AFC Team Rankings
UPDATE: If the Steelers lose LeVeon Bell for four games, they drop below the Cincinnati Bengals, Kansas City Chiefs, and New England Patriots.
After recently doing all of my NFC team rankings and team-by-team previews of the NFL, I've determined that until you have done every team and know where they stand, it's really hard to judge how they compare against the rest of the league. The first division I did was the NFC North, and although it is seemed at the time to be a really good division, I had no idea how the NFC South or NFC West looked compared to them. So, now that it's all done, I am here to compare the AFC versus each other, based on who I think will win more games, not playoff seeding.
16) CLEVELAND Browns: C’mon man, you know this is the worst team in the AFC, plus they have six games combined against Pittsburgh, Cincinnati and Baltimore. They have a weird quarterback situation, no proven, quality skill players outside of tight end, and mediocre defense, and a new head coach. What more do you need before you give this team the #1 pick in the 2017 draft?
15) TENNESSE Titans: This team has improved, and Marcus Mariota should have a better time with everything in round two of his professional career. But there are so many good teams in the AFC, although no great ones, and this team could be a classic case of having the same record as the year before, but being a better football team overall.
14) BUFFALO Bills: Bills fans probably don’t like hearing they won’t make the playoffs, and I’m not planning on saying that. I’m saying that at this point in time, 13 AFC teams appear to be at least slightly better than their team. There’s things to like about Buffalo, but the injury bug and underachievers always seem to mess with this franchise.
13) NEW YORK Jets: A 10-6 team as the 13th best? Get Ryan Fitzpatrick back and I’ll bump you up ahead of where I will have the Dolphins. The defense is elite again, but the offense is relying on Geno Smith, an aging running back in Matt Forte, and an aging wide receiver in Brandon Marshall. They have nice pieces, and definitely could make the playoffs, but there are only six spots available and it won’t be easy at all.
12) JACKSONVILLE Jaguars: Maybe I could’ve put Jacksonville at 14 and make them prove they are talented, but they have to take that step at some point, right? I don’t think it’s this season, with all of the teams in the AFC, and the defense still needs some work, but the passing game will keep them in the hunt until late in the season. The Jaguars are a year away.
11) SAN DIEGO Chargers: This team was hammered by the injury bug, and now gets all of those players back. They also brought in stars like DT Brandon Mebane, and hope to find a way back up to the top. But a 4-12 record makes me hesistant about putting this team up higher than they are, even with solid players and depth at every position.
10) MIAMI Dolphins: I had Miami lower a few days ago, but the Arian Foster move brought them up to #10. To start, this defense could be really good, or really bad, and that’s how the team likely will go. Offensively, it all still needs to come together, but that’s what new coach Adam Gase is for, right? I like the pieces, and I like how they are set up, but I’ve fallen into the “it all just needs to come together” trap with this team before.
9) INDIANAPOLIS Colts: This team is all Luck, and you obviously know I’m using a play on words for the starting quarterback Andrew Luck. The only quality, not aging offensive threat on the team is TY Hilton, and the defense is going to finish in the bottom half of the league if they play to their potential. Didn’t they learn anything from the year Peyton Manning got hurt and they were the worst team in football? No, because they got Luck-y. He alone gets them four wins and the 9 spot.
8) DENVER Broncos: I know what you are thinking, Super Bowl champions are being disgraced. Maybe, but they are in the most challenging division top-to-bottom in football and have lost a ton of talent. And Mark Sanchez is the starting quarterback. I smell the Super Bowl hangover in Denver already, but it’s okay, because it’s a good hangover and not one of those “what’s the matter with me” hangovers.
7) BALTIMORE Ravens: This is a team that I think people are forgetting about, and I think they are once again an underrated team. They got hit by the injury bug as well, but those hits were bigger than the ones the Chargers got, and they finished with a better record as well. The Ravens are a deep team, and the addition of S Eric Weddle gives them something in the secondary they have been missing since Ed Reed.
6) OAKLAND Raiders: It’s not Jacksonville’s year to make the playoffs, it’s Oakland’s. Maybe I’m being a bit trendy picking them over the Broncos, Ravens and Colts, but Oakland definitely has a better roster than the Colts, Denver lost a lot, and I just think the Raiders have better all around talent than the Ravens. It all starts with QB Derek Carr here, but the defense makes the difference on making the playoffs.
5) HOUSTON Texans: When will JaDaveon Clowney play a full season? Maybe never, but that doesn’t matter because JJ Watt and Whitney Mercilus will have no mercy on opposing quarterbacks (I can’t stop for some reason). Bringing in QB Brock Osweiler gives this team a stable option at QB, and hopefully that will reflect on the offense as a whole.
4) NEW ENGLAND Patriots: The Tom Brady suspension puts them here. If he didn’t get suspended, they would be at #3. I just think losing a lock for the Hall of Fame at quarterback could cause an extra loss (probably not 2, since it’s only 4 games) that knocks the Patriots back behind these three teams. They still should win the AFC East, make the AFC Championship game, and possibly get to the Super Bowl, but it will be with three games instead of two.
3) KANSAS CITY Chiefs: I really like the team, and especially the defense that the Chiefs put together. They lack wide receiver talent, but there is talent everywhere else, and a lot of it. The retirement of Peyton Manning and the loss of all of the talent in Denver also gave the Chiefs a bit of a window, and now is the time for the Chiefs, and I think they will execute down the stretch.
2) CINCINNATI Bengals: Chances are, this team will lose in a wild card game again, since the best team in the AFC is from their division, but the Bengals are the second best regular season team in the AFC. They have stars and Pro-Bowlers at nearly every position, and have a great defense when OLB Vontaze Burfict returns from suspension. And having a guy like AJ Green to throw to gives you a shot to score on any play.
1) PITTSBURGH Steelers: Having the best running back in football in Le’Veon Bell, one of three active quarterbacks with multiple Super Bowl rings, the best receiver in football, and a lot of movable pieces and talent on defense should be enough reason to give you the best team in the AFC. They have an amazing coach in Mike Tomlin as well, and what should be a great offensive line (assuming health). Pittsburgh, especially with the Tom Brady suspension, is the team to beat in the AFC.
This conference is less tier-driven than the NFC is, as you could make a case for Pittsburgh to wind up as low as #10, or a case for the Titans to be a playoff team, although it would be unlikely for either of those scenarios. The Colts could get the best record, or the Chiefs could finish last in the AFC West. The AFC really is all up in the air, and it will be interesting to see how things shake out here.
