AFC Power Rankings: End of regular season edition
The final Sunday of the 2015 regular season has come and gone, which means it’s time for the final regular season 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 every Monday morning. Enjoy:
Next: 15. Cleveland Browns
Next: 14. Jacksonville Jaguars
Next: 13. San Diego Chargers
Next: 12. Baltimore Ravens
By virtue of losing on Sunday, John Harbaugh’s group posted the franchise’s worst finish since the 2007 season. As a result, the Ravens receive the No. 6 overall pick in the 2016 NFL Draft. Usually a Super Bowl contender, the Ravens ought to make full use of that high selection and get back on track in 2016.
The injury bug hit this team especially hard this year with Joe Flacco, Justin Forsett, Steve Smith and Terrell Suggs all going down early in the season, among others.
" >
12
Baltimore Ravens
AFC North, 5-11
Ryan Mallett throwing the ball 56 times is not a winning strategy, and that much was proven in Week 17. Mallett completed just 30 of those attempts for 292 yards, a touchdown and two interceptions.
By virtue of losing on Sunday, John Harbaugh’s group posted the franchise’s worst finish since the 2007 season. As a result, the Ravens receive the No. 6 overall pick in the 2016 NFL Draft. Usually a Super Bowl contender, the Ravens ought to make full use of that high selection and get back on track in 2016.
The injury bug hit this team especially hard this year with Joe Flacco, Justin Forsett, Steve Smith and Terrell Suggs all going down early in the season, among others.
Next: 11. Miami Dolphins
Next: 10. Indianapolis Colts
Next: 9. Oakland Raiders
Next: 8. Buffalo Bills
Next: 7. New York Jets
This could not have been a more painful way to end what was a pretty darn good year for the Jets in 2015. They went from a league-wide laughingstock after the Geno Smith broken jaw episode to a scarily good team with the best wide receiver duo in the NFL. Expect the Jets to set out on a mission in 2016 to challenge the Patriots in the AFC East like no AFC East team has done in quite some time.
To put in perspective just how good Brandon Marshall and Eric Decker were in 2015, here are their combined stats: 189 receptions, 2,529 yards and 26 touchdowns. That’s more touchdowns than were thrown by guys like Andy Dalton, Ryan Tannehill, Matt Ryan and Alex Smith.
" >
7
New York Jets
AFC East, 10-6
Although they lost to the Bills in Week 17, the Jets get slotted above them because on the whole, they were the better team in 2015.
This could not have been a more painful way to end what was a pretty darn good year for the Jets in 2015. They went from a league-wide laughingstock after the Geno Smith broken jaw episode to a scarily good team with the best wide receiver duo in the NFL. Expect the Jets to set out on a mission in 2016 to challenge the Patriots in the AFC East like no AFC East team has done in quite some time.
To put in perspective just how good Brandon Marshall and Eric Decker were in 2015, here are their combined stats: 189 receptions, 2,529 yards and 26 touchdowns. That’s more touchdowns than were thrown by guys like Andy Dalton, Ryan Tannehill, Matt Ryan and Alex Smith.
Next: 6. Pittsburgh Steelers
Next: 5. Houston Texans
Next: 4. Cincinnati Bengals
Next: 3. New England Patriots
Next: 2. Kansas City Chiefs
Andy Reid reunited with Jeremy Maclin in the hope to make him the Chiefs’ No. 1 wide receiver, and Maclin has certainly been up to the job. The former Philadelphia Eagles receiver posted a stat line of 87 receptions, 1,008 yards and eight touchdowns in 2015.
Maclin will have to keep up the good work when the Chiefs travel to play the Houston Texans next week. If history is any indicator, the Chiefs should prevail; they beat the Texans by a score of 27-20 way back in Week 1.
" >
2
Kansas City Chiefs
AFC West, 11-5
Perhaps more impressive than the Carolina Panthers’ bid for an undefeated season is the Chiefs’ string of 10 consecutive victories after starting out 1-5. For the fourth straight week, the Chiefs corral the No. 2 spot in these AFC power rankings because they simply keep winning football games.
Andy Reid reunited with Jeremy Maclin in the hope to make him the Chiefs’ No. 1 wide receiver, and Maclin has certainly been up to the job. The former Philadelphia Eagles receiver posted a stat line of 87 receptions, 1,008 yards and eight touchdowns in 2015.
Maclin will have to keep up the good work when the Chiefs travel to play the Houston Texans next week. If history is any indicator, the Chiefs should prevail; they beat the Texans by a score of 27-20 way back in Week 1.
Next: 1. Denver Broncos
Next: Top 10 QBs in Patriots history
Now, it’s playoff time.