The NFL season is starting up again. I know time flies when nothing or a majority of things happen. In a year that will feature minimum to no capacity inside stadiums across the country we know one thing, the NFL stops for nothing. Enough talk let’s preview the AFC boys.
Buffalo Bills: I don’t understand why this team doesn’t get the ridiculous amount of hype like Cleveland had last year. A talented and exciting defense, Josh Allen becoming the face of the franchise, and trading for an elite receiver in Stefon Diggs. I know that people consider the Bills offense especially Allen to be one dimensional but if he develops his accuracy the Bills could be Super Bowl contenders for the first time since Doug Flutie was their QB. Honestly there is a lot to look forward to in Bills Mafia.
Miami Dolphins: In my opinion the Dolphins did exactly what the New York Rangers did in the NHL a few years ago last year. Trade every single bad contract or scrub for 1st or middle round picks. This year Miami is looking to turn the corner with the upgrades they made in the offseason. They signed Byron Jones, Kyle Van Noy, Matt Brieda, Jordan Howard, Eric Flowers, and drafted a generational talent in Tua Tagovailoa. If they develop him unlike Ryan Tannehill he will be the franchise’s first savior since Dan Marino. I will say he should learn a lot from Ryan Fitzpatrick.
New England Patriots: Remember when everyone thought that the Patriots would fall off a cliff once Brady and Gronk left for Tampa Bay? We all did. This offseason they re-signed Joe Thuney, had massive turnover on defense with two of the Boogeymen leaving in free agency and Donta Hightower opting out, and got almost every starter not named #Tommy back. So who are they going to replace Tom Brady with… SUPERMAN! That’s right they signed Cam Newton and I have a feeling that the Patriots will be in Super Bowl Contention again because of that and Bill Belichick being a genius.
New York Jets: After ending the 2019 season 7-9 and winning 6 of 8 to end the year the Jets looked like they had a strong future in the making. But like most years they Buttfumbled the offseason. They weren’t able to extend Robby Anderson because the Panthers did, but were able to add Offensive Line depth for Sam Darnold in the draft. Well the defense is top 10 you say, that is until they traded Jamal Adams to Seattle and CJ Mosely opted out. We tried warning you Jets fans about players struggling after they leave the Ravens. At least they have Darnold and Le’Veon Bell to get them through hard times.
Baltimore Ravens: The Typical Ravens offseason in the eyes of the reigning Coach of the Year John Harbaugh: Hype surrounding division rivals, Lamar Jackson and the offense has questions, the defense will be exposed, they will soon enter Cap Hell, the departure of Earl Thomas, and they have the Dreaded Drake and Madden Cover Curses. We just love to be doubted when we really are Super Bowl Contenders he says. Coming off the most humiliating defeat in franchise history last year the Ravens made moves to bolster the core by drafting two receivers from the state of Texas in the later rounds and JK Dobbins in the 2nd round. Getting Tavon Young back from injury, they signed Derek Wolfe, they traded for an elite run stopper in Calais Campbell, and the big prize in the first round. Another Generational Middle Linebacker, PATRICK QUEEN! I swear to God if they don’t make it to the Super Bowl this season I will rage like never before. This is probably the best team this franchise has ever had. I do have one more thing, Win it for Mo.
Cincinnati Bengals: Nothing screams more classic Bengals than going 2-14 one year, and thinking they can make the playoffs the next. I know right. For the last few years Cincy has been putting together a top flight offense that is ready to take over the league. This year they are getting most of their O-Line back from IR last year, and added two future stars in top pick Joe Burrow and another playmaker in Tee Higgens. Knowing how many weapons this offense has they are either going to be in a Tank Bowl or be in playoff contention if the defense lives up to the contracts they got this spring.
Cleveland Browns: Over the last few years the hype machine in the Dawg Pound can be very annoying, and for good reasoning. The Browns have not made the playoffs in 18 years and have done everything they can to be a contender. They answered this statement by hiring Kevin Stafanski as Head Coach, and adding Tight End and Offensive Line depth with Austin Hooper, Jack Cocklin, and Jedrick Wills. Considering that the AFC North is loaded this year it will be very hard for them to compete with the big boys with the secondary being a total mess again.
Pittsburgh Steelers: This team had a very strange season that saw many players get injured, and had the emergence of a top flight defense. Now they get the Leader of Men in Ben Roethisberger and the internet sensation in Juju Smith-Schuster back to full strength. Even though they don’t have a true No. 2 receiver besides Juju they have a two headed monster at Tight End in Vance McDonald and Eric Ebron. The defense is led by two Defensive Player of the Year candidates in Minkah Fitzpatrick and TJ Watt, as well as generational talent in Devin Bush. If everything is what they say it is in the Steel City the Steelers could be a dark horse Super Bowl Contender and could challenge the Ravens at the top of the ultra competitive AFC North. Those battles should be serious fun.
Houston Texans: This is a team that I don’t understand the long term of. What happened to them in the playoffs last year by means of the Chiefs got them so good that they decided to clone the Chiefs whole by getting David Johnson, Brandin Cooks, and Randall Cobb. The bad part about the decision to copy the Chiefs, Deandre Hopkins was traded to Arizona. The defense is still a complete mess even if JJ Watt plays an entire season. The Texans might be entering “Last Chance Mode” because Deshawn Watson wants a huge extension and Bill O’Brien is on his last legs. If they fail there will be massive turnover in the locker room in 2021.
Indianapolis Colts: As for the Colts they are entering a pivotal season in their future plans. Last year was a complete failure because of the Andrew Luck situation, and almost everyone was injured. Let’s look at what they did this offseason shall we. Jaball Shread out, Deforest Buckner in, Jacoby Brissett isn’t ready for the big time who cares, Philip Rivers is here for one more go at a championship. Indy’s only weaknesses are a majority of the offensive line, and the backend of the secondary. If things are figured out they could make a wild card, AT BEST!
Jacksonville Jaguars: In my opinion this is the only team in the AFC that is literally tanking in the hopes of finding the next great savior. The Jags know this truth even if Gardner Minshew is the face of the franchise, also Yannick Ngaukwe deserves a one way ticket out of town which he did.
Tennessee Titans: After perhaps one of the best playoff runs by a non Super Bowl Champion in recent memory the Titans are looking to take the next step as a contender for years to come. Derrick Henry, and Ryan Tannehill are back for the long term, AJ Brown is the big game wideout that the Music City hasn’t seen since Kenny Britt, and the defense had a little bit of a makeover. Jurrell Casey traded, Dean Peas retired, Thank God, they signed Vic Beasley and are pursuing a familiar face in Jadeveon Clowney and they got him too, regardless if he goes to Tennessee or not this team has perhaps the most upside in the division.
Denver Broncos: As you would expect from John Elway this offseason he would do everything in his tracks to stop the division rival Chiefs from becoming the face of the AFC West. They acquired Kareem Jackson, AJ Bouye, Jurrell Casey, and Melvin Gordon, drafted a generational talent in Jerry Jeudy, and added more depth and speed at receiver as the draft went along. The Broncos have a lot of talent on the roster but can they survive the woes of the Offensive Line in years past? At least Drew Lock is the future of this team I guess.
Kansas City Chiefs: In a span of 6 months Chiefs Kingdom went from longsuffering to the most insufferable fanbase in the history of sports. Considering how lucky they got last year is something that should be up for consideration. What did KC do this offseason? They did what Bob Murray did as GM of the Anaheim Ducks in 2017, EXTEND EVERYONE! Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce, Chris Jones, and Frank Clark. You do know they will be in Cap Hell in a few years because they still have to pay Tyreek Hill, Mecole Hardman, Demarcus Robinson, Sammy Watkins, and the Honey Badger in the upcoming years. Honestly saying that they will win the Super Bowl for the next 7 years is blasphemous especially with several juggernauts in the AFC.
Las Vegas Raiders: It is a new day in RaiderNation. No longer are they dealing with the dump of the Oakland Coliseum. They are in a city with bold everything. The Raiders have a nucleus that is just starting to emerge like Josh Jacobs, Hunter Renfroe, Darren Waller, Jonathan Abram, and of course first round talent Henry Ruggs. The biggest issue with Vegas? The QB. Derek Carr had a bounce back year in 2019 but they signed Marcus Mariota to push him for the main job. This team despite being in the Chiefs division has a very bright future if you look at the haul of recent draft picks.
Los Angeles Chargers: Last year was a total disaster for the so-called “Diamond Dogs”. They had the talent yes but were burned by the area that killed many offseason winners in 2019, the offensive line. They didn’t do anything to fix it in some cases except for Bryan Bulaga, but added Kenneth Murray, Chris Harris Jr, Linval Joseph to their loaded defense, and brought back Hunter Henry. This team also drafted the second coming of Dan Fouts in Justin Herbert in the eyes of their fans. This is a very pivotal year for these guys. Also can Derwin James stay healthy for an entire season.
The AFC is really anyone’s game especially now with a 7th seed in the playoffs so let me go over the predictions shall we. Note: The Playoff Predictions are in the NFC Document.
AFC East
Patriots 11-5 #3
Bills 11-5 #6
Dolphins 7-9
Jets 5-11
AFC North
Ravens 13-3 #2
Steelers 12-4 #5
Browns 9-7 #7
Bengals 6-10
AFC South
Titans 10-6 #4
Texans 9-7
Colts 7-9
Jaguars 3-13
AFC West
Chiefs 14-2 #1
Broncos 9-7
Chargers 8-8
Raiders 6-10
Bragging Rights Sports 