NFL power rankings, AFC edition: Chiefs, Ravens loom on top

2. Baltimore Ravens

Lamar Jackson took the NFL by storm in 2019 all the way to the MVP and AFC’s top seed in the playoffs.

Head coach John Harbaugh and his staff have done an excellent job crafting an offense around their star quarterback, and relying on a strong stable of solid running backs to carry the bulk of the load. Expect more of the same on offense in 2020 as the team adds rookie-rusher J.K. Dobbins to the stable.

But the offense, despite its talent and prowess, is not the reason Baltimore is No. 2. Instead it’s the defense, the best in the NFL yet again. A fantastic unit was able to get better with the addition of rookie linebacker Patrick Queen and veteran defensive linemen Calais Campbell Derek Wolfe.

A very good team got better since January – and they should compete for the AFC title in 2020.

1. Kansas City Chiefs

The Super Bowl LIV Champions will remain the top team in the AFC, and in football, until another unit proves otherwise.

The champions return 20 of 22 starters from the team that hoisted the Lombardi Trophy four months ago. There’s no reason to believe the team won’t be as good or better than the one that claimed the franchise’s first title in 50 years.

Led by superstar quarterback Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City returns every weapon on a deadly offense and adds the best playmaking running back in college football a season ago, LSU’s Clyde Edwards-Helaire.

The Chiefs are the odds-on favorite to win Super Bowl LV – who are we to argue?