NFL Power Rankings: 10 Teams That Could Rise After Week 8 Games

We are almost at the halfway point of the season and if parity is what all leagues look for, then the NFL has reached it.

There are only a handful of pretty good teams, no really great teams and every team in the top 10 has warts.

Though the Monday Night Game hasn't played yet, neither of those teams would crack the top 10 so here's what it will look at the season's midway point.

Everyone is pretty sure now who the top team is.

The Jets ended up looking great without even playing.

Maybe that's the key to getting to the BCS title game. End your season with three bye weeks.

Anyway, here is the top 10.

10. Seattle Seahawks

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SEATTLE - OCTOBER 24: Running back Marshawn Lynch #24 of the Seattle Seahawks rushes against Adrian Wilson #24 of the Arizona Cardinals at Qwest Field on October 24, 2010 in Seattle, Washington. The Seahawks defeated the Cardinals 22-10. (Photo by Otto G

The joke early in the season was that if Pete Carroll played his cards right, he could win his division... then get slaughtered in the first round because no one in the NFC West was any good.

Well the joke might be on all of us, as the Seahawks might get a bye in the first round the way things are looking these days in the NFC in general.

They beat a bad Cardinals team still searching for answers at quarterback. But who cares how it looks, just win, Petey.

Hasselbeck is doing just enough, Mike Williams has gone back to earning his checks and the Marshawn Lynch deal might end up being the best in season trade in years.

Even if they get steamrolled by the now mighty Oakland Raiders in week 8, they'll still be the division leader at halftime.

In Carroll we trust. At the midway point.

9. Indianapolis Colts

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LANDOVER, MD - OCTOBER 17: Quarterback Peyton Manning #18 of the Indianapolis Colts throws a pass against the Washington Redskins at FedExField on October 17, 2010 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images)

I bet the Colts haven't been this low in any rankings in years. But we can only judge from what we see and what they are doing on the field.

The injuries are taking a toll. No telling how they are going to deal with not having Austin Collie in the short term and Dallas Clark for the rest of the season.

They face the Houston Texans to end the first half of the season so maybe this spot should be reserved for the winner of that game since they both have the same record.

Loser of that game will almost certainly be out of the running for the division crown.

8. Green Bay Packers

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GREEN BAY, WI - OCTOBER 24: Aaron Rodgers #12 of the Green Bay Packers passes against the Minnesota Vikings at Lambeau Field on October 24, 2010 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (Photo by Jim Prisching/Getty Images)

They don't look like the Super Bowl favorites from earlier in the season, although their running game is looking much better. They lucked up by playing a self-destructive Vikings team last night.

(Side Note Soap Box: Did anyone else notice how Cris Collinsworth apologized for Favre and blamed every one of his interceptions on either Moss, Harvin or both?

Minnesota has the most talent on offense in the league. With Shiancoe at tight end, Peterson running the pill, and the two previously mentioned receivers this team is bad because Favre makes awful decisions.

His receivers have to try and read his mind because he is constantly triple-pumping, trying to make the hero play. Vikings fans have to be frustrated. You put Brady, Manning, Brees, Rodgers, Rivers or Roethlisberger in that huddle and they are undefeated.)

Back to the Pack: Best team in a division that is falling apart. Aaron Rodgers will keep them together.

They can prove that they are back on point by beating the New York Jets in week 8.

7. Tennessee Titans

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EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ - SEPTEMBER 26: Kenny Britt #18 of the Tennessee Titans scores a second half touchdown during a game against the New York Giants at New Meadowlands Stadium on September 26, 2010 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/

The Tennessee Titans beat up on the Eagles yesterday, proving that they are going to be a team that legitimately challenges for AFC supremacy later in the year.

Player of the game, Kenny Britt knows a lot about beating folks up, since he was involved in a bar fight a couple days prior. Because of his off-field situation, Britt was benched for the whole first quarter then took over the game in the final three quarters.

Britt caught seven balls for 225 yards and three touchdowns. If he plays like that the rest of the year, no one in the AFC South or downtown Tennessee bars is safe.

This game also brought to the forefront two really interesting quarterback questions. Are the Titans more explosive with Kerry Collins who played yesterday, or Vince Young who was out with an ankle injury?

We already know folks in Philly are having sleepless nights over who should be their signal caller. Kolb might have lost the job after yesterday's game and this week's bye (He was 26 out of 48, 231 yards, one touchdowns, two interceptions and a 56.9 QB rating).

Tennessee on the other hand, has a chance to fly down to San Diego in week 8 and either put the nail in the Chargers' coffin or breathe new life into their lungs.

6. Atlanta Falcons

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ATLANTA - OCTOBER 24: Roddy White #84 of the Atlanta Falcons scores a touchdown against the Cincinnati Bengals at Georgia Dome on October 24, 2010 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

Atlanta is all about proving themselves lately. Roddy White wanted to prove he was in the same class as Terrell Owens and Chad Ochocinco, (and he did with his 11-catch 201-yard, two touchdown receiving game against the Bengals on Sunday).

And the Falcons want to prove that they are in the talk for best team in the NFC.

Right now they are without question the best the NFC has to offer. With a 5-2 record and a 3-0 record at home, no one else can approach them in that conference.

And with Matt Ryan, White and Michael Turner sharing the rock, they are as loaded and well-balanced as any team in the league on offense.

If they continue this trend of breaking even on the road and winning all their home games, they will undoubtedly have the best record in the conference at season's end.

Now they get to relax during their bye week and plan for the second half of the season.

5. Kansas City Chiefs

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KANSAS CITY, MO - OCTOBER 24: Running back Thomas Jones #20 of the Kansas City Chiefs carries the ball up and over while trying to score during the game against the Jacksonville Jaguars on October 24, 2010 at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri.

Here's what I didn't understand about the Chiefs but I get now. If you have really good coaches, smart players and a really weak schedule, there is a chance you can pull off the improbable.

No, they are not a great team yet, but if Matt Cassel continues making strides, Dwayne Bowe stops dropping passes and their two-headed rushing attack keeps putting up yards, they will be a factor in the post-season.

Toss in the great special teams play and the fantastic return rookies and you have a potential division winner.

This is a solid team that will only get better.

Next week we get the unexpected shootout between Cassel and the Buffalo Bills' Ryan Fitzpatrick.

4. Baltimore Ravens

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BALTIMORE, MD - OCTOBER 24: Ed Reed #20 of the Baltimore Ravens returns an interception against the Buffalo Bills at M&T Bank Stadium on October 24, 2010 in Baltimore, Maryland. The Ravens defeated the Bills 37-34. (Photo by Larry French/Getty Images)

Yes they battled with the Buffalo Bills. But so did the New England Patriots. Yes, they battled with the Cleveland Browns, but so did the New Orleans Saints and the Cincinnati Bengals.

But the Ravens won both of those games, while the Saints and Bengals didn't.

Joe Flacco is getting better, but the defense is starting to finally look a little older.

It helps that all-world safety Ed Reed is back.

They'll battle for the division until the final game.

With the week 8 bye week here, they'll be able to give their aging vets a few days off.

3. New England Patriots

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SAN DIEGO - OCTOBER 24: BenJarvus Green-Ellis of the New England Patriots takes a handoff against the San Diego Chargers during the first quarter at Qualcomm Stadium on October 24, 2010 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

There is something off about this team. First of all, everyone is realizing how much Randy Moss meant to Wes Welker catching 100's of passes.

Watch how good Percy Harvin becomes over the next couple of years in the slot. Randy Moss changes things, so now no one is as open as they used to be.

Second of all, the team looked like it was dazed in the second half against the Chargers. The Pats team from two years ago would have put fifty on San Diego. Instead it was dink and dunk then field goal.

I'm not convinced that this team in its current state is built for a long playoff run.

I can't put my finger on it but something is definitely... off.

All that being said, Brady is 100 percent back from his injury and is almost back to his Super Bowl days as far as accuracy goes. And they keep winning.

But no memorable season moves along without dramatic twists and next week the Minnesota Vikings and Randy Moss come to town. Gotta love the NFL.

2. Pittsburgh Steelers

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PITTSBURGH - OCTOBER 17: Hines Ward #86 of the Pittsburgh Steelers celebrates a third quarter touchdown with Mike Wallace #17 and Emmanuel Sanders #88 while playing the Cleveland Browns on October 17, 2010 at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Pit

For the second time this season a game was decided by something other than the play on the field. Detroit Lions lost a game because of the NFL rule books.

And this past Sunday the Steelers won a game because the refs couldn't figure out who recovered a Roethlisberger fumble in the end zone.

This is what keeps conspiracy theorist up at night. Some people believe that the league favors the Steelers and other teams over teams like the Raiders. (Remember the Seahawks-Steelers Super Bowl?)

Anyway, the Steelers won but they don't get to be number one after barely eeking out that win.

They do get to prove themselves again in week 8 against the defending World Champion New Orleans Saints. Beat them convincingly and we'll talk about you holding the crown for a week.

1. New York Jets

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DENVER - OCTOBER 17: Running back LaDainian Tomlinson #21 of the New York Jets celebrates his touchdown against the Denver Broncos at INVESCO Field at Mile High on October 17, 2010 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images)

Everything the fortune teller known as Rex Ryan has said about his team has come true so far.

They aced almost all of their first half season tests, were entertaining on "Hard Knocks" and right now have the best record in the NFL.

So what now?

Prove the first half of the season wasn't a fluke, of course. They face one of the best of the NFC next week when the Green Bay Packers come to town.

Beat them at home and you'll most like stay atop everyone's rankings.