NFL Power Rankings Week 9: Rising Teams that Will Continue to Shine

There isn't a team in the NFL that wants to play the Philadelphia Eagles right now.

And why should they? After the Eagles shellacked the Cowboys 34-7 on Monday Night, the team known as the Dream Team looked like they had finally awoken from the slumber that caused them to lose four straight games earlier this year.

And consider this: In the past 2.5 games since the second half of their game against Buffalo, they've outscored their opponents 71-30.

The Bears are probably wishing they could have a second bye week right about now rather than travel to Philadelphia this week.

Meanwhile, the Texans responded to a two-game losing steak by winning their second straight, toppling the Jaguars this week. While tough games remain against the Bucs, Falcons and Bengals, the Texans have won these past two weeks without stud wideout Andre Johnson. All Arian Foster has done in that time is accumulate 358 total yards and four touchdowns.

And how about those Detroit Lions, who head into the bye at a comfortable 6-2? While the schedule is about to get rough—they play the Bears, Packers twice and the Chargers—the Lions likely only need to go 4-4 down the stretch to get into the playoffs.

While the surprising 5-2 Bengals probably can't continue their ascent (four upcoming games against the Steelers and Ravens will do that to a team), Ndamukong Suh and Calvin Johnson should make the Lions the comeback story of the year this season.

Here are my Week 9 Power Rankings:

1.	Green Bay Packers	7-0
2.	Pittsburgh Steelers	6-2
3.	San Francisco 49ers	6-1
4.	New England Patriots	5-2
5.	Detroit Lions	6-2
6.	Baltimore Ravens	5-2
7.	New York Giants	5-2
8.	Buffalo Bills	5-2
9.	New Orleans Saints	5-3
10.	Houston Texans	5-3
11.	Philadelphia Eagles	3-4
12.	Cincinnati Bengals	5-2
13.	Chicago Bears	4-3
14.	Atlanta Falcons	4-3
15.	Tampa Bay Buccaneers	4-3
16.	New York Jets	4-3
17.	San Diego Chargers	4-3
18.	Oakland Raiders	4-3
19.	Dallas Cowboys	3-4
20.	Tennessee Titans	4-3
21.	Kansas City Chiefs	4-3
22.	Cleveland Browns	3-4
23.	Carolina Panthers	2-6
24.	Washington Redskins	3-4
25.	Minnesota Vikings	2-6
26.	Jacksonville Jaguars	2-6
27.	Seattle Seahawks	2-5
28.	St. Louis Rams	1-6
29.	Arizona Cardinals	1-6
30.	Denver Broncos	2-5
31.	Miami Dolphins	0-7
32.	Indianapolis Colts	0-8