AFC Season Predictions: Division Standings and Super Bowl

by Ryan Mercier

AFC North

1. Baltimore Ravens
2. Pittsburgh Steelers
3. Cleveland Browns
4. Cincinnati Bengals

If the Football Gods could promise Ben Roethlisberger a full, healthy season then the Steelers could win the Super Bowl. Without that guarantee, Pittsburgh earns a middling projection of making the playoffs but finishing behind Lamar Jackson and the stacked Ravens. This might be the best division in football. Yes, the best. Cleveland must get a No. 1 overall pick-worthy season from Baker Mayfield. This season’s top selection Joe Burrow will lead an exciting offense with tantalizing potential.

AFC South

1. Houston Texans
2. Tennessee Titans
3. Jacksonville Jaguars
4. Indianapolis Colts

There are those out there that see three playoff teams coming out of this division but the AFC South is much closer to a mediocre mish-mash of nothingness. Houston gets the nod for consistency and having the best QB in the division. Tennessee is bound to disappoint after Ryan Tannehill’s deal with the Devil. The Colts, admittedly, have the widest range of potential outcomes in the league: Super Bowl champion or division bottom-dwellers. Jacksonville takes third place out of sheer NFL unpredictability while everyone else on Earth expects an 0-16 tank job.

AFC East

1. Buffalo Bills
2. New England Patriots
3. Miami Dolphins
4. New York Jets

Wrap your arms around the Buffalo Bills. After ending a playoff drought in 2017 they finally have a team to be excited about while Tom Brady commands the ship in Tampa. Buffalo may not reach a deep playoff run but Sean McDermott can lead the Bills to a division crown. New England may be one of the harder teams to project in the league. Bill Belichick deserves at least 2nd place benefit of the doubt. Things look gloomy for both the Dolphins and Jets. Miami’s roster feels a bit stronger than New York’s.

AFC West

1. Kansas City Chiefs
2. Las Vegas Raiders
3. Los Angeles Chargers
4. Denver Broncos

There is nothing more to say than Patrick Mahomes and Andy Reid to understand why the Chiefs own the West. Las Vegas (sorry, Oakland) surprisingly has a lot of pieces on its roster you can count on. Joey Bosa and Melvin Ingram will take over some games for the Chargers but the QB room will hold them back. Some see Denver as a surprise playoff team but not every second-year quarterback is a success story.

AFC Championship: Steelers vs. Chiefs

Super Bowl bound: Kansas City Chiefs

NFC Predictions