NFL Power Rankings Week 9: 6 Teams on the Rise

It is not how you start it is how you finish. 

That's how the adage goes, right?

It most certainly applies to the NFL, and although we're only at the halfway point of the season, these five teams have either bounced back after rough starts or have continued to build off early season success. 

They're teams on the rise...

Cincinnati Bengals

So, the Bengals "lucked out" against the Browns in Week 1, and were beaten by the Broncos and 49ers in Weeks 2 and 3—just another abysmal year for the fans in Cincinnati. 

Not so fast. 

Since then, Andy Dalton and one of the league's most stout defensive units have rattled off four consecutive wins and are definitely in the AFC North hunt, although they're still being overshadowed by the Steelers and Ravens. 

Dalton has limited his mistakes during this four-game run and has made the occasional big play, usually by finding fellow rookie A.J. Green. 

With a good running game led by Cedric Benson (who returns from suspension this week against the Titans), efficient quarterback play and a rock-solid defense, there's no telling how much this team could accomplish. 

San Francisco 49ers 

Run and stop the run. Second cliche of the article. So be it. That's what San Francisco does. Frank Gore has returned to Pro Bowl status after an injury curtailed his 2010 season.

Jim Harbaugh's getting the most out of Alex Smith (nine touchdowns, two interceptions) and San Francisco is home to the league's best run defense.

It's really that simple.  

Buffalo Bills

After the bye week and their 23-0 drubbing of the Redskins, in what for the most part was a rather boring game that got out of hand early, there's not nearly as much chatter surrounding the Buffalo Bills as their was after their 3-0 start. 

They're 5-2, Fred Jackson is slowly morphing into Thurman Thomas and Ryan Fitzpatrick has become one of the most efficient yet explosive quarterbacks in football. 

A Sunday matchup with Rex Ryan and the Jets looms large.

Houston Texans

I still want to see Matt Schaub win that big game, that has eluded him his entire career. But, I've got to hand it to the Texans, they've performed admirably since the loss of the Andre Johnson and Mario Williams. 

When Johnson returns, they'll have one of the most balanced offenses in the AFC and their defense, even without Williams, is very underrated. 

Realistically, they should run away with the AFC South. 

Philadelphia Eagles

I know they've only won two straight and one of those games came against a team we certainly overrated in the Washington Redskins. 

But, isn't the rest of the league getting a little bit scared now?

They aren't turning the ball over any more and you think you need to defend Michael Vick and the deep ball?

Well, you do, but you can't forget about LeSean McCoy. 

Philadelphia has the No. 1 ranked running game in the NFL. They average a stunning 180 yards per game. 

Watch out. 

Kansas City Chiefs

Winning four straight after starting the year 0-3 is the definition of a team on the rise, without question. They haven't done it in extremely impressive fashion over the last month, but going from the favorites of the Andrew Luck sweepstakes to division winners that quickly tells me something about this team's resiliency. 

Maybe it's head coach Todd Haley's lucky hat.

I'd say Brandon Flowers, Tamba Hali and Dwayne Bowe have done their fair share in this turnaround, as well. 

If Jon Baldwin emerges as a legitimate deep threat that can catch jump balls down the field, this team has a legitimate chance to win the AFC West. 

Week 9 Power Rankings

1. Green Bay Packers (7-0)	17. San Diego Chargers (4-3)
2. San Francisco 49ers (6-1)	18. Oakland Raiders (4-3)
3. Pittsburgh Steelers (6-2)	19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-3)
4. New England Patriots (5-2)	20. Dallas Cowboys (3-4)
5. New Orleans Saints (5-3)	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. Atlanta Falcons (4-3)	28. Denver Broncos (2-5)
13. Philadelphia Eagles (3-4)	29. Seattle Seahawks (2-5)
14. New York Jets (4-3)	30. Arizona Cardinals (1-6)
15. Chicago Bears (4-3)	31. Miami Dolphins (0-7)
16. Kansas City Chiefs (4-3)	32. Indianapolis Colts (0-8)