NFL Power Rankings: Which Teams Are Emerging as League's Best?

The Green Bay Packers are unquestionably the NFL's best team. After Week 8, what other teams have emerged as the league's best?

Can we still consider the New Orleans Saints a top-tier team after their utterly humiliating loss at the hands of the St. Louis Rams with A.J. Feeley as their quarterback?

Seems like the Pittsburgh Steelers are, once again, Super Bowl contenders, right?

How about the upstart Cincinnati Bengals or Buffalo BIlls?

Can't forget about the San Francisco 49ers. 

Outside of the Packers, here are my top teams from each conference:

AFC

Pittsburgh Steelers

This is the most fun Steelers team to watch, based on what I've seen over the last month. Yes, the defense has always been there, but now they are effectively moving the ball through the air, and what's more exciting than a group of young, speedsters on the outside?

They torched the Patriots secondary as I expected and played tight, bump-and-run, man coverage on New England's wide receivers. 

Finally someone had to courage to do that.

Tom Brady was held under 200 yards in the Steel City and was sacked three times.  

New England Patriots

OK, Tom Brady is still a football god. One loss to the best team in the conference isn't going to change that. What the loss to the Steelers did show was the Patriots' deficiencies. On offense, it's obvious they don't have a deep threat they trust, and I don't think they trust their run game either. 

Although they were facing a Top 10 rushing defense, they mustered only 43 yards on 12 carries. 

Not going to cut it. 

They'll still get to double-digit wins, but it's going to take five more nearly-perfect outings from Mr. UGG boot himself. 

Buffalo Bills

I was torn between the Bengals and Bills here—sorry, Ravens fans. I took the Bills because they have more quality wins than the Bengals at this juncture. Fred Jackson is accumulating MVP-type numbers (721 rushing yards, 353 receiving yards) and Ryan Fitzpatrick continues to improve.

If the defense can build on their beatdown of the Redskins—a game that included nine sacks—and get a little healthier, they'll battle the Patriots for the division crown. 

NFC

San Francisco 49ers

I can't say much about the 49ers, but that's totally fine. They play outstanding defense each week, stop the opponent's running game and pile on major yardage with Frank Gore. 

San Fran's feature runner is one of the best in the league, and possesses an ideal combination of size, speed and the ability to punish defenders. 

Gore has racked up 675 rushing yards this season.

Beast.  

Alex Smith won't make the All-Pro team this year, but he's got nine touchdowns and only two interceptions. An ideal statline for him.

They could win their division by a record margin. 

New York Giants

While all the talk in the NFC East surrounds the Dallas Cowboys' disappointment, or the Philadelphia Eagles' resurgence, the New York Giants are playing the most consistent football in the division.

The Dolphins gave them a game, but avoiding a second let-down at home was huge. Quietly, Eli Manning is on pace for his best statistical season of his career. 

Right now Peyton's little brother has 13 touchdowns to only five picks and has already eclipsed 2,000 yards through the air. 

Prove those doubters wrong, Eli. 

New Orleans Saints

Talk about a hangover. I could have sworn ESPN had the score switched when I checked the Saints/Rams game yesterday. 

Still, Drew Brees won't have another game like that for a while, but the defense is really troubling. Then again, they're in the new mold of the NFL—simply try to outscore your opponent.

The Lions are nipping at their heels. 

Week 9 Power Rankings

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

* Monday Night Football matchup