NFL Power Rankings Week 8: Which Teams Are Most Promising in the League?

Through seven weeks of the 2011 NFL season, there are 22 teams with a .500 record or better, the most at this point of any season in league history.

Which teams are the most promising out of that surprising group?

San Francisco 49ers

The NFL has become a quarterback-driven league—we hear that phrase all the time. 

However, you don't need Aaron Rodgers or Tom Brady to win football games. In the new era of 400-yard passing games and shootouts galore, one team has consistently gotten the job done with running the football, three great lines of defense and a quarterback who manages the game wonderfully. 

The San Francisco 49ers.

They're sixth in the league in rushing and have the No. 2 rush defense. 

Remember the old saying, "run and stop the run"? 

That's exactly what the 49ers are doing and they're sitting pretty at 5-1. 

With the dog days of the NFL around the corner, their approach to the game gives them loads of potential to lock-up the No. 2 spot in the NFC. 

Green Bay Packers

With an quarterback like Aaron Rodgers and a receiving corp like the one they have, how can you not say the Packers' future is extremely promising?

Surely their defense, especially their secondary, needs vast improvement, but I just don't think any team can keep up with them in the scoring department.

New England Patriots

They have Tom Brady and are the AFC's version of the Packers.

Below average secondary, outstanding offense that utterly confuses defenses each week. 

Pittsburgh Steelers

They face the mighty Patriots this week, but now that we've seen the Ravens' deficiencies, the Steelers must be feeling much better about their playoff chances. 

Yes, Baltimore dismantled Pittsburgh in Week 1. Boy, how things have changed. 

The Steelers offensive line is playing better, Mike Wallace is continuing to make one or two huge plays each week and the run game has finally started to produce. 

They have a good defense, right?

Week 8 Power Rankings

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