NFL Power Rankings: Assessing the Best Teams in the League

These teams below don't exactly line up with what we've come up with for our Week 9 NFL power rankings, but let's assess the best teams in the league right now: 

Green Bay Packers

The week off should allow some of the defensive stars—Tramon Williams, Clay Matthews and Charles Woodson—to get over lingering dings that have affected them at times in 2011. If the Packers defense gets hot, look out. 

San Francisco 49ers

There's nothing new school about the 49ers. They run the ball well on offense and they stop it on defense. The difference this year has been the efficiency of quarterback Alex Smith. If he continues to play within the confines of the offense like he has through seven games, the 49ers could cruise to 11 or 12 wins. 

Pittsburgh Steelers

The Steelers defense certainly didn't look old and slow on Sunday. Defensive coordinator Dick Lebeau went to a man-scheme against Tom Brady and the Patriots, and it paid off with the most impressive defensive display of the season. Are the Steelers over their mini-Super Bowl hangover now?

New England Patriots

Can the Patriots get to where they want to be this season with the way that defense is constructed right now? That'll be the big question moving forward. You'd have to think Bill Belichick has something left up his sleeve to improve that unit before the games really start to count in New England. 

Detroit Lions

Tim Tebow and the Broncos offense was just what the doctor ordered for the Lions, who had previously lost two in a row. At 6-2, they look like a good bet to make the playoffs this season. Matthew Stafford is the key to them ultimately getting there, however. Is that too obvious? 

Baltimore Ravens

Rarely do you hear a 4-2 team get booed at home like Joe Flacco and the Ravens offense did on Sunday. They deserved it, however. Overall, Flacco has been a below average quarterback throughout this season. Can he turn it around? If he doesn't, there's not a chance that the Ravens get to Indianapolis for Super Bowl XLVI. 

New Orleans Saints

The Saints are a hard team to figure out. At just 2-3 on the road, it appears that the flaws get magnified away from the Superdome. And with three losses already on the record, it's likely that the Saints will have to win away from home in the playoffs—if they reach it. They can't afford to sleepwalk through any more games in 2011.

Philadelphia Eagles

Speaking of sleepwalking, the dream team looks to have awaken just in time to save the season. Philadelphia has now won two games in a row, with their latest against Dallas the most impressive. And how come more people are not talking talk about how well LeSean McCoy is playing in 2011? If some guy named Aaron Rodgers wasn't tearing up Titletown, he'd be a serious MVP candidate.

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

* Plays Monday night