NFL Power Rankings: Which Teams Look Like Early AFC Favorites?

We're just two weeks into the NFL season and already two AFC teams have separated themselves from the pack and are looking like safe bets to make a run at the conference championship.

New England Patriots (2-0)

Sunday afternoon the New England Patriots again showed why they should be considered Super Bowl favorites right now. Against a Chargers defense that ranked first in the NFL in total yards allowed last season, Tom Brady and his offensive wrecking crew posted 504 total yards and hung 35 points on the board.

Brady attacked the Chargers with the same surgical precision he used to baffle the Miami Dolphins in Week 1. The reigning NFL MVP completed 31-of-40 passes for 423 yards, with three touchdowns and no interceptions. He finished the afternoon with a 135.7 quarterback rating in the 35-21 win. The Patriots are now 2-0 and look absolutely unstoppable on offense.

Defensively the Pats made some plays, but still looked weak in the secondary. If not for interceptions by Vince Wilford and Sergio Brown—and an untimely fourth-quarter fumble by San Diego running back Mike Tolbert—the Chargers may have had a serious chance to win the game. But Brady was poised when it mattered, and led the Pats to two fourth-quarter touchdown drives, including one with 1:54 remaining to seal the game.

At this point it's hard to see anyone taking down New England.

New York Jets (2-0)

Despite shaky quarterback play from Mark Sanchez, the Jets muscled up and dominated the Jacksonville Jaguars in a 32-3 win. Sanchez improved his accuracy this week as he finished 17-of-24 for 182 yards and two touchdowns (85.8 quarterback rating). But once again he displayed poor decision making as two ill-advised throws turned into interceptions.

Sanchez clearly has loads of talent and should become an excellent NFL quarterback. When he's in rhythm and makes good decisions he looks as good as anyone. But his tendency to force things is currently his downfall.

On the defensive side of the ball the Jets looked ferocious on Sunday. Rex Ryan's pride and joy surrendered just 203 yards and forced four interceptions from Jaguars starter Luke McCown.

On defense alone the Jets look like an AFC championship-caliber team, but they still have issues to sort out offensively if they are going to challenge the Patriots.

Yes I know there are only 30 teams listed below, but that will be updated once the New York Giants and St. Louis Rams play tonight.

NFL Power Rankings, Week 3
 
1. New England Patriots
2. Green Bay Packers
3. Philadelphia Eagles
4. New Orleans Saints
5. New York Jets
6. Houston Texans
7. Pittsburgh Steelers
8. Detroit Lions
9. Baltimore Ravens
10. San Diego Chargers
11. Atlanta Falcons
12. Dallas Cowboys
13. Chicago Bears
14. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
15. Buffalo Bills
16. Washington Redskins
17. San Francisco 49ers
18. Miami Dolphins
19. Arizona Cardinals
20. Cleveland Browns
21. Cincinnati Bengals
22. Oakland Raiders
23. Tennessee Titans
24. Carolina Panthers
25. Minnesota Vikings
26. Denver Broncos
27. Jacksonville Jaguars
28. Kansas City Chiefs
29. Indianapolis Colts
30. Seattle Seahawks