Ranking the top five AFC teams at Week 10

3. Indianapolis Colts (7-2)

Even with their loss to the Steelers on Nov. 2, the Colts still have a healthy lead in both points per game and point differential. Their resume includes victories over the Broncos and Chargers, while their only two defeats have been one-score road losses to the 5-3 Steelers and 6-2 Rams. There is talent all over the field, headlined by superstar running back Jonathan Taylor, and they addressed their biggest weakness at the trade deadline with the acquisition of cornerback Sauce Gardner. At the end of the day, however, this is a quarterback league, and as good as Daniel Jones has played this year, he is still less than one year removed from being cut by the Giants. His five-turnover game against the Steelers was a sign of his obvious limitations, and it’s difficult to see him going toe-to-toe with the conference’s elite quarterbacks in January.

2. Kansas City Chiefs (5-4)

In a sense, the Chiefs are the complete opposite of the Patriots. Each of their four defeats have come against teams with a 5-3 record or better, and all have been decided by one score. From a pure talent perspective, this is one of the strongest groups the Chiefs have had during the Patrick Mahomes/Andy Reid era, particularly since wide receiver Rashee Rice returned from his six-game suspension. The three-time defending AFC champions still deserve the benefit of the doubt, but their 1-3 record away from Arrowhead Stadium this season is worth paying attention to, considering they are likely to enter the postseason as a wild-card team.

1. Buffalo Bills (6-2)

While the Chiefs have defeated the Bills in four of the last five postseasons, their most recent regular-season matchup provided evidence that things could be different this January. The Bills dominated the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball, hitting Mahomes 14 times and freeing up running back James Cook for 114 rushing yards on 27 attempts. Defensive end Joey Bosa and cornerback Maxwell Hairston, both new additions, each made critical plays, and Josh Allen completed a career-high 88% of his passes. The Bills still need to prove they can do it in January, but if they are able to hold off the Patriots in the AFC East and force the Chiefs to come back to Highmark Stadium, it will be hard not to consider them the favorites.