AFC power rankings, no. 13-10:
13. New York Jets (Last week: 14)
The New York Jets move up a spot after not playing a game! That is fitting for the Jets, who are still one of the worst teams in the conference. There is a line drawn between the Jets and the rest of the teams on this power ranking.
While the next couple of teams still are not great, they are all on a completely different level than the Jets, who very well could compete for the first overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft.
12. Denver Broncos (Last week: 10)
Look, I am out on the Denver Broncos. They were fraudulent after the first three weeks of the season and what has followed has been nothing but awful. The team got absolutely outclassed by the Ravens at home, were defeated by the corpse of Ben Roethlisberger and then were blown out by the Las Vegas Raiders.
They should have beaten the Steelers and the other two games were not even close. Yes, they have a 3-3 record, but two of those wins are against bottom-tier AFC teams while another win is against the abysmal New York Giants, who were completely worked against the LA Rams in Week 6.
Frauds. Easily the worst 500.+ team in the league.
11. Indianapolis Colts (Last week: 12)
The Indianapolis Colts blew out the Houston Texans, which is not the most impressive win in the world, but their schedule has actually been pretty tough this season. Let's recap: they lost by three points to one of the best teams in the LA Rams, narrowly lost a close game against the Tennessee Titans that could have gone either way and took the Ravens to overtime, nearly beating them.
Their losses are far more impressive than the Broncos' wins! If we flipped the schedules of the Colts and Broncos the Colts would at least be 3-3 while the Broncos would be 2-4 or worse. I like the Colts slightly more.
10. New England Patriots (Last week: 11)
Yes, they lost, but they took a true Super Bowl contender to overtime and nearly beat them. The Patriots' schedule has been pretty brutal but the team has played well against great teams. They barely lost to Dallas, lost to Tampa Bay on a last-second field goal and only lost to the Miami Dolphins because Damien Harris fumbled in field goal range.
There is an alternate reality where three very small changes occur and the Patriots are 5-1 instead of 2-4. They would be the worst 5-1 team in the league, but they are better than 2-4.
Next up, the no. 9-6 ranked teams.