ESPN NFL

We are down to the final set of ESPN.com’s NFL Power Rankings.

The AFC East went 2-2 in Week 17. Here is how the results impacted the final rankings.

New England Patriots (13-3)

Result: W, 49-21 against Bills

Power Ranking: No. 4 (same)

Walker's vote: No. 3 (same)

Analysis: The Patriots have won eight straight, but that wasn't enough to improve their final ranking. New England finished No. 4 behind a trio of NFC teams: Green Bay Packers, New Orleans Saints and San Francisco 49ers. The Patriots remain the highest-rated AFC team and have an inside track to the Super Bowl with home-field advantage. They should be healthy following the bye. The biggest question is can the defense play well when it counts.

New York Jets (8-8)

Result: L, 19-17 against Dolphins

Power Ranking: No. 19 (down three spots)

Walker's vote: No. 17 (down one spot)

Analysis: The Jets joined the Philadelphia Eagles as the biggest flops in the NFL this season. New York coach Rex Ryan oversold this team as a Super Bowl contender. The Jets were talented in the starting lineup but didn't have the same depth as previous years. This group also wasn’t as close and had a ton of chemistry issues. The Jets are another example that chemistry matters in the NFL. New York unraveled itself with bickering, infighting and underperforming.

Miami Dolphins (6-10)

Result: W, 19-17 against Jets

Power Ranking: No. 24 (same)

Walker’s vote: No. 22 (up one spot)

Analysis: Miami sent longtime defensive end Jason Taylor out in style with a win over the rival Jets. This team isn't far away from turning things around. The Dolphins finished the year 6-3 in their last nine games. If they nail this quarterback and head-coaching search, they will be a dangerous team to watch in 2012.

Buffalo Bills (6-10)

Result: L, 49-21 against Patriots

Power Ranking: No. 25 (same)

Walker’s vote: No. 24 (same)

Analysis: The Bills gave up 49 unanswered points to the Patriots. That should be more than enough reason for Buffalo to do everything it can to upgrade the defense via the draft and free agency. It already cost former defensive coordinator George Edwards his job. The Bills showed flashes this season, particularly early. But they need to add more impact players and depth to be able to survive injuries.

The NFL regular season is wrapping up soon. Here is how the AFC East fared in ESPN.com's Power Rankings:

New England Patriots (12-3)

Results: W, 27-24 against Dolphins

Power Ranking: No. 4 (same)

Walker's ranking: No. 3 (same)

Analysis: A come-from-behind win over the Dolphins didn't do anything for New England's power ranking. The Patriots stayed the same after overcoming a 17-point halftime deficit to improve to 12-3. The NFL has a bevy of strong teams at the top, and the Patriots may have to settle for the No. 4 spot the rest of the regular season. More importantly, New England just has to win its final game against Buffalo to secure home-field advantage throughout the playoffs.

New York Jets (8-7)

Results: L, 29-14 against New York Giants

Power Ranking: No. 16 (down four spots)

Walker's ranking: No. 16 (down two spots)

Analysis: The Jets were one of the biggest flops this week. The Jets dropped four spots to No. 16, and it was deserved after losing by 15 points to the Giants. Simply put, the Jets are a mediocre team. On paper, this group should be much better. The Jets have 11-win talent. But the Jets have zero consistency and now could end the year with a .500 record if they can't beat Dolphins on Sunday.

Miami Dolphins (5-10)

Results: L, 27-24 against Patriots

Power Ranking: No. 24 (down one spot)

Walker’s ranking: No. 23 (down one spot)

Analysis: Miami only dropped one spot after a respectable loss to the Patriots. The Dolphins probably could have beat most teams last week with a 17-point lead. But Patriots quarterback Tom Brady wouldn't allow New England to fold. The Dolphins are 5-3 in their last eight games. They're probably better than several teams rated ahead of them, but the 0-7 start will keep Miami in the 20s.

Buffalo Bills (6-9)

Results: W, 40-14 against Denver Broncos

Power Ranking: No. 25 (up one spot)

Walker’s ranking: No. 24 (up two spots)

Analysis: Buffalo finally broke its seven-game losing streak and upended the Broncos. It was one of the Bills' most impressive victories of the season, despite the game being meaningless. The Bills couldn't handle injuries or increased expectations after getting off to the fast start. The biggest bright spot is former first-round draft pick C.J. Spiller is proving that he can be a featured running back in the NFL. Buffalo is expected to drop this week's game at New England and finish with another double-digit losing season.

The AFC East went 2-2 in Week 16. Here is how those games could impact this week's ESPN.com Power Rankings:

New England Patriots (12-3)

Last week: No. 4

Result: W, against Miami 27-24

Analysis: It wasn't pretty, but the Patriots picked up a key win against the Miami Dolphins. The Dolphins traditionally play New England tough. But it was unacceptable for Tom Brady, Bill Belichick and Co. to fall behind 17-0 at home in the first half. The Patriots got it together in the second half and overcame their biggest deficit of the season. Style points do not matter this time of year. It's all about victories. New England is one win shy of securing home-field advantage throughout the playoffs.

Projected vote: No. 2-4

New York Jets (8-7)

Last week: No. 12

Result: L, 29-14

Analysis: Stick a fork in the Jets. They are done. They did more talking than playing the past couple of weeks, and it most likely will keep the Jets out the playoffs. The Giants outplayed the Jets and showed why they are the best team in the New York City area. The Jets still have a small chance to make the playoffs, but they need a miracle. The Jets need to start evaluating their roster for next season.

Projected vote: No. 15-17

Miami Dolphins (5-10)

Last week: No. 23

Result: L, 27-24 against New England

Analysis: The Dolphins deserve a lot of credit for taking the Patriots to the limit. They gave the Patriots their strongest test in weeks despite having nothing to play for. Miami is proving to be a good destination for a potential head coach. This team is not far away from contending. The Dolphins also will have a top-10 draft pick next April.

Projected vote: No. 22-24

Buffalo Bills (6-9)

Last week: No. 26

Result: W, 40-14 against Denver

Analysis: Where was this effort and performance the past two months? Buffalo suddenly went through a time warp and reverted back to the team we saw in the first month of the season. The Bills soundly beat Tim Tebow and the Denver Broncos for four quarters. That should move the Bills up a few spots. They have a lot of holes to fix, but this game showed they are not without talent.

Projected vote: No. 23-25

The New England Patriots won their sixth straight game and continue to gradually climb up ESPN.com's NFL Power Rankings.

Here is how Week 15 impacted the division:

New England Patriots (11-3)

Results: W, 41-23 against Denver

Power Ranking: No. 4 (up one spot)

Walker’s vote: No. 3 (up two spots)

Analysis: I think the Patriots got shafted a little this week. The Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Ravens lost ahead of New England, but the Patriots only moved up one spot. The San Francisco 49ers jumped the Patriots after a big win over the Steelers on "Monday Night Football." Either way, the Patriots just need to win their final two home games against Miami and Buffalo to secure home-field advantage throughout the AFC. New England will be hard to beat at Gillette Stadium in the playoffs if quarterback Tom Brady continues to play at an MVP level.

New York Jets (8-6)

Results: L, 45-19 against Philadelphia

Power Ranking: No. 12 (down two spots)

Walker’s vote: No. 14 (down four spots)

Analysis: The Jets continued their trend of not showing up on the road. They fell to 2-5 away from MetLife Stadium with an embarrassing 45-19 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. The Jets played their worst game all season and dropped two spots in ESPN.com's Power Rankings. I voted New York No. 14 and NFC West blogger Mike Sando vote the Jets the lowest at No. 15.

Miami Dolphins (5-9)

Results: W, 30-23 against Buffalo

Power Ranking: No. 23 (same)

Walker’s vote: No. 22 (same)

Analysis: The Dolphins are finally ahead of the Bills in the Power Rankings. I've been voting Miami ahead of Buffalo for weeks after watching both teams trend in opposite directions. Our panel finally was convinced after Miami swept Buffalo in the season series. The Dolphins deserve a lot of credit for playing hard in the second half of the season, despite inner turmoil and the eventual firing of former head coach Tony Sparano. Miami has two tough games against the Patriots and Jets to finish the season.

Buffalo Bills (5-9)

Results: L, 30-23 against Miami

Power Ranking: No. 26 (down four spots)

Walker’s vote: No. 26 (down three spots)

Analysis: The Bills continue to drop after their seventh consecutive loss. The defense hasn't stopped anyone in weeks and quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick has been too streaky and inconsistent to lift his team. Buffalo needs to take a hard look at its roster in the offseason. The defense needs a major overhaul, but the offense also needs several pieces. Until then, Buffalo needs to try to win at least one of these next two games to help with confidence.

The AFC East went 2-2 in Week 15. Here is how those games could impact the division in ESPN.com's NFL Power Rankings:

New England Patriots (11-3)

Last week: No. 5

Result: W, 41-23 against Denver

Analysis: The Patriots put an end to Tim Tebow's run through the NFL. It was a quality win for New England, which now has the No. 1 seed in the AFC. The Patriots will be watching Monday's game between the Pittsburgh Steelers (10-3) and San Francisco 49ers (10-3). If Pittsburgh loses, New England controls its own destiny to secure home-field advantage throughout the AFC playoffs.

Projected vote: No. 3-5

New York Jets (8-6)

Last week: No. 10

Result: L, 45-19 against Philadelphia

Analysis: The Jets continue to be an enigma. Coming off a three-game winning streak, New York laid its biggest egg of the season in a 26-point loss to Philadelphia. New York committed four turnovers and was never in this game. It was an unexpected performance from a team that is fighting for its playoff life. Luckily, the Jets still control their own playoff destiny. They will host the Giants Sunday in the “Battle of New York.”

Projected vote: No. 13-15

Miami Dolphins (5-9)

Last week: No. 23

Result: W, 30-23 against Buffalo

Analysis: The Dolphins improved to 5-2 in their last seven games with a win over Buffalo. This game was not as close as it appeared. The Bills tried to make a run in the fourth quarter but the Dolphins preserved the win. Miami is showing good character and playing its best football late in the season. The Dolphins will be a dangerous opponent for the Patriots and Jets in the final two weeks.

Projected vote: No. 22-24

Buffalo Bills (5-9)

Last week: No. 22

Result: L, 30-23 against Miami

Analysis: Even during the Bills' losing streak, they remained ranked ahead of the Dolphins. That should no longer be the case after Miami completed the season sweep of Buffalo on Sunday. The Bills are in shambles. It's a shame how much this team has fallen apart after showing promise during a 5-2 start. This team has a lot of improvements to make in the offseason.

Projected vote: No. 25-27

It took five straight wins and a slip up from the San Francisco 49ers for the New England Patriots to earn their way back into the top five of ESPN.com's NFL Power Rankings. New England moved up one spot after beating the Washington Redskins this week.

The AFC East went 2-2 overall. Here is how the results impacted their ratings:

New England Patriots (10-3)

Results: W, 34-27 against Washington

Power Ranking: No. 5 (up one spot)

Walker’s vote: No. 5 (up one spot)

Analysis: The Patriots had a tougher-than-expected game against Washington. It was mainly because New England’s defense couldn’t find a way to stop Redskins quarterback Rex Grossman. That is concerning. The Patriots will face much better teams and quarterbacks in the playoffs. If they can’t stop Washington, who can they stop? But a win moved New England into the top five. The Patriots have an interesting matchup on Sunday against Tim Tebow and the Denver Broncos.

New York Jets (8-5)

Results: W, 37-10 against Kansas City

Power Ranking: No. 10 (up one spot)

Walker’s vote: No. 10 (up two spots)

Analysis: The Jets continue to climb up ESPN.com’s Power Rankings. New York is back in the top 10 for the first time in a long time. The Jets have won three straight and are playing like a playoff team. They control their own destiny and currently hold the final wild card in the AFC. We will find out where New York really stands in the next two weeks when they travel to play the Philadelphia Eagles and host the New York Giants.

Buffalo Bills (5-8)

Results: L, 37-10 against San Diego

Power Ranking: No. 22 (down two spots)

Walker’s vote: No. 23 (down one spot)

Analysis: The Bills lost their sixth straight game. They were blown out by the San Diego Chargers. Buffalo is hurting and doesn’t have much left in the tank. The good news is Buffalo has a winnable game against Miami this week. Former Bills draft pick J.P. Losman could get the start for Miami. That should make the Bills the favorite at home.

Miami Dolphins (4-9)

Results: L, 26-10 against Philadelphia

Power Ranking: No. 23 (down one spot)

Walker’s vote: No. 22 (down two spots)

Analysis: The Dolphins finally let go of head coach Tony Sparano after losing to the Philadelphia Eagles. They were planning to do it at some point and rightfully got the head start on 2012. Miami will go with interim coach Todd Bowles. The Dolphins have a lot of injured players to keep an eye on this week, such as quarterback Matt Moore (head), left tackle Jake Long (back) and cornerback Vontae Davis (neck).

Here is a look at how this weekend’s games could impact ESPN.com’s latest NFL Power Rankings:

New England Patriots (10-3)

Last week: No. 6

Result: W, 34-27 against Washington

Analysis: In victory, the Patriots played terrific on offense and horrible on defense. That’s pretty much par for the course this season. MVP candidate Tom Brady (I had to get that in there) threw for 357 yards, three touchdowns and an interception. His one mistake got him chewed out on the sideline, and Brady didn’t appreciate it. But New England still won and could move up one spot this week. The San Francisco 49ers suffered an upset loss to the Arizona Cardinals. I’m probably moving the Patriots ahead of the 49ers now that they have similar records.

Projected vote: No. 4-6

New York Jets (8-5)

Last week: No. 11

Result: W, 37-10 against Kansas City

Analysis: The Jets won their third game in a row, and now they’re in control of their own playoff destiny. New York had perhaps its most complete game of the season against the Kansas City Chiefs. The offense and defense were both clicking simultaneously and it led to the Jets cruising to a 27-point win. New York’s next game won’t be as easy. The Jets face a Philadelphia Eagles (5-8) team that is getting healthy.

Projected vote: No. 9-11

Buffalo Bills (5-8)

Last week: No. 20

Result: L, 37-10 against San Diego

Analysis: The Bills will continue to drop down ESPN.com’s Power Rankings. Buffalo lost its sixth straight game and was blown out against San Diego. The Bills look like a team that’s run out of answers and run out of gas. Fortunately for Buffalo, the team has a winnable game coming up against Miami at home. That will give the Bills a chance to get back on the winning side.

Projected vote: No. 22-24

Miami Dolphins (4-9)

Last week: No. 22

Result: L, 26-10 against Philadelphia

Analysis: The Dolphins were playing solid football until last week. Miami looked like the old Dolphins from the first half of the season in Sunday’s loss to Philadelphia. The Dolphins couldn’t block, turned over the football and suffered several big injuries to key players. Miami will try to climb out of last place in the AFC East when the team travels to Buffalo.

Projected vote: No. 22-24

Here is how the AFC East did in ESPN.com's latest NFL Power Rankings:

New England Patriots (9-3)

Results: W, 31-24 against Indianapolis

Power Rankings: No. 6 (same)

Walker’s vote: No. 6 (same)

Analysis: The Patriots were cruising to a 31-3 lead before letting the winless Indianapolis Colts back into the game. Still, New England improved to 9-3 and currently holds the No. 1 seed in the AFC. But that wasn't nearly enough to move the Patriots up. The five teams ahead of New England all won. But the Patriots need to continue winning to try to get home-field advantage in the AFC.

New York Jets (7-5)

Results: W, 34-19 against Washington

Power Rankings: No. 11 (up four spots)

Walker’s vote: No. 12 (up four spots)

Analysis: I had a feeling New York would make a significant jump this week. The Jets aren’t winning pretty, but they’re winning. Several teams ahead of New York lost this past week. More importantly, the Jets are right in the thick of the playoff race. New York needs some help but could get it soon. The Cincinnati Bengals (7-5) hold the final wild card but play the first-place Houston Texans (9-3) this weekend. The Jets should be able to handle the Kansas City Chiefs at home on Sunday.

Buffalo Bills (5-7)

Results: L, 23-17 against Tennessee

Power Rankings: No. 20 (down one spot)

Walker’s vote: No. 22 (down one spot)

Analysis: Few teams have gone in the tank like Buffalo. The Bills dropped one more spot this week to No. 20 after their fifth straight loss. I’m surprised they didn’t fall lower. Buffalo finished two spots ahead of the Dolphins this week, which I thought was curious. Miami is clearly the better team right now and won the head-to-head meeting by a wide margin. The Bills again will be underdogs this week when they travel to play the San Diego Chargers.

Miami Dolphins (4-8)

Results: W, 34-14 against Oakland

Power Rankings: No. 22 (up four spot)

Walker’s vote: No. 20 (up four spots)

Analysis: Miami is playing great football and made one of the biggest jumps this week. It put a dent in another playoff hopeful this past Sunday by pounding the Oakland Raiders. The Dolphins are out of the playoff race, but they aren't playing like it. The Dolphins will try to stay hot in December to avoid their third consecutive losing season.

The AFC East had a successful 3-1 record in Week 13. Only the Buffalo Bills lost at home to the Tennessee Titans.

Here is how last weekend's results could impact our latest NFL Power Rankings:

New England Patriots (9-3)

Last week: No. 6

Result: W, 31-24 against Indianapolis

Analysis: Don’t expect the Patriots to move up in the Power Rankings. The five teams in front of New England all won. The final score wasn't indicative of how easy this game was for New England. The Patriots cruised to a 31-3 lead entering the fourth quarter, then eased up on the Colts. New England will be fine and have a cupcake schedule the rest of the way. The Patriots just need to keep beating teams they're expected to beat, and they could have home-field advantage throughout the playoffs.

Projected vote: No. 5-7

New York Jets (7-5)

Last week: No. 15

Result: W, 34-19 against Washington

Analysis: I have a feeling New York will have a decent jump this week. It's not because the Jets beat a quality opponent, but because so many teams in front of them lost. There are nine teams with 7-5 records in the NFL. All have a chance at the playoffs in the final month of the season. The Jets are right in the thick of it among playoff hopefuls.

Projected vote: No. 10-12

Buffalo Bills (5-7)

Last week: No. 19

Result: L, 23-17 against Tennessee

Analysis: There's not much left to say about the Bills. They lost their fifth game in a row and are 2-7 since the team's 3-0 start. This team is finished in terms of making the playoffs. The best the Bills can hope for is to spoil someone else's season down the stretch. Buffalo has suffered a lot of injuries on offense and the defense can't stop anyone. Expect its ranking to continue to plummet.

Projected vote: No. 21-23

Miami Dolphins (4-8)

Last week: No. 26

Result: W, 34-14 against Oakland

Analysis: Miami is playing its best football of the season and should continue to climb up ESPN.com's Power Rankings. The Dolphins won their fourth game in five tries with a dominant 34-14 pounding of the Oakland Raiders. I think it's time the Dolphins are ranked ahead of the Bills. Miami is playing much better and convincingly pounded Buffalo 35-8 in the teams' first meeting.

Projected vote: No. 19-21

Week 12 had plenty of ups and downs for the AFC East. The division went 2-2.

Here is how those results affected this week's ESPN.com NFL Power Rankings.

New England Patriots (8-3)

Results: W, 38-20 against Philadelphia

Power Ranking: No. 6 (same)

Walker's vote: No. 6 (same)

Analysis: The Patriots put forth a dominating performance but didn’t budge in the rankings. They have the same five teams ahead of them this week. But New England has a chance to improve its standing in the next few weeks. The Patriots have the easiest remaining schedule and should be able to run off a string of wins while other top teams fall.

New York Jets (6-5)

Results: W, 28-24 against Buffalo

Power Ranking: No. 15 (same)

Walker's vote: No. 16 (same)

Analysis: It wasn’t pretty, but the Jets kept their season alive with a big win over Buffalo. It didn’t help in the rankings, though. New York needs a lot of help. But the Jets are controlling what they can control and have a pair of winnable games coming up against the Washington Redskins and Kansas City Chiefs.

Buffalo Bills (5-6)

Results: L, 28-24 against Jets

Power Ranking: No. 19 (same)

Walker's vote: No. 21 (same)

Analysis: Buffalo played competitive football for the first time in a month. But it wasn’t enough after the Jets put together a clutch comeback in the fourth quarter. Buffalo is 2-6 in its past eight games. The Bills are all but out of the playoff race. It will be interesting to see if this team finishes the season strong.

Miami Dolphins (3-8)

Results: L, 20-19 against Dallas

Power Ranking: No. 26 (down one spot)

Walker's vote: No. 24 (down one spot)

Analysis: Miami dropped one spot after losing a close game to the Dallas Cowboys. The Dolphins’ defense is playing very well and will give a lot of teams problems down the stretch. It's kind of an odd time for Miami. The group is playing well but is expected to go through wholesale changes soon.

Week 12 saw a little bit of everything in the AFC East in Week 12. We had close games, excitement and controversy.

Here is how the results could impact Tuesday's NFL Power Rankings:

New England Patriots (8-3)

Last week: No. 6

Result: W, 38-20 against Philadelphia

Analysis: The Patriots are cruising. They picked up another convincing win and have the AFC East in the bag. The only question now is can New England stay hot to secure home-field advantage throughout the playoffs? Despite the win, New England may stay put this week. The San Francisco 49ers (9-2) are the only team ahead of the Patriots to lose.

Projected vote: No. 4-6

New York Jets (6-5)

Last week: No. 15

Result: W, 28-24 against Buffalo

Analysis: The Jets picked up a must-win game after some fourth-quarter heroics from starting quarterback Mark Sanchez. It wasn’t an impressive win by any means. But any win in November and December helps New York, which doesn’t have many strikes left to make the playoffs. I don’t expect beating Buffalo to move the Jets up far. They have to string together more wins to impress our panel.

Projected vote: No. 12-14

Buffalo Bills (5-6)

Last week: No. 19

Result: L, 28-24 against New York

Analysis: The Bills will continue to slide down ESPN’s Power Rankings after losing their season-high fourth consecutive game. Buffalo’s playoff chances virtually ended Sunday. But I did like the Bills’ effort in this game after getting blown out in back-to-back weeks. I’m curious to see if this Buffalo team shows up the rest of the season.

Projected vote: No. 20-22

Miami Dolphins (3-8)

Last week: No. 25

Result: L, 20-19 against Dallas

Analysis: Miami has a chance to move up slightly following its competitive loss to the heavily favored Dallas Cowboys. The Dolphins outplayed Dallas on the road for three quarters before blowing a pair of leads late in the game. It was a game effort for Miami, which had its three-game winning streak snapped. The Dolphins are a dangerous team down the stretch for playoff hopefuls.

Projected vote: No. 23-25

There were a lot of ups and downs in the AFC East in Week 11.

Here is how the recent outcomes affected our latest NFL Power Rankings:

New England Patriots (7-3)

Results: W, 34-3 against Chiefs

Power Ranking: No. 6 (up two spots)

Walker’s vote: No. 6 (up two spots)

Analysis: The Patriots did what was expected in manhandling the Kansas City Chiefs. As a result, New England moved up two spots. What I was most impressed with was New England's defense holding a team to just three points. Sure, backup quarterback Tyler Palko played for Kansas City. But the Patriots are going to win a lot of games down the stretch with their easy schedule. It's all about improving their weaknesses before the postseason.

New York Jets (5-5)

Result: L, 17-13 against Broncos

Power Ranking: No. 15 (down one spot)

Walker’s vote: No. 16 (down four spots)

Analysis: For three quarters, the Jets could stop Tim Tebow. But the Broncos quarterback pulled off another surprising comeback in the fourth quarter with a 95-yard touchdown drive to upset the Jets. New York has talent. But it plays like a middle-of-the-pack team. Some weeks the Jets are dominant; other weeks they struggle. The Jets pretty much have to win out to get into the playoffs. If not, there is a good chance New York will look back at this Denver game with anguish.

Buffalo Bills (5-5)

Result: L, 35-8 against Dolphins

Power Ranking: No. 19 (down two spots)

Walker’s vote: No. 21 (down two spots)

Analysis: Buffalo is rated No. 19. But the Bills are playing like the 31st-rated team lately, slightly ahead of the Indianapolis Colts. Buffalo had no explanation for its drubbing against the Dolphins. Buffalo has been embarrassed and outscored 109-26 the past three weeks. I don't think this team can recover from this awful stretch. But Buffalo will try to make a run for the playoffs. It starts Sunday with a must-win game against the Jets.

Miami Dolphins (3-7)

Result: W, 35-8 against Bills

Power Ranking: No. 25 (up four spots)

Walker’s vote: No. 23 (up four spots)

Analysis: The Dolphins are the hottest team in the AFC East. They won their third game in a row with a dominating performance against the Buffalo Bills. This is the competitive Miami team I expected all season. The Dolphins are playing efficiently and physically on both sides of the football, and could spoil a lot of teams' playoff dreams down the stretch. Miami likely ended the Bills' playoff hopes this past week.

During the offseason, ESPN.com ranked the top 10 NFL tight ends. Coming off his rookie season, Rob Gronkowski of the New England Patriots didn't make the list.

In fact, 17 tight ends received votes and there wasn't a single vote for "Big Gronk." But Gronkowski has been on a tear in his second NFL season, leading to our latest edition of "Poll Friday" in the AFC East blog.

The question: Where would you rate Gronkowski right now among NFL tight ends? Gronkowski is second in receptions (52), second in yards (709) and first in touchdowns (eight) for the position.

Has Gronkowski earned elite status? Gronkowski is only 22 and hasn't completed his second season. But his numbers are better than the majority of players at his position.

Using our SportsNation poll, vote where Gronkowski rates among NFL tight ends. You can also share your thoughts in the comments section below.

Here are the most interesting stories Wednesday morning in the AFC East:

• New York Jets cornerback Darrelle Revis said the team is not blaming quarterback Mark Sanchez for the Jets' struggles.

Morning take: Playing quarterback in New York is always tough. Sanchez is not making all the strides the Jets expected this season. But other areas of the teams are struggling as well.

• Guard Brian Waters is fitting well with the New England Patriots.

Morning take: New England made some big-name acquisitions such as Albert Haynesworth and Chad Ochocinco. But it's been the under-the-radar additions like Waters and Andre Carter that are paying off.

• The Buffalo Bills are middle of the pack in these Power Rankings.

Morning take: The good news is Buffalo is 5-4 and still in the playoff hunt. But the Bills are on a two-game losing streak and need to get their act together before it's too late.

• Miami Dolphins tight end Anthony Fasano is catching the important receptions.

Morning take: Fasano isn't the focal point of Miami's offense. But he has three touchdowns in his last three games. That's the kind of production Miami needs.

Thoughts of the New England Patriots' demise were greatly exaggerated.

Most people wrote off New England after its two-game losing streak and being underdogs heading into last weekend's game against the New York Jets. But Patriots quarterback Tom Brady and coach Bill Belichick were masterful again in a convincing 37-16 victory.

Here is how that game and others in the AFC East impacted ESPN.com's latest Power Rankings:

New England Patriots (6-3)

Power ranking: No. 8 (up four spots)

Walker's vote: No. 8 (same)

Analysis: I refused to write off the Patriots and kept them in the top 10 last week, despite their struggles. New England dropped a whopping seven spots after back-to-back losses to two quality teams in the New York Giants and Pittsburgh Steelers. The Patriots bounced back with a huge road win over the Jets that completed a season sweep and most likely clinched the AFC East division. New England has the NFL's easiest strength of schedule the rest of the way and should get hot down the stretch. The Patriots will host the Tyler Palko-led Kansas City Chiefs next on "Monday Night Football."

New York Jets (5-4)

Power ranking: No. 14 (down three spots)

Walker's vote: No. 12 (down three spots)

Analysis: The Jets had their three-game winning streak halted by the Patriots. It was a big loss, but New York has to rebound quickly with Thursday night's game against the Denver Broncos. I still like this Jets team. They have their flaws, particularly on offense. But the Jets are a tough matchup for anyone when they're clicking. The key game to watch for New York will be in two weeks against the Buffalo Bills. The Jets will be going for the sweep in what could be a playoff eliminator for one of these teams.

Buffalo Bills (5-4)

Power ranking: No. 17

Walker's vote: No. 19

Analysis: The Bills continue their dramatic slide down the Power Rankings. Buffalo was a fixture in the top 10 last month but is playing ugly football the past two weeks. Buffalo has been outscored 71-18 in losses to the Jets and Dallas Cowboys. November and December is when the good teams separate from the pack and make a push for the playoffs. The Bills aren’t stepping up but early wins still keep them in the hunt.

Miami Dolphins (2-7)

Power ranking: No. 29 (up two spots)

Walker's vote: No. 27 (up three spots)

Analysis: The Dolphins are the hottest team in the AFC East and moved up two spots. They won their second straight with a 20-9 victory over the Washington Redskins. We’ve said all season that Miami has the talent to give teams trouble. The Dolphins’ biggest issue was execution. Now that the team is executing well, it is playing closer to its potential. Miami is suddenly a dangerous opponent on Sunday for the Bills.