Week 12 AFC Power Rankings

Twelve weeks into the NFL season and the playoff picture is starting to take form. Here is my ranking of each AFC team

We are now well into the back half of the NFL season and teams are starting to separate from each other. The playoff picture is taking shape and we are getting to crunch time. Let's take a look at where each team ranks and where the Cleveland Browns fall.

16. New England Patriots (2-9)

This team has been bad all year long and Sunday was yet another example of that. In a matchup of two of the worst teams in football, the Patriots fell to the Giants and you could argue that they have become very good at tanking. Their full focus should be finding a new quarterback for next year.

15. Tennessee Titans (4-7) 

Will Levis got off to a good start in his first action a couple of weeks ago but has since come back to earth. They are one-and-three in their last four but their victory on Sunday was over the worst team in the NFL, the Carolina Panthers. The Titans have been disappointing all season long but will look to finish the year strong and build confidence in their rookie quarterback.

14. New York Jets (4-7)

The Jets played in the first Black Friday game in NFL history and it was so bad for New York. The Dolphins came up to MetLife Stadium and stomped New York. It's been a lost season once Aaron Rodgers went down on the fourth play, but now they just need to get to the offseason with no injuries.

13. Cincinnati Bengals (5-6)

The Bengals were not playing great even when they had Joe Burrow and without him, they will really struggle. His replacement Jake Browning didn't play well in his debut on Sunday's loss to Pittsburgh. They too need to regroup and get to this offseason without losing anyone else to injury.

Injured Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow (9) talks with injured wide receiver Tee Higgins (5) on the sideline in the fourth quarter of the NFL Week 12 game between the Cincinnati Bengals and the Pittsburgh Steelers at Paycor Stadium in Cincinnati on Sunday, Nov. 26, 2023. The Steelers took a 16-10 win over the Bengals in Cincinnati :: © Sam Greene/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK

12. Los Angeles Charges (4-7)

The Chargers took the Baltimore Ravens to the brink on Sunday but again came up short. The seat under head coach Brandon Staley must be on fire as this team has underperformed from the very beginning of the season.

11. Las Vegas Raiders (5-6)

The Raiders got up 14-0 on the Chiefs in the first quarter on Sunday. They proceeded to lose the rest of the game 31-3 and fell 31-17. Rookie Aiden O'Connell has shown some promise and this Raiders team has proved to be frisky late in this season. 

10. Indianapolis Colts (6-5)

If the playoffs started today, the Colts would be in. I don't believe they are a fake six-and-five but I do think that they have beaten some bad teams to get there. Their last three wins are over the Panthers, Patriots and Bucs. Not exactly murderers row, but they are in the thick of the playoff picture.

9. Buffalo Bills (6-6)

Two really unfortunate losses have the Bills at six-and-six instead of eight-and-four. They lost on a walk-off field goal against the Broncos and a walk-off touchdown against the Eagles. A tough stretch for these Bills have them on the outside looking in.

8. Pittsburgh Steelers (7-4)

The Steelers eclipsed 400 yards of total offense for the first time in 58 games, and with all of those yards they scored 16 points. They needed a late interception to set up a touchdown drive to beat the lowly Bengals. Pittsburgh has somehow gotten to seven-and-four but they are not among the conference's best.

7. Houston Texans (6-5)

This Texans team is a really good football team. CJ Stroud is a legit NFL quarterback and the team is rallying around him. They were maybe one foot away from beating the Jaguars on Sunday. While they aren't quite among the conference's best, they are definitely a force to be reckoned with.

6. Cleveland Browns (7-4)

The Browns are beat up. They have done so much to get to this point in the season but on Sunday they ended up losing Dorian Thompson-Robinson, Amari Cooper and Myles Garrett to injury. This team can't take many more injuries and  this team's once-promising season is looking bleak.

5. Denver Broncos (6-5)

In Week 12, the Denver Broncos are the fifth-best team in the AFC. They are on a five-game winning streak, their defense is playing great, Russell Wilson is doing enough and they are winning football games. What they have is sustainable and can push them to the playoffs. 

4. Jacksonville Jaguars (8-3)

The Jags are great. They went into Houston and took one from the Texans to grab a stranglehold on the AFC South. Barring major injury, this team will win the AFC South and will host a playoff game.

3. Miami Dolphins (8-3)

The Dolphins took care of business on Black Friday and pounded the Jets. Miami is rolling right now. They have games against the Commanders, Titans, and Jets before a huge game against the Cowboys in a month. This team has the ingredients to get it all this year.

2. Kansas City Chiefs (8-3)

The Chiefs are going to be there at the end thanks to Patrick Mahomes. No matter what the situation is with his receivers, he is going to show up and always have that Chiefs team in the game. What is also driving this team is their elite defense. Their defense is great and it compliments Mahomes perfectly. Kansas City is still among the league's best.

1. Baltimore Ravens (8-3)

If the season ended today the AFC would go through Baltimore. They are the top seed in the AFC and Lamar Jackson is playing great football, maybe some of the best of his career. Their defense is fantastic and they are a really tough team to beat. If they can stay healthy they will have a chance to do it this year.

The AFC is loaded. Every team from the 11th spot down is capable of making the playoffs. Only seven will and we are officially getting into crunch time in 2023.