Patriots drop in Week 8 NFL power rankings after loss in London | Sporting News

The New England Patriots won their first game of the 2024 season, upsetting the Cincinnati Bengals on the road, but they’ve lost all six of their matchups since, including a 32-16 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday in London.

New England’s defense, which was expected to be the best of their three units this season, has looked horrible over the last two weeks while rookie quarterback Drake Maye has tried his best to lift up the offense.

The Patriots are one of four teams with just one win after seven weeks, so it’s no surprise that they’re being viewed as one of the worst teams in the league.

Sporting News’ Vinnie Iyer released his Week 8 NFL power rankings on Tuesday, and New England dropped from No. 29 last week to No. 30.

Here’s what Iyer said about Jerod Mayo’s team:

“Drake Maye is flashing as a bright spot to spark the offense, but Jeord Mayo keeps seeing his team get run over and give up big pass plays.”

The only teams lower than the Patriots are the Carolina Panthers, who were the worst team in football last season and haven’t looked much better, and the Cleveland Browns, who lost their starting quarterback (Deshaun Watson) on Sunday.

New England will face the 2-5 New York Jets (No. 23) in Week 8, but Aaron Rodgers dismantled the Patriots in their first meeting, so it wouldn’t be surprising to see New England drop their seventh in a row and fall even further in the power rankings.

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