NFL power rankings: Denver Broncos moving on up

The Denver Broncos have the AFC West wrapped up for a second straight season and are still playing for a first-round bye. And after winning their seventh straight game on Sunday, the Denver Broncos find themselves at No. 4 in the latest SB Nation NFL power rankings, their highest ranking of the season.

SB Nation NFL editor Joel Thorman thinks a certain quarterback signing has worked out well for Denver:

4. Denver Broncos (LW: 6, 9-3): The Broncos are AFC West champs for the second straight year. The AFC West isn't even competitive this year. Peyton Manning was worth every penny this year.

Elsewhere across the Web, the Broncos are being listed among the best teams in the NFL. CBS Sports also lists the Broncos at No. 4 while ESPN.com has them as the No. 5 team in the league. CBS' Pete Prisco writes the rest of the schedule lends itself to continued success:

With a soft schedule and the division title already theirs, they have to focus on a first-round bye.

The Broncos (9-3) look for their eighth straight win this weekend when they travel to play the Oakland Raiders on Sunday.