NFL Power Rankings Week 16: Where does every AFC team stand?

Who tops the AFC list this holiday season?

The Chargers' failure to convert on 4th down might've cost them the AFC West division title

#8 - Los Angeles Chargers - (8-6)

Previous Rank: 4th

Last Week: 34-28 L vs. Kansas City (OT)

Top Performer: WR Keenan Allen (6 rec., 78 yards, 1 TD)

Next Week: Sunday @ Houston (1 pm ET, CBS)

There's no shame in losing to the two-time defending AFC champions, but the way the Chargers did it — to the tune of three fruitless drives that ended five yards or less from the end zone — might've cost them a chance to host an AFC playoff game. The road ahead (Houston, Denver, Las Vegas) is relatively favorable amongst the final contenders.

#7 - Baltimore Ravens (8-6)

Previous Rank: 5th

Last Week: 31-30 L vs. Green Bay

Top Performer: QB Tyler Huntley (273 total yards, 4 total TDs)

Next Week: Sunday @ Houston (1 pm ET, CBS)

Though the Ravens fell to the Packers in controversial fashion and currently sit outside the AFC playoff picture, it's hard to hate their chances moving forward thanks to the play of Huntley, who is proving to be one of the NFL's most reliable backup quarterbacks in relief of Lamar Jackson.

#6 - Cincinnati Bengals (8-6)

Previous Rank: 8th

Last Week: 15-10 W @ Denver

Top Performer: WR Tyler Boyd (5 rec., 96 yards, 1 TD)

Next Week: Sunday vs. Baltimore (1 pm ET, CBS)

Sunday's win was perhaps one of the most crucial steps in the Bengals' development: on a road afternoon where their usual suspects were held in check by a very strong defense, they managed to escape with a crucial victory that situated them atop the AFC North ledger.

Gabriel Davis enters the end zone for one of his two scores against the Panthers on Sunday (Photo: Getty)

#5 - Buffalo Bills (8-6)

Previous Rank: 6th

Last Week: 31-14 W vs. Carolina

Top Performer: WR Gabriel Davis (5 rec., 85 yards, 2 TDs)

Next Week: Sunday @ New England (1 pm ET, CBS)

The rollercoaster Bills did exactly what was necessary on Sunday: they handled their business against the reeling Panthers after they got by with a little help from their friends in Indianapolis, setting up an AFC East matchup of enormous importance early Sunday afternoon.

Hunter Henry score twice in the Patriots nationally televised AFC tilt against Indianapolis (Photo: Getty)

#4 - New England Patriots (8-6)

Previous Rank: 2nd

Last Week: 27-17 L @ Indianapolis

Top Performer: TE Hunter Henry (6 rec., 77 yards, 2 TDs)

Next Week: Sunday vs. Buffalo (1 pm ET, CBS)

Even the dramatics appear to work in the Patriots' favor: this time last year, a visit from the Bills officially heralded the end of their AFC East monopoly, setting the stage for a huge opportunity to flip the script this time around, though it comes on the heels of a tough loss to the resurgent Colts.

#3 - Tennessee Titans (9-5)

Previous Rank: 3rd

Last Week: 19-13 L @ Pittsburgh

Top Performer: RB Donta Foreman (22 carries, 108 yards)

Next Week: Thursday vs San Francisco (8:20 pm ET, NFL Network)

While most are counting down until Christmas, Titans fans are likely counting down the innumerable days until Derrick Henry slides down Nissan Stadium's chimney. They've dropped to 3-3 since his medical departure (though the run game did muster 201 yards in his place on Sunday).

#2 - Indianapolis Colts (8-6)

Previous Rank: 7th

Last Week: 27-17 W vs. New England

Top Performer: RB Jonathan Taylor (29 carries, 170 yards, 1 TD)

Next Week: Saturday @ Arizona (8:15 pm ET, NFL Network)

Fresh off a major win over the red-hot Patriots, a major Christmas present potentially waiting under the tree, and Taylor capable of a total takeover at a moment's notice, the surging Colts are slowly becoming the AFC's "one team you don't want to run into".

#1 - Kansas City Chiefs (10-4)

Previous Rank: 1st

Last Week: 34-28 W @ LA Chargers (OT)

Top Performer: QB Patrick Mahomes (442 total yards, 3 passing TDs)

Next Week: Sunday vs. Pittsburgh (4:25 pm ET, CBS)

Seven straight wins and over 400 Mahomes yards later, normalcy appears to be coming back to the AFC through the Chiefs' dominance. Although, putting a bow on their AFC West title might be a bit more difficult, with Travis Kelce and Harrison Butker potentially missing a big intra-conference game with the Steelers.