NFL Power Rankings Week 10: Identifying the League's Most Impressive Teams

The Green Bay Packers and San Francisco 49ers have separated themselves from the pack in my NFL power rankings, but for completely different reasons. The Packers boast what is undeniably the league's top offense, while the 49ers may have its best defense. 

I've got the 8-0 Packers on top of the league right now for obvious reasons. Green Bay is currently fourth in the NFL in total yards on offense, averaging 416.4 yards per game, but that's just one indication of how good Mike McCarthy's team has been. The Packers are averaging an astonishing 34.4 points per game, which leads the NFL.

And they are led by the clear MVP favorite, quarterback Aaron Rodgers.

Rodgers has been nothing short of incredible this season. Through eight games the 27-year-old has completed 192 of 265 passes (72.5 percent) for 2,619 yards, with 24 touchdowns and three interceptions. His 129.1 quarterback rating is by far the best in the NFL. In fact, he's 28.5 points higher than second place (Drew Brees 100.6). 

Rodgers has been so incredibly good that even when Green Bay's defense fails to stop the opposition, you have complete faith that he will just drive the Pack right back down for another score. It's really remarkable and until someone proves they can slow him down, Green Bay will remain the team to beat.

All coach Jim Harbaugh and his 49ers have done this season is figure out a way to allow just 70.8 yards per game rushing, which is by far the best performance against the run in the NFL so far. In addition to that, while racing to a 7-1 start and all but clinching the NFC West at the season's halfway point, San Francisco has also allowed a measly 14.8 points per game, also the best in the NFL.

While the team's offense hasn't been spectacular, it hasn't had to be. Harbaugh's squad displays a toughness and grit that usually takes a coach years to instill, and he deserves all the credit for the team's success so far. 

In Week 2, the 49ers led the Dallas Cowboys 24-14 with just under seven minutes to go and ended up losing that game 27-24 in overtime. If not for that, San Francisco would be undefeated and tied atop the NFL with Rodgers and the Packers.

So far, those two teams are easily the best in the NFL.

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)