NFL Power Rankings: Which Teams Are Clear AFC Heavyweights?

The Pittsburgh Steelers started off this season looking so bad that most people around the league wrote them off as a title contender. Fast forward a few weeks later, and Pittsburgh has moved to the top of the AFC after a solid 25-17 beating of the New England Patriots.

Considering that the Steelers opened the season getting spanked 35-7 by the Baltimore Ravens, they are in a completely different place now. I've got them at the top of the AFC and at No. 2 overall in my power rankings. 

Pittsburgh struggled to run the ball and looked awful defensively while stumbling to a 2-2 start. Since then the Steelers have reeled off four straight wins and have a chance to avenge their Week 1 loss to the Ravens in Week 9. 

Pittsburgh has turned things around on both sides of the ball, and that has been the key to the team's resurgence. The Steelers currently rank ninth in the NFL in total offense, averaging 388.8 yards per game, while they are second in the league in total defense, surrendering just 270.8 yards per game.

Other than the Green Bay Packers, no one in the league is playing as well as the Steelers.

Despite losing to the Steelers on Sunday, it would be foolish to count the New England Patriots out. Tom Brady's team is still extremely dangerous, and though New England has some serious issues defensively, they can be worked out.

The Patriots currently have the league's third-best offense, averaging 437.1 yards per game, but they do rank last in the NFL in total defense, surrendering an embarrassing 424.1 yards per game.

While the defense is clearly struggling to get things together, New England is still dangerous. The Patriots are the second-best team in the AFC right now, and they have a great shot at reaching the Super Bowl. Besides, betting against Brady and Bill Belichick figuring things out would be idiotic. 

NFL Power Rankings, Week 9

1. Green Bay Packers (7-0)
2. Pittsburgh Steelers (6-2)
3. San Francisco 49ers (6-1)
4. New England Patriots (5-2)
5. Detroit Lions (6-2)
6. Buffalo Bills (5-2)
7. New Orleans Saints (5-3)
8. Baltimore Ravens (5-2)
9. * San Diego Chargers (4-2)
10. Houston Texans (5-3)
11. New York Giants (5-2)
12. New York Jets (4-3)
13. Cincinnati Bengals (5-2)
14. Atlanta Falcons (4-3)
15. Oakland Raiders (4-3)
16. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-3)
17. Chicago Bears (4-3)
18. Philadelphia Eagles (3-4)
19. Tennessee Titans (4-3)
20. Dallas Cowboys (3-4)
21. Cleveland Browns (3-4)
22. * Kansas City Chiefs (3-3)
23. Washington Redskins (3-4)
24. Seattle Seahawks (2-5)
25. Minnesota Vikings (2-6)
26. Carolina Panthers (2-6)
27. Denver Broncos (2-5)
28. Jacksonville Jaguars (2-6)
29. Arizona Cardinals (1-6)
30. St. Louis Rams (1-6)
31. Indianapolis Colts (0-8)
32. Miami Dolphins (0-7)

* To be played Monday night