NFL Power Rankings Roundup Week 8: The majority has the Eagles at No. 1

Today we continue our weekly roundup of how various media outlets have ranked the Philadelphia Eagles in their NFL power rankings. It’s always interesting to see how the Birds stack up from an outside perspective. But first, let's start by revisiting mine.

Bleeding Green Nation

1 - There should be no more doubt at this point. The Eagles literally have the best record in the NFL at 6-1. Carson Wentz is playing at an MVP level. The offense is balanced and efficient. The defense ranks No. 1 in stopping the run. From there, the Eagles can generate pressure and get after the quarterback. The Eagles are legitimately the best team in the NFL. (LW: 1)

SB Nation

1 - No explanation (LW: 1)

ESPN

2 - 86.4 percent. Carson Wentz leads the NFL in passing touchdowns (17) and already has surpassed his TD total from last season (16). He also has led the Eagles to their best start since 2004 and has given them the best chance of winning the NFC East. (LW: 2)

NFL.com

1 - There's a new No. 1, and it's not a familiar one. When was the last time the Eagles were the best team in pro football? Maybe in the first two months of the 2004 campaign, when Andy Reid's squad started the season 7-0 on the way to the franchise's second-ever Super Bowl berth. The 2017 team could be headed in the direction of Super Sunday, especially if Carson Wentz plays like he did Monday night. The 64-yard bomb to rookie Mack Hollins was a dime. Even more difficult? His throw on the corner route to Zach Ertz to set up a score before half. Impossible would describe Wentz's heave to Corey Clement on a little wheel route in the end zone. On a 1-10 scale, the difficulty on that toss was a thousand. Wentz's mobility is what gets me. MVP? (LW: 2)

CBS Sports

1 - Carson Wentz has three straight games with at least three touchdown passes. The loss of left tackle Jason Peters with a leg injury will hurt in a big way. (LW: 2)

Yahoo! Sports

1 - There should be as much excitement as possible about Carson Wentz, but the loss of left tackle Jason Peters is really tough. He’s going to be very hard to replace. Still, as the lone one-loss team remaining in the NFL, they deserve the top spot. (LW: 1)

Washington Post

2 - QB Carson Wentz was terrific Monday night against the Redskins and is becoming very prominent in the race for the NFL’s MVP award. It wasn’t only his passing, it was his ability to escape the Washington pass rush and make something out of nothing. That could serve him well for the remainder of the season with Monday’s loss of left tackle Jason Peters to an injured right knee, a huge blow that plays a part in the Patriots overtaking the Eagles for the top spot. How to replace Peters will be a major issue going forward. Will Lane Johnson be moved from right to left tackle? (LW: 1)

Bleacher Report

1 - This Eagles offense is merely average. When you have one of the best players in the NFL as your quarterback, however, you get a top-notch unit. Wentz is unreal, and after Monday night, he's an MVP frontrunner. His running and downfield throwing are as good as it gets, and he's a big, strong presence in the pocket. The Eagles defense was tremendous against Washington and not even at full strength. Having the best defensive player in the NFL, Fletcher Cox, certainly helps. The defensive line is arguably the best in the NFL as well. The secondary isn't the best, but with a strong front seven and Jim Schwartz dialing up plays, the Philly defense gets it done. Philadelphia has announced itself to the world as one of the league's top teams. One thing to watch going forward, though, is the loss of offensive tackle Jason Peters. If he's indeed done for the year, it will be huge. (LW: 2)

USA Today

1 - Is Carson Wentz ready to follow Ben Roethlisberger, Russell Wilson as second-year starters to lead franchise on Super Bowl magic carpet ride? (LW: 2)

Reddit

1 - Carson Wentz continued his MVP-caliber season with circus throws, desperate scrambles, and 4 touchdown passes to complete a sweep of the Redskins for just the first time since 2013. The Eagles are now firmly perched above the NFC East and the entire NFL with the league's best record going into a home meeting with the winless 49ers. (LW: 2)

Sporting News

1 - Carson Wentz keeps throwing strikes, and his receivers keep hitting home runs. They've rounded second looking for a lot more. (LW: 2)

Pro Football Talk

1 - Before they can be a Team of Density, they need to be sure that it’s not Carson Wentz‘s destiny to get injured while being reckless with his body. (LW: 2)

Rotoworld

1 - Never mind the steady diet of touchdowns—Carson Wentz is quickly becoming one of the league’s best scramblers. His 63 rushing yards against the Redskins were a career-high and his 196 rushing yards in 2017 are already more than he had all of last year. Four of Zach Ertz’s team-leading five touchdowns (already a career-high) have come over his last three games. Monday night’s win extended the Eagles’ winning streak to five. (LW: 2)

Pro Football Focus

3 - Another impressive week has the Eagles with the league’s best record at 6-1. They find different ways to win each week, jumping on Carson Wentz’s back when their running game was less than efficient against Washington Monday night. With Jason Peters out for the season, however, it’s an open question as to how long the party will continue (at least offensively) in Philly. Wentz has been a different player when pressured (64.7 passer rating, 21st) than when kept clean (117.4, third). Early returns have been fantastic for the quarterback from North Dakota State. This is the next test. (LW: 3)

Sports Illustrated

3 - No explanation (LW: 2)

Football Outsiders

4 - No explanation (LW: 2)

numberFire

5 - No explanation (LW: 3)

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Analysis

The rankings range from as high as 1 to as low as 5. The most common ranking is 1. The average ranking is 1.76, which is up a little from last week’s average of 1.9.

The Eagles have the best record in the NFL. They have the league MVP. They should be the unanimous No. 1. Apparently that’s not the case.

Philadelphia won’t really be able to prove the doubters wrong this week since they play the 49ers. A win would only cement their position. A loss, however, could result in a significant drop.