NFL Power Rankings (After Week 8)

Nearing the midway point of the regular season and, well … things don't change much. The top four teams stay in their spots. Minnesota, Baltimore and Seattle move up. Indianapolis is proving it may be formidable enough to win a division title as it enters the Top 10 and replaces Carolina.

Here's the Top 10 after the eighth week of the season:

1. (1 last week/8 weeks at No. 1) New England (8-0): Not saying the Patriots as a whole are in a spot all their own, but their defense sure has played amazingly well -- they have allowed just 61 points so far … that's over seven points a game. Seven points a game won't win many football games, that's for sure.

2. (2) New Orleans (7-1): Drew Brees was back! Says he missed his teammates. Then he went out and proved he missed them by going 34-of-43 passing with the repaired thumb and threw for 373 yards and three touchdowns against the improving Arizona Cardinals. His reward: A bye week! The Saints should win that one, too!

3. (3) San Francisco (7-0): The 49ers sent another message this week that you don't mess with the team on the west side of the Bay. They made life miserable for the Carolina Panthers in a 51-13 victory. Tevin Coleman, a key component in the Atlanta Falcons' run to the Super Bowl three seasons ago when coach Kyle Shanahan was the Falcons' offensive coordinator, ran for 105 yards and three TDs in this victory.

4. (4) Green Bay (7-1): The Packers … just give Aaron Rodgers the ball and let him do the things he does best. Like go 23-of-33 passing for 305 yards and three TDs in a 31-24 win over struggling Kansas City. The Packers get to bask in the Los Angeles sunshine this weekend against the Chargers.

5. (8) Minnesota (6-2): Maybe … just maybe … these Vikings have it all figured out. They're not bad! They have won four in a row -- and yes, the win over the accident-prone Washington club does count! But the Vikings had to struggle in that win. They got a Dalvin Cook touchdown and four field goals from Dan Bailey … that was all Mike Zimmer's boys needed to keep pace with the Packers in the NFC North. They next travel to struggling Kansas City.

6. (5) Buffalo (5-2): No, the Bills did not look good in a home game played in terrible weather conditions against the Philadelphia Eagles, 31-13, but it was 17-13 before the Eagles pulled away. The Bills still have a tough defense and are 4-1 in the conference and would still make the postseason.

7. (9) Baltimore (5-3): With things happening the way they did, the Ravens moved up two places and didn't have to get in position for one single play ... it was their bye week. The Ravens will certainly be well-rested for their next challenge on Sunday night -- a date with the Patriots.

8. (10) Seattle (6-2): The Seahawks had a nice bounce-back win after losing to the Ravens by taking down the Atlanta Falcons, 27-20, though it was 27-11 with 5:53 left in the game and the Falcons made things interesting. Russell Wilson had 182 yards passing and two touchdowns and running back Chris Carson went for 90 yards rushing and a TD for the winners.

9. (NEW) Indianapolis (5-2): We're not too sure how good these Colts are, but coach Frank Reich deserves Coach of the Year plaudits for the work his team has done. The Colts have won three in a row, and needed a late Adam Vinatieri field goal to take down the feisty Denver Broncos, 15-13. Next up for Jacoby Brissett, Marlon Mack and Co., is a trip to Pittsburgh to face their old rivals, the Steelers.

10. (7) Kansas City (5-3): Yes, when Patrick Mahomes is behind center, the Chiefs have a strong shot of winning. But when he's not -- like now -- it's an iffy situation. Matt Moore is not doing a bad job (24-of-36 passing, 267 yards, 2 TDs vs. Green Bay), but it's not the same feel. Perhaps the Chiefs would have beaten a lot of teams with Moore calling signals last week, but the Packers are rolling and the Chiefs slip further back, but not out of the Top 10.