Week 8 NFL Power Rankings: Buccaneers Remain In Top Half Despite Loss To Bears

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers flew all the way to London and all they have to show for it is this lousy loss to the Chicago Bears. That loss leaves the Bucs at just 4-3, but still just one game behind the Saints for first place in the NFC South. They have been remarkably inconsistent so far this season, but SB Nation still has them in the upper half of their latest 2011 NFL Power Rankings, where they come in at No. 15.

Gotta beat the Bears if you're thinking of winning the NFC South.

Agreed. The loss doesn't look great for the Bucs, but it is important to remember that this is a Bears team that was in the NFC Championship game last year, so they're not a slouch. But you can't just beat the teams you're expected to beat if you want to be an elite team in the NFL, you have to also occasionally have to beat the teams that are expected to beat you. The Bucs need to get a little bit better at doing that.