NFL Power Rankings Week 12: Where does every AFC team stand?

Here are the AFC power rankings for Week 12. The bottom five in the power rankings this week have all but stayed the same, apart from the new worst team in the league. The middle of the rankings is where things begin to get interesting. Many of the teams that ranked lower last week got much-needed boosts, but the Las Vegas Raiders have continued to plummet as the New England Patriots have started to rise even higher.

AFC Power Rankings Week 12: How far have the Raiders dropped?

#16 - New York Jets - (2-8)

Previous Rank: 15

Next Week: Houston Texans

There is a new worst team in the league. The New York Jets have all but returned to their losing ways and have dropped to the bottom in this week's power rankings. Although they stayed strong against the Dolphins on Sunday, not even the veteran Joe Flacco could take them off their plummet. The Texans' game on Sunday could prove to be another knife in their hearts.

#15 - Houston Texans - (2-8)

Previous Rank: 16

Next Week: New York Jets

The Houston Texans beat the Titans. No one can quite figure out how and why, but they get to be rewarded with a small jump in this week's power rankings. The Texans still have one of the worst points differentials in the league, but they could remain a bit more competitive with Tyrod Taylor.

#14 - Jacksonville Jaguars - (2-8)

Previous Rank: 14

Next Week: vs. Atlanta Falcons

There is growing concern that the Jaguars may have been too hasty in their selection of Trevor Lawrence with the #1 pick. All the other rookie players are seemingly playing much better, and he may end up a bust in the NFL. Time will tell, but the Jaguars will need to build around him to see if he is truly worth further investment.

#13 - Miami Dolphins - (4-7)

Previous Rank: 13

Next Week: vs. Carolina Panthers

The Dolphins are on a winning streak. They have won their last three games and look to be a much more competitive team.

They did just play the Jets, but a win is a win. Their tough test comes against the Panthers this week. Should they log another win, they may be jumping further up the power rankings next week.

#12 - Las Vegas Raiders - (5-5)

Previous Rank: 8

Next Week: vs. Dallas Cowboys

Something is very amiss with the Raiders right now. They continue to fall down the power rankings. They were once in the top five for weeks on end, now they aren't even in the middle of the road for the AFC. The drama of their wild season may be too much to recover from. The Raiders are 5-5 and have lost three straight games by a big margin of points. Their Thanksgiving game against the Cowboys will do them no favors.

#11 - Denver Broncos - (5-5)

Previous Rank: 10

Next Week: vs. Los Angeles Chargers

Dropping a spot in the power rankings on a bye week doesn't seem too fair, but the Denver Broncos are just going to have to deal with it right now. Other teams deserve their jump. After a much-needed bye week, the Broncos take on division rivals the Los Angeles Chargers. Maybe they can reinvent themselves as a good team again.

#10 - Cleveland Browns - (6-5)

Previous Rank: 11

Next Week: Baltimore Ravens

Although the Cleveland Browns won a game, it was against the Lions, and they still almost lost.

They will remain near the bottom of the power rankings for now. They have fallen a bit in this week's power rankings as a result of being destroyed by the Patriots and the Bengals, and just scraping past the Lions. The Browns could turn things around but will have a difficult time against the much tougher top half of the AFC.

Who has taken the #1 spot in the Week 11 AFC power rankings?

Top nine teams in the AFC power rankings.

#9 - Indianapolis Colts - (6-5)

Previous Rank: 12

Next Week: vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The Colts have jumped up a few spots in this week's power rankings, but it's still a bit unclear as to whether they are a good team. They dismantled the Bills, shocking everyone as Johnathan Taylor went off for five TDs. Should they beat the Bucs on Sunday, they will be a legit contender.

#8 - Pittsburgh Steelers - (5-4-1)

Previous Rank: 8

Next Week: vs. Cincinnati Bengals

The Pittsburgh Steelers will stay put this week in the power rankings, but they are still keeping pace with some very good teams. They tied the Lions and barely lost to the Chargers, but have wins over the Seahawks, Bears, and Browns. Their last five games are a small sample size of their competitive nature, but the Steelers are still in the playoff race.

#7 - Los Angeles Chargers - (6-4)

Previous Rank: 7

Next Week: vs. Denver Broncos

The Chargers have begun to look like their old selves. They have wins against the Eagles and Steelers. They have only dropped the ball once against the Vikings in the past three games. They are currently in second place for the AFC West and could challenge the Chiefs for first place. At least they haven't lost their place in this week's power rankings.

#6 - Cincinnati Bengals - (6-4)

Previous Rank: 9

Next Week: vs. Pittsburgh Steelers

The Bengals made some missteps as they lost to the Browns and Browns. They did, however, destroy the Raiders and Ravens.

The Bengals seem to be coming out of their shells as a losing team, and they could continue their rise back to the top of the power rankings with a big win against the Steelers.

#5 - Buffalo Bills - (6-4)

Previous Rank: 2

Next Week: vs. New Orleans Saints

The Bills are a conundrum and have fallen in the power rankings. Their last five games have been confusing, to say the least. They lost to the Titans, Jaguars, and Colts. They beat the Dolphins and Jets. The Colts should not have so easily beaten the Bills but were humbled. The Bills struggle against better teams, and that could spell trouble for their playoff run. They also lost their first-place status in the AFC East.

#4 - Baltimore Ravens - (7-3)

Previous Rank: 3

Next Week: vs. Cleveland Browns

The Ravens have had a tough past two weeks after being upset by the Dolphins. They found their footing after a big win against the Bears. That win was even more impressive as Lamar Jackson, Latavius Murray and Marquise Brown were all absent from the game. The team has been hit with so many injuries but continues to find ways to win. They deserve a small bump in this week's power rankings.

#3 - New England Patriots - (7-4)

Previous Rank: 5

Next Week: vs. Tennessee Titans

The New England Patriots are on quite a tear and have catapulted themselves into the top three of this week's power rankings.

The Patriots are on a five-game winning streak and look to be like their old selves. They have also jumped into first place in the AFC East. They will have a real test on Sunday when they take on the Titans.

#2 - Kansas City Chiefs - (7-4)

Previous Rank: 4

Next Week: bye

The Chiefs have completely rebounded and are looking like a playoff team again. Patrick Mahomes is firing on all cylinders and they had a big win against the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday, pushing them near the top of the power rankings. They get a bye week and return against the Broncos, eventually furthering themselves from the pack in the AFC West.

#1 - Tennesee Titans - (8-3)

Previous Rank: 1

Next Week: vs. New England Patriots

Does anyone want to tell the Titans that losing to lesser teams isn't what is supposed to happen to potential Super Bowl contenders? The Titans dropped the ball heavily on Sunday against the Texans. Tannehill looked awful and threw four costly interceptions that helped this team lose a for sure win. The Titans, despite being embarrassed, remain the kings of the AFC power rankings. For now.