The Houston Texans have won six straight games and aim for a seventh with a favorable Week 16 matchup against the Las Vegas Raiders. However, that run failed to convince Tom Brady. In his weekly power rankings, the Fox Sports analyst kept the Texans out of the top 10, a decision that sparked immediate backlash on social media.
Brady published his list and anticipated the reaction. After placing Houston as an honorable mention, he acknowledged that “there will definitely be opinions out there,” but he stood by his decision. He ranked the Texans below teams like the Green Bay Packers and Chicago Bears. “It’s impossible to leave anyone out,” Brady added, arguing that competition intensifies every week.
Divisional context and personal evaluations
According to The Sports Rush, the ranking also placed the Jacksonville Jaguars, AFC South leaders at 10-4, eighth overall. That choice suggests Brady avoided overrepresenting one division. Meanwhile, Chicago returned to the rankings after Brady dropped them following a Week 14 loss to Green Bay. Their comeback win over the Cleveland Browns in Week 15 restored his confidence. He now views the Bears as a “brutal” test for the Packers.
Ningún equipo de Tom Brady fue eliminado antes de la última semana de la temporada y él jamás jugó un snap en el que su equipo estuviera matemáticamente fuera de playoffs.
No lo vuelvan a comparar con Mahomes. pic.twitter.com/7chUCgt4jS— Nación Patriota (@nacionpatriots) December 15, 2025
Brady also confirmed that his Patriots rank sixth overall, a selection that drew attention. The Seattle Seahawks landed fifth, while the Los Angeles Chargers took fourth after eliminating Patrick Mahomes from the playoffs for the first time in his career. On the podium, the Buffalo Bills sit third after a comeback win against New England. Matthew Stafford’s Los Angeles Rams rank second, with Brady admitting that the Stafford–Puka Nacua connection influenced that evaluation.
The most debated choice came at the top. With a 12-2 record, the Denver Broncos lead the league and, according to Brady, deserve the No. 1 spot. “Sean Payton has his team on an incredible run,” he said, adding that it “just feels right” for the AFC to travel through the Mile High with temperatures dropping. While public excitement has lagged compared to other teams, Brady believes Bo Nix and company now represent the toughest challenge. Until someone stops their streak, Brady stands firm on his pick.
