NFLIt’s that time of year. The regular season has ended, and now we play for the chip. However, some NFL teams have a better chance than others. Some times have legitimate chances to win the Super Bowl, some groups could make noise, and several squads that are just happy to be here. I’ll take a look at the teams in the AFC and see where they fall.
Superbowl Contenders
Kansas City Chiefs:
No surprise here. The Chiefs are the defending champs and have done nothing to sway my mind. They finished with a 14-2 record, which would have been 15-1 if the starters played the last game. KC has played in more close games than many believe they should have, but they still have strengths. They have Patrick Mahomes, who is on his way to being the greatest quarterback of all-time, and many riches when it comes to weapons.
Travis Kelce is the only tight-end to have multiple 100-catch seasons, and Tyreek Hill is the fastest man in the league. Also, consider the two-headed monster combo they have at running back with Clyde Edwards-Helaire and LeVeon Bell. This is one of the best offenses in the league, scoring nearly 30 points per game, Andy Red is one of the best coaches in the game, and there is a benefit from being there before. This team looks primed for another Lombardi trophy.
Buffalo Bills:
Arguably the hottest team in the league, the Bills looked like a powerhouse down the stretch. The ascension of Josh Allen directly supported their success. Allen completed nearly 70% of his passes this season, while in his first two seasons, he completed 55.8%. One of the best offseason acquisitions, Stefon Diggs, has been tremendous for the Bills. Diggs has 127 catches for over 1,500 yards on the season, both tops in the league. They also add John Brown, who missed the last month and a half because of injury. The defense isn’t as dominant as they were last year, but they are opportunistic, with 30 combined interceptions and forced fumbles. They will give the Chiefs a run if they meet in the AFC Championship game.
They Can Make Noise
Pittsburgh Steelers:
Finishing 1-4 to end the season is not ideal. However, the Steelers have the potential to be dominant, mainly because of their league-best defense. Pittsburgh lost Bud Dupree and Devin Bush, but they still have TJ Watt, who should win DPOY. Watt leads the league in sacks, quarterback hits, and tackles for loss. This defense holds teams to under 20 points per game and has 56 sacks, 18 interceptions, and 13 forced fumbles on the season. Now the concern is the offense. The Steelers seem to have realized that throwing the ball down the field works well during the last six quarters. The running game is a concern, but if Ben Roethlisberger, and more importantly, offensive coordinator Randy Fichtner, dial up the long ball, this team can compete with the best of them.
Baltimore Ravens:
The Ravens had a mid-season slump and lost some games they shouldn’t have. For a moment looked like they could miss the playoffs. Yet, here we are. The Ravens were able to lock in and start playing their best ball at the right time. Lamar Jackson looks like the MVP he was last season, and this run game has found a new gear. In the final contest of the season, the Ravens, led by rookie JK Dobbins, rushed for over 400 yards. The Ravens are hitting their stride at the right time, and they have something to prove. Lamar Jackson is 0-2 in the playoffs, and they would love nothing more than to dispel the narrative that they are just a regular-season team.
Happy to be Here
Tennessee Titans:
This team won their division, but there are some serious concerns on both sides of the ball for the Titans. Defensively this team is a shadow of what they were last season. They give up just over 27 points per game, so it is almost a guarantee that they will be in a shoot-out.
Offensively they have probably the most dangerous run game in the league with Derrick Henry, who rushed for over 2,000 yards this season. That sets up the play-action game, which is where Ryan Tannehill has made his bread and butter the last two seasons. The problem is, what do the Titans do if they get down early? When the Titans are forced to move away from the run game and put the team on Ryan Tannehill’s shoulders, they struggle. With a tough Wild Card match-up against the Ravens, the Titans look to be on their way to an early exit.
Cleveland Browns:
The longest playoff drought in the league has finally ended as the Browns make the playoffs for the first time since 2002. Congrats, Cleveland; you deserve it. Now it’s time to get real. The Browns don’t have a stout defense, which on average gave up 26 points per game. They also gave up 30+ points in seven games this season. Losing linebacker Oliver Vernon Sunday doesn’t help their chances either. The Browns, not surprisingly, are also one of the least experienced teams in the playoffs. It will be interesting to see how this team responds to the pressure of playing in the postseason.
One strength is the run game. Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt may be the best running back duo in the league, and both are a threat to break off substantial chunk plays at any time. A famous saying is, “History repeats itself.” The last two times the Browns made the playoffs, they lost to the Steelers; do with that what you will.
The Wild Card
Indianapolis Colts:
The Colts are the most complete team in the league. In all three phases of the game, they have elite potential. The problem is they don’t always play up to that hypothetical aspiration. Indianapolis had some questionable moments this season. Consider how they gave the Jaguars their only win of the season, lost to the Browns, and blew a significant lead to the Steelers in the second half. For whatever reason, they don’t always play their best, but this is the postseason. Motivation and pressure should push this team to play their best, and if that happens, they could be hoisting a Lombardi at the end of the year. (That is if Philip Rivers doesn’t throw one of those back-breaking interceptions.)
