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Super Bowl 59 Picks: Texans, Steelers Climb AFC Rankings

  • The Texans rank second in the NFL, allowing just 280 opposing yards per game yards
  • The Ravens sit at the bottom of the NFL rankings, surrendering 291 passing yards per game
  • Check out the latest Super Bowl LIX betting lines for more!

 

Welcome back to another edition of our weekly power rankings! Can you believe we’re already rolling into Week 9 and nearing the halfway mark of the regular season? Don’t get too emotional just yet, while the top teams have held their ground in my Super Bowl 59 predictions, Week 8 tossed us a few curveballs that definitely shook things up.

Super Bowl 59 Odds: Texans, Steelers Climb AFC Rankings
Carson Wentz #11 of the Kansas City Chiefs / Ethan Miller / Getty Images North America / Getty Images via Afp

Now that the drama’s in the rearview, it’s time to dive into the latest NFL news and shifts in my rankings. Let’s break down who’s rising, who’s falling, and what it all means moving forward. So grab your drink of choice; it’s going to be a fun one!

 

AFC Super Bowl Rankings: Top 6 Contenders

1. Kansas City Chiefs (+425)

Last Week Ranking: 1

Well, Kansas City fans, you get another treat this week — just like the last three — as the Chiefs still hold their top spot in my weekly rankings. For any other NFL fans reading this, you might be upset or annoyed, but the fact is, the Chiefs have the best odds to win Super Bowl 59, and they deserve this spot, standing at 7-0 as the only undefeated team in the league.

Coming off a Week 8 win against division rival Las Vegas Raiders, you might think it was an easy game, but hear me out. While many expected a blowout, the Raiders made the Chiefs work for that victory, with the final score ending at 27-20.

Regarding Kansas City’s offense and quarterback Patrick Mahomes, there wasn’t anything ‘out of this world’ about their performance. Mahomes threw for 262 yards on 27-of-38 passing, tossing two touchdown passes but also throwing an interception. The run game was not much help this time around, as running back Kareem Hunt managed just 59 yards on 21 carries, though he did score a touchdown.

As far as the Chiefs’ defense goes, I’m not impressed at all. They gave up 209 yards through the air to quarterback Gardner Minshew and the Raiders’ offense, including two touchdown passes.

Remember, the Raiders are one of the worst offenses in the league, leading the way with 17 turnovers this season. And how many did the reigning two-time Super Bowl champions manage to create? Zero. That’s a big red flag for a Super Bowl team on the hunt for their third title.

If they can’t generate turnovers against the league’s leader in giveaways, what does that say when they face tougher offensive teams? So, while the Chiefs’ offense is still figuring out how to secure wins, their defense really needs to step it up.

Bet on the Kansas City Chiefs to Win Super Bowl LIX (+425)

 

2. Houston Texans (+1400)

Last Week Ranking: 3

Who else than the Houston Texans to get the second spot? The Texans are heading into Week 9 with another win under their belt, bringing their record to 6-2 and marking six wins in their last eight games.

But let’s be real: last weekend’s win should serve as a wake-up call. They faced a 4-3 Indianapolis Colts team that’s been struggling on both sides of the ball this season, especially with their quarterback issues. Winning by just a last-game sack for a three-point margin isn’t exactly helping their odds to win the AFC South.

Quarterback C.J. Stroud played well, throwing for 285 yards on 25-of-37 passing, but let’s be honest — just one passing touchdown? That’s not exactly lighting it up. If we’re handing out a game ball, it’s easily going to running back Joe Mixon, who rushed for 102 yards on 25 carries and managed to find the end zone.

The Houston defense had some moments, racking up five sacks on quarterback Anthony Richardson and holding him to a sloppy 10-of-35 passing. But here’s the kicker: they gave those yards right back, allowing running back Jonathan Taylor to rush for 105 yards on the ground. Not exactly the performance you’d expect from a team that’s supposed to be a deep playoff contender.

Keep in mind, this is the reigning AFC South champion we’re talking about, and their roster has only gotten stronger since last season. There’s no reason they should’ve needed a game-saving sack at the end of the fourth quarter to sneak away with a win against the Colts.

The Texans’ defense may rank second in the NFL, allowing only 280 total yards per game, but I expect more from them, especially against lower-tier teams.

Bet on the Houston Texans to Win Super Bowl LIX (+1400)

 

3. Pittsburgh Steelers (+3300)

Last Week Ranking: 4

Coming in as a more obvious pick than a shocking one, I’m putting the Pittsburgh Steelers in the bronze spot this week. Here’s the deal: After picking up a 26-18 win over the Giants on Monday Night Football, Pittsburgh is now 6-2 on the season, holding first place in the AFC North over the Baltimore Ravens. Say what you want, but that deserves recognition in our sportsbook’s NFL lines.

Looking at yesterday’s game against the Giants, the Steelers’ offense definitely did their part — no question about it. Quarterback Russell Wilson threw for 278 yards on a solid 20-of-28 passing performance. But while Wilson had a great game, it was the Pittsburgh ground game that really flexed its muscles, with running back Najee Harris rushing for 114 yards on 19 carries.

Now, the big question: Are the Steelers a Super Bowl 59 contender? I’m not ready to answer that just yet. Sure, they’re coming off another win, but their defense didn’t exactly play like the powerhouse they were earlier this season. They allowed quarterback Daniel Jones and the Giants’ offense to connect on 264 passing yards through the air and even surrendered 157 rushing yards. To the Giants?! As a Giants fan, let me tell you: New York’s offense isn’t exactly scary.

If Pittsburgh wants to climb to the top of my rankings, they can’t afford slip-ups like that, even if they win the game. Next week, the Steelers will match up against the Commanders. Let’s see if they can return to form and put the Washington offense on ice.

Bet on the Pittsburgh Steelers to Win Super Bowl LIX (+3300)

 

4. Baltimore Ravens (+700)

Last Week Ranking: 2

Coming in at number four is the Baltimore Ravens. Ravens fans, I’ve been warning you for weeks about how inefficient this defense has been since the start of the season. We know the offense can execute and put up points, but a team’s defense needs to prevent opposing teams from moving the chains — and that’s something Baltimore hasn’t quite figured out yet, losing to the Browns this past weekend, 29-24.

Now, you might say, “Jeremy, it was a divisional matchup; those games are usually close.” Sure, but for a team projected to be a Super Bowl contender, you can’t let a third-string quarterback throw for 334 yards and three touchdowns. That is just purely unacceptable.

Offensively, quarterback Lamar Jackson and running back Derrick Henry did their thing. Jackson threw for 289 yards and two touchdown passes, while the “King” racked up 73 rushing yards on 11 carries with a rushing touchdown.

I’m calling it now: at this rate, Baltimore won’t make it past the first round of the playoffs.

It might be a bold claim, but their defense needs to show some life. Their offense can be the best in the league, but if their defense can’t shut down opposing offenses, what’s the point? Keep in mind that the Ravens are now dead last in the NFL, giving up 291 passing yards per game.

Coming up, the Ravens will host the Broncos — a team that’s been quite the opposite of the Ravens, executing on both defense and offense. Let’s see how they handle quarterback Bo Nix and the Mile High offense.

Bet on the Baltimore Ravens to Win Super Bowl LIX (+700)

 

5. Buffalo Bills (+1000)

Last Week Ranking: 6

For the second week in a row, I’m giving the fifth spot back to the Buffalo Bills after their commanding 31-10 win over the Seattle Seahawks. Buffalo seems to be on the verge of rediscovering the magic we saw earlier this season. But right now, I can’t rank them any higher for good reasons.

“Jeremy, that doesn’t make sense! They’re 6-2 and are first in the AFC East!” You’re absolutely right. However, let’s not forget who two of their last three opponents were: the Titans and the Jets. These are teams that are nowhere near the Bills’ caliber on either side of the ball. Yet, the Bills only managed to beat one of those teams by more than 10 points. That’s a bit concerning if you ask me.

Now, in Buffalo’s recent win, quarterback Josh Allen did his usual thing, throwing for 283 yards and two touchdown passes while rushing for an additional 25 yards on seven keepers.

Flipping the page over, it was Buffalo’s run game that shined. Running back James Cook put on a rushing clinic, totaling 111 yards on just 17 carries with two rushing touchdowns. From the receiving front, it was Khalil Shakir leading the way with 107 receiving yards on just nine catches.

Defensively, the Bills came to play, hindering the Seahawks’ usual explosive offense. They held quarterback Geno Smith to just 212 passing yards with no touchdown passes and limited Seattle’s ground game to a mere 32 rushing yards. Yes, that wasn’t a typo — less than 50 yards on the ground for the Seahawks!

The Bills head into Week 9 with a divisional matchup against the Miami Dolphins. Let’s see if they can make it four wins in a row.

Bet on the Buffalo Bills to Win Super Bowl LIX (+1000)

 

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6. Denver Broncos (+8000)

Last week Ranking: 6

Saving the most controversial pick of the week for last, I’m welcoming back the Denver Broncos into my top six once again. Like it or not, but for a team labeled as a ‘rebuild’ they have been making a splash this season, sitting with a 5-3 record in the AFC West, after taking down the Carolina Panthers with a 28-14 win.

BetUS Sportsbook currently lists the Broncos at +8000 odds to win Super Bowl 59.

Let’s clear the air: the Panthers aren’t exactly the most exciting team to face this season. In fact, they’re pretty terrible. But even so, the Broncos have shown they can’t be underestimated. Rookie quarterback Bo Nix came out swinging, throwing for 284 yards, and tossing up three touchdown passes without a single interception. Veteran receiver Courtland Sutton was his go-to guy, racking up eight catches for 100 yards.

The Denver defense also came ready to play, putting quarterback Bryce Young and the Panthers’ offense in an even more uncomfortable position than they’ve been in all season. Young threw for just 224 yards, two interceptions, and got sacked twice. And the run game? What run game? The Broncos limited the Panthers’ ground attack to a mere 69 yards from four different rushers.

So, can this AFC West team compete with the Chiefs for the best NFL betting odds to win the division? Absolutely not. Next week, the Broncos head to Baltimore to take on the Ravens in what is arguably their biggest matchup of the season so far. Let’s see if they can contain Baltimore’s firecracker of an offense.

 

The Rest of the AFC Teams

  • Los Angeles Chargers (+5000)
  • Indianapolis Colts (+15000)
  • Cincinnati Bengals (+4000)
  • Cleveland Browns (+50000)
  • Jacksonville Jaguars (+25000)
  • New York Jets (+8000)
  • New England Patriots (+100000)
  • Miami Dolphins (+15000)
  • Tennessee Titans (+100000)
  • Las Vegas Raiders (+100000)

 

Questions of the Day

Which team led the AFC last season in interceptions?


The Buffalo Bills, Cleveland Browns, and Baltimore Ravens tied for the most interceptions last season, each notching 18 interceptions

Which AFC team finished with the most touchdowns last year?


The Miami Dolphins led all AFC teams last year with a total of 61 touchdowns.

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