NFL Power Rankings Week 9: Atlanta Falcons and Teams Ready to Feast After Bye

There had been a myth going around the NFL, one suggesting that teams were actually struggling on account of their bye weeks.

Then Week 8 happened, and five out of the six teams that had time off in Week 7 emerged victorious, with the New England Patriots checking in as the lone loser (who would've thunk it?).

Now that we know with greater certainty that resting is not, in fact, anathema to winning, let's have a look at some teams that figure to move up the power rankings after spending the weekend resting up.

Atlanta Falcons

The Falcons went into Week 8 on a bit of a roll, with consecutive wins over the Panthers and the Lions in their collective back pocket.

Matt Ryan and company will enjoy the privilege of getting back on track at the expense of the winless Colts, whom Atlanta will meet in Indianapolis on Sunday.

If it weren't for the fact that this game is played at the Lucas Oil Stadium, the Colts wouldn't stand any chance against the Falcons. Then again, it's not as though Indy's luck has been that much better at home.

Nor will it be against an Atlanta team in hot pursuit of first place in the NFC South.

Oakland Raiders

What's worse—having Tim Tebow under center or trotting out either of the two quarterbacks who were picked off three times each in their last game?

We'll find out when the Raiders host the Broncos in Oakland.

My Spidey sense is telling me, though, that the Silver and Black should have just enough to fend off a Broncos team that had its rear end handed to it at home by the Lions.

And, if Darren McFadden's foot is healthy enough to run on, it's won't matter who starts, between Carson Palmer and Kyle Boller, so long as the one who plays is capable of handing the ball off 30 or 40 times.

Green Bay Packers

The Packers will have a tough test on their hands when they get back from their vacation—a road trip to San Diego to play the Chargers.

Luckily for Aaron Rodgers and his never-ending arsenal of offensive weapons, the Bolts have yet to snap out of their annual, early-season slumber, choosing instead to leave the AFC West wide open.

So long as that door is wide enough for A-Rod to fit a few pinpoint passes through, Green Bay shouldn't have too much trouble escaping southern California with a nifty intersectional victory on its already spotless resume.

Josh Martin's Week 8 NFL Power Rankings

1. Green Bay Packers

2. San Francisco 49ers

3. Pittsburgh Steelers

4. New England Patriots

5. Baltimore Ravens

6. Detroit Lions

7. Atlanta Falcons

8. New York Giants

9. New Orleans Saints

10. Buffalo Bills

11. New York Jets

12. Cincinnati Bengals

13. San Diego Chargers

14. Houston Texans

15. Philadelphia Eagles

16. Chicago Bears

17. Kansas City Chiefs

18. Dallas Cowboys

19. Oakland Raiders

20. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

21. Tennessee Titans

22. Cleveland Browns

23. Minnesota Vikings

24. Carolina Panthers

25. Washington Redskins

26. Denver Broncos

27. Seattle Seahawks

28. Jacksonville Jaguars

29. Arizona Cardinals

30. Miami Dolphins

31. St. Louis Rams

32. Indianapolis Colts