AFC power rankings for NFL Week 10: Bengals rise, Browns and Raiders fall

With the Sunday slate of NFL games now in the books, we’re updating our AFC power rankings going into Week 10 of the 2026 season. There is still one more AFC team left to play this week, with the Buffalo Bills set to take on the Minnesota Vikings on Monday night, but we can project where Buffalo will land with a win or loss. Because of how things went down, there wasn’t a ton of movement in our power rankings this week. The Cincinnati Bengals managed to move up with their victory, but the Cleveland Browns and Las Vegas Raiders are going in the opposite direction after they both lost. Now, a look at where every team in the AFC stands in our Week 10 power rankings. 16. Los Angeles Chargers (0-8) Last week: 16 The pitiful Chargers were embarrassed yet again in Week 9, this time by the Houston Texans. Reports continue to suggest Los Angeles isn’t going to sell at the trade deadline and that amounts to organizational malpractice. 15. Tennessee Titans (1-7) Last week: 15 The Titans didn’t lose this week, but that’s because they were on a bye. Tennessee is riding into Week 10 with a head of steam after Cam Ward played the best game of his career in Week 8, but a tough matchup with the Jacksonville Jaguars awaits. 14. New York Jets (2-7) Last week: 14 The Jets have been competitive in a lot of games this season, but Sunday’s contest against the Kansas City Chiefs wasn’t one of them. Head coach Aaron Glenn is going to finish the season, but we’d be shocked if he’s still employed in 2027. MORE: Inactive Cowboys player called for hilarious penalty by descriptive referee 13. Miami Dolphins (1-7) Last week: 13 The Dolphins gave the Detroit Lions a run for their money and continue to play teams tough this season. Miami is definitely lacking talent, but head coach Jeff Hafley appears to be the right man for the job. 12. Indianapolis Colts (2-7) Last week: 12 The Colts nearly pulled off an impressive comeback against the Dallas Cowboys but couldn’t seal the deal. The attention now turns to the trade deadline, when the Colts could move players like Jonathan Taylor, Josh Downs, Grover Stewart and others. 11. Baltimore Ravens (4-5) Last week: 10 Things went about as we expected for the Ravens, who got their doors blown off by the Jacksonville Jaguars after being forced to start undrafted rookie Joe Fagnano. Now, the Ravens will hope recently acquired Jacoby Brissett can save their season. MORE: Puka Nacua injury update leaves concern for WR’s status 10. Las Vegas Raiders (4-5) Last week: 9 The Raiders turned the ball over five times against the San Francisco 49ers and that is a recipe for disaster against any team, let alone an elite one like the Niners. With five losses over the last six games, the Raiders’ playoff hopes are fading fast. 9. Houston Texans (3-5) Last week: 11 The Texans didn’t just beat the Chargers in Week 9, Houston absolutely crushed them on the strength of a whopping five touchdown passes from C.J. Stroud. The Texans still have a huge hole to dig out of, but they have a chance to do it if they keep playing like they did Sunday. 8. New England Patriots (5-4) Last week: 8 The Patriots were totally embarrassed by the Green Bay Packers, and making the showing worse was the fact that Green Bay picked on Christian Gonzalez early and often. Reports suggest the Pats won’t do much , if anything, at the deadline, which is probably the right decision because this team is more than just a player away. 7. Cleveland Browns (5-4) Last week: 6 The Browns lost in overtime to the New Orleans Saints, but respect to head coach Todd Monken for not settling for the tie and going for the win. Despite losing two in a row, Cleveland remains in the mix for a playoff spot. 6. Cincinnati Bengals (6-2) Last week: 7 The Bengals handed the Atlanta Falcons a beatdown in Madrid in what was one of the their most complete games of 2026. Next up is a showdown with the Pittsburgh Steelers for first place in the AFC North. 5. Pittsburgh Steelers (6-2) Last week: 5 The Steelers enjoyed their bye in Week 9 and will now shift their focus to a huge matchup against the Bengals in Week 10 that will determine who sits in first place in the AFC North. 4. Jacksonville Jaguars (6-2) Last week: 4 The Jaguars did exactly what we expected them to against a Ravens team that was missing its starting quarterback, Lamar Jackson, and his backup, Tyler Huntley. The Jags have a favorable three-game stretch coming up with two contests against the Titans and one with the New York Giants in between. 3. Kansas City Chiefs (6-2) Last week: 3 After two losses in a row, the Chiefs had a perfect get-right spot in a game with the Jets and took full advantage. However, Kansas City will be holding its breath as Patrick Mahomes is slated to have tests done on his arm after getting banged-up against New York. 2. Denver Broncos (7-2) Last week: 2 Nothing has been pretty for the Broncos this season, and Sunday’s win over the Carolina Panthers was nothing different. But good teams find ways to win and the Broncos have routinely done that all season long. 1. Buffalo Bills (6-1) Last week: 1 The Bills play on “Monday Night Football” against the Minnesota Vikings in what will be one of their toughest challenges of 2026. If they win, the Bills will stay in the No. 1 spot in our rankings, but a loss will drop them to No. 2 behind the Broncos. —   Enjoy free coverage of the top news & trending stories with The Big Lead Newsletter  —