NFL Power Rankings Week 17: Where does every AFC team stand?

The AFC power rankings have been shaken up as of late, and with that comes the process of determining which teams are playoff-bound.

The majority of the teams chasing a coveted playoff berth are only separated by one win. The final two weeks of the season are going to get interesting, to say the least.

Apart from the Texans, the Jaguars and the Jets, most AFC teams have a strong shot to still make a run at the playoffs. Here are the Week 17 power rankings.

AFC Power Rankings Week 17: Who has claimed the #1 spot?

#16 - Jacksonville Jaguars - (2-13)

Previous Rank: 16

Next Week: vs. New England Patriots

The Jacksonville Jaguars' season is as lost as ever, and there are only a few redeeming factors for the team. Even Trevor Lawrence is being pegged as a potential bust for the team. After firing Urban Meyer, the team was able to let go of some drama. Jaguars fans must look to the 2022 season as the team still remains at the bottom of the power rankings.

#15 - Houston Texans - (4-11)

Previous Rank: 15

Next Week: vs. San Francisco 49ers

The Houston Texans look to be wanting to play "season ruiner". They did just that when they dismantled the Los Angeles Chargers. The Texans won a big game, but they are still going to remain at the bottom of the AFC power rankings because this team is still rather messy.

#14 - New York Jets - (4-11)

Previous Rank: 14

Next Week: vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

The New York Jets won the "toilet bowl" by beating out fellow AFC bottom-dwellers, the Jacksonville Jaguars. Though they got a win, that doesn't allow them to climb much in the power rankings this week. However, Zach Wilson might not be that much of a lost cause for the team.

#13 - Denver Broncos - (7-8)

Previous Rank: 13

Next Week: vs. Los Angeles Chargers

The Denver Broncos were once a strong team in the AFC, but week by week they have been reminded of the fact that they sorely need a leader in their locker room to hoist them to a playoff berth.

Teddy Bridgewater is not the quarterback of the future, but there are Russell Wilson and possibly Aaron Rodgers to think about in the 2022 offseason. The Broncos keep their #13 spot in the power rankings.

#12 - Cleveland Browns - (7-8)

Previous Rank: 12

Next Week: vs. Pittsburgh Steelers

The Cleveland Browns have all but failed their season and their AFC power rankings spot after losing to both the Raiders and the Packers. In their defense, they held strong and nearly beat both teams, but Kareem Hunt just can't do everything. The Browns have made a valiant effort this season, but may need to reevaluate their quarterback room now.

#11 - Pittsburgh Steelers - (7-7-1)

Previous Rank: 9

Next Week: vs. Cleveland Browns

The Pittsburgh Steelers lost their season and their power rankings spot by getting absolutely destroyed by the Chiefs.

The Chiefs are the best team in the AFC, so that stands to reason they would deal such damage on the Steelers. It sounds as if Big Ben and possibly Coach Tomlin might be ending their seasons with the team. That's the rumor, at least.

#10 - Las Vegas Raiders - (8-7)

Previous Rank: 11

Next Week: vs. Indianapolis Colts

The Las Vegas Raiders have been battling their way back into contention for the playoffs. They have also jumped slightly in this week's power rankings, but it's still not convincing that they are a team that is fully ready for a playoff run. They beat both the Broncos and the Browns in their last two games, but barely. Now they face a truly tough opponent in the Colts.

Who has taken the #1 spot in the Week 17 AFC power rankings?

AFC Power Rankings for Week 17

Top nine teams in the AFC Power Rankings.

#9 - Los Angeles Chargers - (8-7)

Previous Rank: 8

Next Week: vs. Denver Broncos

The Los Angeles Chargers never saw the Texans coming, and that might have been the proverbial nail in the coffin of their playoff hopes. They have also dropped in the power rankings this week. They lost a three-way tie between the Raiders, themselves, and the Dolphins, leaving them on the outside of the wild card conversation. They get a softer opponent in the Broncos this week but could lose out on a playoff spot with one more loss.

#8 - Baltimore Ravens - (8-7)

Previous Rank: 7

Next Week: vs. Los Angeles Rams

The Baltimore Ravens continue to be decimated by injuries or players being placed on the COVID/reserve list. Now they have to deal with potentially being without Lamar Jackson yet again. They have fallen a bit in this week's power rankings and may miss out on the playoffs.

#7 - Miami Dolphins - (8-7)

Previous Rank: 10

Next Week: vs. Tennessee Titans

The Miami Dolphins have made history by becoming the first team in the NFL to have a seven-game losing streak and a seven-game winning streak.

They can also make history by becoming the first team to make the playoffs if they win out the rest of the season. With the Titans and the Patriots upcoming, it's going to take their best effort to end their season 10-7.

#6 - Cincinnati Bengals

Previous Rank: 6

Next Week: vs. Kansas City Chiefs

The Cincinnati Bengals have emerged as one of the most surprising teams in the AFC as far as being competitive. They won, but they remain in their same power rankings spot for now. They are sneakily good and could very well take down the juggernauts that are the Chiefs this week. They remain in their power rankings spot for now.

#5 - New England Patriots - (9-6)

Previous Rank: 4

Next Week: vs. Jacksonville Jaguars

The New England Patriots have fallen down a spot in the power rankings, and that is because the Bills beat them so soundly. Had the Patriots won, they would have been sitting pretty as AFC East favorites, but two losses in a row will have them battling out the Dolphins in Week 18 for the potential last wild card playoff spot.

#4 - Buffalo Bills - (9-6)

Previous Rank: 5

Next Week: vs. Atlanta Falcons

The Buffalo Bills are now in the driver's seat to win the AFC East after they beat the Patriots. That match saw the Bills easily dismantle the Patriots and showed why the Bills had always been a favorite to win the division.

They remain in the same spot in the power rankings for now, but one more win should all but secure their spot in the playoffs.

#3 - Tennessee Titans - (10-5)

Previous Rank: 3

Next Week: Miami Dolphins

The Tennessee Titans will all but win the AFC North, but that doesn't mean they will have an easy shot at it. They take on the Dolphins this week, who have one of the hottest defenses in the NFC. The Titans are hard to figure out, though they did beat the tough 49ers. They remain in their same power rankings spot this week.

#2 - Indianapolis Colts - (9-6)

Previous Rank: 2

Next Week: vs. Las Vegas Raiders

What a turnaround the Indianapolis Colts have had this season! They were once one of the bottom-barrel teams in the AFC and in the power rankings, but now they have emerged as one of the toughest teams to beat. That is in part because Johnathan Taylor is playing lights out and is a heavy favorite to land the MVP. The Colts need to beat the Raiders to try and steal the AFC South from the Titans.

#1 - Kansas City Chiefs - (11-4)

Previous Rank: 1

Next Week: vs. Cincinnati Bengals

The Kansas City Chiefs have dominated the AFC and the power rankings for weeks on end, and it doesn't look as though they are going to stop any time soon. The league thinking that they "figured out" Patrick Mahomes is a thing of the past and their defense has truly emerged as one of the most frightening units. The Chiefs might be the Super Bowl favorites next to the Packers.