Packers tumble slightly in NFL power rankings after comeback win over Cardinals
The Green Bay Packers are confounding to NFL experts through seven weeks. On one hand, everyone understands the great potential of Matt LaFleur's team, especially after looking so elite during wins in Week 1 and 2. In every national power ranking, the Packers sit in the top 10. But it's been a long time since the Packers truly looked elite, and wins over the Bengals and Cardinals were underwhelming from an outside perspective.
But all wins are good wins, and the Packers are building while still winning. They have one loss after six games. Entering Week 8, they are the No. 1 seed in the NFC.
Here's where the Packers stand in NFL power rankings after beating the Cardinals and entering Week 8:
USA Today
Week 8 ranking: No. 4 (down 2)
From Nate Davis: "Look who moved atop the very premature NFC playoff seeding following the Bucs' loss Monday night. It's the Pack who will be in prime time next as they prepare to encounter former QB Aaron Rodgers for the first time since he left Wisconsin in 2023."
ESPN
Week 8 ranking: No. 8 (down 2)
From Rob Demovsky on unsung role player: "He didn't start the season as their kicker, and he probably won't finish it as their kicker. But while Brandon McManus has sat out the past two games because of a quad injury, the free agent signing has been money. Havrisik has made all 10 of his kicks (four field goal attempts and six PATs), including a franchise-record 61-yarder Sunday. He's so unsung that even after two games, defensive end Micah Parsons said he still didn't know the kicker's name. 'To be honest with you,' Parsons said, 'I don't know half the team yet.' McManus is expected back in a week or two and it's possible instead of just cutting Havrisik, they might be able to get something for him in a trade."
The Athletic
Week 8 ranking: No. 7 (down 3)
From The Athletic: "Sunday wasn’t a particularly impressive win, but Green Bay got the job done as Micah Parsons was dominant. With three sacks, he notched his 16th career multisack game, tied with T.J. Watt for the fifth most such games since the NFL began counting sacks in 1982. Oh, and Parsons is still just 26."
CBS Sports
Week 8 ranking: No. 3 (down 1)
From Pete Prisco: "They are 4-1-1, but we haven't seen the best of this group. The pass rush showed up in a big way against the Cardinals."
The Ringer
Week 8 ranking: No. 6 (down 3)
From Diante Lee: "I'm tired of asking this team to be normal, because that's never going to happen."
Yahoo Sports
Week 8 ranking: No. 6 (up 1)
From Frank Schwab: "The Packers got three sacks out of Micah Parsons and beat the Cardinals on a gutsy call by Matt LaFleur to go for it on fourth down late in the fourth quarter. Still, it has been a few weeks since the Packers have looked anywhere close to elite."
This article originally appeared on Packers Wire: NFL power rankings: Packers tumble slightly after comeback win over Cardinals