AFC power rankings for NFL Week 8: Bills jump Chiefs, Browns & Steelers surge, Raiders fall

The Buffalo Bills, Pittsburgh Steelers and Cleveland Browns are among the teams moving up in our AFC power rankings for Week 8 of the 2026 NFL season, while the Kansas City Chiefs and Las Vegas Raiders are moving in the other direction.The Bills didn’t have to play a game in Week 7 to move up to their new spot. Meanwhile, the Steelers made the most of their trip to Paris and Cleveland walked into Nashville and walked out with a thrilling victory.It was a rough day for the AFC West, as both the Raiders and Chiefs suffered defeat, with Kansas City falling for the first time this season.Find out where those five teams and the rest of the AFC sit in our conference power rankings for Week 8.MORE: Ian Eagle sent Ross Tucker into hysterics with Jim Nantz joke16. Los Angeles Chargers (0-6)Los Angeles Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh looks on against the Las Vegas Raiders during the first half at SoFi Stadium. Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images Credit: IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect (Reuters)Last week: 15The Chargers are now swimming alone in the pool of winless teams after the Miami Dolphins knocked off the New York Jets on Sunday while the Chargers were on their bye. We already know the Chargers’ season is over, but will they sell off pieces at the trade deadline?15. Tennessee Titans (1-6)Last week: 14The Titans had a chance to knock off the Cleveland Browns in Week 7, but a defensive lapse late in the fourth quarter thwarted their bid to push the game into overtime. Yes, we know, the false start that wasn’t called, but officials missed a crucial penalty on the Titans, also, before that.MORE: Amon-Ra St. Brown cleated a ref while getting body-slammed14. New York Jets (2-5)Last week: 13The Jets threw up a total stinker against one of the worst teams in the NFL, the Dolphins, and things were so bad that Geno Smith and Garrett Wilson were arguing on the sideline as the Jets’ top receiver was mostly a ghost throughout.13. Miami Dolphins (1-5)Last week: 15The Dolphins are finally on the board with a win after beating the Jets, but we’re not sure how happy Dolphins fans are with that considering the goal of this season is to get the highest pick possible to help the rebuild. The good news is, this will be the first of a few, at most.MORE: John Harbaugh wins another game, tackles another Giants player12. Houston Texans (2-5)Houston Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans reacts during the game against the Buffalo Bills at Reliant Stadium. Credit: Troy Taormina-Imagn Images via Reuters Connect (Reuters)Last week: 12Just when the Texans started gaining some momentum with back-to-back wins, they fell flat against the New York Giants in Week 7. Houston continues to be one of the most confounding teams in the NFL this season.11. Indianapolis Colts (2-5)Last week: 11The Minnesota Vikings played one of their worst games of the 2026 season, but the Colts found a way to play worse in a pathetic 16-10 loss. Trade rumors are swirling around Indianapolis and one or two more losses could make the Colts major sellers.MORE: Vikings DB wore incredible Halloween-themed cleats10. Las Vegas Raiders (3-4)Last week: 8The Raiders now look like the team we expected them to be this season. Las Vegas hosted a struggling Los Angeles Rams team and got its door blown off and the game was basically over in the first half. It’s a matter of when, not if, the Raiders move to Fernando Mendoza.9. Baltimore Ravens (4-3)Last week: 7The fun is over with Tyler Huntley after the Ravens loss their second straight game in the tale of two halves that was Sunday’s contest against the Cincinnati Bengals. Thankfully, Lamar Jackson is expected back in Week 8.8. New England Patriots (4-3)New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel looks on during the fourth quarter against the Buffalo Bills at New Highmark Stadium. Credit: Mark Konezny-Imagn Images via Reuters Connect (Reuters)Last week: 3The Patriots had a measuring stick game against the Chicago Bears and failed to meet the challenge. The good news for New England is it has a perfect get-right game against the Dolphins next week.7. Cincinnati Bengals (4-2)Last week: 10The Bengals looked dead in the water going into the half, but a halftime speech from Ja’Marr Chase sent Cincinnati out as a different squad in the second half and the Bengals torched Baltimore over the final two quarters. Cincy has a good chance for a three-game winning streak with the Titans up next.MORE: Jahmyr Gibbs on injury watch after scary slide6. Pittsburgh Steelers (5-2)Last week: 9The Steelers went to Paris and left with an ugly win over the New Orleans Saints. We won’t hold the poor showing by the offense against Pittsburgh because these dumb international games always deserve an asterisk. Pittsburgh’s Week 8 game against the Browns will determine who sits in first place going into Week 9.5. Cleveland Browns (5-2)Last week: 6The Browns escaped Nashville with a win after some clutch plays late in the fourth quarter and a last-second field goal. They did get an assist from the officials, but so did the Titans. First-place Cleveland will battle it out with Pittsburgh for the top spot in the division next week.4. Denver Broncos (5-2)Denver Broncos quarterback Bo Nix (10) looks to throw in the second half against the Seattle Seahawks at Empower Field at Mile High. Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images via Reuters Connect (Reuters)Last week: 5The Broncos had one of their best offensive games of the season, although it took a long Bo Nix rushing touchdown and a 52-yard catch and run from RJ Harvey to get there, so Denver’s offense isn’t out of the woods yet. Jonah Coleman looks like a baller.3. Jacksonville Jaguars (4-2)Last week: 4The Jaguars managed to move up one spot this week despite being on their bye. Jacksonville will be served up a soft matchup against the imploding Colts in Week 8 and the Jags will have the rest of the NFL quietly rooting for them, as the more losses the Colts suffer, the more likely they will sell off some of their valuable players at the deadline.2. Kansas City Chiefs (5-1)Last week: 1The Chiefs had one of their worst offensive games of the Patrick Mahomes era in the loss on Sunday night against the Seattle Seahawks, but it’s just a small bump in the road in a season in which Kansas City has exceeded expectations thus far.1. Buffalo Bills (5-1)Last week: 2The Bills were on their bye in Week 7 and likely had a heavy focus on their defense, which is one of the very worst in the league. Buffalo’s struggling unit will once again be tested in Week 8, as Lamar Jackson is expected to return from injury for the Ravens.— Enjoy free coverage ofthetop news & trending stories with The Big Lead Newsletter —