NFL power rankings, Week 11: Steelers rise, Eagles fall

5. team. 45. So how does this Denver Broncos team stack up with the club that walked away with a Lombardi Trophy just under a year ago? This is still a very tough team on defense and in certain respects perhaps better than the 2015 version. A season after coming up with 27 takeaways, Gary Kubiak’s club has forced 20 turnovers in 10 contests. However, you have to be concerned with the way opposing running backs and tight ends have taken advantage of this unit. Without free-agent departures Malik Jackson and Danny Trevathan, this defense has been exploited up the middle. Quarterback Trevor Siemian hasn’t set the world on fire but he has also done a decent job of taking care of the football. <p>Next Week: The defending Super Bowl champions suddenly find themselves hosting a prime time matchup. The team’s Week 12 meeting with the Kansas City Chiefs was flexed to Sunday Night Football. It’s the first of two clashes with Andy Reid’s club in the next six weeks. The teams split their season series in 2015, with each squad winning on the road.</p> <p>Playoff hopes: Denver remains squarely in the AFC West hunt with their 7-3 record. They are now tied with the Kansas City Chiefs while the 7-2 Raiders prepare for their Monday night clash with the Houston Texans. And the Broncos still have two games with the Chiefs and a home tilt with Oakland remaining on the schedule. They’re in a very favorable position.</p>. 7-3. Previous: . Denver Broncos