NFL Power Rankings Week 9: 3 Teams Trekking Toward League's Summit

The Green Bay Packers remain atop the NFL's summit along with the Pittsburgh Steelers, with the Baltimore Ravens not far behind and the San Francisco 49ers catching glimpses of the mountaintop.

But as of late, there's been a quiet surge coming from the following three teams that present interesting prospects heading into the heart of the season:

Houston Texans (5-3)

The Texans are a team that has figured out how to win without their two best players, and whenever WR Andre Johnson returns, Houston will be much more dangerous of a team.

Lest we forget, the Texans defeated Pittsburgh at home in Week 4 and they're 3-0 in the AFC South. Houston's bye isn't until Week 11, so if they're 7-3 at that time, the rest of the AFC needs to be very aware of their capabilities.

Expect Houston to finish around 11-5 or 12-4 depending on when Andre Johnson returns. A tough four-game stretch of at Tampa, at Jacksonville, home against Atlanta, and at Cincinnati will test their true will.

Buffalo Bills (5-2)

Buffalo is in an interesting position. They're currently tied atop the AFC East with the Patriots, but don't travel to New England until Week 17. Obviously that's a big game, but for now the Bills are in the driver's seat.

All Buffalo needs to do is solidify the divisional race before Week 17. Having a tiebreaker over New England is big right now, because ousting the Pats for the division without having to play them on the road will take a lot of pressure off Buffalo heading into the postseason.

Each week becomes more important the closer to the postseason we get, and we know the Pats are capable of stealing this division from Buffalo. But as long as the Bills can match their pace they'll keep rising to the top in a season that no one expected from them. If you want a Cinderella, it's the Buffalo Bills.

Detroit Lions (6-2)

The Motor City's chances lie in the outcome of their two divisional games against the Green Bay Packers.

Now to enhance the matter, the Lions and Packers don't meet until Thanksgiving Day and then again in Week 17. So with trekking toward the top in mind, there's really no better way to do it than beat the best team in the league twice.

Having those games against Green Bay late still keeps the Lions alive for the division title, and before their Week 17 matchup at Lambeau Field, Detroit should already have locked up a playoff spot.

Week 9 NFL Power Rankings (LW = Last Week's Rank)

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

Be sure to check out John on Bleacher Report. 

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