Ralph Vacchiano is an NFL Reporter for FOX Sports. He spent six years covering the Giants and Jets for SNY TV in New York, and before that, 16 years covering the Giants and the NFL for the New York Daily News. Follow him on Twitter at @RalphVacchiano.

Week 9 NFL power rankings change with Texans, Ravens, Dolphins, Jets wins, Titans, Saints, Browns, Giants, Bengals, Cowboys, Vikings, Falcons losses.

Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs looked to jump to 5-3 on the 2025 NFL season in Week 8, hosting Marcus Mariota and the Washington Commanders at Arrowhead Stadium on "Monday Night Football." The Chiefs were coming off an impressive 31-0 shutout win over AFC West rival Las Vegas Raiders in Week 7.

Drake Maye is playing so well that he has some analysts believing his Patriots could finally push the Bills off their AFC East perch.

Following the conclusion of Sunday's Week 7 games, the Pittsburgh Steelers rank near the very top of the AFC standings.

The Jaguars may have to come to terms with their worst AFC South fear based on the results of Week 8. While the Jaguars have a bye week, the Colts are taking on the Titans in what should be a blowout victory. And if the expected happens, the Jaguars will be 2.5 games out of first-place in the AFC South before they play another down.

In the 2000s, the AFC re-emerged with Tom Brady's Patriots, Peyton Manning's Colts, Ben Roethlisberger's Steelers and others leading the way. Still, since 2000, interconference play has been basically even. It just feels like the NFC is so much stronger because it is so far this year and was last year, too.

The Los Angeles Chargers improved to 5-3 with their win over the Minnesota Vikings on Thursday Night Football, and they're sitting just behind the Denver Broncos, who are 5-2. Meanwhile, the Kansas City Chiefs are still very much in the mix at 4-3.