The Buffalo Bills won a hard-fought battle against the Los Angeles Chargers, although, on paper, it shouldn't have been that difficult. Regardless, maybe in hindsight, we could have predicted this outcome a little better. The Bills were on a short week, traveling across county and the Chargers were just embarrassed by the Las Vegas Raiders the week before. Oh, and the Chargers head coach, Brandon Staley was fired, which often can reinvigorate a team, especially one that the head coach lost weeks ago. But a win is a win and Josh Allen did what he had to do to secure a victory for the third week in a row.
What about the rest of the AFC though. There were a couple of surprise losses and performances this past weekend. For example, who would have thought the Baltimore Ravens would dominate the San Francisco 49ers the way they did? Certainly not me, as I expected the game to be won in the final minutes of the game, not in the final minutes of the first half. Another surprising outcome was the Pittsburgh Steelers showing up against the Cincinnati Bengals, despite the Bengals being without Joe Burrow and Ja'Marr Chase, I didn't see the Steelers coming out with a convincing 34 - 11 win.
What about the AFC South, wow. In a season that most expected the Jacksonville Jaguars ro run away with, they have struggled and now sit with a 8 - 7 record but the Houston Texans or Indianapolis Colts were able to capitalize, so the Jaguars are still in first place. All four teams in the division suffered embarrassing losses, with only the Tennessee Titans putting up much of a fight in their loss to the Seattle Seahawks.
We can't forget the Kansas City Chiefs either, dropping their fifth game over the last eight. This time, losing to the Raiders, giving up two defensive scores to the Raiders in a 20 - 14 loss. What's worse, the Raiders didn't complete a single pass after the first quarter yet found a way to down the Chiefs. Then of course there is the Miami Dolphins, defeating the Dallas Cowboys 22 - 20 and finally getting a win over a team with a winning record, albeit against a team with a losing road record. Something had to give.
16. Los Angeles Chargers (5 - 10)
The Chargers played a scrappy game against the Bills and put up a better fight than most expected, but they are only a couple of weeks removed from giving up 63 points to the Raiders. A Raiders team that didn't complete a pass after the first quarter. The Chargers are still in disarray, without Herbert and no head coach, and multiple other injuries.
15. New England Patriots (4 - 11)
The Patriots' win over the Broncos was a little surprising but then again, I think the Broncos were being overrated after their five-game win streak. The Patriots have nothing to play for at this point but could have a lot to say about the AFC East. They face the Bills this weekend, who will be looking to continue their pursuit of the division title, but you never know what you'll get in divisional battles.
14. New York Jets (6 - 9)
The Jets picked up their sixth win of the year against a Washington Commanders team that is in the middle of a rebuild and likely losing their head coach at season's end. Despite that, the Commanders gave the Jets a run but managed to put up 30 points on the scoreboard, but the Jets are still the Jets and at the end of the day, aren't a good football team.
13. Tennessee Titans (5 - 10)
Will Levis is fun to watch and has been good enough as a rookie to keep the Titans somewhat competitive in most games, even pulling off an upset here and there (insert Dolphins here). The Titans have other questions this offseason they'll need to answer but at least it appears they have their quarterback for the future. Now, what will they do with Derrick Henry after the season concludes?
12. Denver Broncos (7 - 8)
It appears the Broncos have come back down to earth since winning five straight and making people think they might actually be good. Sure, they won some big games during that five-game stretch but here we are now with them losing to the Patriots having dropped three of their last four and looking more like the team from early in the season.
11. Las. Vegas Raiders (7 - 8)
The Raiders are still alive in the division race for the AFC West title, after defeating the Chiefs 20 - 14. Their defense was phenomenal against the Chiefs, producing two defensive touchdowns and holding Kansas City to just 14 points. The Raiders didn't complete a single pass after the first quarter and had to take the field without Josh Jacobs. That's a huge testament to how impressive Las Vegas' defense was in this game.
10. Indianapolis Colts (8 - 7)
What is up with the Colts? One week they look great and like a playoff team, but the next week they lose to the Atlanta Falcons by a score of 29 - 10. The Colts might find their way into the playoffs but even if they do, I don't think they make it very far, but then again, maybe we'll get the playoff version of the Colts. In the AFC this year, not many teams appear to be unbeatable, so who knows at this point? It's been a crazy and unpredictable season so far.
9. Houston Texans (8 - 7)
It's unfortunate for the Texans that C.J. Stroud has missed the last two games. Whether you are a Texans fan or not, it's been fun watching this rookie do what he's been doing this season. If he doesn't win rookie of the year, it'll be a shame. Other rookies are playing very well but to play quarterback at the NFL level and play it at a high level as a rookie is far more impressive than anything else.
8. Jacksonville Jaguars (8 - 7)
I'm not sure there is a more disappointing team this season than the Jaguars. Many, myself included believed this team would be one of the better teams in the league. They looked that way for a while but now look like a team struggling to just hold on. Now questions are beginning to arise about Trevor Lawrence and his status as the number one draft pick. Is he a bust based on the lofty expectations? You could certainly do worse, but he hasn't lived up to the hype.
7. Cincinnati Bengals (8 - 7)
The Bengals survived without Joe Burrow while Jake Browning took over at quarterback but couldn't survive without Burrow and Ja'Marr Chase. The Steelers dominated them, led by Mason Rudolph, 34 - 11. It's not yet known if Chase will be able to go this weekend, but if the Bengals hope to stay alive in the AFC playoff race, they better hope he can play against the Chiefs, or it could be another long Sunday afternoon.
6. Pittsburgh Steelers (8 - 7)
So here we are with the Steelers, making probably the biggest jump of any team. The Steelers had a great performance against the Bengals but their jump in these rankings was more about all the teams that lost, who were previously ahead of them. Can the Steelers hold this spot? Who knows, they have to travel to Seattle and face a Seahawks team that is also fighting for a playoff spot in the NFC.
5. Kansas City Chiefs (9 - 6)
I don't think anyone expected the Chiefs to be sitting here at 9 - 6 heading into week 17, but here they are. The offense is simply a shell of its former self; however, the defense is still formidable and one of the best in the league. After dropping to the Raiders, 20 - 14, they find themselves in a little bit of a battle to try to keep the Raiders behind them for the division title. While seems unlikely the Chiefs drop their last two and lose the division to the Raiders, they have dropped five of their last eight, so at this point, it wouldn't shock me.
4. Miami Dolphins (11 - 4)
I know, how did the Dolphins fall back in the rankings after they just beat the Dallas Cowboys by a score of 22 - 20? The biggest reason for it was I simply couldn't keep them ahead of the Bills any longer. Buffalo dominated the Cowboys and the Dolphins, plus this was the first win against a team with a winning record, whereas the Bills have beaten the four teams above .500, including the Dolphins and Chiefs. I simply couldn't rank the Bills lower any longer.
3. Buffalo Bills (9 - 6)
What a few wins can do for you. The Bills were sitting at 6 - 6 and in the 11th seed in the AFC just three weeks ago. Now, after consecutive wins against the Chiefs, Cowboys, and Chargers, they are 9 - 6 and occupy the sixth seed. The next two weeks are huge for the Bills for not only a playoff spot but also the AFC East crown and possibly the two seed heading into the AFC playoffs in a couple of weeks.
2. Cleveland Browns (10 - 5)
What Joe Flacco is doing right now is crazy and a cool story; however, I don't think he will keep it up but until he falters, this Browns team is playing as well as anyone in the league and they have the defense to go up against any offense in the league. If Flacco continues to play at this level, the Browns could be a very difficult out in the AFC playoffs. Can you imagine a Flacco-led Browns representing the AFC in the Super Bowl? I can't.
1. Baltimore Ravens (12 - 3)
The Ravens are on a roll right now and look to be the best team in the NFL after taking down the 49ers in dominant fashion 33 - 19. They get ready to take on the Miami Dolphins this weekend in a game that will likely decide the number one seed and home field throughout the playoffs. It's also a big game for division titles. Neither team has locked up their respective division but a win in this game will accomplish just that for the winner.