NFL Power Rankings: Identifying the League's Cream of the Crop

The Green Bay Packers did it again on Sunday afternoon, pulling out a 45-38 win over the San Diego Chargers to improve to 8-0.

Midway through the 2011 NFL season, Green Bay is clearly the best team in the NFL, and the Packers look to be getting even better. At this point it, wouldn't be a shock if they waltzed through their remaining schedule undefeated.

Green Bay has had its struggles stopping opposing pass offenses, but as a team the Packers have just been too good for everyone on their schedule.

It all starts at the top for Green Bay, and that means quarterback Aaron Rodgers. The seventh-year pro out of Cal has had a remarkable season thus far. After eight games, Rodgers has completed 192 of 265 passes (72.5 percent) for 2,619 yards, with 24 touchdowns and just three interceptions.

His ridiculous NFL-best quarterback rating of 129.1, is 28.5 points higher than second place (Drew Brees, 100.6).

With Rodgers playing so well, the Packers will be virtually impossible to beat. Until an opponent figures out a way to slow him down or stop Green Bay's offense, the Pack will continue to roll off wins.

Somehow, the San Francisco 49ers slipped under everyone's radar. New head coach Jim Harbaugh has his team playing at a very high level, and at 7-1 they come in at No. 2 in my power rankings.

They key to the 49ers' success has been a stout defense that has refused to allow rushing yards this season. San Francisco has the NFL's top run defense, allowing just 70.8 yards per game, which is a whopping 13.7 yards better than second place (Cincinnati Bengals, 84.5). 

Stopping the run is the key to prolonged defensive success in the NFL, and the 49ers have done that better than anyone so far this season. As it stands right now, they are the team to beat in the NFC West and could be set up for a deep playoff run.

NFL Power Rankings, Week 10

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