NFL Power Rankings: Evaluating AFC Teams Still Alive in the Wild Card Hunt

The AFC wild-card hunt is still a four team race with only one spot available.

The Jets are the front-runners at 8-5, holding the tiebreaker over the 8-5 Cincinnati Bengals. Then there are the Tennessee Titans (7-7), Oakland Raiders (7-7) and San Diego Chargers (7-7) all with a glimmer of hope.

So, who is the most deserving? Here are the rankings for the five teams still alive for the sixth spot in the AFC.

10. Cincinnati Bengals

The Bengals have a much better offense than the Jets and a defense that has quietly been in the top 10 for the vast majority of the season.

They are a last second T.J. Yates miracle away from being a game up on the Jets and have the consistency the Jets simply don’t have. They need to win their final two against the Cardinals and the Ravens and hope that the Jets lose one of their last two games. 

12. New York Jets

I think it is official: Mark Sanchez is not going to win a Super Bowl.

The Jets are still in control of their own destiny as long as they beat the Giants and the Dolphins, but there is no chance they win a game in the playoffs. Too many Sanchez mistakes, too many poor throws, not enough explosive plays.

14. Oakland Raiders

Despite the inconsistencies of Carson Palmer, this team has a ton of talent and was done in by a rash of injuries to important skill players.

If they eliminate all of the dumb penalties and get better luck in the health department, this will be a playoff team in 2012. For now it’s a bunch of “what if” questions.

17. Tennessee Titans

This is assuming Jake Locker will start the final two games. The rookie QB has a bright future and the Titans season was ruined by the Colts because the coaching staff inexplicably forced an injured Matt Hasselbeck to start.

I think the Titans win if Locker starts.

19. San Diego Chargers

One impressive win doesn’t change the fact the ‘Bolts are working with a depleted offensive line that has been the major reason Philip Rivers is having the worst season of his career.

The six game losing streak in the middle of the season is going to ultimately be the reason they finish with another disappointing year of being .500. 

Eric Ball's Week 16 NFL Power Rankings

1. Green Bay Packers (13-1)

2. New Orleans Saints (11-3)

3. New England Patriots (11-3)

4. San Francisco 49ers (11-3)

5. Pittsburgh Steelers (10-4)

6. Baltimore Ravens (10-4)

7. Houston Texans (10-4)

8. Denver Broncos (8-6)

9. Atlanta Falcons (9-5)

10. Cincinnati Bengals (8-6)

11. Detroit Lions (9-5)

12. New York Jets (8-6)

13. New York Giants (7-7)

14. Oakland Raiders (7-7)

15. Philadelphia Eagles (6-8)

16. Dallas Cowboys (8-6)

17. Tennessee Titans (7-7)

18. Chicago Bears (7-7)

19. San Diego Chargers (7-7)

20. Seattle Seahawks (7-7)

21. Arizona Cardinals (7-7)

22. Buffalo Bills (5-9)

23. Kansas City Chiefs (6-8)

24. Carolina Panthers (5-9)

25. Miami Dolphins (5-9)

26. Washington Redskins (5-9)

27. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-10)

28. Cleveland Browns (4-10)

29. Jacksonville Jaguars (4-10)

30. Minnesota Vikings (2-12)

31. St. Louis Rams (2-11)

32. Indianapolis Colts (1-13)