0 of 32

Mike McCarn/Associated Press

For the first time in NFL history, three teams are 8-0. Beyond them, however, there's still a muddled mess after Week 9.

The still-perfect Carolina Panthers lead the NFC. But then there are four six-win teams currently occupying playoff spots, and they're all headed in different directions. On one end there's the Minnesota Vikings—a rising team that's won four straight. On the other? The Green Bay Packers after losing two straight.

The unbeaten Cincinnati Bengals and New England Patriots lead the AFC, with the 7-1 Denver Broncos not far behind. Then five teams with either four or five losses follow.

Eventually there will be separation, and contending teams will rise. But for now we're left with a common theme throughout the NFL in recent years: parity.

Let's turn to the weekly power rankings, then, and try to make sense of all that and more.

These rankings aren't the standings, and instead what follows is an analysis of how each team stacks up based on performance, regardless of what its record says. It's subjective, sure, but agreeing on everything (or anything) isn't fun, right?

And remember, I probably hate your favorite team.