NFL Power Rankings: 3 Division Leaders Pulling Away from the Pack

It's that time of year when teams begin pulling away from their division foes and showing they are the favorites.

It's been nine weeks, and every division in the NFL is mathematically up for grabs.

However, if you asked the San Francisco 49ers, they'll tell you there's no way they're going to lose the weak NFC West.

Here are three division leaders pulling away from the pack (ranked on likelihood they'll win their respective divisions).

3. New York Giants (6-2)

The Giants had a tumultuous offseason, but they are looking like the most stable of the NFC East teams right about now.

With a 6-2 record, they are two games ahead of the Dallas Cowboys and three games ahead of the Philadelphia Eagles, who appear to have a broken wing right now.

But there's still hope for the Cowboys and Eagles. They have the talent to make a race out of this. It's just a matter of if they can execute.

"Execute." That word is harder for some teams to pronounce than others.

2. Houston Texans (6-3)

Leading up to Week 7, the AFC South favorite was basically undefined.

But when the Texans destroyed the Tennessee Titans, things began to take a turn for the worse for the Titans.

While the Texans have gone on to win their next two games (albeit against bad teams), the 4-4 Titans have gone 1-1, beating the laughable Indianapolis Colts and losing to the upstart Cincinnati Bengals.

The problems of running back Chris Johnson are for real. He's certainly not living up to his massive contract.

1. San Francisco 49ers (7-1)

Let's just say this: If the 49ers don't win the NFC West this season, there will surely be riots in San Francisco.

The 49ers are 7-1. They've beaten the Bengals, Eagles, Buccaneers and Lions. And they currently have a five-game lead over the Seattle Seahawks and Arizona Cardinals.

The 49ers still have to face the Giants, Ravens and Steelers, but the rest of their games are against the NFC West.

Like I said, if the 49ers don't win the NFC West, there will be riots.