AFC Standings, Week 3: How are the Chiefs shaping up against their conference rivals?

The 2024-25 NFL season is off and running, and the Kansas City Chiefs are still keeping their fans on the edge of their seats.

The Chiefs squeaked out a win against their conference rivals, the Cincinnati Bengals, thanks to Harrison Butker's last-second field goal. It wasn't exactly a masterpiece, and Mahomes had his fair share of hiccups, but no fan will complain about a 2-0 start.

After Week 2, which teams have gotten off to a respectable start and which ones are already falling behind?

AFC West standings, Week 3

1. Chargers (2-0)

2. Chiefs (2-0)

3. Raiders (1-1)

4. Broncos (0-2)

AFC East standings, Week 3

1. Bills (2-0)

2. Patriots (1-1)

3. Jets (1-1)

4. Dolphins (1-1)

AFC North standings, Week 3

1. Steelers (2-0)

2. Browns (1-1)

3. Bengals (0-2)

4. Ravens (0-2)

AFC South standings, Week 3

1. Texans (2-0)

2. Titans (0-2)

3. Jaguars (0-2)

4. Colts (0-2)

A review of Week 2 in the AFC

On Thursday Night Football, the Bills' defense shined with three interceptions in their dominant win over the Dolphins. In other AFC action, the Raiders pulled off a surprising comeback against the Ravens in Baltimore, overcoming a 10-point deficit in the 4th quarter. The Browns traveled to Jacksonville and came away with a victory against the Jaguars. Aaron Rodgers secured his first win as a Jet (in a game he completed) with a road victory over the Titans in Nashville.

The Chargers handled business against the struggling Panthers in Charlotte. The Seahawks edged out the Patriots in overtime at Gillette Stadium. The Packers, led by Malik Willis, defeated the Colts at Lambeau Field. At Mile High, the Steelers bested the Broncos as Bo Nix continued to face challenges. Despite a subpar performance from Patrick Mahomes, the Chiefs clinched a win against the Bengals with a last-second field goal. The Texans' defense overwhelmed Caleb Williams and the Bears in a Sunday Night Football victory.

Turns out, writing off the Bills might have been a bit hasty. Meanwhile, the Dolphins could be in hot water if Tua Tagovailoa is sidelined for an extended period. The Ravens need to shore up their o-line pronto, and it looks like Lamar Jackson won't be repeating his MVP performance. On the flip side, the Raiders d-line, spearheaded by Maxx Crosby, is shaping up to be one of the NFL's finest.

Over in Jacksonville, those flashy offseason signings haven't quite lived up to the hype. The Jets are still finding their groove, and Will Levis seems to be the Titans' Achilles heel so far. The Chargers looked sharp, but let's face it - the Panthers are a hot mess right now. New England might ruffle some feathers, but they're not exactly playoff material yet.

The Colts are 0-2, with Anthony Richardson's slow start stealing the spotlight. Keep an eye on the Steelers' defense, as it could be one of the best in the league. Despite their offense going quiet in the second half, the Texans' defense shined in a primetime victory. And while the Bengals gave the Chiefs a run for their money, climbing out of an 0-2 hole is no walk in the park for anyone.

An early look at AFC playoff positioning

According to Team Rankings, the Chiefs remain the favorites to land the AFC's #1 seed at 26.5%, followed by the Bills at 25.5%, the Texans at 12.0%, the Chargers at 10.2%, the Steelers at 8.2%, the Jets at 4.9%, and the Ravens at 2.7%. The Chiefs also remain as the AFC frontrunners to win Super Bowl LIX with a 12.6% chance, while the Bills stand at 12.3%. Rounding out the top contenders are the Texans (5.9%), Chargers (3.9%), Steelers (3.3%), Ravens (3.3%), and Bengals (3.0%).

Let's be real - this wasn't exactly a highlight reel win for the Chiefs. Sure, the 2-0 start is great, but there's definitely room for improvement. The defense seemed to take a slight step back, the left tackle position remains a concern, and Patrick Mahomes had one of those rare off-days we'll probably joke about later.

On the bright side, they're in pole position for the AFC's top seed, with a pretty favorable schedule ahead. While the Texans are nipping at their heels and the Bills are still hanging around, several contenders are stumbling out of the gate. The Ravens, Bengals, and Jaguars are all 0-2, the Browns and Dolphins are dealing with QB problems, and let's not get too excited about the Chargers, Jets, or Steelers just yet.

If the Chiefs can iron out their wrinkles, they're likely cruising to another AFC West title and setting themselves up nicely for another deep playoff run.