NFL Power Rankings Week 11: Struggling AFC Teams Ready to Rise

The AFC is an impossible conference to figure out right now.

There are no clear-cut dominant teams like the Packers or 49ers, just some above-average squads that all have flaws.

There have also been some real disappointments that are beginning to show a pulse as the season comes down to the final two months.

Here are three AFC teams on the rise as we enter Week 11:

16. Oakland Raiders

The jury is still out on QB Carson Palmer (one impressive performance doesn’t erase two years of bad ones), but it’s the rest of the team you have to like.

Darren McFadden is expected to return from his foot injury, and even if he doesn’t, Michael Bush may be the best backup back in the league. They are fourth overall in rushing yards per game (156), and use this to control the time of possession and keep opposing offenses off the field.

The defense is solid and is beginning to create more turnovers as the young unit grows into their roles.

With a game lead in the division, things are looking bright by the bay.

21. Denver Broncos

Timmy Tebow baby.

It’s weird, it’s unconventional by NFL standards, it doesn’t look pretty—but it works.

The wacky Broncos offense has rushed for 543 yards in the past two games, which is a record-setting pace. Sure, a Tebow pass can look like a wobbly turkey at times, but at 3-1 with consecutive divisional road wins as a starter in 2011, it’s working.

If it ain’t broke don’t fix it.

25. Jacksonville Jaguars

The Jags are living the rough and rugged life of playing with a rookie QB, and Blaine Gabbert has been bad. Like, 32^nd in the NFL with 122.1 passing yards per game bad.

Yet he is slowly starting to build confidence and his team has now won two out of three games.

Behind a defense that is fifth against the pass allowing 189 yards per game, the Jags are sixth in the NFL, giving up just over 18 points a game.

With RB Maurice Jones-Drew still playing extremely hard, expect the Jags to be in almost every game for the rest of the season—with a lot of them turning into wins.

Eric Ball's Week 11 NFL Power Rankings

    1. Green Bay Packers     
    2. San Francisco 49ers     
    3. Pittsburgh Steelers
    4. New Orleans Saints    
    5. New England Patriots     
    6. New York Giants     
    7. Houston Texans

    8. Baltimore Ravens 

    9. Cincinnati Bengals     
    10. Chicago Bears       
    11. Atlanta Falcons     
    12. Detroit Lions 
    13. Dallas Cowboys     
    14. New York Jets
    15. Buffalo Bills
    16. Oakland Raiders     
    17. Philadelphia Eagles
    18. San Diego Chargers
    19. Tennessee Titans     
    20. Tampa Bay Buccaneers     
    21. Denver Broncos     
    22. Miami Dolphins     
    23. Minnesota Vikings     
    24.  Carolina Panthers     
    25. Jacksonville Jaguars     
    26. Arizona Cardinals
    27. St. Louis Rams     
    28. Kansas City Chiefs     
    29. Seattle Seahawks     
    30. Cleveland Browns     
    31. Washington Redskins     
    32. Indianapolis Colts