AFC Super Bowl Rankings: Bills Rising, Bengals Falling

A handful of other top AFC teams are coming off impressive wins in Week 4. How do the top five AFC contenders in 2024 Super Bowl odds look heading into Week 5? Let’s look at the latest AFC Super Bowl contenders ahead of Week 5.

1.Kansas City Chiefs (+600) Doing Their Job

LAST WEEK (+650)

Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs remain on top of the AFC Super rankings heading into Week 5. They escaped MetLife Stadium with a narrow 23-20 victory over Zach Wilson and the New York Jets. It was a strange game from the Chiefs standpoint as they jumped out to an early 17-point lead in the first quarter and nearly squandered it. The reigning MVP struggled, throwing two interceptions and almost a third if it wasn’t for a penalty call that overturned the play.

Still, the Chiefs improved to 3-1 despite their struggles. Not only is Taylor Swift on the Chiefs bandwagon, but sportsbooks also favor the defending Super Bowl champs, keeping them on top of the 2024 Super Bowl odds.

Patrick Mahomes just became the fastest QB to 200 career TD passes 🚀 pic.twitter.com/wJqooiG2c5

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) October 2, 2023

The defense remains the most impressive part of the team through the first month. Kansas City ranks fifth in points allowed at just 15 points per game. The Chiefs are second to the San Francisco 49ers with the best Super Bowl odds, but we haven’t seen them face a top AFC contender yet. We likely won’t get that for a few more weeks until they play their division rivals, the Los Angeles Chargers, in Week 7.

2. Buffalo Bills (+750): Clinical Execution Boosts Super Bowl 58 Odds

LAST WEEK (+1000)

The biggest risers in our AFC Super Bowl rankings are the Buffalo Bills. Josh Allen put on a clinic in the Bills’ 48-20 victory over the Miami Dolphins. Allen posted an insane stat line of 320 passing yards and four touchdowns while rushing for another. He became the second quarterback in NFL history to have at least 300 yards, four touchdowns, one rushing touchdown, and a perfect 158.3 passer rating in a game.

Stefon Diggs was on the receiving end of three of the touchdown passes as he went for 120 yards on six receptions. The Bills’ dynamic duo embarrassed the Dolphins’ defense. Josh Allen has jumped to the top of the NFL betting online odds and is now the favorite to win the NFL MVP award (+400).

After all the talk during the week about the Dolphins’ record 70-point performance, the Bills silenced the Miami backers. It was a clear wake-up call to the AFC that the Bills are still the kings of the AFC East. Unfortunately for the Bills, they will be forced to play the rest of the season without their best cornerback, Tre’Davious White, who suffered a torn Achilles in the win and will miss the remainder of the season.

Up next for the Bills is an intriguing matchup in London against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Buffalo is an early six-point favorite according to NFL odds.

The Buffalo Bills are a WAGON #PMSLive #BillsMafia pic.twitter.com/rnfael8RkE

— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) October 2, 2023

3. Baltimore Ravens (+1400): Lamar Weaves Magic

LAST WEEK: (+1400)

The Baltimore Ravens have quietly climbed into the top three in the AFC Super Bowl rankings. It was a tumultuous offseason for Lamar Jackson and the franchise, but they certainly appear to be on the same page through the first month of the 2023 season! They are coming off a 28-3 stomping of the Cleveland Browns.

Granted, the Browns were without starting quarterback Deshaun Watson, but the Ravens went into Cleveland and took care of business. Baltimore’s offense was missing key pieces, but the Ravens didn’t skip a beat as Jackson was electrifying. Jackson and tight end Mark Andrews were clicking on all cylinders. The Browns owned the No. 1-ranked defense in the NFL but had no answers for Jackson.

The Ravens are the leaders in the AFC North and are primed to run away with the division early in the season, with the three other division quarterbacks dealing with injuries. They face another tough road battle at Pittsburgh in Week 5, who may be without quarterback Kenny Pickett.

Lamar Jackson was missing his All-Pro left tackle and lost his right tackle mid-way through the game.

Plus, WRs Odell Beckham Jr and Rashod Bateman were out.

AND he was going up against the league’s No. 1 defense (statistically speaking).

He was pulled early, and still… pic.twitter.com/yswcwHhkVM

— Sarah Ellison (@sgellison) October 1, 2023

4. Miami Dolphins +1000: Dose of Reality Shifts Super Bowl 58 Odds

LAST WEEK: (+900)

The Miami Dolphins received a harsh taste of reality last week. After their embarrassing loss in Buffalo, they’ve fallen right behind the Ravens in the AFC Super Bowl rankings. Miami wasn’t quite up for the challenge in its 28-point loss. Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa is now behind Josh Allen for NFL MVP at (+550), tied with Patrick Mahomes. Miami will also now be without left tackle Terron Armstead for an extended period. That’s a significant loss for the offense.

The good news is Miami has a chance to get things back on track with back-to-back home games against the struggling New York Giants, followed by the winless Carolina Panthers in Weeks 5 and 6.

5. Cincinnati Bengals +3000: Tumble in Super Bowl 58 Odds Continues

LAST WEEK: (+1800)

The Bengals suddenly find themselves on the cusp of being outside the top five of our AFC Super rankings. They’ve fallen to 1-3 on the season and don’t look like a 2024 Super Bowl contender. Over the last two weeks, the Bengals’ 2024 Super Bowl odds plummeted from +1800 in Week 3 down to +3000.

The Bengals were on the receiving end of a 27-3 rout at Tennessee in Week 4. The Bengals’ defense struggled as we saw a vintage Derrick Henry performance. The questions continue to swirl surrounding Joe Burrow and his calf strain as the offense continued to struggle. Burrow threw for just 165 yards and zero touchdowns in the loss. Ja’Marr Chase voiced his frustrations in his postgame interview.

A minute of Ja’Marr Chase post-game media session in Tennessee.

Q: Do you feel like you have less time to get open or create space?

A: “No. I’m open. I’m always f***ing open. Excuse my profanity.” pic.twitter.com/mD2HhdVk2T

— Joe Danneman (@FOX19Joe) October 1, 2023

Cincinnati gets a chance to bounce back right away next week with another road matchup against the Arizona Cardinals. Arizona has undoubtedly punched above its weight but it won’t be easy, mainly because the Bengals may be without star receiver Tee Higgins, who is dealing with a rib injury after Week 4

6. Los Angeles Chargers (+3000): Tough Slate Ahead

LAST WEEK: (+3000)

The Chargers find themselves even with the Bengals in our AFC Super Bowl rankings after their 24-17 win over the Las Vegas Raiders. It’s challenging to get excited about the Chargers because they jumped out to a 17-point lead at halftime, only to squander it and need a massive play from cornerback Asante Samuel Jr. to save the game from overtime. I haven’t even mentioned that they were facing rookie quarterback Aiden O’Connell, who was starting in place of an injured Jimmy Garoppolo.

Intercepted by Asante Samuel Jr.! @godschild3_

📺: #LVvsLAC on CBS⁰📱: Stream on #NFLPlus https://t.co/Jq9JHUeqb6 pic.twitter.com/bPy3RvCNrA

— NFL (@NFL) October 1, 2023

Quarterback Justin Herbert appeared to injure his left hand after trying to make a tackle following an interception. The excellent news for Herbert is the Chargers have a bye next week, so he’ll have time to heal his injured hand.

We’ll learn everything we need to know about this Chargers team after their bye as they will face the Dallas Cowboys in Week 6, followed by the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 7!