NFL Power Rankings Week 9: Which Teams Are on the Rise?

Regardless of where we are in the NFL season, it's never a bad thing to be on the rise in pro football. It gives hope to the future and can really change the psyche of a team.

And now that we're only entering the midway point this year, playoff hopes are still alive. Therefore, here are three teams on the rise heading into Week 9.

Cincinnati Bengals (5-2)

The Bengals are currently on a four-game winning streak after their Week 3 home loss to San Francisco. But three of those four wins have come against teams with a combined 4-19 record.

Nonetheless, two of the games were on the road, one being in Jacksonville, where the Ravens couldn't win. All this said, we have yet to see Cincy really get tested in 2011.

However, the wait is over. Beginning this week the Bengals hit a six-game stretch that has Tennessee (4-3) and Houston (4-3) on the ends with four straight divisional games sandwiched in between, two of which are against Pittsburgh.

Philadelphia Eagles (3-4)

After Week 5 all seemed lost for the then 1-4 Eagles. They had just lost four straight and were on the brink of a catastrophic breakdown. But Philly picked themselves up and have not only won two straight games, but two in the division.

With the dominating performance over Dallas on Sunday night, it is clear that the Eagles are beginning to hit a rhythm. Perhaps it came at the right time as well, because the Eagles are still under the radar despite two wins, thanks to their 3-4 record.

The remainder of the season isn't overly difficult; however, if the Eagles slip up just one more time, they could very well pull a 180-degree turn and end up disappointing.

Kansas City Chiefs (3-3)

Regardless of what happens to the Chiefs on Monday night, they're still a team on the rise. Any team that loses their two best players and begins 0-3 but then runs off three straight is on the rise.

And being 3-4 after seven games without their two best players is still better than expected. If K.C. manages to pull off the upset and best the Chargers at home on Monday night (like they did in 2010), it will cause a lot of parity in the AFC West.

The Chiefs would then be 4-3, 2-1 in the division with two games left against Denver (both of which are expected wins). Who would have thought by the end of Week 8 that K.C. would be on the rise? Certainly a remarkable feat considering their circumstances.

Week 9 NFL Power Rankings (LW = Last Week's Rank) (* = MNF Teams)

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

Be sure to check out John on Bleacher Report. 

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