In eight days, regular season NFL action will be back on a television screen and a stadium near you! The season will start with an AFC Championship Finals rematch with the reigning Super Bowl champions Kansas City Chiefs hosting the Baltimore Ravens. The two teams will face a gauntlet of challengers looking to conquer the conferences. The AFC is the more difficult conference, and the journey to dethroning the Chiefs will be a challenge. In this article, we will preview each division, predict the winners, and who will head to Super Bowl LIX as the AFC Champions.
1. AFC East- this division will be interesting to watch because at least 3 of the teams have expectations of making the playoffs. Sadly, as a Patriots fan, I can’t see how New England wins more than 6 games this season. I think the team will start Jacoby Brissett under center to protect Drake Maye, who will likely be the starter for the second half of the season, and build some hope for 2026. The Miami Dolphins were 9-3 last season, but then collapsed by losing 3 of their last five games. I think the Dolphins are flawed, and will struggle as the temperatures plummet from fall to winter. I have them narrowly missing the playoffs with a 9-8 record. In second place, I have the New York Jets making the wild card round with a 10-7 record because of their electrifying defense and a healthy Aaron Rodgers. My trepidation with the Jets is their propensity to squander a golden opportunity to contend for the Lombardi trophy over the years. As a result, I have the Buffalo Bills winning the division for the fifth straight time because Josh Alle is the best quarterback in the AFC East. Also, it helps when you close the schedule with a pair of Patriots games sandwiched by a home date with the Jets.
2. AFC North-this will be the most competitive division in the conference, because all four teams can challenge for a playoff birth. Mike Tomlin has the third most consecutive winning seasons (17) behind Bill Belichick (19) and Tom Landry (21). Unfortunately, I think the streak ends in 2024, with Pittsburgh finishing with an 8-9 record. I expect them to be searching for consistent quarterback play even after signing Russell Wilson and Justin Fields. I have the Browns finishing third with a 9-7 record because DeShaun Watson has not proved he can return to his prolific performances with the Houston Texans. In the second slot, I have the Cincinnati Bengals winning 11 games and bouncing back from a last place finish in 2023. The return of a healthy Joe Burrow will push this team into a wild card spot after struggling without their elite quarterback. Nonetheless, I have the Baltimore Ravens winning 12 games and the division because they have the most talented squad among the four teams, and there is unfinished business from the way last season ended.
3. AFC West- the Kansas City Chiefs will be favorites to retain their division crown because the additions of Marquise “Hollywood” Brown and Xavier Worthy will make the offense as formidable as the defense. I expect the Chiefs to win 13 games, which is an improvement on last season, where they won only 11 games. It forced the team to navigate a difficult road playoff schedule for the first time in the Mahomes era. I have the Los Angeles Chargers leaping from the basement into second place with an 11-6 record because Jim Harbaugh and Justin Herbert will be a winning combination. The Raider finished 8-9 last season, and see a similar outcome with journeyman Gardner Mineshew named the starter under center. Finally, despite naming Bo Nix as the starter, I expect some growing pains initially, and I have the Denver Broncos finishing with a 5-12 record.
4. AFC South- the Houston Texans look like the dominant team in the division, and I expect them to win 12 games. CJ Stoud had one of the most successful rookie quarterback seasons in history with 4,108 yards, 23 touchdowns, and five interceptions. However, the Jacksonville Jaguars and Indianapolis could stun their foes in the conference and grab a wild card sport. Both teams were tied with 9-8 records last season and missed their starting quarterback down the stretch in Trevor Lawrence and the dynamic Anthony Richardson. If both are healthy, then these teams could thwart my wildcard picks. Nonetheless, I still think both franchises narrowly missed the playoffs with the same record as last season. I think the Titans will be the worst team in the conference, with a 4-13 record after losing Derrick Henry this season.
Division Winners- Kansas City Chiefs, , Baltimore Ravens, Houston Texans and Buffalo Bills.
Wild Card-Cincinnati Bengals, New York Jets and Los Angeles Chargers
AFC Championship Game-Baltimore Ravens at Kansas City Chiefs
Winner. Ravens advance to SuperBowl after getting revenge on the road in Kansas City.