The Houston Texans are enjoying a remarkable six-game winning streak, and with a game against the struggling Las Vegas Raiders scheduled for Week 16, they are poised to extend that streak to seven. However, this impressive run has not been enough for Tom Brady to include them in his top-10 power rankings for the week.
Brady, now representing Fox Sports, has released his official rankings, which have stirred up some online criticism due to the omission of certain teams. He designated the Texans as his honorary mention, acknowledging that “I”m sure there will be some opinions out there,” but still rated them slightly lower than teams like the Green Bay Packers and the Chicago Bears.
During the discussion, Brady expressed his frustrations, stating, “It”s impossible to kick anyone out,” while recognizing that the competition is intensifying with each passing week. In contrast, the Jacksonville Jaguars, Houston”s divisional rivals, hold a 10-4 record and occupy the eighth position in Brady”s rankings. This suggests that he may have intentionally avoided over-representing any single division in his list.
It is noteworthy that the Bears were only reinstated to Brady”s rankings this week after a solid bounce-back performance against the Cleveland Browns in Week 15; he had previously dropped them following their loss to the Packers in Week 14. Now, Brady sees the Bears as a formidable challenge for the Packers in their upcoming matchup.
Brady also confirmed that his New England Patriots remain in control of the sixth position within his rankings. The Seattle Seahawks have continued to impress and are recognized as the fifth-best team, while the Los Angeles Chargers have earned the fourth spot after eliminating Patrick Mahomes from the playoffs for the first time in his career.
In the top three, the Buffalo Bills secured their place following a significant comeback win against the Patriots in Week 15. Meanwhile, Brady”s affection for the Los Angeles Rams, particularly the connection between Matthew Stafford and Puka Nacua, has led him to rank them as his second-favorite team. He remarked, “after seeing the Stafford-Puka connection live out in L.A.,” he felt compelled to rate them highly.
As for the top team in the league, Brady”s choice may surprise some. He believes that Sean Payton has guided the Denver Broncos to an impressive run, stating it “just feels right” for the AFC to go through Denver as the temperatures begin to drop. Currently, the Broncos hold a 12-2 record, marking the best in football, although they have not yet garnered the public excitement seen with teams like the Indianapolis Colts earlier this season. Nonetheless, Brady asserts that they have rightfully earned their recognition. Until another team can disrupt their lengthy winning streak, the Broncos are to be seen as one of the toughest contenders on the field.
