NFL Power Rankings: Debating Whether the AFC of NFC Reigns Supreme

Right now the NFC has proven itself to be far and away the better conference in the NFL. We are almost through nine weeks of action in the 2011 season and the conference has four of the top five teams in my Week 10 power rankings. Barring some unseen catastrophe, things will remain like that for the near future as well.

The Green Bay Packers are the undisputed best team in the NFL right now. Thanks to quarterback Aaron Rodgers and a virtually unstoppable offense, the Packers are the league's only undefeated team and own several big wins. 

Behind the Packers are the 7-1 San Francisco 49ers. Jim Harbaugh's team slipped under everyone's radar before the season started, but somehow San Francisco has a 7-1 record and one of the league's best defenses. As long as the 49ers keep stopping the run at such a fantastic rate (allowing just 70.8 yards per game) and keeping opponents out of the end zone (allowing a league-low 14.8 points per game) they will stay near the top of my rankings.

The New York Giants check in at No. 4 on my list after an impressive 24-20 road win over the New England Patriots. Quarterback Eli Manning stepped up and out-dueled Tom Brady in what is certainly the Giants' biggest win to date.

At 6-2 the G-Men now have a stranglehold on first place in the NFC East and could spend the second half of the season battling for a bye in the first round of the playoffs.

Most experts expected the Detroit Lions to be good this season, but I don't think anyone thought they'd be a top-five team in the league. But that's what the Lions have become, as they possess a fierce defensive front and an explosive offense led by Matthew Stafford and Calvin Johnson. 

After close losses to the 49ers and Atlanta Falcons in Week 6 and Week 7, the Lions bounced back in Week 8 against the Denver Broncos, dishing out a 45-10 beating. After a bye in Week 9, the Lions will travel to face the Chicago Bears in Week 10 and I don't expect them to lose.

Detroit has become a force to be reckoned with and is just another reason why the NFC has more strength top to bottom than the AFC.

NFL Power Rankings, Week 10

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