NFL Power Rankings: Identifying Teams with the Brightest Futures

Two teams look poised to have good futures ahead of them, though at the moment they seem as different as night and day.

The San Francisco 49ers and Carolina Panthers have so much going for them that it's hard to imagine that they won't be serious contenders in the future (though the former clearly has greatness ahead of them this season).

Yes, it's hard to imagine the 2-6 Panthers as having so much going for them—just one look at that record and it's clear they have a lot of work to do.

But the majority of their losses have come in close games. Rookie quarterback Cam Newton has been nothing shy of a revelation thus far this season, breathing new life into 32-year-old receiver Steve Smith's career.

With a few new components and defensive players returning from injury, they're on the brink of being one of the NFL's most powerful squads.

San Francisco, on the other hand, seems to have overcome season after season of underwhelming play to emerge as not just the best in the NFC West, but also as the No. 2 overall team in the league, with a 6-1 record and the opportunity to clinch a playoff spot before November is out.

Unlike the Panthers, who have dealt with a great deal of change to their roster—some by choice, some that was thrust upon them—the Niners aren't much different than they were in 2010, when they finished the season at 6-10 and in third place in their division (the Seattle Seahawks landed in first place at 7-9, which says just about all anyone needs to know about the 2010 NFC West).

The one difference, it seems, is in leadership. Head coach Jim Harbaugh has worked some type of magic with his team—quarterback Alex Smith is shaking off every "bust" accusation with each completion, running back Frank Gore is both remarkably healthy and remarkably effective and their defense has managed to stifle nearly all comers.

The 49ers boast the type of talent and depth that can keep them in the playoff discussion for years to come. For a team whose future was seemingly bleak just 12 months ago, it's now appearing to be one of the brightest in the league.

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

*Subject to change pending outcome of tonight's Chargers-Chiefs contest