The AFC is loaded with talented teams heading into next season, including last year’s conference champion, the New England Patriots. Several teams that missed the postseason due to injuries are now healthy and will look to shake up last year’s standings. Given the level of talent in the conference, every team will need to win as many games as possible to make the AFC playoffs, as winning 10 or 11 games may still not be enough to earn a wild card berth.
AFC North: Cincinnati Bengals
Last season, the Bengals finished 6-11, due to star quarterback Joe Burrow missing nine games to injury and a defense that ranked among the worst in the league. Cincinnati invested heavily on the defensive side of the ball in the offseason, signing defensive linemen Boye Mafe and Jonathan Allen, as well as safety Brian Cook. They also traded for superstar nose tackle Dexter Lawrence and selected edge rusher Cashius Howell in the second round of the NFL Draft. An improved defense and a healthy Burrow give the Bengals a strong chance of winning the North for the first time since 2022.
Their division opponents, the Baltimore Ravens, Cleveland Browns, and Pittsburgh Steelers, all have question marks, including three new head coaches, two of whom have no prior head-coaching experience: Baltimore’s Jesse Minter and Cleveland’s Todd Monken.
Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson is also coming off an injury-riddled season, and the team has holes at various positions, such as wide receiver and interior offensive line, that could cost them important games. The Steelers have Aaron Rodgers returning at quarterback, but the 42-year-old looks long past his MVP days and may not be able to provide the scoring needed to keep Pittsburgh competitive. The Browns, meanwhile, just traded future Hall of Fame edge Myles Garrett and have a glaring hole at quarterback with Deshaun Watson set to start coming off a torn Achilles. Watson hasn’t played since October of 2024 and was struggling as Cleveland’s signal-caller before injury.
AFC South: Jacksonville Jaguars
The Jaguars won the division last season under new coach Liam Coen, with a high-powered offense and strong defense leading to a 13-4 record. Former first overall pick Trevor Lawrence took a big step in his development, and even though last year’s first-rounder Travis Hunter missed most of the season with an injury, the team still performed at a high level. If Lawrence continues to grow, Jacksonville could find itself in contention to finish as the one seed in the conference.
The Houston Texans will be the Jaguars’ biggest competition, boasting arguably the league’s best defense. Quarterback C.J. Stroud and the offense have struggled at times, but the division race may come down to the end of the season, especially the Week 15 matchup between the two; the loser of this game likely makes the postseason as a wild card.
The Indianapolis Colts were on pace to win not only the division but the conference before quarterback Daniel Jones’ season-ending injury. If they can return to form, they also pose a threat to take the division crown.
The Tennessee Titans, however, were among the worst teams in the league last season, and with a new head coach in Robert Saleh, it’s hard to imagine them overtaking their rivals. Tennessee did make heavy investments in their roster during free agency, and with last year’s first overall pick in Cam Ward at quarterback, they have the potential to derail the season with an upset in division games.
AFC East: Buffalo Bills
The Bills’ five-year division title streak ended last season, as they went 12-5 and finished behind the New England Patriots. Former MVP quarterback Josh Allen should be in line for a resurgent season following investments in the receiving corps, and new head coach Joe Brady will look to finally get Buffalo over the hump in the playoffs. If the defense plays well, the Bills are another team that could look to compete for the one seed.
On the other end of the spectrum are the Miami Dolphins, who may instead be competing for the number one overall pick in next year’s draft. After releasing quarterback Tua Tagovailoa and receiver Tyreek Hill and trading away receiver Jaylen Waddle, the Dolphins’ roster looks devoid of talent. The team did sign quarterback Malik Willis in the off-season, but he’ll have his work cut out for him trying to win games in Miami.
Last year’s conference champion Patriots will be looking to repeat, but will have to do so without the historically easy schedule that allowed them to go 14-3 last season. Losing even two or three more games could cost New England the division, but they will almost certainly be able to secure a wild card berth. MVP runner-up Drake Maye will need another stellar season, and recently acquired receiver A.J. Brown may help him do just that.
The New York Jets are arguably the hardest team to make projections for heading into next season. After finishing 3-14 and trading away Quinnen Williams and Sauce Gardner, it would seem the team is heading for another rough season. After an impressive offseason, however, the roster looks full of potential to compete. The biggest question marks are quarterback Geno Smith, coming off a terrible season with the Las Vegas Raiders, and head coach Aaron Glenn, whose defense failed to record an interception last season. If Smith returns to the level of play he showed with the Seattle Seahawks, and Glenn proves himself to be an NFL coach, New York is a dark-horse playoff contender.
AFC West: Denver Broncos
The Broncos entered the playoffs as the number one seed last season after finishing 13-4. Their season was derailed just before the AFC Championship game, when quarterback Bo Nix suffered an injury late in their Divisional Round matchup. The team will take another shot at the Super Bowl, but the AFC West is among the toughest divisions in the league. Acquiring Jaylen Waddle from the Dolphins should help their offense be more dynamic and complement an already stellar defense.
The Kansas City Chiefs found themselves in an unfamiliar position last season, missing the playoffs and looking like a shell of the dynasty that dominated the NFL for nearly a decade. Superstar quarterback Patrick Mahomes also tore his ACL late in the year, and the timetable for his return could compromise this season as well. The defense lost several key pieces to free agency and trades, and the offense still has holes despite the addition of Super Bowl MVP running back Kenneth Walker. If Mahomes can play most of the season, the Chiefs are tough to write off, but this Kansas City roster is not the same as the ones that won Super Bowls.
After picking number one overall in the draft, the Las Vegas Raiders are certainly not ready to compete. The roster is clearly better than it was last season, and with a well-regarded young coach in Klint Kubiak taking over and rookie quarterback Fernando Mendoza waiting in the wings, the Raiders could look to play spoiler late in the season.
Coming off yet another disappointing showing in the playoffs, the Los Angeles Chargers still pose the biggest threat to Denver. Quarterback Justin Herbert and coach Jim Harbaugh are among the best in the league at their respective positions, and Herbert was able to lead a much less talented roster to the playoffs last season. With a deep running back room and decent receiving corps, the Chargers could boast one of the best offenses in the NFL, especially if tackles Rashawn Slater and Joe Alt can stay healthy after missing time last year. Los Angeles likely secures a wild card spot in next year’s playoffs.
Projected AFC Playoff Standings:
- Denver Broncos 13-4
- Jacksonville Jaguars 13-4
- Buffalo Bills 12-5
- Cincinnati Bengals 11-6
- New England Patriots 12-5
- Los Angeles Chargers 12-5
- Houston Texans 12-5
