AFC Power Rankings Week 16: Chiefs to No. 2
Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports
The 15th 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:
Next: 15. Cleveland Browns
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Next: 14. Tennessee
Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports
Next: 13. Miami Dolphins
Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports
Next: 12. San Diego Chargers
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Now, the Chargers look to play the role of spoiler in consecutive road games against divisional rivals Oakland and Denver.
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12
San Diego Chargers
AFC East, 4-10
In a heart-tugging season finale because of the situation with the Chargers possibly (likely) moving to Los Angeles next year, the home team gave their fans a nice double-digit victory. It’s been a frustrating year on the San Diego beach, but in Week 15, the Chargers played like the better team, and that’s why they are ranked ahead of the Dolphins.
Danny Woodhead accounted for all of the Chargers’ scores, crossing the end zone once on a running play and racking up a hat trick of receiving touchdowns. As a whole, the Chargers offense played pretty darn well, doubling-up the Dolphins in the first downs department. On the other side of the ball, Melvin Ingram paced the team with a pair of sacks and a forced fumble.
Now, the Chargers look to play the role of spoiler in consecutive road games against divisional rivals Oakland and Denver.
Next: 11. Indianapolis Colts
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Next: 10. Jacksonville Jaguars
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Next: 9. Buffalo Bills
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Next: 8. Oakland Raiders
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Next: 7. Houston Texans
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The Texans travel to Tennessee next week, which should give them an 8-7 record entering the season finale against Jacksonville.
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7
Houston Texans
AFC South, 7-7
Although J.J. Watt was held in check for the second straight week, the Texans got the best of their horseshoed divisional rivals in Week 15. Alfred Blue recorded his second 100-yard performance of the season, his first since Week 3.
The list of the Texans’ quarterbacks this season continues to grow. They’ve burned through Ryan Mallet, Brian Hoyer and T.J. Yates, leaving them with well-traveled underachiever Brandon Weeden manning the controls. The Texans may win the AFC South, but they aren’t going to get very far in January with Yates or Weeden at the helm.
The Texans travel to Tennessee next week, which should give them an 8-7 record entering the season finale against Jacksonville.
Next: 6. Denver Broncos
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Next: 5. New York Jets
Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports
Next: 4. Cincinnati Bengals
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Next: 3. Pittsburgh Steelers
Jason Bridge-USA TODAY Sports
Next: 2. Kansas City Chiefs
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The AFC West title is starting to become a real possibility, as the Chiefs should have no problems against the Browns and Raiders to close out the year.
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2
Kansas City Chiefs
AFC West, 9-5
By virtue of being the hottest team in the NFL not based in Carolina, the Chiefs assume their highest position of the season in this week’s AFC power rankings. On Sunday, they became the first team to lose five straight games and then rip off eight consecutive victories. Yeah, that’s never happened before.
Tyvon Branch continued his stellar season by scooping a fumble and returning it for a touchdown, his second score of the season as well as in his career. And Marcus Peters strengthened his Defensive Rookie of the Year campaign by recording a pair of picks against the Ravens, returning one for a touchdown. Peters now has seven interceptions and a pair of pick-sixes on his impressive stat sheet (he also ranks third on the team in tackles).
The AFC West title is starting to become a real possibility, as the Chiefs should have no problems against the Browns and Raiders to close out the year.
Next: 1. New England Patriots
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