🏈 NFL Power Rankings: Updated 1-32 poll, plus best in-season trades — SkimNews
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- NFL Nation’s panel of more than a dozen analysts ranked all 32 teams, placing Buffalo No. 1 after its 36-10 win over Baltimore, followed by San Francisco, Jacksonville, Denver and Chicago at Nos. 2-5.
- NFL games have produced 71 one-score results, eight points or fewer, through Week 8, matching 2022 for the most through that point in league history; the trade deadline is Nov. 10, with Chicago and San Francisco already adding Jeffery Simmons and DeForest Buckner.
- Denver Broncos entered the top five for the first time this season after beating Kansas City 28-24; Bo Nix has 13 career fourth-quarter comeback wins, the most by a quarterback in his first three seasons since starts were tracked in 1950, and Denver is now DraftKings’ AFC West favorite.
- Minnesota Vikings lost their first game of 2026, 19-15 to Detroit, which recorded the first fourth-quarter touchdown allowed by Brian Flores’ defense; the NFC North is the only division with all four teams in the top 15, from Chicago at No. 5 to Green Bay at No. 14.
- Baltimore Ravens saw playoff odds move from -215 to +280 and fell six ranking spots after a 36-10 loss to Buffalo; Lamar Jackson and Tyler Huntley were injured Sunday, and undrafted rookie Joe Fagnano was put in the spotlight for Thursday against Jacksonville if he is not injured.
- Jacksonville Jaguars acquired Jakobi Meyers in 2025 while Brian Thomas Jr., Travis Hunter and Dyami Brown were unavailable and the club led the NFL with 19 drops; the offense averaged 22 points before Meyers arrived and 33 afterward.
- Chicago Bears named Montez Sweat their best in-season trade acquisition: acquired in 2023 for a 2024 second-rounder, he became the first player to lead two teams in sacks in one season and later posted 10 sacks in 2025; Chicago’s newer Simmons trade cost three picks, including two first-rounders.
Why it matters: Baltimore’s position changed materially after its 36-10 loss to Buffalo: playoff odds moved from -215 to +280, the Ravens fell six ranking spots, and Lamar Jackson and Tyler Huntley were injured. Coming off three straight losses, Joe Fagnano is the focus for Thursday against Jacksonville if the undrafted rookie is healthy.
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