NFL power rankings 2012: Denver Broncos move up to No. 6

The Denver Broncos are on cruise control in the AFC West following their sixth straight win, a 17-9 victory on the road against the Kansas City Chiefs last weekend. Six is a lucky number for Denver, which moves up a spot to No. 6 in the latest SB Nation NFL power rankings.

Quarterback Peyton Manning threw two touchdown passes against Kansas City, something Manning had trouble doing against Chiefs head coach Romeo Crennel when Crennel was the defensive coordinator of the New England Patriots and Manning was with the Indianapolis Colts, as NFL Editor Joel Thorman points out:

Romeo Crennel is supposed to be Peyton Manning's kryptonite. Manning threw a touchdown against a Crennel defense for the first time in five years. In fact, he threw two of them.

The Broncos (8-3) look for their ninth win on Sunday against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Denver is also No. 6 in the power rankings from CBS Sports, and Pete Prisco writes that the team should be wary of a letdown against Tampa Bay:

It wasn't pretty at Kansas City, but letdowns are natural at times for good teams. Be careful against the Bucs this week.

ESPN.com likes Denver slightly less, slotting the Broncos at No. 7 in their weekly rankings.