Second-Best Team in the AFC
The New England Patriots defense has been historic to start the 2019 season. The 7-0 Patriots defeated the New York Jets 33-0 on the road on Monday Night Football. (Photo:©Adam Hunger/AP Images)
The NEW England Patriots are the best team in the afc.
It is safe to say that they are also the best team in the entire NFL. New England is 7-0 for just the third time in franchise history. It is worth noting that the Patriots did not win the Super Bowl in either of the previous seasons in which they started 7-0 (2007, 2015). Monday night’s 33-0 beatdown of the division rival New York Jets on the road only solidified the New England Patriots as the AFC’s best team. The only question that remains is which contender is the second-best team in the AFC.
We asked the hosts of the BCSC Podcast to weigh in. Their responses may surprise you.
The Houston Texans line up to punt during a 30-23 Week 7 loss on the road to the Indianapolis Colts. (Photo:©Zach Tarrant/Houston Texans)
ANDY BISHOP
ANDY’S PICK: HOUSTON TEXANS (4-3)
second place - afc south
While some may see this as a stretch, I am going with the Houston Texans as the second-best team in the AFC.
Yes, they are coming off a tough loss to the Colts that left Indy alone atop the AFC South standings, but this Texans team has shown it can play with any opponent. A 31-24 Week 6 win on the road against the high-powered Chiefs showed that this Houston squad is no joke.
The biggest reason why I believe the Texans must be considered among the AFC’s elite is the growth of quarterback Deshaun Watson. In just his third season, the kid has played at an MVP level. His Total QBR ranks 4th in the NFL, and he has a seemingly endless supply of capable receiving targets. Houston is a threat to score on every offensive play.
Deshaun Watson drops back to pass for the Houston Texans in a 30-23 Week 7 loss on the road to the Indianapolis Colts. Watson threw for 308 yards and a TD. (Photo:©Zach Tarrant/Houston Texans)
The biggest concern for Houston is its defense. The Texans have given up the fourth-most points in the AFC. There is no doubt the defensive side of the ball has to improve for the Texans to make a deep playoff run, but they have shown spurts of dominance in victories over the Los Angeles Chargers and Kansas City Chiefs.
With all that said, I love this team on the road. They currently sit at 4-3, and I see them finishing the season at 10-6. Whether they win the AFC South or enter the playoffs as a wild card team, I believe the Houston Texans have what it takes to win on the road in tough environments — Kansas City, Baltimore, Buffalo. That makes them the Patriots’ biggest obstacle in the AFC.
Travis Kelce catches a pass in the Kansas City Chiefs 30-6 victory over the Denver Broncos on Thursday night in the mile high city. The 5-2 Chiefs sit alone atop the AFC West standings. (Photo:©Andrew Mather/Kansas City Chiefs)
BRIAN VILVEN
BRIAN’S PICK: KANSAS CITY CHIEFS (5-2)
FIRST place - afc WEST
The Kansas City Chiefs had everything working against them on Thursday night. They were coming off consecutive losses to the Colts and Texans after starting the season 4-0, and they lost superstar quarterback Patrick Mahomes to a dislocated knee-cap on a fourth-down conversion early in the second quarter against the Denver Broncos. Clinging to a 10-6 lead at the time Mahomes went down, it felt as if the Chiefs season was about to spiral out of control. But then something happened.
The Chiefs were forced to come together as a complete football team. They could no longer rely on the reigning MVP to take the team on his back and lead them to victory. Backup-quarterback Matt Moore was pressed into action, and he responded by leading Kansas City to 20 unanswered points and a dominating 30-6 victory against its biggest rival.
Kansas City quarterback Matt Moore is set to start his first game in almost 2 years when the first-place Chiefs host the Green Bay Packers in primetime on Sunday Night Football. (Photo:©Andrew Mather/Kansas City Chiefs)
Not only did the win solidify the Chiefs’ spot atop the AFC West, but it solidified the Chiefs as the Patriots biggest threat in the conference. Mahomes is expected to miss at least 3 weeks as he rehabs his injury, but after upcoming games against the Green Bay Packers and Minnesota Vikings, Kansas City will be favored in 6 of its final 7 games to close out the season.
With a healthy Patrick Mahomes, Tyreek Hill, and Sammy Watkins in the second half of the season, the Chiefs will win the AFC West with 11-12 wins and will be the favorites to face New England in an AFC Championship Game rematch.
The Baltimore Ravens have a great claim to the AFC’s second-best team after a 30-16 victory over the Seahawks at CenturyLink Field in Seattle. (Photo:©Shawn Hubbard/Baltimore Ravens)
THOMAS CONROY
Thomas’ PICK: BALTIMORE RAVENS (5-2)
FIRST place - afc NORTH
If you needed any more proof in the shift of power behind the New England Patriots in the AFC, then the Baltimore Ravens made believers out of us all with their impressive 30-16 road win over the Seattle Seahawks in Week 7.
Before they can start dreaming of overtaking the Mighty Pats, the Ravens must first take care of business and win the AFC North. With Sunday’s victory over the Seahawks, Baltimore extended its division lead over the Cleveland Browns and Pittsburgh Steelers to three games. Suddenly, those doubters might be fully on-board with the Ravens being the second-best team in the AFC.
Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson is in the thick of the MVP conversation after leading the Ravens to a 30-16 victory over the Seahawks at CenturyLink Field in Seattle. (Photo:©Shawn Hubbard/Baltimore Ravens)
One reason for all of this success is the improved play of Lamar Jackson. Jackson, an already accomplished runner, has become a more competent passer this season. He has become the ultimate dual threat from the quarterback position and is a legitimate MVP candidate. The addition of Mark Ingram has strengthened the Ravens running game, and this offense can score from anywhere on the field.
The always stout Ravens defense makes this a complete team. A path to the playoffs has been set, and the Ravens will be tough to defeat come January.