8 weeks are officially in the books of the 2024-2025 NFL season. As we approach the NFL’s halfway point, the contenders and pretenders are becoming pretty clear. With Week 9 offering another jam-packed slate, let’s dive into how all 32 teams stack up against one another.
32. Carolina Panthers (1-7)
Bryce Young returned to the starting lineup for the first time since Week 2 and threw for over 200 yards for just the second time since November of last season. Young finished the game with two touchdowns and two interceptions. The touchdown drives came on the first and last possessions of the game. Carolina’s defense allowed rookie Bo Nix to throw for a career-high 284 yards and three TDs. Six of Carolina’s seven losses have come by 14+ points. Classifying Carolina as hitting rock bottom may be an understatement.
31. Tennessee Titans (1-6)
Tennessee had more first downs than Detroit (23-17), rushed for 158 yards, outgained the Lions 416-225, held Jared Goff to 85 passing yards…and lost 52-14. The Titans committed four turnovers and surrendered a 90-yard punt return touchdown en route to losing their sixth game. Ugly does not begin to describe this loss. Only two teams — the Dolphins and Giants — have scored fewer points than the Titans (120).
30. New York Giants (2-5)
The Giants posted a late comeback effort, but were not able to overcome a big deficit to the Steelers. New York was able to keep up early, notching field goals on three of its first four drives. Its special teams failed them, as a 73-yard punt return touchdown from Steelers wideout Calvin Austin helped break the game open. Giants rookie RB Tyrone Trace Jr. rushed for 145 yards on 20 carries, but it wasn’t enough as Daniel Jones turned the ball over on each of New York’s final two drives to seal the loss. The Giants boast a lousy 2-6 record, but would have the 9th pick in the NFL Draft if the season ended today.
29. New Orleans Saints (2-6)
Does anyone else remember how New Orleans started the season? The Saints were one of the best stories through two weeks after they outscored their opponents (Carolina and Dallas) 91-29. Since then, the team has lost six in a row and it is hard to imagine things getting better. With Derek Carr still out, Spencer Rattler and Jake Haener combined to go 21-of-41 for 246 yards and zero touchdowns. Alvin Kamara (122 total yards) and Chris Olave (107 yards) were effective, but the offense failed to reach the end zone. New Orleans reached the red zone just one time all day — its final possession of the game.
28. Las Vegas Raiders (2-6)
The Raiders hung around against the Chiefs, but the defending champs were ultimately too much for Vegas to handle. Gardner Minshew found Jakobi Meyers for a 7-yard touchdown to tie the game at 7-7 late in the first quarter, and Daniel Carlson’s 54-yard field goal gave Vegas a lead that lasted until under two minutes remained in the first half. However, Vegas surrendered 10 points in the final 1:57 of the quarter and it never held another lead. Against a team as good as Kansas City, you must do better than rushing for 33 yards on 21 carries if you want to win.
27. New York Jets (2-6)
Aaron Rodgers has not been able to save the Jets. At 2-6, New York’s season is all but lost. Rodgers threw for 233 yards and two touchdowns and didn’t commit a turnover, but it wasn’t enough to secure a win. Inexplicably, kicker Greg Zuerlein cost New York yet another game. The former star kicker missed an extra point and a field goal in the 25-22 loss and has now missed seven kicks this season. New York has lost four games by six points or less — it is hard to figure out how Zuerlein is still kicking for this team.
26. New England Patriots (2-6)
New England’s six-game losing streak has come to an end — and the franchise couldn’t be happier with the team it beat to snap its skid. Rookie Drake Maye left the game after just six pass attempts due to an injury, but he gave the Pats an early 7-0 lead with a 17-yard touchdown run. In the second half, New England saw Rhamondre Stevenson find the end zone twice — including the game-winning score with 22 seconds remaining. Defensively, the Pats held the Jets to nine points in the second half.
25. Jacksonville Jaguars (2-6)
Oh, Jacksonville. The Jaguars had a chance to win their second game in a row and build some momentum heading into the second half of the season. Instead, one costly mistake by the defense on the final possession of the game resulted in another loss. The Jags erased a 10-point deficit in the fourth quarter and knotted the score at 27 with 1:48 remaining. Well positioned to force overtime, Jacksonville allowed a 51-yard play on Green Bay’s second snap of the drive and ultimately lost on a walk-off field goal.
24. Cleveland Browns (2-6)
For the first time this season, the Cleveland Browns played with some juice. Jameis Winston’s first start of the season resulted in Cleveland’s second win, and by far its best performance on offense. Over its first seven games, Cleveland’s offense failed to score more than 18 points. Against Baltimore, the Browns put up 29 points and 401 yards. Winston had a great afternoon — 334 yards and three touchdowns — and led the Browns to 23 points in the second half. While Cleveland had a horrible start to the year, it is only two games back of the final Wild Card spot entering Week 9.
23. Miami Dolphins (2-5)
It looked like Tua Tagovailoa’s return to action was going to result in Miami’s third win of the season. Raheem Mostert’s second touchdown of the day extended Miami’s lead to 27-18 and the Dolphins appeared to be in firm control of the contest. Instead, Arizona outscored the hosts 10-0 over the final 8:47 and handed Miami a crushing loss. De’Von Achane’s big game (97 rushing yards, 50 receiving yards, and one TD) was for nothing. Despite having a 2-5 record, Miami remains in second place in the AFC East.
22. Los Angeles Rams (3-4)
And just like that, the Rams find themselves back in the hunt for the NFC West crown. Los Angeles kicked off Week 8 with an impressive win over the Minnesota Vikings on Thursday night. Matthew Stafford was spectacular — throwing four TD passes — as the return of both Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua gave the offense a huge jolt. The Rams outgained Minnesota by over 100 yards and outscored the Vikes 16-3 down the stretch to win their third game of the year.
21. Dallas Cowboys (3-4)
Dallas’ loss to San Francisco Sunday night was a three-part act. A strong performance by the defense in the first half resulted in the team taking a 10-6 lead into halftime. Then, a miserable showing in the third quarter that saw Dak Prescott throw his second interception of the game resulted in the Niners scoring 21 straight points to seize control of the game. Finally, after two CeeDee Lamb touchdowns cut a 17-point deficit to just six, Dallas failed to complete its comeback attempt by going 4-and-out on its final drive.
20. Seattle Seahawks (4-4)
Seattle’s Jekyll and Hyde season continued this past week with an embarrassing loss to the Buffalo Bills. The Seahawks won three in a row to start the year and then dropped their next three contests. An impressive 20-point win in Atlanta put an end to their skid, but the Seahawks never looked up to the task against Buffalo. Geno Smith was held to 212 yards through the air and led the team with a measly 16 rushing yards. Defensively, Seattle was gashed by James Cook (111 yards and two TDs on 17 carries) and Josh Allen (283 yards and two TDs). Three teams are tied atop the NFC West with a 4-4 record.
19. Cincinnati Bengals (3-5)
After winning three of four, the Bengals were dealt a reality check Sunday afternoon at home. A 20-point loss to the Philadelphia Eagles brought Cincinnati’s home record to 0-4 this season. Joe Burrow found Ja’Marr Chase for the game’s first touchdown and Cincy held onto the lead until the final seconds of the first half. However, the second half was all Philadelphia as the Eagles outscored the Bengals 27-7. The team had an opportunity to close in on Baltimore for second place in the AFC North following its surprising loss to Cleveland, but instead remains in third place.
18. Indianapolis Colts (4-4)
When is the last time a starting quarterback asked to come out of the game to catch his breath? In Sunday’s competitive loss to the rival Houston Texans, Anthony Richardson briefly checked himself out of the game. For a QB who has struggled immensely, it was a very bad look. The second-year passer finished 10-of-32 and committed two turnovers (one INT, one fumble) in the 23-20 loss. The good news is Jonathan Taylor returned to the field and rushed for 105 yards and one score. In bigger news, the Colts have announced Joe Flacco to be the team’s starting quarterback in Week 9 as they try to make a playoff push.
17. Los Angeles Chargers (4-3)
A week after a somewhat controversial loss to the Cardinals, the Chargers took care of business at home against the freefalling New Orleans Saints to climb back above .500. Despite allowing a depleted offense to accumulate nearly 400 yards, Los Angeles held the Saints to just two field goals — the other two points came on a safety. Offensively, Justin Herbert had another big game. The star quarterback tossed a pair of touchdowns and finished with 279 passing yards and 49 yards on the ground. Rookie Ladd McConkey hauled in both TD passes and led the team with 111 yards on six catches.
16. Arizona Cardinals (4-4)
The Cardinals keep finding ways to win and stay alive in the NFC playoff race. For the second week in a row, kicker Chad Ryland sunk a game-winner as time expired for Arizona. They’ve won three out of four and are currently tied atop the NFC West. This is in spite of the fact that the Cardinals have a worse point differential than the Saints and Jets – who are both 2-6. QB Kyler Murray posted his first 300-yard game in nearly two years, while rookie WR Marvin Harrison Jr. broke out of a semi-slump with 6 receptions for 111 yards and a score.
15. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-4)
If the Buccaneers end up missing the playoffs, they’ll look at their two games against the Falcons as the primary reason. The Bucs fell to 4-4 after the 31-26 loss to Atlanta. QB Baker Mayfield still managed to throw for 330 yards and 3 TDs despite missing Mike Evans and Chris Godwin. Unfortunately, it’s difficult to overcome a 3-0 turnover difference. Tampa Bay’s next two games could ultimately determine its fate. The Bucs play the undefeated defending Super Bowl champion Chiefs on Monday. Then, they host the defending NFC champion 49ers coming off a Bye (with Christian McCaffrey expected to be back) in Week 10.
14. Denver Broncos (5-3)
The Denver Broncos are 5-3 with all three losses coming in one-possession games. In Week 8, it was Denver’s offense that ultimately led them to victory. Bo Nix had his best game as a pro, completing 28-of-37 passes for 284 yards and 3 TDs while adding another score on the ground. The Broncos finished 11-of-17 on third-down conversions and had a season-high 400 total yards of offense. After missing last week’s game versus the Saints, CB Pat Surtain II returned to the field and collected his third interception of the season. If the playoffs started today, the Broncos would be the No. 5 seed in the AFC.
13. Chicago Bears (4-3)
A brutal outcome for the Bears. Chicago trailed for much of the contest versus Washington. The defense kept them in the game by holding the Commanders to multiple field goals in the red zone. Caleb Williams was dreadful through the first three quarters, but redeemed himself on Chicago’s final two drives. It seemed like the game was over when the Bears botched a fourth-quarter handoff near the goal line to an offensive lineman. However, the defense stood tall and Chicago took the lead on their very next offensive drive. It appeared they had wrapped up a huge win, but the Commanders had other ideas…
12. Atlanta Falcons (5-3)
A win over the Buccaneers has set up the Falcons perfectly in the AFC South. The Panthers and Saints are a combined 2-13 when not playing against one another. And, they now hold the tiebreaker over Tampa Bay after completing the season sweep on Sunday. This matchup wasn’t quite as dramatic as their Week 5 overtime showdown, but the Bucs made it interesting with a late rally. In the end, the offseason signing of Kirk Cousins has been validated strictly based on his two appearances against Atlanta’s biggest division rival. In the two games versus Tampa Bay, Cousins has thrown for 785 yards and 8 TDs.
11. San Francisco 49ers (4-4)
The 49ers looked lifeless as they limped to halftime facing a 10-6 deficit. To open the second half, San Francisco put together three straight touchdown drives to open up a big lead. They fended off Dallas’ late comeback efforts to seal a 30-24 victory. With Jordan Mason getting banged up, rookie Isaac Guerendo stepped into a bigger role and enjoyed a productive day (102 yards, 1 TD). The Bye week could not have come at a better time for this squad. It’s been rumored that Christian McCaffrey will be ready to go when the 49ers take the field in Week 10.
10. Washington Commanders (6-2)
The Commanders improved to 6-2 in the wildest fashion imaginable. After leading nearly the entire game, Washington went down 15-12 with 25 seconds remaining. And then, a miracle occurred. With time expired, rookie QB Jayden Daniels heaved a Hail Mary downfield that was tipped at the goal line and eventually hauled in by Commanders WR Noah Brown. Pandemonium ensued as the Commanders improved to 6-2. It wasn’t the prettiest performance, but this is one that Commanders (and Bears) fans will remember for a long, long time.
9. Philadelphia Eagles (5-2)
That’s the most impressive win the Eagles have had in quite some time. Philadelphia went on the road and played the Bengals even through the first half. After halftime, it was all Eagles. Philadelphia scored on all five of their second-half drives, outscoring Cincinnati 27-7 after the break. Jalen Hurts enjoyed an efficient passing day (16-of-20, 236 yards, 1 TD, and 0 INT) and scored 3 rush TDs. Saquon Barkley (22 carries, 108 yards), DeVonta Smith (6 receptions, 85 yards, 1 TD) and A.J Brown (5 receptions, 84 yards) were all excellent. They’ve won three straight coming out of the Bye. Remember, the Eagles defeated the Chiefs and Bills after their Bye last year, and then lost six of seven to end the season. They hope for different results this time around.
8. Pittsburgh Steelers (5-2)
Russell Wilson picked up his second win as the Steelers starter on Monday, stringing together another nice performance versus the Giants. Wilson finished the game 20-of-28 passing for 278 yards and a score, and was particularly successful when targeting WR George Pickens. Return specialist Calvin Austin finished the day with two touchdowns – one receiving, one punt return. Defensively, T.J. Watt made all the plays over the course of the contest. Watt recorded two sacks and forced a fumble on Giants QB Daniel Jones late in the game.
7. Minnesota Vikings (5-2)
Minnesota’s vaunted defense has now been lit up two weeks in a row. On Thursday, a healthy Rams squad picked Minnesota’s secondary apart. Remember, Jared Goff went 22-of-25 against this defense and Jordan Love threw for 4 TDs in a Week 4 matchup. This group helped the Vikings start 5-0, but the team is starting to show some cracks. Even before these losses, it took 7 forced turnovers to barely get by the Packers and Jets. They still look like a playoff team in the NFC, but the Vikings can’t afford to slump for much longer.
6. Houston Texans (6-2)
The Texans outlasted the Colts in a much-needed division win. It seemed like Houston gave the game away after a late fumble in the red zone. A Colts defender scooped up the loose ball and returned it for what was thought to be a go-ahead touchdown. However, the return was nullified as the defender was down by contact. Houston’s defense held tough over the final two drives to seal the win. Unfortunately, Texans WR Stefon Diggs suffered a non-contact knee injury that has been confirmed to be season-ending. Houston is already without Nico Collins and their highly-acclaimed receiver room now looks depleted.
5. Baltimore Ravens (5-3)
It was one of those games where nothing went right for the Ravens. Dropped passes, missed opportunities, and questionable decision-making ultimately cost Baltimore a winnable game against a spiraling Browns club. Derrick Henry finished the game with just 11 carries. That’s not nearly enough in a matchup like this. The Ravens cost themselves a playoff game last year by ignoring the run game. Bringing in Henry in the offseason made fans believe they’d never make that mistake again. Baltimore will try to get their bell cow more involved next week versus a stingy Broncos defense.
4. Green Bay Packers (6-2)
Green Bay picked up another nail-biting win on Sunday, outlasting the Jaguars in a wild finish. Newly signed Brandon McManus knocked down the game-winning kick as time expired, giving the Packers their sixth win of the year. However, the biggest news stemming from this game is the health of QB Jordan Love, who suffered a groin injury. Love missed two games earlier this season with a sprained knee, and is in danger of missing more time. The Packers have proven they can stay afloat without Love, but their next three games (vs. DET, at CHI, vs. SF) are critical.
3. Buffalo Bills (6-2)
One of the most anticipated games of the Week 8 slate ended up being a one-sided affair in favor of the Bills. They ambushed Seattle early on and played well in all phases. Though Josh Allen tossed his first interception of the season, Buffalo’s offense seamlessly moved the ball up and down the field. The score was 31-3 early in the fourth, and the Seahawks had no answers on either side of the ball. The AFC East is Buffalo’s to lose. They already have a three-game lead over the second-place Dolphins and will have a chance to create even more of a cushion when they host Miami next week.
2. Kansas Chiefs (7-0)
The Chiefs drop a spot in the rankings despite picking up another win on the road. Kansas City improved to 7-0 by defeating the last team to beat them back in Week 16 of last season. Patrick Mahomes was firing early, but a third-quarter interception gave Vegas life. Once again, Kansas City’s defense stepped up big time and provided a key goal-line stand to keep the Raiders from scoring any points off of the turnover. The Chiefs have won 13 straight (including playoffs) since that Christmas day defeat to the Raiders.
1. Detroit Lions (6-1)
The Lions take over the top spot in the rankings after another dominant showing. Detroit scored 52 points (in three quarters) against a strong Titans defense and only needed 85 passing yards from Jared Goff to do so. Over the last four weeks, Goff has accounted for 11 TDs while throwing 13 incompletions. The Lions have scored over 40 points in three of those contests. The next two aren’t easy – at GB, at HOU – but this team is humming right now.
