AFC Week 6 Power Rankings: A New Leader

-
Oct 12 2025 Pittsburgh Pennsylvania USA Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers 8 attempts to run the ball while Cleveland Browns defensive end Joe Tryon Shoyinka 90 pursues during the second quarter at Acrisure Stadium Mandatory Credit Barry Reeger Imagn Images

It was a week of utter chaos in the AFC as we crossed the halfway mark of the regular season! Week 6 saw the Bills, Ravens, and Bengals all suffer losses, leading to a new team claiming the best record in the conference and a massive reshuffling of the playoff picture. While the AFC has recently been the stronger conference, the conference is quite frankly a total mess.

Here are the updated AFC power rankings heading into Week 7.

Check Out All EasySportz NFL Content Here!

Jaguars Season Preview, A Look Back!

AFC Power Rankings: Week 6 Shakes the Table

Tier 1: The New Top Dogs

  1. Indianapolis Colts (5-1, AFC South Leader) The Colts are officially the team to beat in the AFC. They secured their fifth win by taking down the Cardinals 31-27. Shane Steichen has maximized their offensive talent, and they currently boast the best record in the entire conference. They are disciplined, powerful, and rising fast. Next Week: at Los Angeles Chargers (Sunday, 4:05 PM ET)
  2. Pittsburgh Steelers (4-1, AFC North Leader) The Steelers proved they run the AFC North, dominating the Browns 23-9 to win their third straight game. With the rest of the division collapsing, the Steelers now have a commanding lead and the AFC’s second-best winning percentage. Their defense is fierce, and the offense is doing just enough. Next Week: at Cincinnati Bengals (Thursday, 8:15 PM ET)

Tier 2: Playoff Contenders

-
Oct 12 2025 Miami Gardens Florida USA Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert 10 runs the ball against the Miami Dolphins during the third quarter at Hard Rock Stadium Mandatory Credit Rich Storry Imagn Images
  1. Los Angeles Chargers (4-2, AFC West Leader) The Chargers got a crucial win, edging the Dolphins 29-27, and now sit atop a messy AFC West. Justin Herbert continues to deliver late-game heroics, overcoming a late Dolphins surge to secure their fourth win. Next Week: vs. Indianapolis Colts (Sunday, 4:05 PM ET)
  2. Denver Broncos (4-2) Quietly, the Broncos have rattled off three straight wins, the latest a defensive masterclass in London, beating the Jets 13-11. This team is committed to a defensive identity, which is keeping them right in the mix for the AFC West title. Next Week: vs. New York Giants (Sunday, 4:05 PM ET)
  3. New England Patriots (4-2, AFC East Leader) The Patriots are the most surprising division leader in the NFL. They won their third straight game, beating the Saints 25-19. They hold the head-to-head tiebreaker over the Bills and are proving to be extremely difficult to beat thanks to a balanced attack. Next Week: at Tennessee Titans (Sunday, 1:00 PM ET)
  4. Jacksonville Jaguars (4-2) The Jaguars suffered a disappointing 20-12 home loss to the Seahawks, largely due to seven sacks allowed. While they still hold a strong 4-2 record, they need to protect Trevor Lawrence better if they want to stay ahead of the surging Colts in the South. Next Week (In London): vs. Los Angeles Rams (Sunday, 9:30 AM ET)
  5. Buffalo Bills (4-2) The Bills are trending down after losing their second straight game, falling to the Falcons 24-14 on Monday night. The offense is sputtering, and the team seems disjointed. They desperately need the upcoming bye week to regroup. Next Week: BYE

Tier 3: The Wildcard Race

-
Oct 12 2025 Kansas City Missouri USA Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes 15 makes a throw against the Detroit Lions during the second half at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium Mandatory Credit Jay Biggerstaff Imagn Images
  1. Kansas City Chiefs (3-3) The Chiefs finally secured a necessary win, defeating the Lions 30-17. They are now 3-3, and while they look far from their dominant selves, they have stabilized their season just in time for a crucial divisional stretch. Next Week: vs. Las Vegas Raiders (Sunday, 1:00 PM ET)
  2. Houston Texans (2-3) The Texans had a bye week after winning two in a row. They are the definition of a wild card—capable of beating anyone when healthy, and they get their star QB back refreshed. Next Week (Monday Night Football): at Seattle Seahawks (Monday, 8:15 PM ET)
  3. Las Vegas Raiders (2-4) The Raiders got a much-needed win over the Titans 20-10. The defense played well, forcing three turnovers, which is a key step toward correcting their early-season struggles. Next Week: at Kansas City Chiefs (Sunday, 1:00 PM ET)

Tier 4: In Crisis

-
Oct 5 2025 East Rutherford New Jersey USA New York Jets quarterback Justin Fields 7 is sacked by Dallas Cowboys defensive end Sam Williams 54 during the second half at MetLife Stadium Mandatory Credit Robert Deutsch Imagn Images
  1. Cincinnati Bengals (2-4) The Bengals’ season is spiraling after a 27-18 loss to the Packers. The offense looks broken, leading to their fourth straight loss. Their season is on the line this Thursday in a massive divisional game. Next Week (Thursday Night Football): vs. Pittsburgh Steelers (Thursday, 8:15 PM ET)
  2. Baltimore Ravens (1-5) The Ravens lost to the Rams 17-3 on Sunday. They had a tough month of October and desperately need the bye week to get healthy and salvage what remains of their season. Next Week: BYE
  3. Miami Dolphins (1-5) The Dolphins lost another close one to the Chargers 29-27, coupled with post-game locker room drama, making this team look like a lost cause. Their season is over, and they are now focused on damage control. Next Week: at Cleveland Browns (Sunday, 1:00 PM ET)
  4. Tennessee Titans (1-5) The Titans drop another one, falling 20-10 to the Raiders. Their offense is struggling to score, and their record puts them nearly out of the playoff picture. Next Week: vs. New England Patriots (Sunday, 1:00 PM ET)
  5. Cleveland Browns (1-5) The Browns are in freefall after their 23-9 loss to the Steelers. The offense couldn’t manage a single touchdown, and the promising defense is getting worn down. Next Week: vs. Miami Dolphins (Sunday, 1:00 PM ET)
  6. New York Jets (0-6) The Jets’ offense is historically bad. They lost to the Broncos 13-11 in a game where their net passing yards were negative. They are winless and showing no signs of turning the corner. Next Week: vs. Carolina Panthers (Sunday, 1:00 PM ET)

Week 7 Preview: AFC Showdowns

The schedule features critical matchups that will define the rest of the AFC season:

  • Rivalry on TNF: The Steelers visit the Bengals in a game Cincy must win to keep their season alive.
  • Contender Clash: The Colts take their conference-best record to Los Angeles to face the Chargers.
  • The Showdown: The Raiders travel to Arrowhead to take on the Chiefs in a pivotal divisional battle for the struggling Chiefs.
  • Monday Night Doubleheader: The Texans return from their bye to face the Seahawks, followed by the Buccaneers vs. Lions.
author avatar
Lee Bushkell

More Reading

Post navigation

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *