NFL Power Rankings: Identifying the Current Playoff Picture

Identifying the playoff picture from here on out is going to be fun, extremely intriguing, mostly confusing and will be changing every week until the final game ends in Week 17. 

With all the unexpectedness we've seen this season, you can count on that.

We've gotten a chance to see what many of the top teams are really made of through the first half of the season and here's how the playoff picture shakes out today:

AFC 

1. Pittsburgh Steelers (6-2)

2. Buffalo Bills (5-2)

3. San Diego (4-3)*

4. Houston (5-3) 

5. Cincinnati (5-2)

6. New England (5-2)

*MNF participant.

The Steelers look like the most balanced team in the conference. They aren't just a run-first team that beats you with defense and the creation of turnovers. Ben Roethlisberger has formulated a nice rapport with all of his speedy wide receivers and they're running more four- and five-receiver sets than in the past.

They'll test your secondary all game, and even without James Harrison, this defense is one of the most fearsome and experienced units in the league. As long as Troy Polamalu's out there, they've got a chance (how intelligent was his play to punch the ball into the end zone against New England?).

With the Bills, they get it done with Fred Jackson, some more Fred Jackson and some Ryan Fitzpatrick. Actually, the new $59 million man has a Total QBR of 72.2 which places him fifth in the NFL, behind only Aaron Rodgers, Tom Brady, Drew Brees and Matthew Hasselbeck. 

The defense needs improvement, but they got the start they wanted after the bye this week against the Redskins. They allowed a mere 28 yards on the ground and sacked John Beck nine times. 

They won't face offenses as anemic as the Redskins every week, but a step in the right direction for the one of the true dark horses in the AFC. 

San Diego has a tough road test against the Chiefs tonight. Playing inside Arrowhead Stadium at night is never easy. Look at what happened last year the game between these two teams in KC.

The offense is playing more efficient and although they've been without All-Pro RB Jamaal Charles, they're still the eighth ranked rushing attack in the league, averaging nearly 130 yards a game. The Chargers need better play from Philip Rivers (seven touchdowns, nine interceptions) and more consistency from their secondary to stay in this No. 3 spot. 

Houston looks to be the class of the AFC South, and have done an admirable job without Andre Johnson. When he returns, which will most likely be next week against the Browns, this offense again becomes one of the best units in football.

Mario Williams is done for the year, but they have managed without him. They have the sixth ranked run defense in the league and have 20 sacks this season. 

The Bengals are quietly in the No. 5 spot as Andy Dalton is making his case for Rookie of the Year. Sure, Cam Newton has better stats and is more exciting to watch, but I'll take his 5-2 record. A.J. Green isn't bad, either.

The most important part of Cincinnati's team that could lead them to the playoffs is their ferocious defense. They limit your passing game with Leon Hall and Co. while the defensive front shuts down your run game. 

New England's been hard for me to figure out. Tom Brady has rarely disappointed, but where's the defense? If No. 12 doesn't piece together a masterpiece, the Patriots can certainly be beaten and we've seen a few defensive coordinators confuse the reigning MVP on more than one occasion.

Still, you can never count out New England. Ever. 

NFC 

1. Green Bay Packers (7-0)

2. San Francisco 49ers (6-1)

3. New York Giants (5-2)

4. New Orleans Saints (5-3)

5. Detroit Lions Lions (6-2)

6. Chicago Bears (4-3)

The NFC playoff picture has a bit more clarity than the AFC. 

Barring a dramatic collapse, the 49ers should win the NFC West and the Packers look to be the best team in the NFC North. 

They get it done in a completely different way, but San Francisco's run-first offense, is certainly as capable as Green Bay's pass-heavy attack. 

The 49ers defense is what has mainly carried them to their surprising record and should continue to be their life force as the season progresses. 

There isn't much to say about the Packers, besides the fact that Aaron Rodgers is the man and is totally in the zone. 

OK, their defense needs some work, but I still don't see how a team can outscore them. 

With all the NFC East talk on the resurgent Eagles and the disappointing Cowboys, the Giants are quietly two games up in the division. Sure, they frightened fans (had to on the eve of Halloween, right?) in their win over the Dolphins, but at 5-2, with Eli Manning playing superb football, they look to be a playoff team. 

The Saints are the NFC's version of the Patriots, to me. They are have incredible talent and an elite quarterback, but their defense is very sub-par. If New Orleans doesn't get a perfect game out of Brees, they can lose to anyone, as was evident against the winless Rams.

I think the Lions will be OK, after they bounced back from two straight losses with a blowout victory in Denver. The aren't as good as we initially though, but they have big-time playmakers on offense and a defensive line that's good enough to disrupt just about any team's offensive game plan.

I'm not totally sold on the Bears, despite Jay Cutler's improved play. Then again, if they give Matt Forte near 30 touches a game, they'll be in good shape. The guy is a legitimate MVP candidate, leading the NFL in total yards from scrimmage (1,091). The defense isn't as great as it's been in the past, but has enough experienced leaders to stiffen up during the critical games in November and December.

Week 9 Power Rankings

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

*Monday Night Football matchup.