New England Patriots

AFC Power Rankings Week 8: New England Patriots reign supreme

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

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LeGarrette Blount (29) and the New England Patriots top this week’s AFC power rankings. Credit: Jason Bridge-USA TODAY Sports

Since we are a New England Patriots-focused site, we are going to bypass NFL power rankings and create AFC power rankings entering Week 8. Here they are:

Cleveland Browns

(0-7)

Last week: (0-6)Last rank: 16th

Well, it’s official: this is the worst start for the Browns since their 1999 reboot as an NFL franchise. This team has some talent, plenty of fight, but absolutely no luck. Their quarterback gets hurt every week. Just a dreadful year in Cleveland.
15

Baltimore Ravens

(3-4)

Last week: (3-3)Last rank: 12th

10 total rushing yards from running backs (and six yards overall counting the negative four rushing yards by Joe Flacco) handicapped the Ravens against a tough New York defense. Come on, you just can’t win in the NFL rushing for just six yards. Yuck. That’s four losses in a row for the Ravens, which is why they are tucked behind the Jags despite having one more win.
14

Jacksonville Jaguars

(2-4)

Last week: (2-3)Last rank: 8th

Frustration boiled over for the Jaguars in Week 7, as evidenced by the ejections of defensive cornerstones Malik Jackson and Jalen Ramsey. Now, they have to pull themselves together in quick fashion to prepare for the Thursday nighter on the road against divisional rival Tennessee.
13

New York Jets

(2-5)

Last week: (1-5)Last rank: 15th

The Jets saved their season by edging the Ravens in Week 7, which is why the rank ahead of the purple birds in this week’s AFC power rankings. However, now they have a version of a quarterback controversy with Jets’ brass and Ryan Fitzpatrick fueding in front of everybody.
Next: 12. Tennessee Titans

Marcus Mariota (8) and thte Titans fumbled their way to a Week 7 loss. Credit: Jim Brown-USA TODAY Sports

Tennessee Titans

(3-4)

Last week: (3-3)Last rank: 11th

Losing to the Colts for a 10th consecutive time brought the Titans down a few spots in this week’s AFC power rankings. However, the Titans can even out to .500 at the midseason mark by taking care of business at home against the slumping Jaguars this Thursday night.
11

Indianapolis Colts

(3-4)

Last week: (2-4)Last rank: 14th

This time around, Andrew Luck didn’t have to do all of his homework in the fourth quarter, as the Colts rode T.Y. Hilton (133 yards, touchdown) and Jack Doyle (78 yards, touchdown) to victory over divisional rival Tennessee. Up next: a huge test at home against the streaking Chiefs.10

Cincinnati Bengals

(3-4)

Last week: (2-4)Last rank: 13th

A.J. Green’s unreal snag in traffic will go down as the top play from Week 7, and just may end up being the play of the season. A win across the pond at Wembley Stadium against the Washington Redskins next week would vault these cats up these AFC power rankings.
9

San Diego Chargers

(3-4)

Last week: (2-4)Last rank: 9th

All but one of the Chargers’ seven games this season have been decided by one possession. After having lost four of those games, the Chargers have edged the mighty Denver Broncos and Atlanta Falcons in the past two weeks, which is whey they reside in the middle of the AFC power rankings this week.
Next: 8. Miami Dolphins8

Miami Dolphins

(3-4)

Last week: (2-4)Last rank: 10th

So I thought I was pretty sly for picking up Jay Ajayi on the waiver wire last week, but then I had the bright idea to bench him for Giovani Bernard in Week 7. Yes, it was a mistake of the ages and I dropped to 1-6 on the season because of it… Ajayi leads the league with 418 yards over the past two games, and the Dolphins are better off because of it.7

Houston Texans

(4-3)

Last week: (4-2)Last rank: 4th

Last night, C.J. Anderson and Devontae Booker ran for more yards than Brock Osweiler threw for, the Texans fumbled two more times than they scored touchdowns (they didn’t reach pay dirt once) and no Texans wideout had more than 36 receiving yards. With three of their next four at home, however, the Texans still can take command of the AFC South, as well they should in such a mediocre division once again this season.6

Pittsburgh Steelers

(4-3)

Last week: (4-2)Last rank: 3rd

These losers of consecutive double-digit games to AFC East teams find themselves atop the mediocre AFC North, but that horrendous run defense could pose systemic issues for the Steelers down the road; after a Week 8 date with divisional rival Baltimore, the Steelers face the best rush offense in the league, that of the Dallas Cowboys. Watch out.5

Buffalo Bills

(4-3)

Last week: (4-2)Last rank: 2nd

Ah, what an opportunity the Bills had to take a strangehold on the AFC Wild Card race, but they fell flat on their face against divisonal rival Miami. Rex and Rob haven’t gotten much sleep the past few nights after watching Ajayi rip through their defense all afternoon. It won’t get any easier against the streaking LeGarrette Blount-led Patriots ground game this week. Next: 4. Denver Broncos

Von Miller (58) and the Broncos come in at No. 4 in this week’s AFC power rankings. Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

Denver Broncos

(5-2)

Last week: (4-2)Last rank: 5th

Oh, Denver… what a place to be a running back. Youngsters C.J. Anderson and Devontae Booker combined for 33 carries, 190 yards and a touchdown apiece last night, powering the Broncos to 5-2 in the top-heavy AFC West. Speaking of the AFC West, the Broncos face two tough divisional foes in the next two weeks: home vs. the Chargers and then on the road against the upstart Raiders.3

Kansas City Chiefs

(4-2)

Last week: (3-2)Last rank: 6th

Tyreek Hill, he of the same West Alabama alma mater as Malcolm Butler, provided a spark for this upward-tracking Chiefs team in Week 7 by hauling in a 38-yard dart from Alex Smith. The Chiefs will look for more big plays from their rookie as they tour parts of the AFC South (Indy and Jacksonville) and the NFC South (Carolina and Tampa Bay) in the coming weeks.2

Oakland Raiders

(5-2)

Last week: (4-2)Last rank: 7th

This is the Raiders’ best start since in 15 years. Let’s just ponder that for a second. The Raiders haven’t been at this level since Jon Gruden was actually on the sideline, not in the broadcast booth. Speaking of Gruden and the Raiders, in Week 8 the silver and black face the team that defeated them in Super Bowl XXXVII, the Buccaneers.1

New England Patriots

(6-1)

Last week: (5-1)Last rank: 1st

The Patriots take the reins as the No. 1 team in these AFC power rankings for the simple reason of consistency. In a year characterized by mediocre teams (and thus slumping TV ratings), the Patriots have weathered the various storms before them and keep finding ways around the roadblocks. Tell you what: the more Malcolm Butler gets his mitts on the ball, the better.