Week 13 of the 2011 NFL season is complete and the AFC West has gotten incredibly tight. ESPN's Week 14 NFL Power Rankings reflect this to some extent, although they seem to reflect a more and more common belief that Denver's huge run could be further sustainable as the season wears on. While the top and bottom of their power rankings remain largely untouched, losses in the middle have created all sorts of movement.
The Oakland Raiders were pounded by the Miami Dolphins on Sunday and now find themselves tied for first with the Denver Broncos. It does not get any easier for the Raiders as they travel to Green Bay to face the undefeated Packers. With the Broncos hosting a weakened Chicago Bears team, Denver very well could find themselves in first place by the end of the weekend.
Amidst all this, the Chargers and Chiefs continue to hang around. With their wins in Week 13, both teams are now only two games back. There are only four games left in the regular season, but I do not think anybody would put anything past anybody in this division the rest of the way.
Here are the top ten according to ESPN's Week 14 NFL Power Rankings:
1. Green Bay Packers
2. Baltimore Ravens
3. San Francisco 49ers
4. New Orleans Saints
5. Pittsburgh Steelers
6. New England Patriots
7. Houston Texans
8. Atlanta Falcons
9. Dallas Cowboys
10. Denver Broncos