NFL power rankings, Week 16: Chiefs, Bills or Bengals?
Looking at our Week 16 NFL power rankings in the AFC, are the Kansas City Chief, Cincinnati Bengals or Buffalo Bills best?
16. Houston Texans (LW: 16)
The Texans are fighting really hard for head coach Lovie Smith, but don’t have the talent to quite finish.
15. Indianapolis Colts (LW: 14)
When you blow a 33-0 lead, you drop in the power rankings.
14. Denver Broncos (LW: 15)
Denver was able to win with Brett Rypien at the helm, largely because the Arizona Cardinals are a dumpster fire.
13. Pittsburgh Steelers (LW: 13)
Pittsburgh isn’t impressive, but the Steelers always find a way under head coach Mike Tomlin to be a threat in almost any game they play.
12. Cleveland Browns (LW: 12)
The Browns has been a lackluster offensive group since Deshaun Watson took over, but the defense found itself against Tyler Huntley on Saturday.
11. Las Vegas Raiders (LW: 11)
Perhaps the wildest way to win a game we’ve ever seen. Just impossible.
10. New York Jets (LW: 9)
The Jets have to drop one spot for falling to the Detroit Lions in what was essentially a must-win game for both sides.
9. New England Patriots (LW: 8)
Impossible loss. Simply impossible, and yet it’s reality.
8. Tennessee Titans (LW: 7)
Four straight losses, and now the Titans are only one game up in the AFC South. Tennessee is on the brink of a complete meltdown.
7. Jacksonville Jaguars (LW: 10)
Jacksonville is 6-8 and yet looking like a good bet to make the playoffs. Give quarterback Trevor Lawrence and head coach Doug Pederson a ton of credit.
6. Miami Dolphins (LW: 6)
The Dolphins aren’t getting knocked down because they lost on the final play in Buffalo. Miami proved it can hang, even in adverse weather.
5. Baltimore Ravens (LW: 4)
It’s hard to judge Baltimore with Lamar Jackson being on the sideline due to a knee injury. That said, the Ravens need him back, and yesterday.
4. Los Angeles Chargers (LW: 5)
Los Angeles won again, running its record to 8-6. The Chargers are rarely dominant, but they’re getting healthier and the roster is scary.
3. Cincinnati Bengals (LW: 3)
Cincinnati is showing its stuff, winning six straight as it heads for Foxboro. The Bengals are the most consistent team in the AFC.
2. Buffalo Bills (LW: 2)
But the Bills are ahead of the Bengals because they have one more win, they’re also hot, and Buffalo has the most complete roster in the conference.
1. Kansas City Chiefs (LW: 1)
And yet the Chiefs are tops because they are also winning consistently, have the likely MVP at quarterback in Patrick Mahomes, and at their zenith, are the best of the bunch.
