The AFC is crowded, messy, and already sorting itself into tiers after just two weeks. That much is clear entering Week 3. The Bills and Chiefs sit at the top of the conference picture for now, but behind them, the early order is still taking shape fast.
At the bottom of this first AFC ranking sits Miami, and the Dolphins are going to stay there for a while if this evaluation phase keeps rolling the way it has. Miami is 0-2, and the focus is squarely on figuring things out rather than chasing short-term fixes.
One thing that stands out: the offense could use more designed running for Malik Willis. The Dolphins should not be holding him back as a runner just to see what he can do strictly from the pocket.
They also want to get a better look at their young receivers, but giving Willis more chances to move could open up the offense a bit more.
Tennessee comes in next at 15, and the Titans at least gave a better account of themselves in Week 2 than they did in Week 1. Still, they didn’t finish the job.
After some offseason optimism, the preseason and first two games have been a reality check. This is still a rebuilding, reloading roster that needs time.
For now, the weekly bar is pretty simple: steady growth from Cam Ward and cleaner situational defense. Tennessee also needs pass rushers to emerge or step up.
Cleveland lands at 14, and this one comes with a bit of surprise. There was real doubt about whether the Browns could win a game this season with Deshaun Watson at quarterback, but Week 2 changed the mood.
Watson helped lead Cleveland to a road win over the Buccaneers, a result almost nobody around the league saw coming. Rookie Denzel Boston also turned in a big play with a 55-yard touchdown.
The Browns are headed into their home debut this weekend, and while nobody should get carried away this early, Watson’s performance - along with the play of the young receivers - was a positive sign.
Pittsburgh rounds out this group at 13, and the feeling around the Steelers is bleak. Through two games, they’ve been hard to get excited about in any way.
Aaron Rodgers looks like he might be hanging on 2-3 years too late, and the whole operation has felt flat. The ceiling here looks very low, and the product on the field hasn’t done much to change that.
Week 3 brings a matchup with the Bengals, who have started strong, and a win there would matter a lot for how the Steelers are viewed right now.
In Other News...
Titans Rookie Receiver Is Quickly Becoming Hard To Ignore
Rookie wide receiver Elic Ayomanor is starting to draw the kind of praise that usually comes only after a player has spent enough time making a quiet, steady impression behind the scenes. Titans head coach Robert Saleh singled out Ayomanors work ethic and the way he keeps improving every day, the sort of compliment that suggests the rookie is doing more than just learning the playbook and showing up on time.
For Tennessee, that matters because young receivers often have to earn every look, every rep and every bit of trust before they can become part of the regular conversation. Salehs comments add Ayomanor to a growing list of AFC South rookies whose development is being closely watched, and while the full role picture is still taking shape, his name is clearly getting harder to overlook. [Read more 🡒]
Titans Still Sorting Out Offensive Line Depth Ahead Of Week 3
The Titans keep tinkering with the back end of their offensive line picture as Week 3 approaches, a sign that the group is still not settled behind the top options. Tennessee brought guard Drew Moss back to the practice squad after a round of workouts that included offensive linemen Nick Broeker, Amari Kight and Brandon Walton, each with some NFL experience, while linebacker Jimmy Ciarlo was waived in the move.
Ciarlo had been filling in temporarily for injured Mohamoud Diabate, so the roster shuffle also shows how these small decisions can ripple beyond one position. With the New York Giants next on the schedule, Tennessee is still sorting out where it wants its depth to land and which linemen it trusts most if the game starts to test that group. [Read more 🡒]
Titans Just Got A Very Different Week 3 Challenge In New York
The Titans are heading into Week 3 with a very different look on the other sideline than the one they likely spent the early part of the week preparing for. Jaxson Darts knee injury ended his season, and the Giants are now expected to turn to Jameis Winston at quarterback for Sundays matchup in New York, changing the tone of a game that already carried plenty of early-season pressure.
For Tennessee, the switch adds a new layer of uncertainty because it comes alongside other injury concerns for the Giants as they approach kickoff. A different quarterback changes the reads, the rhythm and the game-plan details, and it leaves the Titans dealing with a moving target instead of the version of New York they may have anticipated when the week began. [Read more 🡒]