NFL Week 8: Ranking All 16 AFC Teams

Zack Cook
Host · Writer
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1. Kansas City Chiefs
Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs look to three-peat as Super Bowl champions this season. The Chiefs offense showed an ability to stretch the field in Week 1 and 4, but found success in Week 2 in different facets against Cincinnati. Until someone dethrones them, it's hard to rank the Chiefs anywhere else on our list after a perfect start through Week 6. With a Super Bowl rematch in the books, the Chiefs officially have San Francisco's number.
AFC Championship Winner 2024-25: +195
2. Baltimore Ravens
Even if this Baltimore Ravens core hasn't been able to close the deal in January, there's still a lot to like about this football team, led by two-time MVP Lamar Jackson. The Ravens look exactly like the contender we thought they'd be this season after some early growing pains.
AFC Championship Winner 2024-25: +280
3. Houston Texans
With C.J. Stroud making the leap to stardom during his rookie campaign in Houston, the Texans have surged into a genuine Super Bowl contender with some offseason additions. We still have concerns about their difficult schedule, but the talent on this roster can't be denied.
AFC Championship Winner 2024-25: +600
4. Buffalo Bills
The Buffalo Bills are a team that many were down on heading into 2024. We're not quite ready to plan the funeral for this core of players. Josh Allen is a top quarterback in this league, and the Bills look like a team that will give the majority of the AFC trouble. After a big divisional win in Week 6 over the Jets, the Bills are sitting pretty atop the AFC East.
AFC Championship Winner 2024-25: +500
5. Pittsburgh Steelers
Even though the Pittsburgh Steelers don't quite crack our top ten to kick off the season, Mike Tomlin and company will only use that as motivation. It only took Pittsburgh one week to do that after a pair of wins against Atlanta and Denver. The Steelers bounced back after two losses in a row and picked up a nice wins against Las Vegas and the New York Jets.
AFC Championship Winner 2024-25: +2300
6. Cincinnati Bengals
Some are ready to automatically put the Cincinnati Bengals back in the Super Bowl mix after an off-year last season in which Joe Burrow couldn't find his footing and dealt with injuries. The Bengals have looked better of late offensively, and appear like a team ready to make a charge up the standings.
AFC Championship Winner 2024-25: +1800
7. Los Angeles Chargers
The Los Angeles Chargers are one team we want to examine before we rank them higher or lower. With Justin Herbert back in the mix and Jim Harbaugh brought in as head coach, the Chargers have thrived in the trenches early on. This team looks like they'll be a difficult out as the season gets deeper.
AFC Championship Winner 2024-25: +3500
8. Indianapolis Colts
It's easy to get excited about Shane Steichen as a head coach with the Indianapolis Colts. He proved as much to us last season with what he dealt with from an injury standpoint. In saying that, the Colts will go as far as Anthony Richardson takes them. Richardson hasn't had some early struggles and injury concerns, which might limit this teams ceiling. Still, the Colts remain very much in the AFC playoff picture.
AFC Championship Winner 2024-25: +3500
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9. Denver Broncos
If you're optimistic about Bo Nix in his rookie campaign, you're probably at least semi-bullish about the Denver Broncos. In his first three career starts, Nix has left us with more questions than answers. Upsets over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and New York Jets have earned some positive buzz around this team, even after a disappointing showing vs. the Chargers.
AFC Championship Winner 2024-25: +6500
10. New York Jets
Some people are skeptical about how Aaron Rodgers will look under center for the New York Jets. The positives early on are that he's stayed on the field, and didn't look out of place. The defense needs to be better for this team to be a real contender in the AFC, but we need more tape to judge this group. Acquiring Davante Adams after a loss to the Bills won't hurt their case in the AFC, but they still need to start picking up wins.
AFC Championship Winner 2024-25: +3100
11. Miami Dolphins
The Miami Dolphins will again have one of the most explosive offenses in the NFL. The question that needs answering is on the defensive side of the football. The Dolphins were dealt a major blow after quarterback Tua Tagovailoa suffered another concussion. With his impending return, is it too late for the Dolphins to make a move?
AFC Championship Winner 2024-25: +3500
12. Jacksonville Jaguars
We're a little more bullish on the Jacksonville Jaguars than most. Although we need to see Trevor Lawrence take that next step as a quarterback, we're confident that Jacksonville did enough this offseason to give him the necessary help on both sides of the football. Jacksonville picked up their first win in Week 5, but there's still more expected from this group.
AFC Championship Winner 2024-25: +7500
13. Las Vegas Raiders
Let's get one thing straight: the Las Vegas Raiders won't be a pushover under Antonio Pierce. They proved that down the stretch last year and will do so again this time. The Raiders did everything asked of them in Week 2, upsetting the Baltimore Ravens in dramatic fashion. A letdown spot in Week 3 against Carolina hurt, but the Raiders played the role of AFC North spoiler against in Week 4 against the Browns. Despite some offensive struggles, the Raiders remain a team that won't quit, even if the talent isn't there on this roster.
AFC Championship Winner 2024-25: +24000
14. Cleveland Browns
The Cleveland Browns will have one of the NFL's top defenses entering 2024. That's not what we're concerned about with this group. The Browns' offense can't move the football, and their defense hasn't been elite like we expected them to be. Is a head coaching move on the horizon in Cleveland?
AFC Championship Winner 2024-25: +34000
15. Tennessee Titans
Don't be surprised if the Tennessee Titans are better than we think entering the 2024 campaign. Will Levis's game has real upside, and the additions the Titans made this offseason should help. The Titans have been in both games early, but this team just isn't ready to win at the moment.
AFC Championship Winner 2024-25: +18000
16. New England Patriots
There will undoubtedly be some growing pains for Jerod Mayo in his first year as head coach of the New England Patriots. To say the Patriots picking up a win on the road in Cincinnati in Week 1 was impressive is an understatement. Week 3 saw the Patriots fall on a short week to the New York Jets, and they followed that up with a loss against the 49ers. This team isn't easy to play against, but the ceiling is limited.
AFC Championship Winner 2024-25: +50000
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Check out The Smylie Show on SportsGrid
1. Kansas City Chiefs
Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs look to three-peat as Super Bowl champions this season. The Chiefs offense showed an ability to stretch the field in Week 1 and 4, but found success in Week 2 in different facets against Cincinnati. Until someone dethrones them, it's hard to rank the Chiefs anywhere else on our list after a perfect start through Week 6. With a Super Bowl rematch in the books, the Chiefs officially have San Francisco's number.
AFC Championship Winner 2024-25: +195
