NFL Power Rankings Week 8: Which Teams Just Keep Rolling Along?

Success in sports often depends on getting hot at the right time and maintaining momentum. This is especially true in the NFL, since games are only played once a week. 

To that end, here are three teams currently on hot streaks who will keep rolling through Week 8.

New England Patriots (5-1)

Since losing to the Buffalo Bills on the road, the Pats have run off three straight wins, allowing only 56 points combined in those games (compared to 79 points in their first three).

This week, New England faces a tough test at Pittsburgh, even though the Steelers have yet to beat a formidable opponent. In addition, the Pats are coming off a bye week—certainly this extra rest and preparation time will prove beneficial.

In any case, as long as Tom Brady is under center, the Patriots will always be Super Bowl contenders.

New Orleans Saints (5-2)

After their Week 1 loss to the Packers in Green Bay, the Saints ran off four straight wins before losing to the Buccaneers in Tampa a couple of weeks ago.

The Saints got back on track as they blasted the Colts at home in Week 7, and now they make the trip to St. Louis to play the Rams in Week 8. The Big Easy will keep rolling this week and keep their lead in the NFC South.

In Week 9, Tampa Bay will visit The Superdome. The Bucs are generally poor on the road, so the Saints should win that game.

The only team truthfully standing in the Saints' way are the No. 1 Green Bay Packers.

San Francisco 49ers (5-2)

In Week 1, the 49ers got an unimpressive win over the Seattle Seahawks at home—then proceeded to choke against the Dallas Cowboys in Week 2.

Since then, San Francisco has been locked in, winning four straight games, including road wins over Cincinnati and Detroit. Coming off a bye week, the Niners play host to the 3-3 Cleveland Browns, whose wins have come against teams with a combined 2-17 record.

San Francisco cannot take the Browns for granted—after beating the Lions in Detroit, a hangover loss is quite possible.

That being said, new head coach Jim Harbaugh won't let his team lose focus, even though they're in the NFL's weakest division.

Expect the 49ers to win and keep rolling. If there's anyone who can compete with the Saints and Packers in the NFC, it's the 49ers.

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

1. Green Bay Packers (7-0) (LW 1)	17. Oakland Raiders (4-3) (LW 9)
2. New England Patriots (5-1) (LW 3)	18. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-3) (LW 15)
3. New Orleans Saints (5-2) (LW 4)	19. Philadelphia Eagles (2-4) (LW 20)
4. San Francisco 49ers (5-1) (LW 5)	20. Kansas City Chiefs (3-3) (LW 23)
5. Baltimore Ravens (4-2) (LW 2)	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. Jacksonville Jaguars (2-5) (LW 29)
11. Chicago Bears (4-3) (LW 13)	27. Seattle Seahawks (2-4) (LW 22)
12. New York Jets (4-3) (LW 14)	28. Minnesota Vikings (1-6) (LW 25)
13. San Diego Chargers (4-2) (LW 8)	29. Arizona Cardinals (1-5) (LW 1-5)
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. 

And, you can follow him on Twitter @ Sportswriter27.