This is how the NFL's 32 teams stack up after Week 8:
In the hunt | Teams that look good enough to be among the 12 playoff qualifiers, but not based on conference. | | Rank | Team | Record | Prv. | Comment | | 1. | Tennessee Titans | 7-0 | 1 | The best just keeps getting better. | | 2. | New York Giants | 6-1 | 2 | After outmuscling one of the league's more physical teams in its own stadium, the Giants can kill whatever momentum the Cowboys might have gained from beating the Bucs. | | 3. | Washington Redskins | 6-2 | 3 | The Redskins continue to be one of the biggest surprises of the season, and can make a pretty strong statement with a victory over the Steelers on Monday Night Football. | | 4. | Pittsburgh Steelers | 5-2 | 4 | This team's biggest vulnerability -- pass protection -- showed itself once again vs. the Giants. And it doesn't appear as if it's going to be rectified any time soon. | | 5. | Carolina Panthers | 6-2 | 8 | Don't look now but the Panthers are making their move. And after a week's rest, they have an excellent chance to continue their roll vs. the Raiders in Week 10. | | 6. | Arizona Cardinals | 4-3 | 5 | The Cardinals still haven't figured out how to win on the East Coast. So maybe a trip to the Midwest will help solve their road woes. | | 7. | Buffalo Bills | 5-2 | 6 | Just when it seemed the Bills were poised to begin placing a stranglehold on the AFC East, they come up with an inexcusable clunker at Miami … and provide bountiful material for the skeptics. | | 8. | Dallas Cowboys | 5-3 | -- | With a victory at the Meadowlands this week, the Cowboys would be right back to elite status. | | 9. | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 5-3 | 8 | The Bucs had a perfect opportunity to enhance their status as an elite team, and they squandered it. | | 10. | Green Bay Packers | 4-3 | 10 | Given that their next game is at Tennessee, the Packers' Week 8 bye couldn't have come at a better time. | | 11. | Philadelphia Eagles | 4-3 | -- | Brian Westbrook continues to be one of the most dynamic forces in the league. | | 12. | New England Patriots | 5-2 | 12 | Having fully come to grips with life without Tom Brady, the Pats have found a new identity. | The rest Have a question for Vic? Send it to AskVic@nfl.com, and the best ones will be answered on NFL.com. | |
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