NFL Power Rankings: Broncos-Chiefs Matchup Will Answer A Lot of Questions

November 10, 2013; San Francisco, CA, USA; Carolina Panthers middle linebacker

(59) celebrates with his teammates after an interception by cornerback

(29, not pictured) during the fourth quarter against the San Francisco 49ers at Candlestick Park. The Panthers defeated the 49ers 10-9. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

SUPER BOWL CONTENDERS

5. Carolina Panthers

Record: 6-3

There is an advanced statistical argument to be made that Carolina has a better defense than Kansas City’s based on efficiency. Football Outsider rated Carolina as one of only two teams as having a top 10 offense and defense in their efficiency rankings heading into week ten. Through nine weeks Carolina was credited as being a top five defense agains the run and the pass. Only Seattle and Arizona had a total defensive rating higher than Carolina.

The numbers are backed up by performance on the field. Carolina sacked Colin Kaepernick six times and prevented him from scrambling for the entire game in Sunday’s win at San Francisco, which was completely won by the defense. And it wasn’t like San Francisco came into that game struggling as they’d scored 31 points or more in their previous five games. In fact, Football Outsiders had San Francisco with a top 10 rushing and passing attack.

Carolina simply crushed them.

Is Cam Newton ready to carry the psychological burden of leading a team to a Super Bowl? This is really the only thing that is separating them from being a sure-fire NFC champion pick at this stage of the season.

4. New Orleans Saints

Record: 7-2

Drew Brees is good. I’ve got nothing more to add.

What is not so good is the running game, which Football Outsiders has ranked as 29th heading into last week. This isn’t a problem now, but a power running game is going to be crucial for New Orleans when they are forced to play outdoor playoff games.

New Orleans is able to get downfield and make blocks on the second level without too much issue, but they are struggling to get the yardage they need in power situations. Run blocking seems to be suitable enough, but the running backs are struggling to execute. Pierre Thomas is averaging only 3.8 yards per carry (to Mark Ingram‘s 5.6) and has as many rushing touchdowns as Brees (1).

3. Denver Broncos

Record: 8-1

Peyton Manning is hurting. And what lies ahead of him the next three weeks are two games against the Chiefs (1st in sacks) and New England (8th in sacks). The next three weeks will almost literally be the most pressure Manning has felt all season, and he will be facing it with a bad ankle.

It is going to be interesting to see how Denver chooses to deal with this. They have three excellent receivers who can all beat man-to-man coverage, so do they keep Julius Thomas in to add protection for Manning? Thomas has been a huge part of Denver’s passing offense, so sacrificing him would come at a large cost to their passing game production. But it may be their best bet when it comes to keeping Manning upright and the offense moving.

One thing is for certain: Kansas City and New England will be coming at full force. We’re about to find out if Denver is everything everyone (and myself) have said they are.

2. Seattle Seahawks

Record: 9-1

Seattle is now two games clear in the NFC West of San Francisco, which is huge because that means they can be no worse than tied for first place in the division heading into the final three weeks of the season. (Assuming they beat Minnesota this weekend.) In those games they will be returning Percy Harvin, who was activated by Seattle on Tuesday.

With a healthy Harvin, figuring out how to beat Seattle is incredibly difficult, especially in Seattle. Their only loss was on the road against Indianapolis by six points, in a game where the Colts needed a blocked field goal returned for a touchdown to win. How many times do you anticipate blocking a field goal and returning it for a touchdown? That isn’t something you can replicate often.

This isn’t to say Seattle isn’t flawed, but finding those flaws and exploiting them is something no one else has really been able to do. If anything their most consistent flaw appears to be getting up for games against terrible teams. That’s not something that will exist in the playoffs.

Seattle has to be considered the favorite to win the Super Bowl through ten weeks of the season.