NFL Power Rankings 2012: Broncos continue to climb

The Denver Broncos are seemingly the only team in the AFC West with stability, and at 5-3 have emerged as the clear-cut favorites to win the division. Following a 31-23 win over the Cincinnati Bengals, the Broncos have moved up to No. 8 in the weekly SB Nation NFL Power Rankings, up one spot from last week.

With Norv Turner still drawing the ire of San Diego Chargers fans, the Kansas City Chiefs unable to lead for a single second all season and the Oakland Raiders still Oakland Raider-ing up the league, NFL Editor Joel Thorman sees John Fox's team as the class of the division:

"8. Denver Broncos (LW: 9, 5-3): Chargers fans want to fire their coach. So do Chiefs fans. And the Raiders are the Raiders. Seems like the Broncos are on the right track."

Fox leads his Broncos against his old team this Sunday when Denver hits the road to play the Carolina Panthers.

NFL.com put the Broncos at No. 10 in their weekly Power Poll but CBS Sports' Pete Prisco also thinks the Broncos are the eighth-best team in the league to this point. The quarterback has a lot to do with that:

"They have the quarterback and the pass rushers, which is a formula for success. Peyton Manning is the same guy."