AFC Power Rankings Week 15: Patriots back on top, Bengals slide
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The 14th Sunday of the 2015 NFL season has come and gone, which means it’s time for another edition of Musket FIre’s AFC power rankings. Because this is a New England Patriots-focused site, we like to focus on just the AFC each Monday morning. Enjoy:
Must-read: Week 14 stock watch: Logan Ryan, Gronk shine
Next: 15. Baltimore Ravens
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Next: 14. San Diego Chargers
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Next: 13. Cleveland Browns
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Next: 12. Indianapolis Colts
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12
Indianapolis Colts
AFC South, 6-7
The Colts drop to their lowest ranking this season because of their embarrassing loss to the Jaguars on Sunday, their first loss to an AFC South opponent since the 2012 season. This team needs Andrew Luck back something fierce, but even he may not be enough to pilot this team very far into January (if they even make the playoffs, that is).
Next week, the Texans come to town in a matchup of 6-7 divisional opponents. Then, the Colts take a flight down to Miami, a manageable game but one which could also be viewed as a trap game. Good news for Colts fans is that the team’s final opponent is the one in the cellar of the AFC right now, Tennessee. So while things are a bit shaky in Indy right now, reaching the playoffs is probable.
Next: 11. Miami Dolphins
Dec 6, 2015; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; Miami Dolphins running back Damien Williams (34) stands near the end zone for a punt return during the second half against the Baltimore Ravens at Sun Life Stadium. The Dolphins won 15-13. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports
Next: 10. Jacksonville Jaguars
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Next: 9. Houston Texans
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Next: 8. Buffalo Bills
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Next: 7. Oakland Raiders
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This is a team that is starting to reap the benefits of their youth investments. Khalil Mack tied a franchise record by recording five—yes, five—sacks of Brock Osweiler on Sunday. On the other side of the ball, Derek Carr navigated the Raiders’ offense past the best defensive unit in the league.
After beating the Broncos on the road, the Raiders have it in themselves to upset the Packers at home in Week 15. If the Raiders are 7-7 at this time next week, then their playoff hopes will be alive and well with a very winnable game against the Chargers the following week.
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7
Oakland Raiders
AFC West, 6-7
The Raiders lead the pack of the four 6-7 AFC teams because they prevailed over the Broncos in Week 14, a team that sat on top of these AFC power rankings a week ago.
This is a team that is starting to reap the benefits of their youth investments. Khalil Mack tied a franchise record by recording five—yes, five—sacks of Brock Osweiler on Sunday. On the other side of the ball, Derek Carr navigated the Raiders’ offense past the best defensive unit in the league.
After beating the Broncos on the road, the Raiders have it in themselves to upset the Packers at home in Week 15. If the Raiders are 7-7 at this time next week, then their playoff hopes will be alive and well with a very winnable game against the Chargers the following week.
Next: 6. New York Jets
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Next: 5. Cincinnati Bengals
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Next: 4. Pittsburgh Steelers
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The Steelers leap ahead of their tiger rivals this week because they handed the Bengals a loss in the jungle on Sunday. DeAngelo Williams continued to do his best Le’Veon Bell impression, pacing the Steelers with a pair of rushing touchdowns. The Steelers’ defense made the most impact, however, intercepting Bengals quarterbacks three times, including a William Gay pick-six.
Words can’t describe how huge the Steelers’ Week 15 encounter with the Broncos is in terms of their playoff hopes. The AFC Wild Card race is a muddy situation right now, and the Steelers need to hand the Broncos their second loss in as many weeks if they’re going to keep pace with the likes of Kansas City and New York.
Next: 3. Kansas City Chiefs
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You could make the case that the Chiefs are the hottest team in the AFC right now. They’ve won seven games in a row, even if there latest victory wasn’t the most pretty. Nonetheless, a win is a win, and the Chiefs find themselves at the forefront of the AFC Wild Card conversation as a result of their 10-3 win over San Diego in wet conditions.
Jamaal Charles is missed, but Spencer Ware and Charcandrick West have done a great job filling-in for the self-proclaimed LeBron James of the NFL. Ware and West combined for 106 yards on 18 carries between the two of them, and Alex Smith echoed those efforts on the ground with 40 rushing yards of his own.
The Chiefs board a plane to Dallas next week before closing out the regular season with consecutive home games against the Browns and Raiders. Expect this win streak to survive at least another two weeks before the showdown with Oakland.
Next: 2. Denver Broncos
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The Broncos’ next two games are no small tasks by any means. The trip over to Pittsburgh will require utmost preparation and execution, and then the Week 16 home showdown against the Bengals will be another test of Osweiler’s development.
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Denver Broncos
AFC West, 10-3
The Broncos fall off the top of these AFC power rankings because they could only muster four first-half field goals against the Raiders in Week 14, costing them the game. Don’t be too quick to say that Brock Osweiler is the next great quarterback of the NFL; he still has some proving to do. Plenty, actually.
But this loss can’t be pinned just on Osweiler, as star wideouts Emmanuel Sanders and Demaryius Thomas both committed fumbles. Furthermore, veteran tight end Vernon Davis dropped an easy 4th and five pass, which was arguably the difference in the game.
The Broncos’ next two games are no small tasks by any means. The trip over to Pittsburgh will require utmost preparation and execution, and then the Week 16 home showdown against the Bengals will be another test of Osweiler’s development.
Next: 1. New England Patriots
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