The AFC Playoff Picture is truly heating up now, as the race for the top seed is still on, and we still do not have a division clinched as we approach Week 17. This upcoming week is a unique won, as there are multiple games on Thursday, two massive games on Saturday, and also the normal primetime slate on Sunday and Monday.
This conference appears to be quite deep, and there is an argument for most playoff teams in the AFC to make a run to the Super Bowl this year. It's truly wide open, especially without the Kansas City Chiefs.
Approaching Week 17, let's power rank the AFC playoff teams and see where they all stack up.
Power ranking all current AFC playoff teams approaching Week 17 action
7. Pittsburgh Steelers
The Pittsburgh Steelers are a relatively average team and will now not have DK Metcalf for the final two games of the regular season. I am not sure Pittsburgh is built to win a playoff game this year, and I really believe that they are only in the top spot in the AFC North because the Baltimore Ravens just began the year in a rough spot. The Steelers are, by far, the 'worst' playoff team in the AFC.
6. Los Angeles Chargers
The Los Angeles Chargers' poor offensive line is going to catch up to them at some point - Justin Herbert has been sacked nearly 50 times this year and is really doing a lot. LA is a good team, but nothing more, and I believe they are going to endure the same fate this year in the playoffs that they did last year - a blowout loss in the first round. The roster still needs a bit of work.
5. Buffalo Bills
The Buffalo Bills have seen both sides of the ball regress this year, but they're still stacking wins. With the New England Patriots surging, Buffalo still has work to do to win the AFC East. Many are wondering if this is the year for Josh Allen and the Bills since the team won't have to deal with the Chiefs, but this roster is rather average, and Buffalo is currently set to be on the road in the first round of the playoffs if they can win the AFC East this year.
4. Houston Texans
The Houston Texans have been on a heater the past few months. After a shaky 0-3 start, this team has since gone 10-2 and has racked up a ton of quality wins in the process. Houston is a huge threat in the AFC due to their top-tier defense and CJ Stroud already having four playoff games of experience across his first two seasons in the NFL. I am not sure if Houston is quite good enough to make a Super Bowl run this year, but they have a strong defense, a great head coach, and an experienced QB. That is absolutely a recipe for success in the postseason.
3. Jacksonville Jaguars
The Jacksonville Jaguars were playing very good football for most of the season, but they really seemed to put themselves on the map with their massive Week 16 win over the Denver Broncos. The Jaguars snapped the Broncos' 11-game win streak and also snapped their long home win streak. Now 11-4 on the season, Jacksonville is climbing up power rankings all over the place and control their own destiny for the AFC South title this year. If the Jags keep up this pace, I don't see how they aren't advancing deep into the playoffs.
2. Denver Broncos
The Denver Broncos are still first in the AFC despite the blowout loss in Week 16 - this is still a great team, and it just goes to show you how great they've been this year if they could lose and all other AFC playoff teams win, and the Broncos are still in the driver's seat in the conference. All the team has to do to wrap up the one seed is win both of their remaining games, but they could also clinch the top seed in Week 17. With a clutch QB, excellent head coach, and great defense, the Broncos are a juggernaut.
1. New England Patriots
The New England Patriots are back to no. 1 in our AFC playoff power rankings, as they beat the Baltimore Ravens in primetime in Week 16 and are probably the most well-rounded team in the conference. New England would need a little bit of help to earn the top seed in the AFC, but this team has done a total 180 and are flat-out excellent at nearly everything.