NFL Power Rankings Week 8: Philadelphia Eagles and More Teams That Will Rise

The NFL regular season is approaching the halfway point, which is crazy to think about considering several months ago fans feared there would be no season at all. 

It's been one heck of a season so far, and Week 8 will continue to give fans greatness. There are multiple teams in must-win situations, which makes for some great games this weekend. 

With a lot at stake this coming weekend, the power rankings are due for a big shake up. 

Here are three teams that will be on the rise after they win in Week 8. 

Philadelphia Eagles 

The Eagles are fresh off a bye, but at 2-4, they aren't turning heads like many expected. That all will change when Philadelphia hosts the Dallas Cowboys in primetime on Sunday night. 

Both teams are in need of a victory, but the Eagles will be the more desperate team on Sunday. They're healthy, and they will be ready to beat the Cowboys, one of their most hated rivals. 

Michael Vick, Andy Reid and company will finally turn things around and make a nice jump in next week's power rankings. 

San Francisco 49ers 

The 49ers are also coming off a bye, and they will host the Cleveland Browns on Sunday afternoon. San Francisco is soaring in the power rankings, but with an impressive victory over Cleveland, it could sneak into the top five. 

They'll need a little help from other teams to reach the top five, but there is little doubt they will keep climbing in the rankings. The 49ers schedule isn't too difficult in the next month or so, but it will be interesting to see how they fare against the New York Giants and the Baltimore Ravens in November. 

Jim Harbaugh is easily the leading candidate for Coach of the Year, as it is outstanding what he has been able to do in such a short amount of time. Let's not forget, the NFL lockout prevented him from getting to work with his team all summer long. 

The 49ers will win easy on Sunday, and they will continue to rise up in the power rankings. 

Kansas City Chiefs 

The Chiefs were off to a horrible start, but credit them for rebounding strong and winning three games in a row. Now, the Chiefs will host the wishy washy San Diego Chargers on Monday night, and they're going to spook their division rival. 

Yes, lame Halloween joke, but still, the Chiefs will catch the Chargers napping and claim the top spot in the AFC West. Kansas City's confidence is sky high right now, and the Chiefs will use that to narrowly beat out the Chargers. 

Everybody wrote them off once Eric Berry and Jamaal Charles were lost for the season, but Matt Cassel is keeping this team alive with the help of Dwayne Bowe, Steve Breaston and the Chiefs' defense of course. 

Kansas City has a tough stretch from Week's 11-15, but until then, the Chiefs will be on the rise in the power rankings. 

Eric Bowman’s 2011 NFL Power Rankings  

1. Green Bay Packers

2. Baltimore Ravens 

3. New England Patriots

4. New Orleans Saints

5. Pittsburgh Steelers

6. San Francisco 49ers

7. New York Jets

8. Houston Texans

9. San Diego Chargers

10. Chicago Bears

11. Detroit Lions

12. Atlanta Falcons

13. Buffalo Bills

14. Dallas Cowboys

15. New York Giants

16. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

17. Philadelphia Eagles

18. Cincinnati Bengals

19. Oakland Raiders

20. Carolina Panthers

21.  Tennessee Titans

22. Washington Redskins 

23. Cleveland Browns 

24. Kansas City Chiefs 

25. Minnesota Vikings

26. Denver Broncos

27. Seattle Seahawks

28. Arizona Cardinals

29. St. Louis Rams

30.  Jacksonville Jaguars

31. Miami Dolphins

32. Indianapolis Colts