AFC Division Winners

The 2020/2021 NFL Season is less than 2 weeks away and it's time to discuss who will be taking home the division titles this year in the AFC...

AFC EAST - Bills, Dolphins, Jets, Patriots

If you're a fan of football you know this division usually runs through New England, but boy things have changed going into this year. Tom Brady is in Tampa, Jamie Collins is in Detroit (led the team in sacks), Kyle Van Noy is in Miami (led the team in QB hits), they have 8 players opting out, and they aren't sure who their QB is going to be. The benefit of the doubt is far removed this season in New England and anyone that believes they are still going to be a threat is not paying attention. All of this matters because outside of the Patriots dominance the rest of that division is viewed nationally as a joke, aside from the recent success of the Bills.

I'm not even going to waste your time with the Jets because that seems to be a dumpster fire behind the scenes after the Jamaal Adams situation and coaching decisions.

Yes the Bills have had some success of late. They have a young talented QB and they added Stefon Diggs to finally give them a go to star WR, but are we sure they have what it takes to run away with this? I'm not positive especially when they struggle in the RB game and they also lost their top 3 sack leaders from last year. That has to matter when QB pressure is so important in today's pass heavy NFL. Add in the pressure from now being picked as the favorite by most to win that division, the unpredictable weather, and the absolute lack of QB depth...we are a Josh Allen ankle injury or more likely concussion away from them being a 5 win team.

Enter the Miami Dolphins. This is my dark horse team to make the playoffs regardless, but a division title is not far out of their reach. Let me explain before you close the article... Miami last season traded away or cut almost everything of value it seemed in the beginning of the season. Coach Flores was under all sorts of scrutiny that he was tanking to go 0-16 for the 1st pick. But once all the moves had finally been made and the 2nd string, or non-household names got together the Dolphins had some fight. They finished the season 5-4 in their final 9 games. They lost 2 games last year by 1 point on game winning FGs. This very easily could of been a 7 win team. Let's also note they lost week 6 in Buffalo by only 10. I point this out because week 6 was when Miami was still a mess trying to figure out their roster and the Bills at home should have destroyed them. Oh you don't believe me they should have destroyed them, well here you go. Miami lost their 1st 4 games of the season to a combine point total of 163-26! Yea go back and read that again. The fact that they turned things around the way they did is incredible, damn near impossible. Fast forward to today and these are the players the Dolphins added just through free agency... Byron Jones, Kyle Van Noy, Jordan Howard, Matt Breida, Emmanuel Ogbah, Shaq Lawson, Ted Karras, and Ereck Flowers. Now let's turn to the draft, Tua QB, Austin Jackson LT, Noah Igbinoghene CB, Robert Hunt RT, Raekwon Davis DL, and Brandon Jones S to name a few. According to ESPN's depth chart, 8 of these players are listed as starters. That doesn't even count Breida who will get plenty of touches, Lawson who will surely see the field and Tua. Lastly let's not forget about last years WR break out Preston Williams. He got hurt and only played 8 games but he averaged 7.5 targets, 4 catches, and 53.5 yards per game. FUN FACT - Since 2003 the Patriots have won the division every year except the year Brady got hurt and wasn't there, Miami won the division that year.

Look I get it this is not the favorite pick by many but man you can't deny the amount of talent on this team and what they showed at the end of last season. The lack of pressure on Miami and the unity that Flores has brought to the table getting players to 'buy in' to his program and leadership is unquestionable. I like Miami to surprise this division.

PICK - DOLPHINS

AFC NORTH - Bengals, Brown, Ravens, Steelers

The Bengals won 2 games last year, they added Joe Burrows, they are not winning this division, they are coming in last place. Sorry Bengals fans but you're in a rebuild.

Let's move onto the Browns. Last year was just another year for Browns fans, nothing special aside from a couple standout games and some controversy with Myles Garrett. Jump to this year and we've got a new coach, an upgraded Oline with the 2 main additions at both tackle positions. Hopefully a full year for Garrett and Austin Hooper who broke out 2 years ago and actually improved on it last year. Hooper is also just 25 so the core of the Browns are all very young. The Browns brought in Jack Conklin and drafted Jedrick Wills Jr and they both should immediately be impact players giving Baker more time in the pocket and of course helping the running game. Those 2, Hooper, plus a new coach should be all this offense needs to put themselves in a position to succeed. Of course we need Baker to take a big leap forward so we'll see how that translates but the future is bright. Just not enough in my opinion to get the division title this year.

Speaking of division titles the Ravens have won this division the last 2 years. Led by this kid Lamar Jackson who you may have heard of. The offense is potent with a dynamic balance of run/pass that keeps defenses honest. Jackson and Ingram are a handful and we saw what Hollywood Brown was able to do in his 1st year in the NFL. But outside of Brown the Ravens lack WR depth which is why they lean so heavy on the TEs. Mark Andrews running up the seem reminds me of Gronk a little with his athleticism and ability to rise up and go get the ball. But I definitely have some concerns with the offense. I am also probably the only person in America that has the concerns which I also don't understand. Anyone who watched the Titans playoff game last year against the Ravens knows exactly how to slow this offense down. Add in the lack of WR talent/depth and the fact that Hayden Hurst is now in ATL are we sure Lamar is going to again be able to carry the offense and not get hurt with the way he runs and takes hits? I guess until Lamar transitions into more of a passing QB I struggle to just give them the crown like most of the 'experts' do. I've watched Vick, the Wildcat, the read option, and countless other new ways to try and play football in the NFL and the NFL always catches up. Film is going to be analyzed more than ever on Lamar and defenses will be gunning for him. It's only a matter of time before he takes too big of a hit. Moving onto the D, it's good lol it's a standard Ravens style D. The pass rush was addressed by bring in Calais Campbell and Derek Wolfe. Losing Earl Thomas on paper could hurt but the fact the whole team came together tells me they'll be better off without him. I still love the Ravens to be a contender but I'm not so sure they win the division again this year. FUN FACT - the last time a team in the AFC North won the division 3 times in a row it was from 1994-1997 when the Steelers won it 4 years in a row.

Which leads me into the final team in this division, who I believe will regain control again this year, the Steelers. We'll address the D 1st, yea ok there is nothing to address their D was absolutely filthy last year especially after they traded for Minkah Fitzpatrick. Give them an offense to let them rest more and actually put up points and they should be that much better and more motivated than last year. Switching over to the offense I mean if you watch football you know, but I'll lay it out for the dumb dumbs. Big Ben played 2 games, Conner played 7 full and 3 at the end where he got a few touches. Juju also missed 5 games. Mason Rudolph started 8 games and Devlin Hodges started 6, and those guys did not set the world on fire. Rudolph averaged 176.5 yards per game, Hodges averaged 132.8. The QB and offensive situation was an absolute mess and that's an understatement. Yet somehow the Steelers were 8-8 last season and very easily could have won 5 more games. They lost 5 games by 7 points or less, of those 5 games they lost 4 by less than a TD, of those 4 games 2 were lost by 3 or less. Now think about what I said about the QB play and lack of healthy weapons. Now think about this, Big Ben in 2018 led the league with 320.6 yards per game, those numbers would have also led the league last season if he played. Those 5 close games the Steelers lost that I just referenced here's the opponents and the score... Seahawks 28-26, 49ers 24-20, Ravens 26-23 (in OT), Bills 17-10, Jets 16-10. Aside from the Jets, the other 4 were playoff teams and a few SB favorites/contenders by most analysts/experts last year at the end of the season and leading into the playoffs. So don't be surprised if and when the Steelers start shocking some people's thoughts on this division.

PICK - STEELERS

AFC SOUTH - Colts, Jaguars, Texans, Titans

This division is absolutely wild, as always. Just like the 2 above that I already addressed I'm immediately taking a team out and that's the Jags. There is nothing about them that makes me believe they can win the division, especially after losing so many stars on the defensive side which made them somewhat attractive the last couple seasons.

The Titans are this years hot pick for the majority of people by no surprise after how they ended the season and were successful in the playoffs. But it's a new year which means we'll have new narratives. To hang your hat on Ryan Tannehill to lead this team again I just don't buy it, and there is only so much game managing he can do while literally riding on Henry's back like corner backs were doing all last year. I like the Titans to make the playoffs again and I like them to be competitive all year long against everyone. My issue as always will be the QB. The close games or games that they fall behind early are going to be problems with a game managing QB so I'm not buying them winning enough for the division title.

The reigning division champs the last 2 years in a row and 4 of the last 5 were the Texans. They have consistently got it done in the post Peyton Manning era. DeShaun Watson is one of the best young QB talents in the league but we have not seen a season, let alone multiple games without DeAndre Hopkins in there. I know it's one player but man it's one great player that is the go to guy for Watson. I, like most of the world could not believe he was traded away. Only time will tell if it was a good trade or not but I expect a slight decline in Watson's production as well as the team as a whole. I personally believe the Texans will not win the division this year nor make the playoffs and the result will be the long over due firing of Bill O'Brien, who is an average coach at best.

In a division that really is up for grabs from 1st to 4th, I'm riding the Colts. I've read a lot of other people also liking the Colts and there are plenty of reasons to jump on this band wagon. Let's start with the obvious, they added Phillip Rivers. This is the same team that Andrew Luck was working with but they are actually better. The last 2 drafts and free agencies they kept loading up on both lines and defense. While also addressing the running game. They have one of the best Olines in the game that some argue could be the best since Dallas has gotten older and banged up. Rivers is going to finally play behind a stellar line and they have all sorts of offensive weapons and play calls that fit right into his strengths. If he can stay healthy this should easily be a double digit win team. TY Hilton should regain his WR1 status and based on what I've seen in mock drafts and cheat sheets people are sleeping on him. Just think about what Rivers has always been able to do with Keenan Allen, Antonio Gates and the other weapons he's had. They turn into statistical monsters with his gun slinging. I like where the Colts are at and most people liked where they were at when Luck was in town. This is a team to pay attention to that with a little luck based on the seeding I could see them making a deep run to the AFC Championship. Then again Rivers could get hurt week 2 but that's sports right?

PICK - COLTS

AFC WEST - BRONCOS, CHARGERS, CHIEFS, RAIDERS

Last but not least the AFC West. Look there is no reason for me to even go into a lengthy breakdown of each team. We all know it's the Chiefs as long as Patrick Mahomes is healthy. I do like what all of the other teams have done in the off season and the last couple years but we are talking about the defending champs just getting into the prime of some of their star players careers. Mahomes abilities and Reid's coaching is the best in the game at the moment with a long bright future in sight. It's the Chiefs guys, no need to get cute here.

PICK - CHIEFS