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Week 9 power rankings have arrived, and some teams are on the move. The Patriots seem to be putting things together, while the Texans and Dolphins remain in a battle to see who is the rightful worst team in the league.
Teams will need to start separating themselves from the pack for the inevitable playoff push.
Here's a look at the AFC power rankings heading into Week 9.
AFC Power Rankings Week 9: How far have the Patriots and Titans climbed?
#16 - Houston Texans - (1-7)
Previous Rank: 16
Next Week: vs. Miami Dolphins
The Houston Texans are a team that seems deadset on not winning any further games this season. Every week, they are destroyed by their opponents, and their season just seems to be a lost cause at this point.
They could just be waiting to see what compensation they may receive for Deshaun Watson today. Not that trading him will equal wins.
#15 - Miami Dolphins - (1-7)
Previous Rank: 15
Next Week: vs. Houston Texans
The Miami Dolphins are a team that just can't seem to get out of its way. Perhaps it is the pressure of the team tip-toeing around the eventual trade for Deshaun Watson? Either way, the Dolphins are just not a good team by any means but are at least attempting to remain competitive.
They will continue to remain at the bottom of the power rankings.
#14 - Jacksonville Jaguars - (1-6)
Previous Rank: 13
Next Week: vs. Buffalo Bills
Having a week off was supposed to be beneficial, but the Jaguars have just fallen in the power rankings and are back to their losing ways. They did play a Seattle Seahawks team that is also beginning to put things together, but they are still missing Russell Wilson.
The Jaguars just might need to rebuild their team in 2022.
#13 - New York Jets - (2-5)
Previous Rank: 14
Next Week: vs. Indianapolis Colts
The New York Jets have won two games this season, and the odd thing is that those two teams they beat happen to be some of the best in the league.
The Jets shocked everyone when they beat the Cincinnati Bengals. Especially since they were with their second-string quarterback, Mike White, who lit the Bengals up for 400 yards.
They have jumped up a bit in this week's power rankings.
#12 - Indianapolis Colts - (3-5)
Previous Rank: 9
Next Week: vs. New York Jets
The Colts have dropped a good number of spots in this week's rankings, but that is directly related to their wins against lesser opponents. The Dolphins, Texans, and 49ers all have losing records, and the Colts have fallen to the more competitive teams.
Should they begin to beat playoff contenders, they will remain in the upper echelon of the AFC power rankings.
#11 - Denver Broncos - (4-4)
Previous Rank: 12
Next Week: vs. Dallas Cowboys
The Denver Broncos have snapped their losing streak, granted they beat the Washington Football Team, but a win is a win. And with that, a small jump in the power rankings is what they also achieved.
The Broncos will take on the Cowboys next week, and it would be impressive if they can come away with another important win.
#10 - Kansas City Chiefs - (4-4)
Previous Rank: 11
Next Week: vs. Green Bay Packers
The Chiefs won a very important game on Monday night against the New York Giants. Although the Chiefs stalled many times on their drives and barely did enough to beat the Giants, they do still have Patrick Mahomes.
Also, the newly acquired Melvin Ingram should help this defense quite a bit, and that has helped them climb one spot in the power rankings.
Who has taken the #1 spot in the Week 9 AFC power rankings?
Power Rankings for the top nine teams in the AFC.
#9 - New England Patriots - (4-4)
Previous Ranking: 10
Next Week: vs. Carolina Panthers
The New England Patriots are steadily climbing the power rankings and beginning to turn things around, and that should worry the AFC East.
Even more so, it should worry the entire AFC. Bill Belichick is crafty and the Patriots can always become that dark horse playoff candidate.
#8 - Los Angeles Chargers - (4-3)
Previous Ranking: 6
Next Week: vs. Philadelphia Eagles
After such dominant wins over some very competitive teams, the Chargers seem to be regressing each week. They will continue to plummet in the power rankings with each loss.
Their blowout loss to the Ravens may have unearthed some of the deeper problems for this team. A win against the Eagles on Sunday will be much needed.
#7 - Pittsburgh Steelers - (4-3)
Previous Ranking: 8
Next Week: vs. Chicago Bears
With wins against the Broncos, Seahawks, and the Browns, the Steelers may not be doomed after all. The Steelers are climbing slowly in the power rankings.
Big Ben has been careful with the football and the defense is playing with a chip on their shoulders. A rough start may be in the past...for now.
#6 - Cleveland Browns - (4-4)
Previous Rank: 7
Next Week: vs. Cincinnati Bengals
Although there are a myriad of injuries for the Cleveland Browns, they are still finding ways to remain competitive. They had a much-needed win against the Broncos last week but dropped the ball slightly to division rival Steelers.
The Browns are still a tough team to deal with.
#5 - Las Vegas Raiders - (5-2)
Previous Rank: 5
Next Week: vs. New York Giants
The Raiders had a bye week, so they are staying put for right now in the rankings. They have a softer opponent this week in the Giants, and a win would have them inching closer to creating distance within the AFC West.
A week off will make them a much more dangerous team.
#4 - Buffalo Bills - (5-2)
Previous Rank: 4
Next Week: vs. Jacksonville Jaguars
The Bills put another beating on the Miami Dolphins but had a tough time getting scoring opportunities through three-quarters of the game. Perhaps their week off made them a bit rusty, or the Dolphins came alive for a brief moment.
Either way, the Bills stay put in this week's power rankings.
#3 - Baltimore Ravens - (5-2)
Previous Rank: 3
Next Week: vs. Minnesota Vikings
The Baltimore Ravens had a week off, so they stayed put for this week's power rankings. After the beating they took from the Bengals, that week may have been used to regroup and retool.
The Vikings are their opponents this week and could prove to be a formidable challenge.
#2 - Cincinnati Bengals - (5-2)
Previous Rank: 1
Next Week: vs. Cleveland Browns
Upsets happen all the time, and the Bengals suffered one of their biggest this season when they were beaten by the Jets, leading to a one-spot fall in the power rankings. Their case hasn't been helped by the fact that the Jets had their backup quarterback in.
A win against the Browns this week will help the Bengals retain their top AFC spot in the power rankings.
#1 - Tennessee Titans - (6-2)
Previous Rank: 2
Next Week: vs. Los Angeles Chargers
The Titans are the new kings of the AFC power rankings. They jump into the #1 spot for this week's rankings, even with losing Derrick Henry for an extended period.
The Titans called upon veteran Adrian Peterson to keep the team afloat and run the ball down the opponent's gullet. Peterson could be very dangerous with this run-heavy team.
