Denver Broncos power rankings around the web for Week 9

Denver Broncos power rankings around the web for Week 9
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The Denver Broncos rolled to their fifth straight win on Sunday in a 44-24 dismantlement of the Dallas Cowboys. During their streak, the Broncos have won in every way imaginable. From this blowout, to a defensive slugfest, to multiple fourth quarter comeback wins, this team is learning how to win games in just about every scenario. However, that will make many national prognosticators unsure of whether or not they should believe in this team.

At 6-2, the record will force their hand a bit. Denver will need to start producing more regular wins to turn the national sentiment in a direction that teams like the Kansas City Chiefs and Buffalo Bills enjoy. That won’t come until the Broncos actually start beating teams like the Chiefs and Bills. Hopefully we start seeing that soon.

Here is where the Broncos rank heading into Week 9:

NFL.com: 10th

Even if it came against Dallas’ porous defense, that was exactly the kind of game Denver needed offensively. Bo Nix overcame his early pick to have a terrific day, and the run game really flourished. RJ Harvey hadn’t gotten many touches lately, so it was a pleasant surprise to see the rookie log his first two NFL rushing touchdowns in a three-TD performance. The Broncos will encounter much tougher defenses before the Week 12 bye (this Sunday at Houston and Week 11 vs. Kansas City), but this 44-point outing bodes well for Sean Payton’s attack. The news wasn’t all good, with star CB Patrick Surtain II leaving with a left shoulder injury. Denver’s defense did a number on the Cowboys most of the game, but Surtain missing significant time would be a problem.

Yahoo Sports: 7th

Trusting Sean Payton to fix an offense is a good plan. Maybe Sunday was just a product of facing a bad Cowboys defense, but if the Broncos can play anywhere near that level the rest of the season, a Chiefs AFC West title is far from a given.

CBS Sports: 6th

Bo Nix lit up the Cowboys on Sunday in a game where he looked like the Bo Nix of last year. The pass rush is fierce as they’ve won five straight.

ESPN: 9th

After getting four touchdowns from rookies on Sunday, the long-term answer here could be different. But right now, fifth-year ball carrier Dobbins is third in the league at 79.3 rushing yards per game and second only to the Colts’ Jonathan Taylor in runs of at least 10 yards. Dobbins is the first Broncos running back with two 100-yard rushing games in a season since Melvin Gordon had three in 2021. And with his reliability as a pass protector and a receiver, Dobbins has checked every possible box.

Pro Football Talk: 5th

They’ve now won eight in a row against the Cowboys, and nine in a row at home.

USA Today: 7th

Awesome as this pass rush has been, now up to a league-leading...