Although the AFC has not turned out the way really anybody expected this season, it's really been a fascinating year for the "I got next" group of quarterbacks. Going into the season, it was all about Allen, Mahomes, Burrow, and Lamar. At this point, the new era of quarterbacks in the AFC is taking over.
Bo Nix and the Broncos are battling it out with Drake Maye and the Patriots along with Trevor Lawrence and the Jaguars for the #1 seed in the AFC. Mahomes won't even be in the postseason for the first time in his NFL career.
Entering Week 18 of the regular season, the playoff field in the AFC is nearly set, but division titles are up for grabsand that top seed is up for grabs. How do each of these teams stack up against each other going into the final week of regular season action?
NFL Power Rankings, Week 18: Top spot up for grabs entering final week
16. New York Jets
The Jets don't have the worst record in the AFC at this point, but the showing we saw against the Patriots was our best indicator that they might be the worst team in the conference, regardless. It's been a tough year for the Jets this year, a year of transition. A new head coach and general manager came in with an optimistic outlook for the year, but it's been more of a disaster.
The Jets have no current answer at quarterback, they traded multiple foundational players, and an offseason of question marks looms.
15. Las Vegas Raiders
The Raiders have been horrendous almost the entire season. Actually, what's really funny is that a win by this team back in Week 1 against the Patriots could be the determining factor for the #1 seed in the AFC between the Patriots and Broncos.
Nevertheless, the Raiders face another offseason of rebuilding, and I'm not sure Pete Carroll is around for that. The decision to shut down Maxx Crosby may also lead to the team's best player demanding his way out in the offseason. It's ugly for this franchise.
14. Cleveland Browns
The Cleveland Browns boast one of the best defenses in the NFL, but it hasn't mattered all that much this season with their struggles offensively. This team is getting some good looks at young players who will be part of the foundation going forward, but that's about it.
It's been at least interesting to watch this team with Shedeur Sanders under center compared to the likes of Joe Flacco and Dillon Gabriel. Those guys were clearly not part of the long-term solution, but Sanders actually might be. We're all fixing to find out.
13. Kansas City Chiefs
The Kansas City Chiefs put up a nice fight against the Denver Broncos on Christmas night, especially considering the number of injuries they are dealing with right now. Chris Oladokun has proven -- to himself, if nobody else -- that he belongs in the NFL. The Chiefs have nothing to play for except to stay as healthy as possible against the Raiders in Week 18.
The upcoming offseason is going to put this team under a microscope. Patrick Mahomes' recovery, the need for a revamped offensive line, being in the red on the salary cap, and possible coach departures will be huge.
12. Tennessee Titans
I'm not saying the Titans have looked like a future juggernaut, or anything, but we're seeing some nice strides from this team offensively late this season. The Titans have their franchise QB of the future in Cam Ward, who has made some big-time throws down the stretch this season. He's also had some bad whiffs, but the flashes are there and the Titans know they can build around this guy.
The development of players like Gunnar Helm, Chimere Dike, and Elic Ayomanor this season has been exciting for this fan base to watch.
11. Miami Dolphins
The Miami Dolphins have been closing out the season rather strong, and it'll be fun to see what they do against the Patriots in Week 18. Especially with all of the distractions the Patriots are currently dealing with off the field. Bradley Chubb was playing like a man possessed with a $1 million incentive on the line this past week in a Dolphins victory, and he's got even more incentives on the line in Week 18.
With future jobs on the line, it wouldn't be shocking at all to see the Dolphins surprise the Patriots with effort and hustle. Mike McDaniel is auditioning for his job in Miami as well as potentially elsewhere if the Dolphins move on.
10. Cincinnati Bengals
The Cincinnati Bengals would have to be the AFC's top "what if" story of the year. If Joe Burrow is healthy all year, how far could this team have gone? In the AFC North the way it's looked this season, it's hard to imagine they wouldn't have been able to at least win that division.
Alas, we'll never know. Perhaps the Bengals and Cowboys can play each other in the "What If Bowl" after the season. All kidding aside, the Bengals aren't a factor but they are a team to watch going forward. The offseason ahead could be full of drama for this team.
9. Indianapolis Colts
Philip Rivers coming back in 2025 will go down as one of the craziest sports comeback stories of all time. Even though he hadn't played since the 2020 season, it was almost as if Rivers never left. He obviously didn't have quite enough to get the Colts back into the postseason, but you would be lying if you said what he did out there wasn't impressive. The Colts played these last handful of weeks exceptionally tough.
That story, however, is over. The Colts are expected to run it back with Daniel Jones, so we'll see how this team continues to build in the 2026 offseason.
8. Pittsburgh Steelers
Out of all the teams vying for the playoffs in Week 18, I'm putting the least amount of stock into the Steelers. I have zero faith that they're going to be able to beat the Ravens, even though they just beat them recently. I'm just not picking up what they're putting down. It's been such an up-and-down year for the Steelers, and I'm not confident they're going to be able to shut down that Ravens' running game.
This is just one of those teams that isn't passing the proverbial eye test week after week.
7. Baltimore Ravens
So what do we think of the Baltimore Ravens? When you see Derrick Henry going off for four touchdowns and over 200 yards on the ground, you can't help but start to believe again. Everything we know about the Ravens this year almost feel's like fool's gold, because so much of their reputation right now is based on what they've been and not as much what they are.
But even with that in mind, you have to take this team seriously. And Lamar Jackson is returning to the field for Week 18. Can we not all see this team catching a little wind in their sails and doing damage in the postseason?
6. Los Angeles Chargers
The Los Angeles Chargers are one of the simplest evaluations across the NFL right now. They are tough and physical defensively. They are going to be in almost every game. But will Justin Herbert have enough from his supporting cast to win games in January? Herbert has shown outstanding toughness in recent weeks, playing through a hand injury that required surgery.
He's capable of willing his team to victory, but I'm not sure the Chargers will be able to overcome all of the injuries they've been dealing with. It's not always the best team that gets to the Super Bowl, but the healthiest.
5. Buffalo Bills
Even after getting completely shut down by the Vic Fangio defense, the Bills were nearly able to pull off an impressive comeback and came just one two-point conversion away from beating the Eagles on Sunday. Still, that game was another microcosm of the Bills' season in 2025. This team is just a day late and a dollar short too often.
The Bills have a quarterback who has won a lot of postseason games, so they have to be considered extremely dangerous. But at the same time, Superman has shown he can only carry so much of the weight. That defense has to step up for the Bills in the postseason.
4. Houston Texans
The Texans are on an even playing field with everyone else offensively in this AFC playoff race, but at this stage, I don't know that there is a defense around the NFL playing better than Houston's. For a large chunk of the seaosn, there were a number of other teams that could really compete for that distinction, but Houston has been the cream rising to the top over the long haul.
That defense can win a championship, but does the offense have what it takes? After getting out to a 14-0 lead against the Chargers, the Texans' offense fell completely flat. Their offensive line and running game could be the team's downfall.
3. New England Patriots
With the #1 seed on the line this weekend, it's wild that the Patriots are dealing with off-field issues involving both star receiver Stefon Diggs and defensive lineman Christian Barmore. Mike Vrabel said he's expecting those guys to play on Sunday, but how much of a distraction is that going to be going into the posteason?
The allegations are serious, and the way the NFL approaches discipline could loom large. It seems like the Patriots have a legitimate chance to win a title this year, but I'm not sure if they'll be able to do it without those two guys.
2. Denver Broncos
The Denver Broncos have been one of the most resilient teams in the NFL this season. At one point, this team won 11-straight games, and people were trying to poke holes in that winning streak all along the way.
The reality is that the Broncos simply found about a million different ways to win games. They've won shootouts, they've won barn-buners, they've won defensive battles, and pretty much no situation has been too much for this team to overcome. They've taken a massive leap forward as a team from where they were at a year ago at this time.
The big question for the Broncos right now is whether that defense can step it up and look like the unit we saw earlier in the year.
1. Jacksonville Jaguars
The Jacksonville Jaguars might be the hottest team in the NFL right now, not only in terms of winning seven-straight games, but looking like one of the most complimentary teams in the game. The Jags are playing so well in all phases right now, and if you're a Jacksonville fan, you've just go to be hoping the team did not peak too early.
This team can beat you through the air, on the ground, with takeaways, and they get it done with a variety of weapons on the offensive side of the ball. The addition of Jakobi Meyers has been a gift from the football gods for this team.
For the time being, the Jags have earned their spot at the top.