NFL standings: KC Chiefs within reach in AFC West after Week 9

No matter how you want to dissect the standings in the NFL after Week 9, it all sounds weird and it all seems wonky.

The Kansas City Chiefs are presently tied for last place in the AFC West, and that’s no surprise at all in 2021 given that they’ve been in the divisional basement for most of the season. But what’s crazy is after such an upside-down week in the NFL, the Chiefs are also within a single game of first place. Yes, first and worst are that close together in the league’s closest division.

The Las Vegas Raiders fell to the New York Giants on Sunday in yet another unexpected outcome in Week 9. Elsewhere the Buffalo Bills lost to the Jacksonville Jaguars, the Denver Broncos somehow beat the Dallas Cowboys, and even the Atlanta Falcons beat the New Orleans Saints in the NFC. In short, there were a lot of games that altered the standings in ways no one would have believed before the week began.

The Chiefs are within a single game of first place in the AFC West after beating the Packers in Week 9.

Given that the Chiefs were able to tame the Green Bay Packers at home on Sunday, this gave them a one-game leap in the standings as they also kept pace with the Broncos. (By the way, how did the Broncos so thoroughly dominate the Cowboys even after trading Von Miller to make them seem like sellers at the deadline?) The Chargers barely escaped a home game against the Minnesota Vikings with an overtime win or else this division would be even crazier.

If you need a nice overhead view of the AFC right now, we understand.

Here’s an official look at the AFC WEST standings after Week 9.

1. Las Vegas Raiders – 5-3
2. L.A. Chargers – 5-3
3. Kansas City Chiefs – 5-4
4. Denver Broncos – 5-4

As for the rest of the AFC, here are the standings in the conference’s other divisions:

AFC EAST

1. Buffalo Bills – 5-3
2. New England Patriots – 5-4
3. New York Jets – 2-6
4. Miami Dolphins – 2-7

AFC NORTH

1. Baltimore Ravens – 6-2
2. Pittsburgh Steelers – 4-3
3. Cleveland Browns – 5-4
4. Cincinnati Bengals – 5-4

AFC SOUTH

1. Tennessee Titans – 6-2
2. Indianapolis Colts – 4-5
3. Jacksonville Jaguars – 2-6
4. Houston Texans – 1-8