A panel of ESPN writers and bloggers collectively produced their first set of power rankings for the 2009 season. The Kansas City Chiefs averaged out at the 29th spot. Here's how the 12 ESPN writers and bloggers ranked the Chiefs.
| 31 | 29 | 26 | 29 | 31 | 30 | 29 | 25 | 31 | 26 | 29 | 28 |
The highest ranking (25th) came from John Clayton. ESPN's AFC West blogger, Bill Williamson, ranked the Chiefs 29th.
Coming off a 2-14 season, I'd say the ESPN panel ranked the Chiefs appropriately ranging from 25th to 31st. Of course, I would say they're closer to the 25th best team than the 31st.
Here's how the entire AFC West shook out:
| Team | Rank | High | Low |
| San Diego Chargers | 7 | 5 | 11 |
| Denver Broncos | 25 | 18 | 28 |
| Kansas City Chiefs | 29 | 25 | 31 |
| Oakland Raiders | 30 | 27 | 32 |
Click here for the entire list. Click here for Bill Williamson's AFC West blog.