Even through they aren't the top three teams in my rankings, I would say the best three teams in the conference are the Patriots, Ravens, and Steelers. I'll explain the discrepancy momentarily.
But if one of those teams won't represent the AFC in the Super Bowl in February, look for one of these teams to take that honor.
Houston Texans
Remember that power rankings are based on what we've seen thus far, not what we're predicting. The Texans are ranked as the third-best AFC team right now. But with Matt Schaub likely out for the year, it's hard to imagine many people viewing them as Super Bowl threats. That's why I call them sleepers.
Well, I am not giving up on them just yet. Their running game is incredible. On a cold day in January, I like the duo of Arian Foster and Ben Tate an awful lot. Even though Matt Leinart isn't exactly a quarterback that strikes fear into the hearts of anyone, he will still have Andre Johnson to throw to.
So, while I do expect them to hit some roadblocks, I am not counting them out as Super Bowl threats this season.
Oakland Raiders
Last week's win vs. San Diego only gave the Raiders a one-game lead in the AFC West. While that lead is held over three teams, I really like their chances of holding it.
The Raiders have a very strong offense and I do like Carson Palmer, especially as he gets more accustomed to running the show. When Darren McFadden comes back, he and Michael Bush give them a running attack that few teams in the league can match.
Defensively, this team needs some work. But the last team a struggling offense will want to see in a pl...
Article Source: Bleacher Report - Oakland Raiders
