Week 1 rarely tells the full story, but it did offer enough to shake up the AFC picture a bit.
Buffalo stays at the top of the board after surviving an unexpected shootout with Houston. The Bills’ defense had a rough afternoon, but Josh Allen still found a way to make the plays that mattered, and that kind of win keeps Buffalo looking like a team that isn’t fading anytime soon.
Jacksonville jumps into the No. 2 spot after an impressive showing against Cleveland. Yes, the Browns were the opponent, but Trevor Lawrence has been rolling since the end of the 2025 season, and if that surge continues, the Jaguars are going to be a problem.
Baltimore remains firmly in the mix at No. 3 after handling Indianapolis without much stress in Week 1. The Ravens look like the strongest team in their division on paper, and if the roster stays healthy, they should take the AFC North.
Kansas City lands at No. 4 after flattening Denver and controlling the game on both sides of the ball. The Chiefs may not stay at that level all season, but if the offense keeps benefiting from the addition of Kenneth Walker and the defense holds steady, they can climb back to the top of the division.
Cincinnati checks in at No. 5 after opening 1-0 despite an uneven performance. It wasn’t clean, but the Bengals got the win, and the roster still has enough talent to make a playoff run, especially after the defensive overhaul they made this offseason.
Denver falls to No. 6 after looking like a limp, uninspired team on Monday night. Even so, there’s still reason to keep them in the field; the Broncos might have the best roster in the conference, and they did start 1-2 last year before recovering.
Houston rounds out the AFC field at No. 7.
The Texans dropped that shootout with Buffalo, but they also have the kind of loaded roster that can recover quickly, just like they did after starting 0-3 last season and finishing 12-5. If Jacksonville is as real as Week 1 suggested, Houston may end up settling for a Wild Card spot, with C.J.
Stroud not in the same tier as Lawrence.
In Other News...
Shad Khans Standing Among NFL Owners Says Plenty About The Jaguars
Shad Khans place in the NFL hierarchy says a lot about how far the Jaguars owner has come as a sports figure, even beyond Jacksonville. Forbes now estimates Khans net worth at $16.5 billion, which puts him 70th on the Forbes 400 and sixth among NFL owners, a reminder that his reach extends well past one franchise and into a wider global sports portfolio.
Khans wealth has more than doubled over the last five years and has risen every year since 2022, giving him a financial profile few owners can match. Along with the Jaguars, he also owns Fulham soccer club and co-owns AEW Wrestling with his son Tony, a mix that underscores how his influence stretches across different corners of the sports world even as Jacksonville remains the centerpiece for local fans. [Read more 🡒]
Jaguars Just Got Another Reason To Feel Overlooked In Week 2
Even before the Jaguars take the field for their home opener against the Broncos, theres a little extra fuel for the building. NFL Week 2 puts Jacksonville in a matchup of two 2025 playoff teams, but the leagues schedule still nudged that game into the 4:05 p.m. ET slot with a regional audience, while the bigger 4:25 p.m. window went to Commanders-Cowboys.
For a team trying to establish itself under Liam Coen, it fits the broader feeling around Jacksonville that it needs to keep proving it belongs in the conversation. Coen already sounded like someone who noticed the slight, and the timing could give the Jaguars an added edge as they try to make a statement against Denver in front of their home crowd. [Read more 🡒]
Jaguars Week 1 Grades Put Early Pressure On One Veteran
The Jaguars Week 1 win over the Browns gave the coaching staff plenty to like, and Pro Football Focus early grades reinforced that picture with a mix of encouraging breakouts and familiar standouts. On offense, Parker Washington, Bhayshul Tuten, Josh Cameron, Trevor Lawrence and Cole Van Lanen were among the highest-rated performers, while the defense got strong marks from Ventrell Miller, Branson Combs, Foye Oluokun, Josh Hines-Allen and rookie safety S. Ransaw.
The grading also put an early spotlight on the other side of the ledger, and it is not a great look for one veteran trying to settle into the season. Arik Armstead landed among the lowest-graded players overall, a development that adds a little pressure after a game in which Jacksonville was otherwise able to start the year with a win and some positive tape to build on. [Read more 🡒]