NFL Power Rankings: Division rankings after Week 3

7) AFC East

The AFC East suffers (easily) the biggest dip this week, and that comes on the back of a 1-3 mark that included a less than spectacular victory. That victory came from the New England Patriots, who narrowly edged the Oakland Raiders by 7 points at home, and frankly, the Tom Brady-led offense has been underwhelming throughout the season to this point. On the bright side for the Pats, the defense has hearkened back to the early 2000’s with stellar play, but if Brady cannot right the ship (including finding some sort of deep threat), then New England’s ceiling is greatly diminished, and thus, so is the division as a whole.

Buffalo currently sits in a tie with New England for the top spot, but even at 2-1, the general consensus is that the Bills are not a likely playoff team. E.J. Manuel reminded everyone of where he really is during a 12-point home loss to the Chargers on Sunday, and while their defense appears to be quite stingy, the Bills will live and die on the right arm (and legs) of Manuel.

At the bottom, both the New York Jets and Miami Dolphins fell to 1-2 over the weekend, but with the Jets losing a relatively competitive game to the likely playoff-bound Bears, the focus is on Miami’s stinker at home against Kansas City. Before they arrived in Miami, the Chiefs were a complete mess and they were without Jamaal Charles, but the Dolphins allowed 34 points to KC and lost by a sizable, 19-point margin.

Let’s just agree that it was a weekend to forget for the AFC East.