We're 13 weeks into the 2023 NFL season and the AFC has been anything but predictable. The Kansas City Chiefs have lost three of their last five and fallen from the top seed in the conference. In the meantime, the Miami Dolphins continue beating up on lesser opponents and have yet to beat a team with a winning record.
The Baltimore Ravens have looked solid but recently lost their best offensive weapon not named Lamar Jackson. The Houston Texans halted the Denver Broncos' five-game win streak and now the conference's longest winning streak belongs to the Indianapolis Colts, who continue to find ways to get wins behind backup quarterback Gardner Minshew.
The Buffalo Bills, Las Vegas Raiders, and Ravens were on a bye this week but there was still some movement for them in my AFC power rankings. Let's not forget the New England Patriots and Los Angeles Chargers. Did anyone see that 6 - 0 win by the Chargers? The Chargers continue to amaze me with how bad they are, with one of the most talented rosters in the league. I'm also amazed that Brandon Staley still has a job. Oh well, with that, let's get into the AFC power rankings.
16. New England Patriots (2 - 10)
This is simply incredible. The New England Patriots and Bill Belichick sitting here 13 weeks into the season and have only two wins all year. They have the fewest wins of any team in the AFC and only the Carolina Panthers have fewer in the league. The only real question is whether Belichick will return to coach the Patriots for another season. If you're a Patriots fan, at least you know New England will have their choice of one of the top incoming rookie quarterbacks.
15. Los Angeles Chargers (5 - 7)
I just talked about the Chargers in the opener and there isn't much more to say. There is no way that Staley can survive the offseason, right? Ownership may have already thrown in the towel on this season, so figured they'll just let Staley finish out the season. At least with this thought, they may keep losing and have a top pick in next year's NFL Draft.
14. New York (4 - 8)
The New York Jets benched Zach Wilson in favor of Tim Boyle, then released him after just two starts, and now want to go back to Wilson. But reports came out indicating Wilson doesn't want to come back as the starter and that Aaron Rodgers is trying to talk him into taking the role back. Yet, other reports have Rodgers saying none of it is true but attacks his own club with the "leaks". What is going on with the New York Jets? At what point do we start to question if Robert Saleh can lead this team as their head coach?
13. Las Vegas Raiders (5 - 7)
The Las Vegas Raiders jumped out to a 14 - 0 lead on the Kansas City Chiefs two weeks ago, only to score a field goal the rest of the way and lose the game, 31 - 17. I hope the Raiders retain Antonio Pierce, has the players seem to respond to him and have played better since McDaniels was fired. Still, this team isn't very good for two reasons, the defense isn't very good and neither is their young rookie quarterback.
12. Tennessee Titans (4 - 8)
The Titans nearly beat the Indianapolis Colts but a missed extra point ruined that. Will Levis has looked pretty solid as a rookie, so maybe the future is bright for the Titans. But for this season, they are done. The question is, will Derek Henry continue to be their workhorse back, or is the wear and tear starting to catch up to him? We can ask the same about Deandre Hopkins.
11. Denver Broncos (6 - 6)
The Broncos won five straight games, which included wins against the Chiefs and the Buffalo Bills but that streak finally came to an end against the Houston Texans. Regardless, the Broncos are very much in the playoff hunt, along with several other 6 - 6 teams. This week they face the Los Angeles Chargers, so they will have an opportunity to begin a new winning streak.
10. Pittsburgh Steelers (7 - 5)
One week the Steelers look good and could be a playoff team but the next they are getting embarrassed by the Arizona Cardinals. And now they have to move forward without Kenny Pickett, maybe for the remainder of the season. By the time the end of the season arrives and we have our seven playoff teams, I don't anticipate the Steelers being one of them.
9. Buffalo Bills (6- 6)
It's unreal what is happening with the Bills. Statistically one of the top teams in the NFL, yet here they are with only six wins on the season and fighting for their playoff lives. It's a long shot at this point but despite the loss to the Eagles a couple of weeks ago, the offense was alive again, and took Philadelphia to over time. Maybe, just maybe Buffalo can go on a run this week, starting with the Kansas City Chiefs.
8. Cincinnati Bengals (6 - 6)
The Bengals were left for dead when Joe Burrow went down but on Monday night, backup Jake Browning gave their fans hope for this season. A big win against the Jacksonville Jaguars puts the Bengals squarely back in the playoff hunt. With the weapons the Bengals have, Browning doesn't even have to be as good as he was on Monday but if he is, watch out for the Bengals.
7. Indianapolis Colts (7 - 5)
The Colts have been without their starting quarterback and running back throughout most of this season yet continue to find ways to win. At one point the Colts were 3 - 5 and many felt they finally returned to normal; however, after four straight wins, this team is talking playoffs and could be a player down the stretch. Maybe this is the new normal for the Colts.
6. Cleveland Browns (7 - 5)
The Browns have now turned to 38-year-old Joe Flacco for likely the remainder of the season. He played well in their loss to the Los Angeles Rams, but will he continue to play at a high level, or will the Browns fizzle away down the stretch? Their defense remains the best in the league, so they should be in every game.
5. Houston Texans (7 - 5)
If you had asked me at the beginning of the season where the Texans would be in any power ranking, I would have said probably middle of the pack. However, Houston is in prime position to earn a playoff spot. Unfortunately, they lost their dynamic rookie receiver Tank Dell but expect Robert Woods and possibly John Metchie III to play a bigger role in the Texans' passing game.
4. Jacksonville Jaguars (8 - 4)
Jacksonville had an opportunity to put a little more of a hold on the division title but a loss to the Bengals brought the Texans only a game away from the AFC South lead. The Colts might have something to say as well but the Jaguars hold the best division record among the three, with a 4 - 1 record against their division rivals. However, with Trevor Lawrence's injury, who knows what the Jaguars will look like down the stretch?
3. Kansas City Chiefs (8 - 4)
As I mentioned in the opening, the Chiefs have lost three of their last five games and are looking very vulnerable this season. The AFC is going to be tough this year and it would be an impressive accomplishment if the Chiefs survived the playoffs and made it to another Super Bowl. Their offense has been anything but explosive, but their defense is championship-caliber.
2. Miami Dolphins (9 - 3)
Everyone outside of the Dolphins organization and their fans bring up the fact the Dolphins haven't beaten a team with a non-losing record. This includes me but at the end of the day, the Dolphins are winning the games they are supposed to, and that's more than we can say for some of the other teams. Are they the best team in the conference? I don't think so, but they have upcoming games against the Cowboys, Ravens, and Bills, so they will have some opportunities to put that narrative to bed.
1. Baltimore Ravens (9 - 3)
The Ravens enjoyed a bye week, which is good considering they lost their star tight end Mark Andrews. Isaiah Likely has done well at times in relief of Andrews but now he'll have to be the guy the rest of the way. Can the Ravens' other weapons, Zay Flowers and Odel Beckman Jr pick up the slack? They've had their moments throughout the season and this Ravens team is looking like they could be the team to represent the AFC in the Super Bowl.