NFL Power Rankings Week 9: Biggest Surprises of the Season

Last season, it was the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Kansas City Chiefs who surprised NFL nation, soaring to relevance after dismal seasons in 2009.

Now, we have a whole new crop of contenders, with the Buccaneers and Chiefs trying to catch up.

This is what makes the NFL so great, where teams can rise so quickly and challenge the powers that be.

Here are the biggest surprises of the season through Week 8.

3. Buffalo Bills (5-2)

Remember when the Bills were 4-12, all the way back in 2010?

Well, that poor team is nothing but a mirage now, as the Bills have soared back behind quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick and running back Fred Jackson.

Not only that, the once-troublesome defense is making major strides, shutting out the Washington Redskins in Week 8, 23-0.

In that game, the Bills also found their pass rush, registering a whopping nine sacks after recording just four sacks up until that point.

No. 3 overall pick Marcell Dareus had a breakout game, racking up 2.5 sacks.

Beware of the rising Bills.

2. Cincinnati Bengals (5-2)

The Bengals are ranked lower on my Power Rankings than the Bills, but in terms of a bigger surprise, I have to give it to Cincy.

While the Bills were ranked low to start the season, most people had the Bengals as the worst team in the league.

But what the Bengals have done, with a rookie quarterback and rookie No. 1 receiver, has been astonishing.

The Bengals are winning in much the same style as the San Francisco 49ers, with their defense. Through seven games, the Bengals are giving up just 17.6 points per game. They actually defeated the Bills in Week 4, 23-20.

When this offense develops, the Bengals could be scary good.

1. San Francisco 49ers (6-1)

Speaking of the 49ers...

The 49ers have defied all logic this season. They have a rookie head coach in Jim Harbaugh, a troubled quarterback in Alex Smith and were 6-10 last season in the weak NFC West.

But the 49ers have not only proven to be the best team in the NFC West, they are proving to be one of the best teams in the NFL.

The 49ers are giving up just 15.3 points per game this season, aided by an improved pass rush (hello, Aldon Smith) and a better secondary (hello, Carlos Rogers).

Smith, the rookie out of Missouri, was considered a gamble at No. 7 in this year's NFL draft. All he's done is collected 6.5 sacks and is on pace to break Jevon Kearse's NFL rookie record of 14.5 sacks.

On top of that, the 49ers are sixth in the NFL in rushing yards, with star Frank Gore leading the way (four straight 100-yard games).

Harbaugh has already proven himself as a threat in the NFL, and he has the entire team playing its guts out for him.

One of the great comeback stories of the year.

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