in Week 9.
18. Washington Redskins
Record: 3-4
Week 8 opponent: Bye
Week 7 MVP: Kirk Cousins! After a week in which he drew much criticism (even from this website), Cousins came out on Sunday and impressed. He threw for 317 yards and 3 TDs (all of which came in the second half). Most importantly, he threw 0 interceptions. He was pumped up after the game.
https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/658386331899424768
Redskins Postgame Live followed by #RedskinsTalk on CSN? Kirk Cousins has a message for you. https://t.co/jB2DazP5bH
One thing to know: Prior to Sunday, the Redskins had only ever won 3 games after trailing by 21 points. The last time it happened was in 1999.
19. New Orleans Saints
Record: 3-4
Week 8 opponent: vs. New York Giants
Week 7 MVP: Khiry Robinson, who ran for two TDs.
One thing to know: The Saints picked up their first road win of the season, and won back-to-back games for the first time since last October.
20. Dallas Cowboys
Record: 2-4
Week 8 opponent: vs. Seattle Seahawks
Week 7 MVP: Darren McFadden had his best game as a Cowboy, rushing for 152 yards and a touchdown.
One thing to know: Make it four straight losses for the ‘Boys. Luckily, Dez Bryant is expected to return this weekend, and Tony Romo should be just a few more weeks away.
21. Buffalo Bills
Record: 3-4
Week 8 opponent: Bye
Week 7 MVP: The Bills offensive line continued to perform well, led by Richie Incognito, who earned a seventh-straight positive grade from PFF and allowed only one pressure on backup quarterback E.J. Manuel.
One thing to know: Unfortunately, the protection on Manuel didn't do much good, as he was PFF's worst quarterback of the week. The Bills get a much-needed bye week to get some of their starters back and healthy.
22. San Diego Chargers
Record: 2-5
Week 8 opponent: vs. Oakland Raiders
Week 7 MVP: The Chargers basically rely on Philip Rivers to make magic happen, and he tried, throwing for another 336 yards and three touchdowns (with two interceptions).
One thing to know: Guard Orlando Franklin sprained his MCL and Denzel Perryman strained his biceps, both of which are actually better than what the Chargers initially feared.
23. Cleveland Browns
Record: 2-5
Week 8 opponent: vs. Arizona Cardinals
Week 7 MVP: 30-year-old tight end Gary Barnidge continues to be revelation, coming down with 101 receiving yards with an average of 16.8 yards per catch.
One thing to know: Josh McCown purposely ran into a wall, then later hurt his shoulder, and Johnny Manziel got some time under center.
24. Baltimore Ravens
Record: 1-6
Week 8 opponent: vs. San Diego Chargers
Week 7 MVP: Steve Smith says this is his last season, but Smith at 36 with several fractures in his back is still better than most receivers. He pulled down five catches for 78 yards.
One thing to know: The Ravens still feel better than their record, but in the tough AFC North, they're basically out of the playoff race already.
25. Jacksonville Jaguars
Record: 2-5
Week 8 opponent: Bye
Week 7 MVP: Rookie running back T.J. Yeldon had the best game of his career, rushing for 115 yards and a touchdown, with an amazing 78 of his yards coming after contact, according to PFF.
One thing to know: Nearly blowing a double-digit lead, only to hold on and win, should be a solid learning experience for a young, intriguing team.
26. Kansas City Chiefs
Record: 2-5
Week 8 opponent: vs. Detroit Lions — in London!
Week 7 MVP: Charcandrick West showed he can pick up the slack in Jamaal Charles' stead, getting 110 rushing yards and a touchdown.
One thing to know: The Chiefs defense beat up on poor Landry Jones, sacking and intercepting him twice.
27. Chicago Bears
Record: 2-4
Week 8 opponent: vs. Minnesota Vikings
Week 7 MVP: No one — they had a bye!
One thing to know: The last time the Bears faced Adrian Peterson, he ran for 211 yards. In total, AP has dominated Chicago defenses like none other. As a rookie back in 2007, he ran for 224 yards. The Bears will have their hands full on Sunday.
28. Detroit Lions
Record: 1-6
Week 8 opponent: at Kansas City Chiefs
Week 7 MVP: We'll give it to Matt Stafford, though it's hard to find one on this team at the moment. Stafford threw for 256 yards and 2 touchdowns. Could this be his last season in Detroit?
One thing to know: The Lions fired offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi following their loss to the Vikings. Is head coach Jim Caldwell next?
29. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Record: 2-4
Week 8 opponent: at Atlanta Falcons
Week 7 MVP: Doug Martin was a beast on Sunday, rushing for 136 yards.
One thing to know: Lovie Smith, after the Bucs blew a 21-point lead on Sunday: "It's misery around here." That about sums it up.
30. Tennessee Titans
Record: 1-5
Week 8 opponent: at Houston Texans
Week 7 MVP: Defensive end Jurrell Casey earned PFF's top grade on the Titans, coming up with three tackles, two hurries, and a deflection.
One thing to know: The Titans are hoping to get Marcus Mariota back for Week 8.
31. San Francisco 49ers
Record: 2-6
Week 8 opponent: at St. Louis Rams
Week 7 MVP: Kicker Phil Dawson, whose 35 yard field goal in the third quarter accounted for all on the 49ers points on Thursday against Seattle.
One thing to know: The 49ers are scoring just 14.7 points per game — the worst in the NFL.
32. Houston Texans
Record: 2-5
Week 8 opponent: vs. Tennessee Titans
Week 7 MVP: Ryan Mallett, who missed the team plane to Miami, and therefore didn't have to play in 44-26 drubbing.
One thing to know: Arian Foster tore his Achilles, just as he was starting to look good after returning from a groin injury.