By: Rose Eli
Week 17 NFL Power Rankings: Bills and Chiefs Maintain AFC Supremacy
The Chiefs and the Bills both maintained their AFC dominance with victories in Week 17. Although both teams have a tough road in Week 18 against the Jaguars and the Patriots, there are plenty of other reasons to believe that the AFC will remain the dominant conference for the next several weeks.
Cincinnati Bengals beat the Colts
The NFL power rankings are a great tool for anyone who wants to make their football betting strategy more accurate. You can compare a team’s ranking against past and projected scores and win totals to see who has the best chance of winning in any given game.
The Baltimore Ravens have been playing well enough to remain in the playoffs for a while, but they’re still allowing a ton of points. They’ve allowed 30 or more in six games this season. And they’re playing the worst defense John Harbaugh has ever fielded.
The Jacksonville Jaguars have been rising quickly. This week, they’re up to 13th in my power rankings. Their next two games could propel them into the playoff mix.
The Oakland Raiders are in good shape for a playoff spot. If they can beat the Falcons and Cardinals in their last two games, they can make the postseason.
New York Jets lose to the Falcons in East Rutherford
A 20-17 win for the Jets over the Buffalo Bills did not make much of an impression on the NFL Power Rankings. After three straight losses and an 8-8 record, the Jets are in danger of falling out of the playoffs altogether. They still have three games left to play, though. In their defense, they have one of the best defenses in the NFL.
The game against the Lions was a good example. New York took an early lead and had a chance to go up by a score. But the team blew the chance.
The Jets did not even take the first timeout. This is a common problem in their past three games, and it had an impact on the final score.
Another common problem is the Jets’ offensive line. They have a slew of injuries.
Chicago Bears have a lower payroll than the Bills and Chiefs
The Chicago Bears entered Saturday night’s game against the Buffalo Bills with the worst record in the NFL, losing eight straight games. In the process, they are also matching their franchise’s worst streak in history. But they are also in a three-team race for the AFC playoffs. That means they could still win their division and remain atop the AFC, or fall to second place.
With an eight-game losing streak, the Bears are also facing a tough test in Week 17. They will play the Buffalo Bills at Soldier Field on Saturday.
Buffalo’s offense was no match for the Bears’ defense. They allowed a whopping 29 points. After a fumble by David Montgomery, the Bills recovered and converted a 27-yard field goal. Later, Devin Singletary scored on a 33-yard run. It was only the fifth time this season that the Bills have rushed for more than 175 yards.
Detroit Lions are under.500 after nearly starting 3-0
The Week 17 NFL Power Rankings are in, and the Bills and Chiefs remain at the top of the league. Los Angeles Chargers and Houston Texans remain at the bottom of the rankings. But two of the NFL’s top teams are facing each other in Week 18.
Kansas City Chiefs are back in the top five of my Power Rankings after a win against Pittsburgh. They’ve now won eight straight games, locking up their sixth straight AFC West title.
San Francisco 49ers also moved up a spot in my Power Rankings after a 29-19 victory over the Denver Broncos. This game was a showcase for several players, including Christian McCaffrey, who had a 120-plus yard, two-TD performance.
Buffalo Bills are still in the running for the top seed in the AFC. Their Week 17 matchup with Cincinnati could be crucial. If they lose, the divisional control will go to Buffalo.
Philadelphia Eagles defense has to get better
In Week 17, the two top teams in the NFL Power Rankings are the Buffalo Bills and Kansas City Chiefs. They are both tied with the New England Patriots for the lead in the AFC. But the difference is that the Bills have a hiccup in their record from the previous week, while the Chiefs escaped with a victory.
The Patriots haven’t gotten off to a great start, but they have yet to lose a game in their first eight games. Hopefully, their Week 8 bye will help them out.
On the other hand, the Dolphins aren’t exactly grabbing people’s attention in the AFC. It’s the Dolphins’ fourth loss in five games. Their defense isn’t helping them, either. And their offense isn’t playing at a high enough level.
