For example, the Carolina Panthers have won four straight and sit at 5-3, not to mention they're a sleeper playoff candidate. Yet the four teams the Panthers have beaten during the streak have a total of six wins combined.
Does that mean Carolina should be ranked in the top 10?
Like the NFL itself this season, rankings are difficult to figure out. We'll take our best shot below with Week 10 on the horizon. Enjoy.
One team that cannot be faulted for its record at this point in the season is the undefeated Kansas City Chiefs.
While a flirtation with the loss column against Buffalo in Week 9 was not pretty, the Chiefs still won. Wining nine straight in the NFL is no joke, and the team now has a much-deserved bye before a showdown with Denver.
2. Denver Broncos
Denver has the second-to-last ranked pass defense, but that means little with the No. 1 passing attack and an offense led by Peyton Manning that averages over 40 points per game.
Unfortunately a loss two weeks ago to Indianapolis means the Broncos continue to sit at No. 2 behind the Chiefs, which sounds awfully familiar.
3. New Orleans Saints
Despite a loss on the road to Rex Ryan's defense against the New York Jets, Drew Brees and the New Orleans Saints continue to have the look of a Super Bowl contender.
Perhaps most encouraging is the discovery of a passing defense in Louisiana, which ranks No. 5 in the NFL overall with just 211.9 yards allowed per game.
