Breaking down the AFC and where we think every team will finish the coming season.
AFC EAST
Buffalo Bills
After playoff heartbreak last season, the Bills seem poised to take the next step. Offensive coordinator Brian Daboll may be gone, but the rest of the key pieces are all there and adding a Super Bowl champ like Von Miller to the defence will only help raise the game of everyone around him.
Prediction: 12-5
Miami Dolphins
The Dolphins fell just short of the playoffs last year and now the pressure is on third-year QB Tua Tagovailoa – big time. With superstar WR Tyreek Hill aboard, some other upgrades and a new head coach, it’s now or never for the lefty.
Prediction: 9-8
New England Patriots
At some point, you just have to start questioning Bill Belichick’s wisdom on some decisions – like assigning Matt Patricia and Joe Judge to run the offence despite having no prior experience doing so. While we don’t see the team sliding too far, it’s fair to expect a step back and out of the playoffs.
Prediction: 8-9
New York Jets
The Jets remain the Jets. While they’ve made some steps forward and the defence could cause a lot of headaches, we’re still not sold on Zach Wilson at QB. Until he proves himself or the Jets try yet another reboot at the position, they’re likely to struggle.
Prediction: 5-11
AFC NORTH
Baltimore Ravens
Starting almost immediately in training camp last year, the Ravens were struck by the injury bug and it never stopped nibbling. Even just a marginal improvement on the injury front should result a return to the playoffs. You can’t underrate Lamar Jackson’s desire to prove himself worthy of a massive contract extension, too.
Prediction: 10-7
Cincinnati Bengals
While it is easy to hang the “Super Bowl loser” curse on a team, this Bengals squad seems different. They’ve improved in all of their areas of need and having that experience from their playoff run will only benefit this young roster.
Prediction: 10-7
Pittsburgh Steelers
The big question surrounding the Steelers is whether castoff Mitch Trubisky and raw rookie Kenny Pickett are going to be better than completely washed-up Ben Roethlisberger. The dropoff might not be as bad as you think, but the Steelers do have other issues to address.
Prediction: 8-9
Cleveland Browns
Can Jacoby Brissett put the team into a decent position for when Deshaun Watson’s 11-game suspension ends? We doubt that he’ll be able to keep them afloat in this tough division after looking pretty poor last year in Miami.
Prediction: 7-10
AFC SOUTH
Indianapolis Colts
The upgrade to Matt Ryan from Carson Wentz – who was virtually unplayable at the end of last season – should be enough to win this division by default. Indy still has the most talented roster and shouldn’t have much trouble winning the South.
Prediction: 11-6
Jacksonville Jaguars
After last year’s absolute debacle with Urban Meyer, the Jags have an adult running the show and should be much better off for it. It shouldn’t be forgotten that Trevor Lawrence was seen as a generational QB prospect and now gets a chance to show it. The defence should be improved as well.
Prediction: 7-10
Tennessee Titans
The Titans surprised everyone last year by taking the top seed in the conference, but it’s hard to see that happening again. The offensive line is much worse, they traded away stud WR A.J. Brown and they’ve already lost their top pass rusher, Harold Landry, for the season. It’s hard to tell how well Derrick Henry will perform after last season’s foot injury and all the wear on his body, too.
Prediction: 7-10
Houston Texans
It’s going to be another rough season for the Texans, who arguably have the league’s weakest roster. The team will hope that QB Davis Mills develops into a solid starter and rookie RB Dameon Pierce is looking like a good find, but otherwise there isn’t too much hope here, yet.
Prediction: 4-13
AFC WEST
Los Angeles Chargers
After falling agonizingly short of the playoffs on a boneheaded coaching decision, the Chargers reloaded in the off-season and filled the few holes the roster had. With QB Justin Herbert looking to make another big step forward and throw his hat in the ring for MVP, we could see the “other” L.A. team make a Super Bowl run.
Prediction: 11-6
Kansas City Chiefs
Is this the year the Chiefs start to tail off? After trading Tyreek Hill, the offence is going to look a lot more different and varied – but maybe that’s a good thing after looking somewhat “figured out” at times last year. The offensive line is looking solid and the defence will look to bounce back too. In the end, the talent and the leadership is mostly all still here.
Prediction: 11-6
Denver Broncos
For the past few seasons, the Broncos’ biggest flaw has been at QB. This off-season, they stopped messing around and addressed it, trading for Seahawks malcontent Russell Wilson. That upgrade alone should put them on the verge of the playoffs, but from there it gets rough.
Prediction: 9-8
Las Vegas Raiders
In a season where so much went wrong, the Raiders still somehow managed to persevere and make the playoffs. Now, with a new coach and star WR Davante Adams, can they make it back? While the team has improved, the rest of the AFC seemingly has too, which doesn’t bode well for the boys in silver and black.
Prediction: 9-8
PLAYOFFS
Division winners: Bills, Ravens, Colts, Chargers.
Wild-card teams: Chiefs, Bengals, Broncos.
AFC Championship: Chargers over Ravens.