All articles tagged with #afc
Gennaro Filice inventories one underappreciated candidate for every AFC team heading into the 2026 season, arguing these overlooked players—such as Ravens corner Chidobe Awuzie, Broncos nickelback Ja'Quan McMillian, Colts center Tanor Bortolini, Jaguars safety Antonio Johnson, Chiefs guard Kingsley Suamataia and Titans guard Peter Skoronski—could gain broader recognition as they continue to contribute quietly for their teams.
Ali Bhanpuri and Tom Blair dissect the 2026 NFL schedule with team-by-team forecasts for all AFC squads, projecting final records and playoff seeds across 272 games, sharing rival outlooks, toughest matchups, and weekly picks for each team (Bills, Jaguars, Chiefs, Texans and more) to illustrate how the season could unfold and which teams might surprise or falter.
Rotoworld’s 2026 AFC Draft Grades rate every team, with the Cleveland Browns earning an A for trading down to land Spencer Fano at No. 9 and adding solid complements, while the Jacksonville Jaguars receive an F for value missteps. The piece breaks down all AFC teams, highlighting smart value selections and perceived overdrafts across the Bills, Chiefs, Jets, Dolphins, Patriots, Raiders and more, using industry consensus boards to gauge fit and impact.
NFL.com’s GMFB-based look at the 2026 draft assigns a single priority for every AFC club: Bills should chase a primary receiver, Dolphins add another pillar, Patriots reinforce the defensive trenches, Jets land more weapons, Ravens and Bengals bolster trench play and defense, Browns keep building the offense, Steelers add an extra offensive-tackle option, Texans target a wide receiver, Colts shore up linebacker, Jaguars add a running back, Titans seek an edge, Broncos pursue a running back, Chiefs upgrade at cornerback (and then OL), Raiders add more weapons, and Chargers target another receiver.
The article catalogs each AFC team's draft priorities after two weeks of free agency, noting quarterback questions for several squads and common themes across the conference: boost pass catching and the O-line, strengthen edge and interior D-line, and consider BPA while addressing aging contracts and positional depth.
Rotoworld’s 2026 AFC Free Agency Grades rate every AFC team, giving Kansas City and New England top marks for shrewd, value-driven moves (KC adding Kenneth Walker III and keeping key players; NE adding Romeo Doubs and a slate of surrounding upgrades), while other teams—Colts, Jaguars, Dolphins, Jets, Titans and more—receive mixed grades based on fit, risk, and the uncertain returns of big signings (e.g., Daniel Jones’ Achilles injury comeback).
As the 2026 free-agency window opens, this AFC-focused primer flags major holes across the conference: Ravens need IOL/DL, Bills WR/Edge/DB, Bengals DL/IOL/CB, Browns OL/QB, Texans IOL/DL/RB, Colts Edge/LB/WR, Jaguars CB/RB/DL, Chiefs RB/CB/WR, Raiders OL/QB/WR, Broncos RB/WR/LB, Chargers OL/Edge/WR, Dolphins QB/DB/WR, Patriots WR/Edge/OL, Jets QB/WR/LB, Steelers WR/CB/QB, and Titans Edge/WR/CB. The common thread is upgrading the trenches and adding playmakers, with quarterback stability and cap considerations shaping how teams fill these holes via free agency or trades.
An AFC-wide guide to the 2026 NFL Draft's best-case selections, assigning each team an ideal first-round target to fix the roster: Chiefs get explosive back Jeremiyah Love; Dolphins add Caleb Downs to stabilize the secondary amid a Minkah Fitzpatrick trade, and every other AFC club (Ravens, Bills, Bengals, Browns, Broncos, Texans, Colts, Jaguars, Raiders, Chargers, Jets, Patriots, Titans) receives a position-specific pick (edge, OT/OL, WR, TE, QB, etc.) designed to reshape their 2026 outlook.
Patriots' quick rise to the AFC's summit under coach Mike Vrabel signals a broader shift in the conference, driven by a strong 2025 draft class and a rising young quarterback, with other teams like Jacksonville and Denver proving that the Chiefs-era parity is returning. The piece also cautions that sustaining success will require smart roster decisions as elite QBs command bigger salaries and teams must balance long-term depth with star power.
Bengals quarterback Joe Flacco earned his first Pro Bowl selection, named to the AFC roster for the 2026 Pro Bowl Games after starting six of Cincinnati's 2025 games post-trade; he threw for 2,479 yards and 15 touchdowns with 10 interceptions on 251-of-416 passing in 13 appearances, highlighted by a 470-yard game and a 342-yard, three-TD performance against Pittsburgh, as Cincinnati prepared for the Pro Bowl on Feb. 3, 2026 in San Francisco on ESPN.
Shedeur Sanders was named to the AFC Pro Bowl roster as a replacement for injured quarterbacks, joining original AFC selections Josh Allen, Drake Maye and Justin Herbert. Sanders completed 120-of-212 passes for 1,400 yards, seven touchdowns and 10 interceptions in eight appearances this season, earning a notable Pro Bowl distinction in his rookie year.
Patriots edge the Broncos 10-7 in the stormy AFC Championship as Mike Vrabel guides New England toward a Super Bowl; Drake Maye's mobility and a lockdown Patriots front seven stymie Denver, while a late coaching decision by Sean Payton drew scrutiny. In the NFC, Sam Darnold's 346-yard, three-TD performance lifts the Seahawks past the Rams 31-27, cementing his redemption arc; Kenneth Walker III and Jaxon Smith-Njigba provided key plays for Seattle, while Los Angeles faces a consequential offseason with cap questions and defensive/special-teams struggles.
Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel was named the PFWA's 2025 NFL Coach of the Year after guiding New England to a 14-3 season, including a 10-game win streak and a dramatic improvement from 4-13 in 2024. The award marks Vrabel's second PFWA Coach of the Year honor (first with the Titans in 2021) and the Patriots' eighth. The PFWA also recognized John Schneider as NFL Executive of the Year and Vance Joseph as Assistant Coach of the Year for their respective teams, highlighting significant staff contributions to Seattle and Denver alongside New England's strong performance.
Saturday’s divisional round winners set up the conference championship matchups: the AFC scene centers on a Texans vs. Patriots showdown, while the NFC features the Seahawks awaiting the winner of the Rams vs. Bears to determine who goes to Super Bowl LX in Santa Clara on February 8. The results keep the path clear for the league’s crown as teams race toward the title game next week and then the Super Bowl.
The article reviews the final grades for AFC teams in the 2025 NFL season, highlighting the fall from grace of the Chiefs and Ravens, and analyzing the season performances, key moments, and offseason outlooks for teams like Cincinnati, Cleveland, Indianapolis, Kansas City, Las Vegas, Miami, New York Jets, Tennessee, and others, emphasizing injuries, roster changes, and strategic considerations for rebuilding and future success.