Our Predictions for AFC Divisional, Wild Card, and Conference Winners

For now, as NFL odds pundits continue hard at work figuring out which teams will fall into which categories, kick back and check out our predictions for the squads we feel will win their respective divisions, the ever so coveted wild card spots, conference matchups in the AFC Conference to stamp their ticket to Super Bowl LVII.

AFC East Division: Buffalo Bills

Believe in the Jets! That’s something only a diehard Jets fan like myself would say, so thank you for letting me get that out of my system. With that out of the way, it doesn’t take a football savant to know that the divisional crown here has Buffalo Bills written all over. Not only are the Bills the team to beat in the AFC this year, but they are perfect candidates to make it to the Super Bowl and finally revert Buffalo’s negative record when it comes to playing in the NFL’s biggest game of the season.

Aside from Buffalo, keeping an eye on the Dolphins as a potential dark horse candidate for a wildcard berth could end up becoming one of the best side bets to keep around in your back pocket. New England will play some good football once again this year, and the Jets, well, they’ll be better, which in itself is saying a lot, but yes, take the Bills, ride with the Bills.

AFC North Division: Cincinnati Bengals

I will go on a limb and say this bold statement. If the Cleveland Browns manage to have Deshaun Watson from week 1 as their starting QB and he plays in his best form, then there’s no conversation to be had here, just give the crown to Watson, Nick Chubb, Myles Garrett, and company. But, given that all the signs point towards Cleveland starting the season without Watson, who is awaiting a final verdict from the league regarding his playing status, then the nod will have to go once again to the Cincinnati Bengals.

There was something magical about the Bengals last season. While some people called it a Cinderella story of sorts, it’s about time we talked some realness and admit that Joe Burrow and Ja’Marr Chase make up one of the hottest, if not the hottest QB/WR duo in the AFC, if not in the whole NFL itself. When they were in synch, they looked like they were back rocking their LSU uniforms, stomping on any and all defenses around, and that’s exactly the kind of talent and energy that can make a team go from being nobodies to contenders, and then divisional winners.

Lastly, no hate for Lamar Jackson and the Ravens. If there’s anybody in the world of football that doesn’t enjoy Jackson’s style of playing, then they should get themselves checked. But with that said, the Ravens are not there yet to become true contenders, and that is a truth that sooner or later everyone will have to face and talk about.

AFC West Division: Los Angeles Chargers

Keeping it real like with the AFC North and Cleveland’s chances of succeeding, here’s another bold yet kind of obvious statement. In this upcoming season, the best division in all of the league is the AFC West. Now, with that said, am I crazy for not picking the Chiefs? You guys tell me, because while Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce, and company are once again, one of the most solid teams in the league, have you checked out how ridiculously stacked the Chargers are?

Justin Herbert is more than ready to have his shot at the spotlight, the offense rocks, and their defense? That defensive line is the perfect mix of precision and explosiveness all in one, especially after adding guys like Khalil Mack and JC Jackson to help cover up all the gaps and holes that hurt them last season.

With their offseason additions and how well this team has managed to stay together and continue to congeal as time progresses, it’s only right that they win the AFC West divisional title this season. But if you think that that’s it for the rest of the teams in the division, wait until we get to the wild card predictions.

AFC South Division: Indianapolis Colts

If there was ever something to get excited about for this upcoming season in the AFC South is the fact that we will have the chance to see the two best running backs in the league go head to head twice. On the one hand, you have Derrick Henry with the Tennessee Titans, who will be looking to make 2022 the perfect comeback season after being sidelined last season with a foot injury when he was well on his way to breaking all seasonal rushing records in the league.

On the other hand, there’s Jonathan Taylor and the Colts, who took it upon himself to take the league by storm with his speed, agility, and explosiveness coming in from the back.

The Jaguars could make a little bit of noise, with 2nd year starting QB Trevor Lawrence finally having the chance to play for a coach who isn’t a lame excuse for a frat boy who never grew up, and the Texans? Well, God bless them and keep them on a good path. But this season belongs to the Colts, now with Matt Ryan as starting QB, with a very solid roster both on offense and defense, and with a very present hunger to want to take the divisional crown away from Tennessee.

AFC Wild-Card Spots: Kansas City Chiefs, Las Vegas Raiders, Denver Broncos

Sorry Dolphins, Patriots, Steelers, Ravens, and Titans fans, but again, can you honestly argue against a division as stacked as the AFC West? All teams in said division can easily make their claims as to why they could make it all the way to the AFC Championship game, something that can’t be said about the other potential wild card contenders, which makes picking them a rather easy choice.

AFC Playoff Rounds and Championship Game

Given that the Buffalo Bills are pinned to be the top team in the conference, seeing them holding the No.1 seed in the playoffs feels natural. With that said, in the wild card rounds, we could get a Chiefs vs. Broncos matchup in which Mahomes outlasts Wilson, the Chargers taking out the Raiders, and the Bengals, with Joe Burrow at the helm playing his smooth as silk football beating the Colts.

On to the divisional rounds, with the Bills making their first appearance in the playoffs they should have no issue making do with the Chiefs. As the Bills await, the Bengals should outplay and beat the Chargers, to make up a dream matchup for the AFC Title game between Buffalo and Cincinnati where the Bills punch their ticket to Super Bowl LVII

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