NFL Power Rankings: Which Teams Are Clawing Their Way Up the Ranks?

Getting back into the mix really helps the psyche of a team. Whether it's becoming more consistent, winning without your best players or literally coming back from the bottom of the barrel, these four teams are scrappers.

Interestingly enough also, all four are by no means out of a shot at winning their division, and will really cause some parity as the season progresses.

Atlanta Falcons (4-3)

After a rocky and awkward 2-3 start, the Falcons have won two straight games heading into their bye week. Perhaps the win over the Lions in Detroit was the turning point, because Atlanta sits in prime position to strike in the NFC South.

Six of their nine remaining games are very winnable, and there's a good chance the Falcons earn one of the NFC wild card spots. The offense has played well enough to win, while the defense has continued to improve. You can't ask for much more in a tough division.

Kansas City Chiefs (3-3)

When Week 2 was over, the Chiefs had scored a total of 10 points and allowed 89. They had literally hit rock bottom harder than anyone else, and also suffered two injuries to their two best players.

However, despite losing again in Week 3, K.C. has run off three straight wins and have caught fire NBA Jam style. Fortunately for them also, the AFC West has opened up significantly, with the Jets beating the Chargers in addition to their W over Oakland.

Right now, if there's any team playing with confidence in the AFC West, it's Kansas City, because they're proving they can win without their best players.

Chicago Bears (4-3)

The Bears never dropped too far in the power rankings below, because, despite being 2-3 after five weeks, all three losses had been to arguably the NFC's three best teams.

Since then however, Chicago has run off two straight, gotten a big victory over Tampa Bay and are back above .500 and just one game behind the Detroit Lions.

Their remaining schedule isn't overly difficult, as they play all four AFC West teams in consecutive weeks, but, the Monday night game at Philadelphia on Nov. 7 will be the deal-breaker as to which direction this franchise is headed in 2011.

Houston Texans (4-3)

If you are to name one AFC team who's playing with more confidence than the Kansas City Chiefs right now, that team is the Houston Texans.

For starters, Houston beat Pittsburgh in the second half without WR Andre Johnson, then played at Baltimore and Tennessee without Johnson and LB Mario Williams.

In the Ravens game they displayed great effort, and that carried over into a dominating performance over the Titans. The next two weeks, Houston hosts the Jaguars and Browns, so you can check off two wins there as well.

Week 11 is their bye week, and although they visit the Tampa Bay Bucs in Week 10, you have to think that Johnson will be back in the lineup by Week 12 for the postseason stretch. Otherwise the playoffs may elude the Texans once again.

Week 8 NFL Power Rankings (LW = Last Week's Rank) (* = MNF Teams)

1. Green Bay Packers (7-0) (LW 1)	17. Oakland Raiders (4-3) (LW 9)
2. *Baltimore Ravens (4-1) (LW 2)	18. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-3) (LW 15)
3. New England Patriots (5-1) (LW 3)	19. Philadelphia Eagles (2-4) (LW 20)
4. New Orleans Saints (5-2) (LW 4)	20. Kansas City Chiefs (3-3) (LW 23)
5. San Francisco 49ers (5-1) (LW 5)	21. Tennessee Titans (3-3) (LW 18)
6. Pittsburgh Steelers (5-2) (LW 6)	22. Carolina Panthers (2-5) (LW 24)
7. New York Giants (4-2) (LW 10)	23. Denver Broncos (2-4) (LW 27)
8. Houston Texans (4-3) (LW 12)	24. Cleveland Browns (3-3) (LW 28)
9. Buffalo Bills (4-2) (LW 11)	25. Washington Redskins (3-3) (LW 21)
10. Detroit Lions (5-2) (LW 6)	26. Seattle Seahawks (2-4) (LW 22)
11. Chicago Bears (4-3) (LW 13)	27. Minnesota Vikings (1-6) (LW 25)
12. New York Jets (4-3) (LW 14)	28. Arizona Cardinals (1-5) (LW 1-5)
13. San Diego Chargers (4-2) (LW 8)	29. *Jacksonville Jaguars (1-5) (LW 29)
14. Cincinnati Bengals (4-2) (LW 16)	30. St. Louis Rams (0-6) (LW 30)
15. Dallas Cowboys (3-3) (LW 17)	31. Indianapolis Colts (0-7) (LW 31)
16. Atlanta Falcons (4-3) (LW 19)	32. Miami Dolphins (0-6) (LW 32)

Be sure to check out John on Bleacher Report. 

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