NFL Predictions: The AFC
NFL Football is back after a long exciting offseason with surprising cuts and trades. Fans couldn’t wait for this offseason to be over for the season to finally start after fans saw exciting trades and picks of their NFL teams.
| AFC NORTH | AFC SOUTH | AFC EAST | AFC WEST |
| 1. Bengals 2. Ravens 3. Browns 4. Steelers | 1. Jaguars 2. Titans 3. Colts 4. Texans | 1. Bills 2. Dolphins* 3. Patriots 4. Jets | 1. Chiefs 2. Broncos* 3. Chargers* 4. Raiders |
I am predicting that the Dolphins, Bills, Broncos, Bengals, Jaguars, and Chargers will be all in this year. Other notable teams to watch after a long offseason in the AFC (American Football Conference) are the Baltimore Ravens and Las Vegas Raiders.
BUFFALO BILLS
Predicted Record (14-3) What more can NFL fans say about the Buffalo Bills? The Bills are a talented team with a great organization and one of the best fan bases in the league. We all see what the Bills can do to any team in this league. The Buffalo Bills is a guaranteed or bust team to run it back, make it to the playoffs, and win the Super Bowl this year. Buffalo is locked and pinned as the favorite (+600) to win Super Bowl 57. The Bills are the common and familiar team to win it all this year, according to BET MGM. Man, what can we say more about this team? NFL fans saw how special this team was last year. And I do not doubt that they will do great this season.
The addition of outside linebacker and future Hall-of-Famer Von Miller, who had a great season last year with the Los Angeles Rams, will only help the Bills. Von Miller can cause damage to any O-Line with Gregory Rousseau on the other side of the ball. This team is explosive on both sides of the ball, offense and defense, and makes their opponents break down.
Last year Bill’s defense was in the top 5 with all-around great and talented players on defense: tackles, linebackers, and cornerbacks. The Bills have the 2 best LBs in this league Tremaine Edmunds and Matt Milano. Josh Allen, a MVP candidate this year, is a talented and special player who can do it all and be physical when running the ball.
This offense is full of studs with one of the top route runners in this league Stefon Diggs. Gabe Davis who had a great career game vs the Kansas City Chiefs in the playoffs last year. The Bills have one of the most underrated slots WR, speedy receiver Isaiah McKenzie, and Jamison Crowder, who got picked up in free agency. Having one of the most underrated safeties in Jordan Poyer and top CB Tre’davious White.
The Buffalo Bills and NFL fans are not forgetting the noticeable coin flip in OT in the playoff game last season against the Kansas City Chiefs. Sadly, for Buffalo, the Chiefs won the toss that made them the AFC Champion and did not give the Bills a chance. Many people believed if the Bills won that game the Buffalo Bills would be the defending Super Bowl Champion.
MIAMI DOLPHINS
Predicted Record (11-6). The Miami Dolphins are a sneaky and devious team to make the playoffs this year and letting NFL teams and fans know that they are not playing around this year after a shocking and surprising trade from the Chiefs giving away one of their star players, a six-time Pro Bowler, wide receiver Tyreek Hill for a 2022 first-round pick (No. 29 overall), and a second-round pick (No. 50).
This trade will make the Dolphins and QB Tua Tagovailoa improve with two speedy receivers to connect with Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle. Noticeable players to look at on this roster are the names of: Tua Tagovailoa, Jaylen Waddle, Tyreek Hill, Xavier Howard, Christian Wilkins, Jaelon Phillips, Terron Armstead, Mike Gesicki, and Jevon Hollands.
The Dolphins are really good on both sides of the ball with offense and defense, a talented and raw roster to do something great this season.
LOS ANGELES CHARGERS
Predicted Record (11-6). The Chargers and Los Angeles fans are having an exciting offseason this year. This Los Angeles Chargers team should be a team to not shock NFL Fans to make the Playoffs this year. After picking up one of the Top Free Agents CB J.C. Jackson after the New England Patriots were not willing to pay him to become one of the highest paid CB (Contract Details: 5 years $82.5 million and $25 million signing bonus and $40 million guarantees). This trade makes sense due to poor defense last year this will also help 3rd-year CB Asante Samuel. This defense can be something serious if it goes their way and will make the defense better if not one of the top defenses this year.
They also picked up one of the top player six time pro bowler OLB Khali Mack after the Chicago Bears traded Khalil to the Chargers (Bears receive a 2022 second-round pick–No.48 overall–and a 2023 sixth-round selection).
Finally, the Chargers picked up one of the most underrated slot CB in the NFL and top free agent CB Bryce Callahan, after the Broncos let him go due to past injuries in his career. Los Angeles can be something this year with 3-year player and Pro Bowler QB Justin Herbert. Finally, players to watch in this great roster are Justin Herbert, Nick Bosa, Rashawn Slater, JC Jackson, Khalil Mack, Kenneth Murray, Keelen Alan, Mike Williams Josh Palmer, Deandre Carter, Asante Samuel, and Bryce Callahan.
CINCINNATI BENGALS
Predicted Record (11-6). WHO DEY?! The Cincinnati Bengals will run it back and will make the playoffs this year. It is a team that should make teams struggle throughout the end of the game having a fantastic season last year.
Last season, the Bengals were mind-blowing–the NFL world was still talking about how bad this team would be even with Joe Burrow coming back from a torn ACL and going 0-17.
The Cincinnati Bengals had a great offseason picking up some of the best and top free agents Offensive Linemen named Alexa Cappa (4 years $35 million including $9 mill signing bonus and $11 mill guaranteed), Ted Karras (3 years $18 million $3 million signing bonus $5 million guaranteed), and La’el Collins (3 years $21 million, $5 million signing bonus, $5 million guaranteed). After the offensive line got exposed last year in the Super Bowl and led the team with the most sacks in the NFL, Bengals fans and Joe Burrow should be happy and excited after getting key players to run it back this year for the playoffs. Finally, Joe Burrow will have plenty of time to throw the ball and not scramble much and stay more in the pocket this year.
Both sides of the ball offense and defense are special and have great players and are special for the future. Noticeable players in this talented roster to watch this year are Joe Burrow, Jamar Chase, BJ Hill, DJ Reader, Von Bell, Daxton Hill, Jessie Bates, Tee Higgins (pictured), Tyler Boyd, Joe Mixon, Cam Taylor Britt, and the entire OL.
DENVER BRONCOS
Predicted Record (10-7) WOW! How is Broncos Country feeling right now? The Denver Broncos and fans had one of the most exciting and surprising offseason this year. They made a lot of huge moves from this organization, and there is a fresh start to this Denver team from owner to head coach to coaching staff. The Denver Broncos will finally make the playoffs this year.
The Broncos found their missing piece to make a run to the playoffs, by trading for legend and future Hall-of-Fame QB Russell Wilson, who then signed a new deal worth $245 million that will keep him in Denver through the 2028 season that will also include $165 million guaranteed. This trade will make this whole team and organization better and on this struggling offense last year. This Denver team should utilize Russell Wilson more on scrambling the ball to be successful in this league with many great pass rushers in divisional games; also, they should utilize him with his feet with his great speed.
Denver also signed free agent DE Randy Gregory after his agent found out of issues with the language in his contract a stated clause that said, “A player could lose bonuses or guaranteed bonuses if a player is fined or suspended with the Dallas Cowboys.”
The Denver Broncos’ running game is one of the best in this league with the “2 power punch.” Bringing back Melvin Gordon III will help more with this running game. Denver defense will be Top 5 this year due to bringing back some key players. This team has the most underrated CB in the league with CB Patrick Surtain and Ronald Darby. Patrick Surtain with no doubt will be a top 3 cornerback after having a standout season his rookie year.
This roster is the most underrated roster from the practice squad, with active players, and a 53-man roster. A lot of talent and studs are on this roster. Notable players to watch this year include Russell Wilson, Javonte Williams, Melvin Gordan, KJ Hamler, Courtland Sutton, Jerry Jeudy, Cam Fleming, Kendall Hinton, Michael Ojemudia, Essang Bassey, Calvin Anderson, Billy Turner, Quinn Meinerz, Dalton Risner, DJ Jones, Patrick Surtain, Justin Simmons, Caden Sterns, PJ Locke, Ronald Darby, Josey Jewell, Kareem Jackson, Jonas Griffith, K’waun Williams, Garret Bolles, Damarri Mathis, Baron Browning, Jonathan Cooper, Alex Singleton, Nik Bonitto, and Montrell Washington. “BRONCOS COUNTRY LET’S RIDE.”
JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS
Predicted Record (9-8). The Jacksonville Jaguars will make a run to the playoffs. After a really good offseason with many pickups, the Jaguars can be a legitimate team with many explosive players on this team’s roster. There were many changes in the organization such as a new head coach and players. Jacksonville made plenty of good moves and spent the most money in free agency this year out of every team.
The Jaguars picked up one of the top free agents in speedy WR Christian Kirk (pictured, below), making him one of the highest paid WR in the NFL (4 years, $72 Million contract with $37 million guaranteed. The NFL world was shocked with him being the highest paid WR in the league, but will shock and surprise many people with his skills such as routes and how he is a deep threat. These moves will help QB Trevor Lawrence with explosive deep-threat ball throws.
Also, the Jags picked up WR Zay Jones ( 3 years $24 million, and $14 million guaranteed) after having a great season last year, really an explosive contested catch player and somewhat a deep threat. They drafted great key players to help them make a run to the playoffs such as DE Trevon Walker (No 1. overall). This team can be special with this explosive offense and defense.
The Shoemaker Bugle 