NFL Power Rankings Week 9: Which Teams Are Trending Up?

Each week of the long, arduous NFL regular season teaches us something new. Nine weeks into this season, we'd all like to think we know what to expect on a weekly basis, but quite frankly, that's just not the case.

Each team's year is filled with ebbs and flows, except for those those teams that are still winless—their seasons have them floating down excrement creek.

Other teams started out looking like they might tank their season but have since given their fanbases something to cheer about.

The Kansas City Chiefs are a team that has turned their season 180 degrees. After starting the year 0-3 and suffering injuries to several key positions, they have regrouped and won four straight games to move to the top of the AFC West.

When the Pittsburgh Steelers were trounced in Week 1, eked by the Manning-less Colts in Week 3 and were manhandled by the Texans, people began to question the age and speed of the defense. Four increasingly more dominant wins later and they sit atop the AFC as its Super Bowl favorite.

After losing four straight games, many people began to write off the Philadelphia Eagles as just paper champs. Last week, they looked flawless against a topsy-turvy Dallas Cowboys team, giving them a two-game win streak.

The Cincinnati Bengals came into the season starting a rookie quarterback and receiver at the same time. But with an elite defense and some great production out of both rookies, the team has dominated a mostly pathetic schedule.

Now, in the second half of the season, they will face some true tests.

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