Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports
The New England Patriots have dominated the AFC for the past decade and a half. Once Drew Bledsoe got clocked in that fateful Week 3 game back in 2001, a new era began in New England, and the train is still rolling.
Thanks to Bill Belichick, a future Hall of Fame quarterback in Tom Brady and a culture of winning that pervades Patriot Place, the Patriots have maintained their dominance for nearly 15 years. They’ve reached the past four AFC Championships, and just won a Super Bowl, so no one can say that there has been a let-up since the glory years of the early-2000s dynasty.
However, it’s never easy for the Patriots. Traversing the AFC en route to January is no walk in the park, as there is always a handful of top-flight contenders the Pats must knock off. And the nature of the NFL being one of change, you never know who the next big threat will be.
To help pass the time until training camp, we’re ranking the 15 other AFC teams in terms of their ability to bump the Patriots off the top of the conference power ladder. The 2014 playoffs and regular season records serve as the basis for this ranking, with the other main criteria being offseason fortifications.
Think of this as essentially an AFC power rankings, one in which the Patriots reside at No. 1. Of course.
Next: 15. Tennessee Titans
Jim Brown-USA TODAY Sports
Next: 14. Jacksonville Jaguars
Phil Sears-USA TODAY Sports
Next: 13. New York Jets
Ed Mulholland-USA TODAY Sports
Next: 12. Oakland Raiders
Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Next: 11. Cleveland Browns
Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports
Next: 10. Kansas City Chiefs
John Rieger-USA TODAY Sports
Next: 9. Miami Dolphins
Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports
Next: 8. San Diego Chargers
Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports
Next: 7. Buffalo Bills
Timothy T. Ludwig-USA TODAY Sports
The Bills will host the Patriots in Week 2, and the Patriots will return the favor in Week 11 on Monday Night Football.
" >
7
Buffalo Bills
AFC East, 2014: 9-7
The addition of a new coach, a new quarterback and a new running back after posting a winning season for the first time during the Obama administration puts the Bills in the top half of the AFC power pole. Having at McCoy their disposal gives the Bills a better chance at dethroning the Patriots in the AFC East.
More than anything, the Bills have the upper hand on their counterparts in the AFC East for the simple fact that you can just sense something happening over there in Buffalo. Although the Pats always pretty much always win, no Patriots fan sits through a Bills game easily, and it will be even more nail-biting this year.
The Bills will host the Patriots in Week 2, and the Patriots will return the favor in Week 11 on Monday Night Football.
Next: 6. Cincinnati Bengals
Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports
Next: 5. Houston Texans
Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
Next: 4. Denver Broncos
Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
Next: 3. Indianapolis Colts
Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports
Next: 2. Pittsburgh Steelers
Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
Next: 1. Baltimore Ravens
Evan Habeeb-USA TODAY Sports