NFL Power Rankings Week 8: Pittsburgh Steelers and Teams Ready to Stir Things Up

There's something about Week 8 of the 2011 NFL season that's making it look like a good time for upsets. Maybe it's the array of good teams that are playing on the road in trap games. Maybe it's the squads outside of the elite that have improved as the season has gone on.

Either way, look for these three teams to shake up the power rankings by this time next week.

Pittsburgh Steelers

A win for the Steelers over the Patriots on Sunday wouldn't be that big of an upset, given the extensive history between these two successful franchises over the past decade or so.

Nonetheless, New England is currently sitting pretty atop the AFC at 5-1, though Pittsburgh is lurking close behind with a 5-2 mark so far. Ben Roethlisberger is playing as well as any quarterback not named Aaron Rodgers, with nine touchdowns against just one interception over his last three games.

The Pats have yet to face a defense a stout as Pittsburgh's this season, one that should be able to slow down Tom Brady and company just enough to allow Big Ben to lead his team to victory with another brilliant performance under center.

Philadelphia Eagles

Across the state of Pennsylvania, the Eagles will hope to have their house back in order in time to take on the Cowboys in an NFC East showdown. A win for Philly would do wonders to get the ex-Dream Team back in the thick of things in the division race.

The question remains, will the Eagles' offensive line be able to shield Michael Vick from DeMarcus Ware and the Cowboys' bone-crushing pass rush? And can Philly's run defense stop a Dallas ground game that came to life behind rookie DeMarco Murray's 253 yards?

Tough to say, though Tony Romo won't exactly be sitting pretty the whole game, thanks to the return of Trent Cole.

And the Eagles have a pretty good running game of their own, with LeSean McCoy carrying the load.

This game will be a tough, if not wholly entertaining, affair, with Philly fluttering back to life with a win and renewed hope in the NFC East.

Kansas City Chiefs

Speaking of teams that have shown signs of life of late, the Chiefs (yes, the Chiefs) have won their last three games to even their season record at 3-3, just a game behind the 4-2 Chargers for the lead in the AFC West.

Guess who's coming to dinner at Arrowhead Stadium on Monday night? That's right, those same San Diego Chargers, who blew a double-digit lead in the second half on the road against the Jets' "juggernaut" offense and who are bearing witness to the worst season of Philip Rivers' career.

Meanwhile, KC is coming off a 28-0 pounding of the injury-riddled Raiders in Oakland, proving once again that there is, in fact, life after Jamaal Charles and Eric Berry.

As talented as the Bolts are, they've struggled on the road this season and will continue to do so in Kansas City this week.

Josh Martin's Week 7 NFL Power Rankings

1. Green Bay Packers

2. New England Patriots

3. New Orleans Saints

4. San Francisco 49ers

5. Baltimore Ravens

6. Pittsburgh Steelers

7. Atlanta Falcons

8. New York Giants

9. Detroit Lions

10. Buffalo Bills

11. New York Jets

12. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

13. San Diego Chargers

14. Cincinnati Bengals

15. Houston Texans

16. Chicago Bears

17. Kansas City Chiefs

18. Cleveland Browns

19. Oakland Raiders

20. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

21. Philadelphia Eagles

22. Tennessee Titans

23. Washington Redskins

24. Carolina Panthers

25. Minnesota Vikings

26. Denver Broncos

27. Seattle Seahawks

28. Jacksonville Jaguars

29. Arizona Cardinals

30. Miami Dolphins

31. St. Louis Rams

32. Indianapolis Colts