The Shark's Six-Pack Through Week 8

The Shark's Six-Pack Through Week 8

Week 8 is in the books and yet again, the wild and halfway unpredictable NFL did not disappoint. The six-pack has a new look this week in the NFC with Tampa Bay and Washington losing and with the Saints marching once again. The AFC is stacked and looking strong and this week's matchup between New England and Indy is this season's Super Bowl and a probable AFC Championship preview. Let's see if this classic battle will live up to its hype. Sunday's game should show case the two best teams in football. Should… Check back every week to see if your team has climbed into my top six or if there were any significant changes in the rankings.

The rankings are essentially power rankings based on offensive/defensive statistics, wins, etc. More importantly these rankings are set by our fans and my personal opinions each week. Your voice is heard here so get your two cents in and enjoy one on the Shark -- The Shark’s Six-Pack every week at Football.com.

AFC

1.    New England Patriots (8-0) -- The Patriots simply destroyed a very quality Washington Redskins team Sunday and what is scary is that this team is getting better each week. The Patriots have scored at least 34 points in each game this season, have won every game by 17 or more and are averaging 41.3 points per. WOWZA! The Patriots are on pace to crush the Vikings' scoring record, Tom Brady is on pace to level Peyton Manning's touchdown record and Randy Moss could surpass Jerry Rice's touchdown reception mark in a season. The Patriots are looking like a team of destiny more and more each week. There are just too many weapons in New England and with Brady, the touchdown-producing machine, this team has a rare opportunity to go perfect. This week's matchup against Indy is one of the most anticipated regular season games in NFL history and will show us how solid this Patriots team really is. AFC Championship preview, probably. NFL game of the year, definitely.

2.    Indianapolis Colts (7-0) -- Last week Indy had their hands full with a pesky Carolina Panthers squad, well, for the first half at least. The Colts were down early last week but again showed us all how good this defense really is and avoided the 'trap game.' Peyton Manning and Reggie Wayne picked apart the Panthers in the second half and after 31 straight points it quickly became time to start thinking about New England. The Colts have now won their first seven games, three years in a row. The only other team in the history of the NFL to accomplish this was the 1929-31 Green Bay Packers. This is an impressive feat with the salary cap and the way the league is structured these days, people. The Colts are rolling, having won 12 in a row dating back to last year. This momentum and confidence could not be coming at a better time with perhaps the best team ever coming to town. This week's heavyweight title fight is going to be one of the best matchups in the history of the NFL and SHOULD be a game to remember for years to come. If anyone can beat New England, it is going to be Indianapolis at home.

3.    Pittsburgh Steelers (5-2) -- The Steelers are looking simply stunning on offense. Willie Parker has the run game going and with Hines Ward healthy, this unit looks complete. Coupled with one of the NFL's best defensive units this team and their rookie head coach, deserve tons of props. Pittsburgh manhandled Cincinnati Sunday, 24-13 behind another fine game by Ben Roethlisberger. Big Ben loves playing in Ohio. The fourth-year quarter back is 24-1 in games played in Ohio - Roethlisberger is 9-0 as a pro. Big Ben is having a sweet year with nine more touchdowns then interceptions after leading the league in picks a year ago. This week's battle with Baltimore should show us a lot more about Big Ben and this Steelers team. Roethlisberger will need to bring it full-force against Ed Reed and the Ravens defense.

4.    San Diego Chargers (4-3) -- The San Diego Super Chargers nearly surpassed the Steelers after a commanding performance Sunday against the Texans. The week started with the Chargers practicing in Arizona due to the wildfires in southern California. Most of us thought there would be some let down this week with all the distractions, but now way. The Chargers came out and won one for the city of San Diego and the state of California. Antonio Cromartie and the Chargers defense came up big. Cromartie had two defensive touchdowns and Antonio Gates came through again on offense for Philip Rivers. The Chargers are clicking and look to be in full stride at the mid way point of the season. This week's matchup with Minnesota and super rookie Adrian Peterson will be another good test for Rivers and the Chargers defense. Where are all the Norv Turner critics now?

5.    Jacksonville Jaguars (5-2) -- The Jaguars showed us all something Sunday as they came from behind to beat the Bucaneers without David Garrard. Garrard is nursing his calf and will be out for a few more weeks and with unknown replacement Quinn Gray at the helm, the Jaguars offense became questionable once again. Gray had a relatively weak game going just 7-of-19 for 100 yards a touchdown but did pull some magic out and guide the offense down the field when it counted, getting the job done. Trailing 23-17, the fourth-year man Quinn put together a mesmerizing drive and connected with Matt Jones for the game winning score. The impressive win over instate rival Tampa Bay further solidifies Jacksonville as a six-pack team. It looks as if the Jags will be loosing defensive tackle Marcus Stroud for four games for a substance abuse (steroids) violation. This is not good news for what HAD become the league's top rushing defense. Gray and the Jags defense have a real test this week at New Orleans. The Saints have woken up, four weeks ago to be exact, let's see what 'Quinn the Medicine Man' can do this week.

6.    Tennessee Titans (5-2) -- The battle of USC coaching wits will goes to Jeff Fisher and Norm Chow. Vince Young was a non-factor going just 6-of-14 for 42 yards but Tennessee was able to run the ball affectively behind LenDale White and Chris Henry. Smash mouth football is back in Tennessee but without a passing game things could get very interesting, very quickly. This week the Titans travel to Carolina in what should be another good test for Young and the offense.

Honorable Mention

Cleveland Browns, Kansas City Chiefs, Denver Broncos


NFC

1.    Dallas Cowboys (6-1) -- The Dallas Cowboys bye week could not have come at a better time. Tony Romo was nursing a hamstring and Terry Glenn has been sidelined all year with a knee injury. Romo is fine and ready to go but Glenn on the other hand will need another week or two before he makes his season debut but made substantial strides last week. The Cowboys also signed Romo to a long- term deal, reportedly worth $67.5 million with $30 million guaranteed. This week Dallas has a show down with archrival Philadelphia that has turned into a must win for both teams as the Cowboys have a red-hot Giants team right on their tail.

2.    Green Bay Packers (6-1) -- Brett Farve's Monday night magic continues. The Mississippi gunslinger led the Packers past the Denver Broncos on Monday Night Football in dramatic, Farve style. Denver had tied the game at the end of regulation, forcing overtime but on the first play, Farve unleashed a perfect 50-yard bomb that turned into an 82-yard game winning strike to Greg Jennings. The Pack are 6-1 and in front in the NFC North and are one of only four teams with one loss or less. This week Farve & Co. head to Kansas City in what is one of week 9's more intriguing matchups.

3.    New York Giants (6-2) -- The New York Giants are the hottest team in the NFL and last week, despite buckets of rain across the pond, the G-Men dropped the Miami Dolphins. Brandon Jacobs led the charge in the 13-10 rain-soaked game with 131 yards on 23 carries. The defense frustrated Miami all game and held their third straight opponent under 20 points. The Giants have a bye this week and will be preparing for the much-anticipated showdown against Dallas on November 11. Everyone is talking about the Colts and the Patriots this week, next week all the hype shifts to Eli Manning and Tony Romo in what could be a preview of the NFC Championship.

4.    Detroit Lions (5-2) -- The Lions beat the Bears yet again this year and have moved just one game back of the Green Bay Packers in the NFC North. Detroit has not been 5-2 since 2000 and has not played a meaningful Thanksgiving Day game in years. The early Thanksgiving Day game against the Packers is shaping up to be a memorable matchup with the winner controlling their own destiny in the NFC North. The Lions have found their running game behind a healthy Kevin Jones and last week the former first round selection had his best game of the year. Jones carried the Lions on his back as he went for 105 yards on 23 carries against a Bears defense that no one said he could run on. If the Lions can find a balance between the run and pass, look out, this offense will be hard to stop.

5.    Washington Redskins (4-2) -- The Redskins were simply shell-shocked and run over by the well-oiled, New England Patriot machine. Clinton Portis has been non-existent the last two weeks and had just 27 rushing yards Sunday. No doubt that the Skins are a better team than the 52-7 score indicated and with the 1-7 Jets this week the Redskins will be able to get back to winning ways.

6.    New Orleans Saints (3-4) -- The Saints are in the six-pack for the first time this season after marching to their third straight victory. Drew Brees, Marques Colston and the Saints offense are finally clicking. Reggie Bush is looking quite comfortable as the feature back and is looking more and more like a true running back these days... Bush hit the hundred-yard mark last week against the 49ers and Colston had three big touchdown snags. Brees has been on fire and Sunday, he went 31-of-39 and avoided being sacked for the fourth consecutive game. This week's battle, at home, against Jacksonville will be a true test for this New Orleans offense.


Honorable Mention

Seattle Seahawks, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Arizona Cardinals, Carolina Panthers