Previewing the AFC forward of the kickoff of the 2022 season

A bit of take a look at how I see the AFC enjoying out within the 2022 season. The predicted information are based mostly on every crew’s particular person schedule.

AFC East

Buffalo Bills: 12-5

The Bills are the oddsmaker’s favourite to win not simply the East division however your complete convention. It’s simple to see why, too. Buffalo has a legit MVP candidate in QB Josh Allen and a number of other stable weapons for him to work with. The traces are each stable and the younger secondary has promise. The Bills are usually not with out their flaws and it’s going to be very attention-grabbing to see how Allen performs with out sensei Brain Daboll, who’s now teaching the Giants. But the top-end expertise is in place to win a number of postseason video games this yr.

Miami Dolphins: 9-8

New head coach Mike McDaniel is a part of the shift to a extra dynamic and constantly efficient offense. Much relies upon upon Tua Tagovailoa’s progress at QB, however including Tyreek Hill at WR to go together with Jaylen Waddle and beefing up the RB room positive makes life simpler for Tua. The line might want to carry out higher. If the children on protection (EDGE Jaelan Phillips, S Jevon Holland, CB Noah Igbinoghene) can all take a step ahead, the Miami protection ought to have some actual tooth. I like the general transfer to get sooner on either side of the ball.

New York Jets: 6-11

The second yr for head coach Robert Saleh shall be keyed by a better-than-advertised protection. There’s lots driving on first-round rookies Sauce Gardner and Jermaine Johnson. They’ll each should be prepared straight away to cowl some holes within the secondary. Overall depth improved on either side of the ball. QB Zack Wilson shedding precious growth time this offseason hurts, as does shedding 2020 first-rounder Mekhi Becton. The New York arrow is pointing up for positive, however these Jets are most likely a yr away from critically flying up the convention standings.

New England Patriots 6-11

If you merely take a look at this roster from 1-53, it’s no higher than twenty ninth within the league. The protection is gradual, the WR corps is a glorified observe squad, the experiment of Matt Patricia teaching the offense seems to be disastrous and the all-around depth seems to be extra like an enlargement crew than a contender. But the Patriots have some superb items in place in key spots–QB Mac Jones, LT Trent Brown, EDGE Matt Judon, however none greater than head coach Bill Belichick. On paper this is–at most–a 5-12 roster, however I think I’m most likely lowballing New England at 6-11.

AFC South

Indianapolis Colts: 11-6

Dumping enigmatic Carson Wentz at QB and changing him with a motivated, rejuvenated Matt Ryan looks like a grasp stroke. Ryan’s reliability makes the receivers higher, and it’s not like RB Jonathan Taylor wants any assist in being nice. The defensive entrance has impression gamers in DT DeForest Buckner and LB Shaquille Leonard, plus a number of promising kids. They’re weak to groups that may block them and assault down the sphere, and conserving the beginning 11 on offense wholesome is extra crucial for this Colts crew than every other AFC contender. Frank Reich has a robust crew that needs to be extra resilient than in previous years.

Tennessee Titans: 8-9

There remains to be some good expertise on this roster, however shedding WR A.J. Brown (commerce) and EDGE Harold Landry (harm) actually lowers the ground for Mike Vrabel’s crew. Getting a full season of RB Derrick Henry behind a succesful line all the time retains Tennessee harmful, and Ryan Tannehill is a stable, confirmed QB. A younger secondary can step up and the defensive entrance seems to be powerful even with out Landry, however the margin for error has gone away in Nashville. They even have huge questions on particular groups. Too good to be dangerous however not ok to duplicate final yr’s 12-5.

Jacksonville Jaguars: 6-11

Simply eradicating Urban Meyer is worthy of two extra wins in Duval, however the Jaguars are additionally cobbling collectively a stronger roster. Trevor Lawrence needs to be higher in Year 2, and he’s acquired weapons in Marvin Jones, Christian Kirk, Evan Engram and RBs Travis Etienne and James Robinson. Swiping OG Brandon Scherff was an excellent transfer. The two first-rounders on protection, Travon Walker and Devin Lloyd, can solely assist shore up the middle-of-field protection, which additionally added NFL tackling champ Foyesade Oluokun at LB. The DL and secondary stay troublesome and there’s no impactful veteran difference-maker on both facet of the ball.

Houston Texans: 5-12

Lovie Smith is constructing his Texans crew round a speed-based defensive philosophy. There’s a plethora of “oh, so that’s where that guy is now” gamers on the protection, however Houston does have some promise. The rookies within the secondary, CB Derek Stingley Jr. and S Jalen Pitre, seem like stars within the making. Davis Mills flashed some expertise at QB final yr and may develop extra. There are nonetheless plenty of questions and determined lack of difference-makers outdoors of ageless WR Brandin Cooks, however these Texans are able to ruining the day for groups that overlook them. Bonus win for introducing the Battle Red helmet, immediately the most effective within the league.

AFC North

This is probably the most troublesome division within the league to foretell. I can current sturdy arguments for all 4 groups to each win the division and in addition are available in final.

Baltimore Ravens: 10-7

So many accidents a yr in the past saved John Harbaugh’s squad from maximizing potential. The fear isn’t as a lot that it’s going to occur once more, however will all of the strolling wounded be what we anticipated of them earlier than final yr? TE Mark Andrews because the lead weapon for QB Lamar Jackson presents distinctive challenges. This crew sorely wants WR Rashod Bateman and RB J.Okay. Dobbins to emerge as gamers who scare defenses and relieve strain on Jackson and Andrews to do all the things. Adding first-rounder Kyle Hamilton and high free agent Marcus Williams at security may very well be sensible. Justin Tucker stays the NFL’s greatest-ever kicker, and the Ravens particular groups are a pleasant insurance coverage coverage.

Cincinnati Bengals: 10-7

The reigning AFC champs are usually not going to sneak up on anybody now, however they’ve the celebs in place to put on the bullseye nicely. QB Joe Burrow, RB Joe Mixon and WR JaMarr Chase are pretty much as good of a set of offensive triplets as there are, and there may be various expertise round them too. The OL can’t be any worse than it was in 2021. I fear about their means defensively to deal with WRs with dimension and RBs behind OLs that may transfer. The expectations are a giant variable for such a younger crew. Trey Hendrickson and Jesse Bates should be the top-shelf gamers they had been a yr in the past.

Cleveland Browns: 9-8

The focus is on the actually wild QB scenario, and the Browns dealing with of Baker Mayfield, Deshaun Watson and Jacoby Brissett–the new main starter in 2022–definitely raises eyebrows. It obscures what is perhaps the NFL’s greatest protection, led by MVP candidate Myles Garrett and that includes the deepest set of CBs within the league in addition to speedy standout LB Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah. The offense can run on anybody with Nick Chubb, Kareem Hunt and D’Ernest Johnson. The OL has the most effective guard tandem in Joel Bitonio and Wyatt Teller. Amari Cooper provides the Browns the WR1 they’ve lacked whereas squabbling with OBJ. But the QB scenario and drama are a possible anchor that may scuttle it all–or produce one other thrilling playoff run like 2020.

Pittsburgh Steelers: 7-10

The Steelers have a unbelievable defensive entrance keyed by T.J. Watt and Cameron Heyward. It’s an amazing place to have a main identification. The secondary could make some performs behind them too. Right now the LBs are higher in concept than observe however have potential as nicely. It’s the offense that has the largest questions. Mitch Trubisky or Kenny Pickett at QB? Can the OL block higher than final yr, once they had been someplace between inept and terrifying? Who steps up as a high receiver? Is there even one offensive reserve participant who makes one other NFL roster? Too many inquiries to belief. However, if even certainly one of them seems affirmatively, you possibly can guess Mike Tomlin’s Steelers are going to be gamers within the playoff race.

AFC West

Could a division end with each crew having a successful report? This yr’s AFC West may very well be our greatest likelihood to search out out.

Los Angeles Chargers: 11-6

I’ve picked the Chargers to win this division lots through the years, often to my utter dismay come December. But I can’t resist biting the apple as soon as once more. Justin Herbert is an MVP candidate rising into his QB prime. He’s acquired appreciable receiving expertise in Keenan Allen, Mike Williams and RB Austin Ekeler, and is protected by the most effective younger OT within the recreation in RaShawn Slater. And but the Chargers protection might be their higher unit. Between reinforcing the road and getting the secondary wholesome and revamped, this aggressive protection can dominate. These Chargers seem like a crew that may signify the AFC within the Super Bowl. That’s after all been true just a few different occasions and the Bolts didn’t come shut, so trepidation is deserved.

Kansas City Chiefs: 11-6

Any crew with Patrick Mahomes operating Andy Reid’s offense goes to be enjoyable to look at. The Chiefs had a internet loss in receiving expertise this offseason, however newcomers Skyy Moore, Juju Smith-Schuster and Marquez Valdes-Scantling are nonetheless a harmful group. Creed Humphrey is a budding star at middle, anchoring a robust (albeit paper-thin) line. The defensive entrance can impression each the run and the go. Two newcomers within the secondary are key: first-round CB Trent McDuffie and free agent S Justin Reid. If they’re as much as the problem, this may very well be an actual sturdy protection. Special groups look nice. Don’t write them off merely since you’re bored of them successful the division yearly.

Las Vegas Raiders: 9-8

Reuniting WR Davante Adams with QB Derek Carr may very well be the increase the Raiders have to advance past the Wild Card spherical for the primary time in 20 years. Adams is arguably the NFL’s greatest receiver and offers Carr a legit gamebreaker. Paired with a stable floor recreation and harmful TE Darren Waller, these Raiders ought to be capable to overcome a shaky OL and publish some factors. The protection might want to have its disparate elements come collectively rapidly. There is younger expertise in gamers like CB Nate Hobbs and S Trevon Moehrig. Maxx Crosby will get assist up entrance with Chandler Jones. It’s all the time a priority when there’s a brand new coach taking up a playoff crew, particularly one which has set the final three years of high draft picks on fireplace. Las Vegas is precariously harmful to everybody it performs but in addition to itself. Ultimately, the Raiders have an excessive amount of high-end expertise to be as dangerous because the haters need them to be.

Denver Broncos: 8-9

Sometimes there are groups I simply can’t get a really feel for. These Broncos are a type of groups. I feel the transfer to amass Russell Wilson was a worthy gamble, however I don’t but have a learn on rookie head coach Nathaniel Hackett or a solid of largely unknown assistants. The receivers may very well be nice, or they may all be harm once more. The line has expertise however an excessive amount of of it makes too many boneheaded errors. There are nonetheless helpful items on protection however severe questions in any respect three ranges. Russ can nonetheless prepare dinner however he’s acquired to feed a surprisingly compiled unit going through a brutal schedule with only a few gamers who’re of their NFL primes. Weird crew. Could be fairly dang good, however the backside is the bottom of any within the division too.

Playoff choose: Ravens over Bills to advance to the Super Bowl