NFL power rankings: Chiefs jump Broncos

The NFL power rankings are a beautiful thing these days for the Kansas City Chiefs and their fans. Kansas City has won eight straight games and is seen nationally as a top-ten team at worst, clearly indicating that this group could make a run at the Super Bowl.

Kansas City has one of the best defenses in the NFL and a solid offense. Even without Jamaal Charles on the field, the Chiefs have been able to run effectively with the duo of Charcandrick West and Spencer Ware. Coupled with the passing attack led by Alex Smith, Travis Kelce and Jeremy Maclin, and things are humming along.

Defensively, this might be the most talented team in the league. When you have a group that includes Justin Houston, Tamba Hali, Derrick Johnson, Jaye Howard, Allen Bailey, Dontari Poe, Sean Smith, Marcus Peters, Ron Parkers and Eric Berry, you are a terrifying defense.

Let’s see where the NFL power rankings have out Chiefs…

NFL.com – 7

"Wouldn’t it be something else if the Chiefs caught the Broncos in the AFC West? It’s possible. Since the two division rivals split their games this season, the next tiebreaker is divisional record. Kansas City is 4-1 in the West, a game better than Denver, with one more divisional contest to play (against the Raiders in Week 17). If Andy Reid’s guys win out, all they would need is for the Broncos to falter versus either the Bengals or the Chargers, and a postseason home game is theirs. If that were to happen, the most likely opponent would be … you guessed it: Denver."

Yahoo – 8

"If the Chiefs win the division title, winning 11 in a row after losing their first five, it would be one of the weirder NFL stories. And it’s quite possible. All they need to do is beat the Browns and Raiders at home and have the Broncos lose once. The ratings for next Monday’s Bengals-Broncos game will be enormous in Kansas City."

USA Today – 8

"Don’t count Kansas City out of the AFC West race yet. The defense scored as many TDs (2) as it allowed Sunday."