New England Patriots

AFC Power Rankings: New England Patriots lead entering Week 2

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

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New England Patriots LeGarrette Blount (29) and Brandon Bolden (38) jump for joy in Week 1. Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Welcome to the first edition of 2016 AFC Power Rankings here on Musket Fire. We are a New England Patriots-focused site, so we steer clear of entire NFL power rankings, specializing in bringing you the most relevant Patriots information.

Here they are, 2016 AFC Power Rankings entering Week 2. Keep in mind that this is essentially a ranking from who lost worse to who won best.

Cleveland Browns

(0-1)

Last week: 0-0Last rank: N/A

Not only did the Browns lose their opener by 19 points (the largest margin of loss among AFC teams last week), but they also lost their starting quarterback. It appears that Robert Griffin III will be out until midseason at the earliest with a shoulder injury.

To add insult to injury, the Browns have now lost 10 home openers in a row.

Week 2 – @ Baltimore Ravens

Buffalo Bills

(0-1)

Last week: 0-0Last rank: N/A

Here’s another AFC team dwelling in the cellar after losing a key offensive player in a losing effort. The Bills will be without Sammy Watkins for the next few weeks, and to make matters worse, they have short break before playing the much-sighed-about Thursday Night game.

Week 2 – vs. New York Jets

Tennessee Titans

(0-1)

Last week: 0-0Last rank: N/A

Three turnovers in seven minutes doomed the Titans against the Minnesota Vikings despite two receiving touchdowns by DeMarco Murray. But you just can’t allow 25 straight points and expect to win an NFL football game.

Week 2 – @ Detroit Lions

San Diego Chargers

(0-1)

Last week: 0-0Last rank: N/A

While it was good to see Melvin Gordon and Danny Woodhead combine for 30 touches, 156 yards and two touchdowns (both Gordon’s), the Chargers rank in the bottom five of the AFC right now because they surrendered such a huge lead in a game they really needed to win. And the loss of Keenan Allen for the year speaks for itself.

Week 2 – vs. Jacksonville Jaguars

Eric Decker (87) gestures in Week 1. Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

New York Jets

(0-1)

Last week: 0-0Last rank: N/A

The Jets started off strong, gaining a 16-13 halftime lead, but they failed to sustain the effort in an AFC power matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals. The good news is that the front seven forced seven sacks, and Matt Forte led the offense in both rushing yards (96) and receiving yards (59).

Now, it’s short break for the Jets before a divisional test on Thursday Night Football.

Week 2 – @ Buffalo Bills

Jacksonville Jaguars

(0-1)

Last week: 0-0Last rank: N/A

T.J. Yeldon got off to a hot start, acting as the focal point in the Jaguars’ offense in the first quarter and scoring a touchdown. However, he ended up tallying just 39 yards on 21 carries. The Jags are inches away from winning that kind of game against a top-five NFL team, they just need Yeldon and Chris Ivory to coalesce in the backfield.

Next week – @ San Diego Chargers

Indianapolis Colts

(0-1)

Last week: 0-0Last rank: N/A

A horrendous defensive effort kept the Colts from earning a win in Week 1 to match the Houston Texans’ victory and reside at the top of the AFC South. Andrew Luck can throw the ball to Mars, but this team won’t haul itself from under the shadows of New England and Denver with defense like that. Speaking of the Broncos, the Colts get a shot at them pretty soon…

Next week – @ Denver Broncos

Miami Dolphins

(0-1)

Last week: 0-0Last rank: N/A

The Dolphins get ranked the highest among the eight AFC losers from Week 1 because they matched up well against the Seattle Seahawks in that ferocious environment. Holding Russell Wilson and the Seahawks offense to 12 points was an accomplishment. But at the same time, the Miami offense needs to put up at least 13 points if they expect to beat anybody. Big divisional test next week for this new-look squad…

Week 2 – @ New England Patriots

Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh looks on in Week 1. Mitch Stringer-USA TODAY Sports

Baltimore Ravens

(1-0)

Last week: 0-0Last rank: N/A

Brett Perriman’s impressive 35-yard grab highlighted the Ravens’ opening game on offense in an otherwise defense-dominated affair. Chalk up the victory in part to a secondary allowed just 111 passing yards, and in part to the run defense absolutely stuffing the Bills at every turn.

Week 2 – @ Cleveland Browns

Houston Texans

(1-0)

Last week: 0-0Last rank: N/A

If you’re a Texans fan, this is what you like to see in Week 1. Lamar Miller rushing for 106 yards; Brock Osweiler overcoming a first drive interception to pilot the team to victory; Will Fuller ripping off 107 receiving yards, the first wideout in team history to pass the 100-yard mark in their NFL debut. Patriots fans should keep an eye on the Texans as that Week 3 matchup nears.

Week 2 – vs. Kansas City Chiefs

Cincinnati Bengals

(1-0)

Last week: 0-0Last rank: N/A

What a day for A.J. Green, nabbing 12 passes for 180 yards and a 54-yard touchdown. On the other side of the ball, Josh Shaw contributed an interception. The Bengals managed to overcome some first half difficulties to secure the valuable AFC victory.

Week 2 – @ Pittsburgh Steelers

Pittsburgh Steelers

(1-0)

Last week: 0-0Last rank: N/A

This writer was going against Antonio Brown this week in fantasy football; it was a rough Monday night, to say the least. Brown opened the year ripping off over 125 yards and reached the end zone on two occasions, ruining my fantasy football week and catapulting the Steelers into the top five of these AFC power rankings.

Week 2 – vs. Cincinnati Bengals

Derek Carr (4) pumps his fist in Week 1. Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports

Oakland Raiders

(1-0)

Last week: 0-0Last rank: N/A

Yes, the defense surrendered a cringeworthy 424 passing yards through the air, but the Raiders make the top four of these AFC power rankings entering Week 2 because of some gutsy play-calling. Give Jack Del Rio credit for taking the game by the horns and going for two, and give even more credit to Derek Carr and Michael Crabtree for executing.

Kansas City Chiefs

(1-0)

Last week: 0-0Last rank: N/A

The Chiefs crack the top tier of these AFC power rankings after one of their best performances in franchise history, a 17-point opening day comeback victory. Two claps for Spencer Ware; the running back caught seven passes for an astounding 129 yards.

Week 2 – @ Houston Texans

Denver Broncos

(1-0)

Last week: 0-0Last rank: N/A

The Broncos navigated their way past a team that doesn’t think too highly of them in Week 1. This team may have lost some pieces, but that pass rushing threat is still there in droves. Giving the ball to C.J. Anderson (92 yards last Thursday night) will be key to success on the other side of the ball.

Week 2 – vs. Indianapolis Colts

New England Patriots

(1-0)

Last week: 0-0Last rank: N/A

For the first time in more years than one hand can count, the Patriots double-digit underdogs in an NFL game. Do you think that got to Bill Belichick a little bit?

Look, the Patriots must have received an outstanding pregame speech, because that team played steady and strong all game, overcoming hiccups here and there to earn the upset victory over a leading Super Bowl contender.

All without their two best players.

Check back at the beginning of every week for an updated Musket Fire AFC power rankings.