NFL Power Rankings Week 9: Could 49ers Still Be Best Team in NFC West?

Time for my NFL Power Rankings Week 9 edition, and I've got to tell you, the question in the title frightens me a little bit to even ponder.

Sure, the NFC Worst.....I mean, West, is the standard for futility in the NFL. But seriously? San Francisco the best team? Not a chance.

If I have to be keen on an NFC West team making the playoffs, I'm giving the nod to Seattle. Despite a blowout loss against Oakland last week, the Seahawks at 4-3 still have the best record in that division.

Sam Bradford is coming into his own in his rookie season for the St. Louis Rams, and Arizona is just a phone call to Kurt Warner away from being the best team in the division. I guess he'd have to give up his sweet dance moves to come back and actually complete a pass to Larry Fitzgerald, though.

That's enough talk about the NFC West. What you should really care about is there is some movement at the top of these rankings from last week because of losses by the Pittsburgh Steelers and New York Jets.

So who is in the top spot this week? Read on.

Bringing Up the Rear

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MINNEAPOLIS - OCTOBER 17: Dallas Cowboys head coach Wade Phillips looks on during the game against the Minnesota Vikings at Mall of America Field on October 17, 2010 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Vikings defeated the Cowboys 24-21. (Photo by Jeff Gross

32. Buffalo Bills (0-7): Last Week: No. 32.  So, so close, but Kansas City pulled out a win in overtime to keep the Bills from that elusive first win.

31. Carolina Panthers (1-6): Last Week: No. 30. The season of ineptitude continues for the hapless Panthers, who now can't seem to run the ball either.

30. Dallas Cowboys (1-6): Last Week: No. 28. Things are so bad in Dallas that Jerry Jones doesn't even know how many games his team has lost. Four picks for Jon Kitna, and it looked like the team quit in the loss to Jaguars Sunday.

29. Cincinnati Bengals (2-5): Last Week: No. 29. About time for some good T.O. drama. Get your popcorn ready!

28. Denver Broncos (2-5): Last Week: No. 27. Another ugly loss, and they had to travel to London to get it. Kyle Orton has looked pretty good at quarterback and is putting up hefty numbers. Those aren't translating in the win column, however.

27. Arizona Cardinals (3-4): Last Week: No. 24: Save for Aqib Talib's late heroics, Cards almost stole one against Tampa Sunday. Still have benefit of playing in the worst division and not out of it by any stretch.

26. San Francisco 49ers (2-5): Last Week: No. 31. Big boost up because of win against Broncos. Troy Smith looked somewhat capable at quarterback, leading the team on three scoring drives in final quarter.

25. Minnesota Vikings (2-5): Last Week: No. 20. Raise your hand if you thought Brett Favre's career was over Sunday when you saw him leaving the field on that cart? Now, more drama with Randy Moss. Can the Vikes right the ship?

24: Chicago Bears (3-4): Last Week: No. 18. Bears had no trouble protecting Jay Cutler during their bye week.

23.Cleveland Browns (2-5): Last Week: No. 22. New England comes to the Dog Pound Sunday. Student versus Teacher. Good times.

22. Washington Redskins (4-4): Last Week: No. 15. Biggest plunge of the week. 'Skins will enjoy bye week this week and have brought in JaMarcus Russell for an audition at quarterback. Maybe he can run the two-minute drill?

21. Detroit Lions (2-5): Last Week: No. 23. Matthew Stafford  throws four TDs in his return against Washington. I still contend Lions should be 3-4.

No. 20: Jacksonville Jaguars

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ARLINGTON, TX - OCTOBER 31: Quarterback David Garrard #9 of the Jacksonville Jaguars drops back to pass against the Dallas Cowboys at Cowboys Stadium on October 31, 2010 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

Last Week: No. 26. Jacksonville (4-4) got a fantastic performance by David Garrard against the Cowboys, whose defense looked like a Pop Warner team. Still right in the thick of things in the tough AFC South.

No. 19: St. Louis Rams

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DETROIT - OCTOBER 10: St. Louis Rams head coach Steve Spagnuolo during the warms up prior to the start of the game against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field on October 10, 2010 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Leon Halip/Getty Images)

Last Week: No. 19. St. Louis (4-4) is quietly putting it together with Sam Bradford having an excellent rookie campaign. Defense is much-improved, and anything is possible in the NFC West.

No. 18: San Diego Chargers

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SAN DIEGO - OCTOBER 31: Quarterback Philip Rivers #17 and tight end Antonio Gates #85 of the San Diego Chargers walk up the sideline together against the Tennessee Titans in the fourth quarter at Qualcomm Stadium on October 31, 2010 in San Diego, Califor

Last Week: No. 21. Are the Chargers (3-5) poised for another late-season surge? Huge win against the Titans Sunday. Phillip Rivers to Antonio Gates continues to be a lethal combination.

No. 17: Seattle Seahawks

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OAKLAND, CA - OCTOBER 31: Matt Hasselbeck #8 of the Seattle Seahawks is tackled by Richard Seymour #92 of the Oakland Raiders at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum on October 31, 2010 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

Last Week: No. 10. We'll call the Seahawks (4-3) the best of the worst in the NFC West. Blowout loss to Oakland Sunday that produced 162 yards of offense and zero touchdowns. U-G-L-Y.

No. 16: Tampa Bay Buccaneers

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GLENDALE, AZ - OCTOBER 31: LeGarrette Blount #27 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers celebrates his touchdown with Arrelious Benn #17 and Maurice Stovall #85 for a 31-14 lead over the Arizona Cardinals during the second quarter at University of Phoenix Stadium o

Last Week: No. 16. Not sure how the Bucs keep winning, but they keep winning. Cast-off running back LeGarrette Blount had a huge day, rushing for 120 yards and two touchdowns after getting picked up off the waiver wire. And no, we're not talking about the fantasy waiver wire.

No. 15: Miami Dolphins

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CINCINNATI - OCTOBER 31: Dan Carpenter #5 of the Miami Dolphins kicks one of his five field goals during the NFL game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paul Brown Stadium on October 31, 2010 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)

Last Week: No. 16. Five Dan Carpenter field goals propel Dolphins (4-3) past Bungles. From the strange-but-true department, Miami is unbeaten on the road (4-0) and has yet to win on at home. Can the streak continue in Baltimore this week?

No. 14: Oakland Raiders

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OAKLAND, CA - JANUARY 23: Oakland Raiders owner Al Davis speaks during a news conference introducing new Raiders head coach Lane Kiffin on January 23, 2007 in Oakland, California. Kiffin, a 31 year-old offensive coordinator from the University of Souther

Last Week: No. 25. This week's George Jefferson award winner. The Raiders (4-4) have two straight blowout wins, at Denver and at home against Seattle. Could it be they know what they are doing again?

No. 13: Houston Texans

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INDIANAPOLIS - NOVEMBER 01: Matt Schaub #8 of Houston Texans runs with the ball during the NFL game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium on November 1, 2010 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)

Last Week: No 12. The Texans (4-3) got a steady dose of Peyton Manning in a loss Monday night against the Colts. How will Matt Schaub and Co. respond this week at home against a red-hot San Diego team?

No. 12: Philadelphia Eagles

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PHILADELPHIA - OCTOBER 03: Michael Vick #7 of the Philadelphia Eagles runs the ball against the Washington Redskins on October 3, 2010 at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)

Last Week: No. 13. Last week's bye gave Michael Vick's ribs another week to heal. Vick will be back in the starting lineup after not playing since a loss to Washington in Week 4. The Eagles (4-3) need to get Desean Jackson healthy as well.

No. 11: New Orleans Saints

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NEW ORLEANS - OCTOBER 31: Drew Brees #9 of the New Orleans Saints passes over James Farrior #51 of the Pittsburgh Steelers during the game at Louisiana Superdome on October 31, 2010 in New Orleans, Louisiana. The Saints won 20-10 over the Steelers. (Ph

Last week: No. 14. The Saints (5-3) picked up a pretty big win at home against the Steelers Sunday night, despite not having much of a running game at the moment. They won't go down without a fight.

No. 10: Kansas City Chiefs

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KANSAS CITY, MO - SEPTEMBER 02: Head coach Todd Haley of the Kansas City Chiefs applauds on the sidelines during the game against the Green Bay Packers on September 2, 2010 at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Ima

Last Week: No. 9. Chiefs (5-2) couldn't generate much offense against the stubborn Bills. Still gutted out a win, but didn't see much improvement.

No. 9: New York Jets

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EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ - OCTOBER 31: D'Brickashaw Ferguson #60 of the New York Jets looks on late in the game against the Green Bay Packers on October 31, 2010 at the New Meadowlands Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The Packers defeated the Jets 9-0.

Last Week: No. 2. Ouch. Getting shut out at home doesn't do you in favors in power rankings lists, Jet nation. The Jets (5-2) head to Detroit this week to try and rebound.

No. 8: Green Bay Packers

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EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ - OCTOBER 31: Aaron Rodgers #12 of the Green Bay Packers in action against the New York Jets on October 31, 2010 at the New Meadowlands Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.The Packers defeated the Jets 9-0. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/G

Last Week: No. 11. The Packers (5-3) laid a goose egg on the Jets Sunday. If the offense can catch up to the defense, watch out.

No. 7: Atlanta Falcons

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CLEVELAND - OCTOBER 10: Quarterback Matt Ryan #2 of the Atlanta Falcons throws to tight end Tony Gonzalez #88 against the Cleveland Browns at Cleveland Browns Stadium on October 10, 2010 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Matt Sullivan/Getty Images)

Last Week: No. 7. Atlanta (5-2) enjoyed a bye week last week and will host NFC South rival Tampa Sunday with first place in the division on the line.

No. 6: New York Giants

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ARLINGTON, TX - OCTOBER 25: Quarterback Eli Manning #10 of the New York Giants looks to pass against the Dallas Cowboys at Cowboys Stadium on October 25, 2010 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

Last Week: No. 8. Giants (5-2) move up because of a couple of losses by teams in front of them. Head west to take on Seattle Sunday.

No. 5 Tennessee Titans

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SAN DIEGO - OCTOBER 31: Tennessee Titans head coach Jeff Fisher gestures from the sideline against the San Diego Chargers at Qualcomm Stadium on October 31, 2010 in San Diego, California. The Chargers defeated the Titans 33-25. (Photo by Jeff Gross/Gett

Last Week: No. 5. Tough loss in San Diego for the Titans (5-3) on Sunday, but this defense will take them a long way.

No. 4: Baltimore Ravens

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FOXBORO, MA - JANUARY 10: (L-R) Ed Reed #20 and Ray Lewis #52 of the Baltimore Ravens warm up against the New England Patriots during the 2010 AFC wild-card playoff game at Gillette Stadium on January 10, 2010 in Foxboro, Massachusetts. (Photo by Jim Ro

Last Week: No. 4. Baltimore (5-2) will host the Miami Dolphins this week, a team that has trouble putting the ball in the end zone.The Ravens have allowed the fourth fewest points in the league. Do the math.

No. 3: Indianapolis Colts

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INDIANAPOLIS - NOVEMBER 01: Peyton Manning #18 of Indianapolis Colts gives instructions to his team in the hudlle during the NFL game against the Houston Texans at Lucas Oil Stadium on November 1, 2010 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Get

Last Week: No. 6. Great win for Indy (5-2) Monday night against Houston, especially without much of a running game and the absence of Peyton Manning's favorite target, Dallas Clark. Next up: at Philadelphia and Michael Vick.

No. 2: Pittsburgh Steelers

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NEW ORLEANS - OCTOBER 31: Ziggy Hood #96 of the Pittsburgh Steelers gestures during the game against the New Orleans Saints at Louisiana Superdome on October 31, 2010 in New Orleans, Louisiana. The Saints won 20-10 over the Steelers. (Photo by Karl Wal

Last Week: No. 1. Pittsburgh (5-2) fell into a tie with Baltimore for first place in the AFC North after its loss at New Orleans Sunday, but shouldn't be ashamed. The Saints seem like they are getting things together.

Pittsburgh will head to Cincinnati Monday night.

No. 1: New England Patriots

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FOXBORO, MA - OCTOBER 31: Tom Brady #12 of New England Patriots gives a thumbs up before a game against the Minnesota Vikings at Gillette Stadium on October 31, 2010 in Foxboro, Massachusetts. (Photo by Jim Rogash/Getty Images)

Last Week: No. 3. New England (6-1) now boasts the league's best record after beating up on Brett Favre and Minnesota Sunday. Danny Woodhead and the "Law Firm," BenJarvus Green-Ellis, are doing the job at running back to back Tom Brady and Wes Welker in the passing game.

Will travel to the Dog Pound Sunday to take on the Browns and Bill Belichick's former pupil and "Spygate" instigator, Eric Mangini.