NFL Power Rankings: San Francisco 49ers and Teams Bound to Rise

It's a great feeling to be a rising team in the National Football League.

You're gaining widespread respect throughout the nation, you're earning your paycheck (kind of) and the adrenaline is pumping through your veins like a fire hose.

In Week 8 of the NFL season, three teams in particular rose to the challenge and will rise in the NFL power rankings as a result. 

3. St. Louis Rams (1-6)

There were some people out there who felt the Rams weren't going to win a game this season.

Then, one of the NFL's true bottom-feeders goes out and defeats the New Orleans Saints, 31-21, behind star running back Steven Jackson's 159-yard, two-touchdown performance.

This was one of those games that inspires a collective "huh?" across the nation. Remember, the Saints were coming off a 62-7 blasting of the Indianapolis Colts.

For once, I am speechless. All I can think of is the Saints must have used up all their offensive firepower against the Colts and were suffering from a massive hangover in Week 8. 

2. Philadelphia Eagles (3-4)

All along, I've been saying that the Philadelphia Eagles just needed time to gel, but no one listens to me.

After starting off 1-4, the Eagles have won their last two games against the Washington Redskins and Dallas Cowboys.

Both the Redskins and Cowboys haven't looked so hot lately, but that doesn't change the fact that the Eagles have looked much better. In fact, they've looked like the dominant team we expected them to be headed into Week 1.

Michael Vick went 21-of-28 for 279 yards and two touchdowns. Meanwhile, running back LeSean McCoy added 185 rushing yards and two touchdowns as the Eagles defense held Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo to 203 passing yards.

This secondary is coming together and so is the Eagles' pass rush, which collected four sacks on Sunday. 

1. San Francisco 49ers (6-1)

In 2011, the San Francisco 49ers have become the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Kansas City Chiefs of 2010.

That is, a previous bottom feeder that has risen up out of the depths.

What can you say about the job that rookie head coach Jim Harbaugh has done? He has this team on a roll after a dismal 2010.

The defense has legitimately become an elite unit and the rushing game continues to roll along as quarterback Alex Smith gets more comfortable.

The 49ers held the Cleveland Browns to 10 points and 66 rushing yards in Week 8. What's more, 30 of those yards came from quarterback Colt McCoy.

That may have been against a bad team, but anyone who sees this defense play comes away impressed.