Elite teams: Buffalo, Kansas City
Buffalo looks absolutely loaded. Allen has emerged as an elite QB, they have excellent coaching, and their last two seasons seem to have them primed to take the next step and make it to the Super Bowl. Anything can happen, of course, but they look like a tremendous football team this year. KC, meanwhile, still has Mahomes and Andy Reid, and plenty of talent. But Kelce is older and slower, and they no longer have Tyreek Hill, who's been so huge for them. So they won't be AS good, I don't think, but Mahomes is still elite. Don't underestimate them.
Should be really good: Cincinnati, LA Chargers
I think Cincy will be really good and could win the AFC again, obviously. But I think they kind of reached last year and aren't THAT good. The Chargers are a team on the rise and I think Herbert is terrific.
Looking very solid: Las Vegas, Baltimore, Denver, Indianapolis
You never know with Derek Carr, but they added DeVante Adams and also Chandler Jones on D. Vegas will be a problem this year, and they won 10 games last year. Baltimore still has terrific coaching and a lot of good pieces. Lamar Jackson is still dangerous. But they're no longer an elite team. Denver by adding Wilson has improved a ton, because they've had good pieces but terrible QB play. Now they have one of the best QBs in the league. They'll be really good. Indy improved by adding Matt Ryan, though I'm not a huge fan of his. He's just better than what they've had, and the rest of the team is pretty good.
A chance to be pretty good: Tennessee, Miami, New England
I think Tennessee could regress. No AJ Brown, and Henry has a ton of miles on him. And Tannehill isn't the guy to carry a team. BUT...Vrabel is really good, their D can be tough, and regression from Henry still leaves...a pretty good RB. Miami has added some nice pieces and I think they'll be a problem. All depends on Tua. And the Pats could be a 7 win team if things go poorly, but I could also see them winning 11 if things break right. Mac Jones will improve and they've gotten better skill position players, which he needs.
Have some good pieces but have major holes: Pittsburgh, Cleveland
The Steelers have some good aspects to their team, but their QB situation is really shaky. Cleveland, obviously, has major QB issues, until Watson returns from suspension. I wish he couldn't play at all (this is an editorial comment), but he can, and he's still a really good player, so when he gets on the field, they'll improve considerably and be tough the last third of the year.
The rest: NY Jets, Jacksonville, Houston
Not much to say other than that these teams have some problems. Don't be surprised if both Jax and the Jets improve from last year, but they're still the dregs of a loaded conference.
Long story short: this conference will be a beast. There's a ton of teams that have a chance to be really good. They can't all win 11 games, of course, so you'll have some good teams that win like 8 games. The playoffs will be a blood bath, which will be a load of fun. I think NE could be improved over last year and yet still finish with a worse record. But they're trending in the right direction from the standpoint of organizational development. So 2023 and 2024 could be really good years for the Pats moving forward. But even this year should be pretty fun.
Should be a great season for NFL fans, especially if your team is in the AFC. Can't wait for it to start!
Buffalo looks absolutely loaded. Allen has emerged as an elite QB, they have excellent coaching, and their last two seasons seem to have them primed to take the next step and make it to the Super Bowl. Anything can happen, of course, but they look like a tremendous football team this year. KC, meanwhile, still has Mahomes and Andy Reid, and plenty of talent. But Kelce is older and slower, and they no longer have Tyreek Hill, who's been so huge for them. So they won't be AS good, I don't think, but Mahomes is still elite. Don't underestimate them.
Should be really good: Cincinnati, LA Chargers
I think Cincy will be really good and could win the AFC again, obviously. But I think they kind of reached last year and aren't THAT good. The Chargers are a team on the rise and I think Herbert is terrific.
Looking very solid: Las Vegas, Baltimore, Denver, Indianapolis
You never know with Derek Carr, but they added DeVante Adams and also Chandler Jones on D. Vegas will be a problem this year, and they won 10 games last year. Baltimore still has terrific coaching and a lot of good pieces. Lamar Jackson is still dangerous. But they're no longer an elite team. Denver by adding Wilson has improved a ton, because they've had good pieces but terrible QB play. Now they have one of the best QBs in the league. They'll be really good. Indy improved by adding Matt Ryan, though I'm not a huge fan of his. He's just better than what they've had, and the rest of the team is pretty good.
A chance to be pretty good: Tennessee, Miami, New England
I think Tennessee could regress. No AJ Brown, and Henry has a ton of miles on him. And Tannehill isn't the guy to carry a team. BUT...Vrabel is really good, their D can be tough, and regression from Henry still leaves...a pretty good RB. Miami has added some nice pieces and I think they'll be a problem. All depends on Tua. And the Pats could be a 7 win team if things go poorly, but I could also see them winning 11 if things break right. Mac Jones will improve and they've gotten better skill position players, which he needs.
Have some good pieces but have major holes: Pittsburgh, Cleveland
The Steelers have some good aspects to their team, but their QB situation is really shaky. Cleveland, obviously, has major QB issues, until Watson returns from suspension. I wish he couldn't play at all (this is an editorial comment), but he can, and he's still a really good player, so when he gets on the field, they'll improve considerably and be tough the last third of the year.
The rest: NY Jets, Jacksonville, Houston
Not much to say other than that these teams have some problems. Don't be surprised if both Jax and the Jets improve from last year, but they're still the dregs of a loaded conference.
Long story short: this conference will be a beast. There's a ton of teams that have a chance to be really good. They can't all win 11 games, of course, so you'll have some good teams that win like 8 games. The playoffs will be a blood bath, which will be a load of fun. I think NE could be improved over last year and yet still finish with a worse record. But they're trending in the right direction from the standpoint of organizational development. So 2023 and 2024 could be really good years for the Pats moving forward. But even this year should be pretty fun.
Should be a great season for NFL fans, especially if your team is in the AFC. Can't wait for it to start!
