ESPN keeps 49ers first in Week 8 NFL rankings as CBS Sports puts unbeaten Vikings on top
Two Week 8 NFL power rankings put different teams first, while ESPN records a sharp swing for Cincinnati and Baltimore after their Week 7 game.
The San Francisco 49ers remain No. 1 in ESPN’s Week 8 NFL power rankings published on October 27, while CBS Sports puts the unbeaten Minnesota Vikings first in its separate list. According to ESPN, Cincinnati rose four places and Baltimore fell five after their Week 7 meeting.
Cincinnati and Baltimore move after Week 7
Baltimore led at halftime without quarterback Lamar Jackson, who had an ankle injury, but surrendered a double-digit advantage. Cincinnati quarterback Joe Burrow completed 16 of 18 passes for 249 yards and four touchdowns in the second half, according to ESPN.
ESPN says Baltimore became only the sixth team in NFL history to lose a double-digit advantage three times in the first seven weeks of a season, and the first since the 2022 Ravens. San Francisco, meanwhile, held ESPN’s top spot for a second consecutive week with a listed record of 6–1.
Why CBS Sports ranks Minnesota first
CBS Sports ranks the Vikings first after their 16–10 victory over Indianapolis left them 6–0. Its columnist Pete Prisco points to Minnesota’s defense, coordinated by Brian Flores, while questioning whether an offense he describes as limited can sustain that position. CBS Sports lists the Vikings first in scoring defense and 23rd in scoring offense.
Prisco says losses by San Francisco and Kansas City left Minnesota as the only unbeaten team. His list places the Buffalo Bills second, the 49ers third and the Chiefs fourth. The different top teams reflect the outlets’ separate judgments about how to weigh records and performances.
Offseason additions and Tampa Bay’s rise
ESPN pairs its 1–32 ranking with a choice of the best offseason addition for every roster. Among the players it highlights, Miami rookie Jacob Rodriguez helped the Dolphins earn their first win in Week 7 and led the NFL at 11.4 tackles per game at the time of ESPN’s report. Kansas City running back Kenneth Walker III, signed in free agency, led running backs at 5.8 yards per carry, ESPN says.
Tampa Bay climbed into ESPN’s top 25 after falling as low as No. 30 earlier in the season. Its win over Carolina marked quarterback Baker Mayfield’s return after he missed three games with a dislocated right thumb. The Buccaneers next face the Falcons in a divisional matchup, according to ESPN.
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Sources and context
- NFL Power Rankings: How all 32 teams stack up for Week 8, plus offseason addsESPN / NFL Nation
- Prisco's NFL Week 8 Power Rankings: Lone unbeaten Vikings take over top spotCBS Sports
AI-assisted article checked against the listed sources. NewsJaws did not conduct interviews or attend the reported events.