NFL Power Rankings Week 9: MVP Watch for the NFL's Top Teams

As we dive into our Week 9 NFL power rankings, the following players are the respective MVPs for the top teams in the league.

Green Bay Packers: QB Aaron Rodgers

Could it really have been anyone else?

Rodgers is on pace to set NFL records in yards, completion percentage and passer rating through seven games. His brilliance has helped compensate for some defensive miscues this season, which is a big reason the Packers sit at 7-0.

San Francisco 49ers: HC Jim Harbaugh

I know, I know; MVP stands for Most Valuable Player.

But outside of Frank Gore and Patrick Willis, no man in San Francisco has meant more to that team than head coach Jim Harbaugh. He's completely turned around a team that was stick in neutral for several years. At 6-1, Harbaugh's Niners could win 11 or 12 games in 2011.

Pittsburgh Steelers: QB Ben Roethlisberger

There was a brief second during the beginning of this season that it looked as if the Steelers were in full Super Bowl hangover mode.

Since starting 2-2, the Steelers have reeled off four straight wins—mostly due to the fantastic play of Roethlisberger. During that stretch, he has 11 touchdowns and just two interceptions. 

New England Patriots: WR Wes Welker

Tom Brady would seem like the easy choice for the Patriots, but consider how stagnant New England's offense was on Sunday when the Steelers completely shut down Welker.

In fact, we've seen it in back-to-back weeks. Welker has caught 12 passes for just 84 yards during the past two games, and the Patriots have scored just 37 total points. Coincidence? 

Detroit Lions: WR Calvin Johnson

Matthew Stafford has a case here, but Johnson has simply been a man among boys through the first eight weeks of the season. He's on pace for over 1,600 yards and 22 receiving scores.

Only once in 2011 has he been kept under 85 yards, and he still caught two scores in that contest. Without Johnson, the Lions are a very average offense. 

Baltimore Ravens: RB Ray Rice

I think you could have potentially went defense for the Ravens, but Rice is the engine that runs Baltimore. At almost 900 total yards in 2011, he's been the lone bright spot on an offense that has sputtered at times and cost Baltimore valuable games early in the season.

I'm sure Ravens fans would love if Joe Flacco were in this spot—but that's simply not the case in 2011. 

Buffalo Bills: RB Fred Jackson

There's a strong case to make for Jackson being the most important running back to his team in the league so far this season.

He has more than 1,000 yards from scrimmage in just seven games, and his 103 yards-per-game average ranks him second in the NFL. Overall, Jackson has just one game under 100 total yards in 2011 but four over 150, including the last three in a row. 

New York Giants: QB Eli Manning 

Just listen to these very un-Eli Manning like ranks so far: third in passer rating (102.1), seventh in touchdowns (13), fifth in completion percentage (64.7) and seventh in yards (2,127).

And don't forget that Manning has just five interceptions this season. He's the reason why the Giants currently sit atop the NFC East. 

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. Kansas City Chiefs (4-3)
5. Detroit Lions (6-2)	21. Dallas Cowboys (3-4)
6. Baltimore Ravens (5-2)	22. Washington Redskins (3-4)
7. Buffalo Bills (5-2)	23. Cleveland Browns (3-4)
8. New York Giants (5-2)	24. Minnesota Vikings (2-6)
9. New Orleans Saints (5-3)	25. Carolina Panthers (2-6)
10. Houston Texans (5-3)	26. Jacksonville Jaguars (2-6)
11. Cincinnati Bengals (5-2)	27. Seattle Seahawks (2-5)
12. Chicago Bears (4-3)	28. Denver Broncos (2-6)
13. San Diego Chargers (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