AFC Division Power Ranking 2021

Throughout each NFL season, it’s always fun to see how everyone ranks each of the 32 NFL teams after the end of each week. But what about divisions? Here is the AFC 2021 division power ranking ahead of week 4.

2021 NFL division power ranking for the AFC

AFC West

Las Vegas Raiders 3-0

Denver Broncos 3-0

Los Angeles Chargers 2-1

Kansas City Chiefs 1-2

AFC West is absolutely the best division in AFC. This division likely ranks behind NFC West as the top-eight division in the NFL. They are 8-2 against non-divisional teams.

The Raiders weren’t on any shortlist of Super Bowl contenders for the season, but they’re 3-0 for the first time since 2002. And their quarterback Derek Carr looks like a legitimate MVP contender through three games. . Carr has averaged 401 passing yards per game so far (150 more than his career average). But can the offensive line hold on and will a running game finally emerge? The problem for Jon Gruden’s side failed to end a season strong, but if the answer to both of those questions is yes, then the Raiders are for real.

The Broncos being 3-0 is one of the biggest surprises so far this season. Granted, their opponents are currently winless, but a team can only play those who are in its schedule. So far they have beaten the teams they were supposed to beat and they have won by 14, 10 and 26 points. And their defense grants the fewest points per game in the league so far. Teddy Bridgewater also looked good under center. He leads the league in completion percentage and hasn’t returned the ball.

The Chargers are the real deal, just like Justin Herbert. The Bolts are coming off a victory over the Chiefs on the road where their quarterback threw four touchdowns and had no turnovers. Herbert is averaging 318.7 yards per game (fourth in the NFL). Their defense is pretty good too. The Chargers allow 20.0 points per game (tied for seventh in the league). The Chargers are legitimate and could well win this division.

Yes, the Chiefs are shockingly in last place in their own division. And their defense needs to improve considerably. But they still have Patrick Mahomes and a lot of weapons on offense. They are also a hair’s breadth away from being 3-0 instead of 1-2. While a return to the Super Bowl isn’t as easy for the Chiefs as people thought, they will advance to the playoffs and are by far the best last-place team in the AFC.

AFC West could have three teams (maybe four if they can hold back AFC North) in the playoffs this season.

AFC North

Cincinnati Bengals 2-1

Baltimore Ravens 2-1

Cleveland Browns 2-1

Pittsburgh Steelers 1-2

The Bengals have looked pretty good this season, but suffered a bad loss to the Chicago Bears, but that could be an aberration. Joe Burrow has been impressive so far coming back from the ACL tear he suffered last season. While he needs to cut down on interceptions (he’s got four to three games), his normally good accuracy and decision making should help him improve as the season progresses. And wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase is the only Super Bowl-era player (since 1966) to have received a touchdown of at least 30 yards in his first three games in the NFL. Don’t pencil the Bengals for the Super Bowl, but they seem to have the start of something in Cinci.

The Ravens suffered a litany of injuries before the start of the season, but are still playing well. It helps that they have Lamar Jackson who can do video game type moves on the pitch. But Jackson has to take care of the football. He already has three interceptions and two fumbles in his team’s first three games. But it’s still impressive that their offense ranks fourth in offense overall, 18^e by the way, first by rushing, and 11^e in the notation. Their defense needs to improve as they rank 26^e in the league.

The Browns have a lot of talent on both sides of the ball. Granted, it was against the Bears and Justin Fields was making his first NFL start, but the Cleveland defense had nine sacks last week. On the offensive side of the ball, Baker Mayfield played well and the Browns’ eight rushing touchdowns lead the league.

After a promising start in Week 1 with a win over the Buffalo Bills, the Steelers faltered. Their offensive line is not good and Ben Roethlisberger is too old. Pittsburgh could easily finish fourth in the division this year. But Mike Tomlin has never finished a season under .500 and the Steelers are the AFC’s best last-place team outside of the Chiefs.

AFC North has enough talent to bring two or three teams to the playoffs. The problem is that teams in this division will have to fight with AFC West for the three wild card spots.

AFC East

Buffalo Bills 2-1

Miami Dolphins 1-2

New England Patriots 1-2

New York Jets 0-3

The Bills surprisingly lost to the Steelers in Week 1, but then got back on track with decisive wins against the Dolphins and the Washington football team. Buffalo is ranked fourth in the defensive standings (14.7 points per game) and Josh Allen is playing well with seven touchdowns and just one interception in three games. They are going to win the AFC East and are on the shortlist of AFC teams that can compete for a Super Bowl.

Some people were very happy with the Dolphins heading into the season and thought they were going to compete for a division title. But they haven’t looked good so far and Tua Tagovailoa will miss at least two more games with fractured ribs. Their offense averages just 15.0 points per game (30^e in the league) and although their defense is better, he is ranked 23^rd (allowing 27.3 points per game).

There was a lot of hope in New England early in the season after the Patriots spent a ton of money on free agency and then drafted Mac Jones at 15. And while Jones may be the real deal and appears to be a great leader, he hasn’t been consistent enough so far. Bill Belichick’s team has a win and it was against the New York Jets. And it won’t be any easier this week when they face Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at home. Pats will likely be 1 to 3 after week 4.

As you might expect, the New York Jets have been horrible at the start of the season. Most people would have the Jets ranked as the worst team in the league right now. Zach Wilson struggled. Yes, he’s a rookie and doesn’t have a lot of people around him, but he’s already thrown seven interceptions (tied for most in the NFL) and been sacked 15 times. It’s not all about Wilson, but part is. The Jets’ defense ranks in the middle of the field when it comes to points per game. But their offense ranks last in the NFL (6.7 points per game). They scored a total of 20 points in their first three games and were shut out by the Broncos last week.

AFC South

Tennessee Titans 2-1

Houston Texans 1-2

Jacksonville Jaguars 0-3

Indianapolis Colts 0-3

The Titans must start playing effectively again. But they’re still averaging 23.7 points per game on offense and that should improve as the season goes on and they put Julio Jones to work more in the game plan. They also have one of the best running backs in the NFL along with Derrick Henry. Tennessee will also be helped by a relatively easy schedule.

This remaining less than difficult schedule has a lot to do with the other three teams in the division. It’s not even worth breaking them all down individually. The Titans will be pretty good this season, despite not being Super Bowl contenders. But the rest of AFC South is a hot mess. It’s the other three teams that make AFC South the worst division in AFC by far.

This was the 2021 NFL division power rankings for the AFC. Click here for the NFC.

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