Wexler's AFC Power Rankings Week 3
A change at the top, a little shuffle in the middle - but the teams in the top seven remain the same. (Week 2 Power Rankings HERE)
1. Ravens (2-0)
Previous Rank: 2
Last: Win 33-16 at Texans (0-2)
Next: vs Chiefs (2-0)
Ravens faced a team determined to limit explosive plays, which the Texans did...until the fourth quarter, when the Ravens ran for over 150 yards in the final 15 minutes and punished the Texans defense. They held Deshaun Watson and the Texans defense to one touchdown, forced two turnovers and stopped them on a huge fourth down play early in the game. They also returned the forced fumble into a scoop and score. Next Monday night we'll have a definitive number one team with the titanic tilt in Baltimore against the Chiefs.
2. Chiefs (2-0)
Previous rank: 1
Last: Win 23-20 (OT) at Chargers (1-1)
Next: at Ravens (2-0)
They got a win on the road with Mahomes possibly turning in the least successful performance he'll have all season. Allowed a 310 passing day in the NFL debut for Justin Herbert, but survived with an overtime win. The formula to slow the Chiefs down is a simple one, keep their offense off the field. In regulation, the Chargers ran 19 more plays and possessed the ball for nearly 37 minutes. Still the Chiefs, who punted on all, but one of their first six possessions, won by scoring on each of their last possessions. They also haven't turned the ball over this season.
3. Steelers (2-0)
Previous rank: 3
Last: Win 26-21 vs Broncos (0-2)
Next: vs Texans (0-2)
Their defense was relentless against the Broncos. They knocked Drew Locke out of the game with a shoulder injury and battered him and his replacement, Jeff Driskell, all afternoon. Their D racked up seven sacks and an incredible 19 quarterback hits. They added 11 tackles for loss, yet still allowed 21 points and had the Broncos at the Steelers 15-yard line at the 2:00 warning with a chance to pull off the upset. The final sack of the game ended that threat. James Connor ran for 106 yards on 16 carries, which sounds great. Well, 59 of those yards came on a single run during their the run-out-the-clock drive to end the game. The Watt brothers showdown could go very badly for big bro J.J.
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4. Raiders (2-0)
Previous rank: 6
Last: Win 34-24 vs Saints (1-1)
Next: at Patriots (1-1)
The Raiders may need to win shootouts this seasons and while they are not at explosive offense, they can score, with a second consecutive 34 point effort. They had no three-and-outs and after punting on their first two possessions they're final seven drives of the game were at least seven plays long and they scored on all but one of them. Carr has been sharp through two games, tight end Darren Waller is an absolute stud and Josh Jacobs can carry the load in the backfield.
5. Patriots (1-1)
Previous rank: 7
Last: Loss 35-30 at Seahawks (2-0)
Next: vs Raiders (2-0)
A two spot rise after a loss? Yes, if Cam Newton bounces his run to the outside on the final snap of the game (like he acknowledged after the game he should have), the Patriots would be 2-0 with a road win at Seattle. Instead, we can just agree that Newton has been tremendous. He leads the team in rushing with 122 yards and leads the NFL in rushing touchdowns with four. He looks healthy and is throwing the ball extremely well, completing over 70 percent of his passes and already has a great connection with Julian Edelman. He's targeted him on 29 percent of his throws, Edelman ranks third in the NFL in receiving yards and his 18.3 yards per reception is tops among AFC wide receivers.
6. Bills (2-0)
Previous rank: 4
Last: Win 31-28 at Dolphins (0-2)
Next: vs Rams (2-0)
Josh Allen continues to impress with his accuracy and is moving the Bills up and down the field through the air. He's 1st in passing yards in the NFL, 5th in yards per attempt and 2nd in touchdown passes, while completing over 70 percent of his throws. Their defense has been good but not great, their level of competition is clearly suspect having faced the Dolphins (Ryan Fitzpatrick) and the Jets (Sam Darnold).
7. Titans (2-0)
Previous rank: 5
Last: Win 33-30 vs Jaguars
Next: at Vikings (0-2)
They've had to survive late in both of their two wins. They got a late field goal to win in week one at Denver and needed an interception in the final minute to top Jacksonville on Sunday. No surprise that Derrick Henry is leading the NFL in both carries (56) and rushing yards (200). A little concerning that his 3.6 yards per carry is 37th in the league and would be a career low for him. We'll see if his 409 touches over 18 games last season appears to have taken a toll. Ryan Tannehill benefits from Henry's workload either way. His 488 passing yards aren't even top 20, but his six touchdown passes are first in the AFC and he hasn't committed a turnover. Tight end Jonnu Smith began replacing Delanie Walker last season, his three touchdown receptions are tied for first among tight ends and he is a real weapon.
8. Jaguars (1-1)
Previous rank: 8
Last: Loss 33-30 at Titans
Next: vs Dolphins (0-2)
While Gardner Minshew would like to have his last lazy pass back, since it was a chance-of-winning-killing interception, he has this team competitive. James Robinson has been a find at running back and they are can be a threatening offense. They may be simply on an early, "we're not tanking for Trevor Lawrence" high, but they definitely are not a cupcake opponent right now.
9. Chargers (1-1)
Previous rank: 9
Last: Loss 23-20 OT vs Chiefs
Next: vs Panthers (0-2)
An injury scare before the game for quarterback Tyrod Taylor, shoved rookie Justin Herbert into his NFL debut and he guided the Chargers into position to beat the mighty Chiefs if not for typical Mahomes magic. They look like a pretty mediocre group, who will likely stay in games it seems like they shouldn't and allow opponents to stay in games when that shouldn't happen either. Head coach Anthony Lynn said Taylor is the starter if healthy.
10. Colts (1-1)
Previous rank: 13
Last: Win 28-11 vs Vikings
Next: vs Jets (0-2)
As long as they can keep running the ball effectively they should be fine. The less they lean on Philip Rivers they better. He tossed an interception on the 16th play of the Colts opening drive of the game, also fumbled on the opening drive of the second half. It was recovered by the Colts, though it did set up third and 38. Rookie running back Jonathan Taylor was tremendous in his first career start and handled a big workload carrying the ball 18 times in the first half and 26 times in the game for 101 yards. All while they're defense dominated. They had a safety, interceptions on three consecutive possessions and held the Vikings to 175 total yards.
11. Texans (0-2)
Previous rank: 11
Last: Loss 33-16 vs Ravens
Next: vs Steelers (2-0)
The Texans better hope for a better showing at Pittsburgh, but the Deshaun Watson is again among the league leaders in quarterback hits and dropbacks under pressure. So heading to Pittsburgh to face the league's most disruptive front is not ideal. Defense was gassed in the fourth quarter against the Ravens, the offense's ineptitude is not helping their already suspect defense.
12. Broncos (0-2)
Previous rank: 10
Last: Loss 26-21 at Steelers
Next: vs Bucs (1-1)
Jeff Driskell vs Tom Brady sounds like a quarterback mismatch and it probably will be, even with Brady no longer elite. Injuries are crushing Denver, with Courtland Sutton now out for the year, joining Von Miller with lose 2020 seasons. Quarterback Drew Locke, running back Philip Lindsay and a host of other key Broncos are also unavailable.
13. Browns (1-1)
Previous rank: 15
Last: Win 35-20 vs Bengals
Next: vs The Football Team (1-1)
If The Football Team gets after Baker Mayfield the way they did Philadelphia's Carson Wentz in week one then we'll see another drop towards the bottom of the AFC power rankings for the Browns. But I'm not forecasting that, because they Browns should hold of the rush with their running tandem of Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt. Like the Colts, the less they have to ask their quarterback to win games, the better off they will be.
14. Dolphins (0-2)
Previous rank: 12
Last: Loss 31-28 vs Bills
Next: at Jaguars (0-2)
The Dolphins are not helpless and they play hard for head coach Brian Flores. But they still make too many mistakes and just don't quite have the talent to overcome it. Tua's time hasn't arrived, but it's coming soon.
15. Bengals (0-2)
Previous rank: 14
Last: Loss 35-30 at Browns
Next: at Eagles (0-2)
If you didn't come away impressed by Joe Burrow's 37-61, 316 yard, 3 touchdown, no interception performance in just the second start of his career then you weren't watching. They need to get their running game going with Joe Mixon to take some pressure off of Burrow and maybe this is the week. But I doubt it.
16. Jets (0-2)
Previous rank: 16
Last: Loss 31-13 vs 49ers
Next: at Colts (1-1)
How's this for a start. Jets win the toss, elect to defer. 49ers first snap of the game is an 80 yard touchdown run. A simple toss play, Raheem Mostert got the ball at the 13-yard line at 14:52 on the clock. At 14:43 he crossed the goal line - untouched. Also Sam Darnold does not look like "the guy." His final drive of the game he went 6-6, 76 yards and a touchdown to make the final score 31-13. The rest of the game that saw the blowout reach 31-6, he was 15-26 for 103 yards. He was sacked once.