After a wild Week 3 of the NFL season, the AFC is starting to separate the contenders from the rest of the pack. With several teams surprising us and a few of the perennial powerhouses taking an early stumble, the conference is shaping up to be more competitive than ever. Here’s a look at where all 16 AFC teams stand after a full slate of games.
1) Buffalo Bills (3-0) The Bills continue to dominate and hold the top spot in the AFC. They defeated the Dolphins 31-21 on Thursday Night Football, showcasing a strong offense and a defense that continues to get better. Next Week: vs. New Orleans Saints
2) Los Angeles Chargers (3-0) You can argue that the Chargers are the most complete team in the AFC. They are undefeated after a gritty 23-20 win over the Broncos. Their defense has been a major factor, and Justin Herbert is doing it all as the Charges morph into a pass-first offense. Next Week: at New York Giants
3) Indianapolis Colts (3-0) The Colts are the surprise team in the AFC. They defeated the Titans 41-20, showcasing a powerful offense that has scored over 100 points in their first three games. Next Week: at Los Angeles Rams
4) Baltimore Ravens (1-2) The Ravens had a tough loss to the Lions, falling 38-30. They have a lot of talent, but their defense has struggled significantly against 2 quality offenses (Buffalo and Detroit). Uncharacteristic turnovers have a lot to do with their record as well. Next Week: at Kansas City Chiefs
5) Kansas City Chiefs (1-2) The Chiefs are in unfamiliar territory at 1-2. After a 22-9 win over the Giants, close losses versus the Chargers and Eagles have put the Chiefs in a must-win game against the Ravens, who are in a similar situation. Next Week: vs. Baltimore Ravens
6) Pittsburgh Steelers (2-1) The Steelers bounced back from a tough loss with a 21-14 win over the Patriots. Their defense has been great all season, forcing 5 turnovers versus the Patriots, and they are finding ways to win games. Next Week: vs. Minnesota Vikings (in Dublin, Ireland)
7) Cincinnati Bengals (2-1) The Bengals are in a tough spot after losing Joe Burrow to injury, but they are in a better spot record-wise this year than last year. They were blown out by the Vikings, 48-10 last week, and they get the Broncos this week. They are hoping to tread water with Jake Browning until Burrow gets healthy. Next Week: vs. Denver Broncos
8) Jacksonville Jaguars (2-1) The Jaguars are off to a good start, with a 17-10 win over the Texans. Their defense was a force to be reckoned with, holding the Texans to just 10 points. They would be undefeated if they hadn’t collapsed on the road at Cincinnati. We will see how good they are after they visit a depleted, but 3-0, San Francisco team. Next Week: at San Francisco 49ers
9) Denver Broncos (1-2) The Broncos have had a difficult start to the season with two close losses. They will need to find a way to finish games to climb the rankings and get a Bengals team without Joe Burrow next. Next Week: vs. Cincinnati Bengals
10) Las Vegas Raiders (1-2) The Raiders have had a difficult start to the season, with two losses to mediocre teams and their only win against the Patriots in Week 1. They lost to the Commanders 41-24, who were without Jayden Daniels, which raises questions about their competitiveness. They need to get Ashton Jenty more involved in the offense. Next Week: vs. Chicago Bears
11) New England Patriots (1-2) The Patriots were a trendy pick by many to overachieve this year. However, they are not very good, barely beating a woeful Dolphins team and losing to the Raiders and Steelers. They get the Panthers this week. Next Week: vs. Carolina Panthers
12) Cleveland Browns (1-2) The Browns are a tough team to rank. They have a great defense, but their offense has struggled with Joe Flacco. They managed to pull off an improbable 13-10 upset over the Packers, can they repeat it this week against the Lions? Next Week: at Detroit Lions
13) Houston Texans (0-3) The Texans are struggling this season with three losses. They have a lot of talent, but their offense and QB CJ Stroud has no time to throw behind a new OL. He looks to have regressed significantly from his rookie campaign. They need to find a way to beat a bad Titans team jump start their season. Next Week: vs. Tennessee Titans
14) New York Jets (0-3) The Jets are 0-3, but they’ve been competitive against two quality teams, the Buccaneers and the Steelers. With better luck, they could be 2-1. With the Dolphins up next, someone will pick up their first win next week. Next Week: vs. Miami Dolphins
15) Miami Dolphins (0-3) The Dolphins are one of the biggest surprises of the season, and not in a good way. With a 0-3 record, they are in trouble. They lost to the Bills 31-21, but get the Jets and the Panthers over the next 2 weeks. Next Week: vs. New York Jets
16) Tennessee Titans (0-3) The Titans performing about as well as expected so far this season. Some head-scratching decisions by coach Brian Callahan have hurt them, but Cam Ward is playing well and proving that he was worthy of the #1 pick. Next Week: vs. Houston Texans
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