5. Buffalo Bills
The Buffalo Bills have an excellent offense but a flat-out bad defense, so this team might have to keep winning in shootout fashion. With how good Josh Allen is, though, that is possible. On the other hand, Allen is a QB that tends to make some bone-headed mistakes from time to time, but the one thing that is different with Buffalo this year is Sean McDermott no longer being the head coach in favor of Joe Brady.
That could be enough of a difference to get Buffalo over the edge when the playoffs roll around.
4. San Francisco 49ers
San Francisco is banged-up, but both sides of the ball are awesome, and the Kyle Shanahan era has already resulted in two Super Bowl appearances. As long as the roster health does not fall off the deep end, the Niners are every bit of a Super Bowl contender.
3. Denver Broncos
The Denver Broncos late-game heroics are still here in 2026, and seeing as this team likely makes the Super Bowl last year had Bo Nix not gotten hurt, there is a path for Denver to actually get there this year. The defense is still coming up clutch, and Nix himself continues to perform when his team needs him to the most.
2. Jacksonville Jaguars
Jacksonville could be the most complete team in the AFC right now. The defense is stingy, and Trevor Lawrence is playing like an MVP. Coming in at No. 2 in our rankings, the Jaguars have it all and could have every reason to get active at the NFL Trade Deadline.
1. Chicago Bears
The Chicago Bears adding Jeffery Simmons to a defense that was already playing well could genuinely be the move that takes this team over the edge. Caleb Williams is playing excellent football as well, and, perhaps like the Jaguars, the Bears are one of the more complete teams in the sport and could have every single box checked that you want in a contending team. Chicago tops our power rankings as Week 9 continues.
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