Week 10 AFC Power Rankings

The contenders and pretenders are starting to separate themselves in the NFL. This year though, there are far more contenders than there are pretenders in the AFC. Who will wear the crown this week? Let's find out!

16. New England Patriots (2-8)

This is a bad football team. This group is poorly coached, they have bad quarterback play and they are the worst team in football. A total rebuild is on the horizon in Foxboro – crazy to say.

15. Tennessee Titans (3-5)

I bought into the Will Levis hype a couple of weeks ago, but he has seemed to come back down to earth. Two straight losses for these Titans have put themselves in a really tough position heading into the last two months of the year.

14. New York Jets (4-5)

The Jets are a really tough team to watch. The defense is so good but the offense is horrific. Aaron Rodgers said it best on Pat McAfee on Tuesday, "you won't win many games kicking field goals." Zach Wilson is struggling immensely and this team is on the outside looking in.

13. Los Angeles Chargers (4-5)

It's not working out in LA for the Chargers. They got Justin Herbert's "A+" performance and it still wasn't enough in a track meet with the Detroit Lions. While still not totally out of playoff contention, they need to turn it on quickly.

12. Buffalo Bills (5-5)

Monday night's home loss to the Denver Broncos was a debacle. They now have losses to the Jets, Patriots, Broncos and Jaguars. Wash away the notion that this is a good football team because they are not right now.

11. Denver Broncos (4-5)

If the Broncos had this offense last year they would have been a playoff contender. Russell Wilson is actually playing really good football. He is ranked second in the NFL with 18 touchdown passes and is fourth in passer rating. A big win in Buffalo this week kept their playoff hopes alive for another week.

10. Indianapolis Colts (5-5)

The Colts went halfway across the world and came back with a 10-6 win over the Patriots to stay alive. This team is a questionable call against the Browns away from being 6-4 and firmly in the thick of it. At 5-5, they are still alive but there is work to do and it's unclear if they're talented enough to stay in it down the stretch.

9. Las Vegas Raiders (5-5)

The Raiders crack the top 10 this week! They have won two straight under interim coach Antonio Pierce and are the feel-good story of the NFL right now. I don't think this is a serious contender but right now, they are tough to beat.

8. Cincinnati Bengals (5-4)

A tough loss to the upstart Houston Texans has this team on the outside looking in. They have one of the hardest remaining schedules in the NFL this year. It's an uphill battle to climb for the Bengals and they have a trip to Baltimore up next.

7. Pittsburgh Steelers (6-3)

This team makes no sense. They have been outgained in every single game this year, have a minus 26-point differential, have the 28th ranked offense, 28th ranked defense, and have the 25th-ranked quarterback. Somehow they are 6-3 and are currently the fifth seed in the AFC Playoff race. We will see this week how they fare in a rematch with the Browns

6. Houston Texans (5-4)

This team is fun and this team is for real. They have all of the ingredients to be a playoff team and make a postseason push. C.J. Stroud is awesome and Houston is set up for now and the future. Kudos to them for turning their franchise around so quickly.

5. Jacksonville Jaguars (6-3)

The first shocker of the week. Jacksonville has been the fun story of the year so far. However, on Sunday they got it handed to them when the 49ers came to town. Their three losses are to the Chiefs, 49ers and Texans. When they play good teams they get beat, simple as that.

4. Miami Dolphins (6-3)

This Miami team needs to get home-field advantage in the playoffs. They are 0-3 against good teams on the road with losses at Buffalo, Philadelphia and Kansas City. They beat up on the bad teams and get beat by the good ones. South Florida is an advantage for this group.

3. Cleveland Browns (6-3)

Cleveland had the most impressive win in Week 10. They went into Baltimore, didn't play clean and came out with a thrilling 33-31 victory. They now have beaten two Super Bowl contenders this season and are a tipped ball away from being 7-2. They have a chance to cement themselves this week when Pittsburgh comes to town.

2. Baltimore Ravens (7-3)

A slip-up against Cleveland in Week 10 doesn't shake their season but their grip loosened on winning the AFC North. This is still a great football team and they have a chance to right the ship against Cincinnati on Thursday.

1. Kansas City Chiefs (7-2)

The Kings of the AFC are back on top. Off a bye week, they should come back healthier and ready for a stretch run. A matchup with the Philadelphia Eagles awaits them this week. This Chiefs team is for real and it has more to do with having one of the league's best defenses than it does Patrick Mahomes right now.