AFC Standings Predictions (Start of Camp Edition)

 Just like with the NFC, we are now going to unveil our first AFC standings predictions of the season. This is the start of training camp edition so it might be amended by the time week 1 rolls around. Things will happen that might change the predictions like how we just learned new Colts QB Carson Wentz will be out 5-12 weeks with a foot injury suffered at camp. There's a likely chance he misses some of the beginning of the regular season.

AFC

1st Seed Prediction: Kansas City Chiefs (14-3)
For what feels like so many years in a row, the Chiefs secure the one seed. Them and the Bucs from the NFC just feel so far ahead of everyone else. The Chiefs were big favorites to win the Super Bowl against the Bucs last year and were embarrassed mostly due to their O-line so they completely revamped it into one of the league's best units. QB Patrick Mahomes could add another league MVP this year as he has an All-Star cast around him highlighted by Tyreek Hill and Travis Kelce. Their defense was much improved last season and led by Tyrann Mathieu, Chris Jones, and L'Jarius Sneed, they should be elite again. The Chiefs are on a crash course with the Bucs once again. Losses: @ Washington Football Team, @ Raiders, @ Chargers

2nd Seed Prediction: Buffalo Bills (13-4)
Nipping at the heels of the Chiefs is the Buffalo Bills. They almost feel like the "Lite" version of KC. A young gunslinger MVP candidate QB (Josh Allen). A dynamic WR (Diggs). An elite offensive line. And a defense on the come up that has its elite moments. The Bills brought back the gang this off-season along with adding a couple new pieces to contribute. Emmanuel Sanders and rookie Greg Rousseau will be the biggest newcomers. Just like the Chiefs, the Bills also have a really good coaching staff led by HC Sean McDermott with wonderkid OC Brian Daboll on his way to becoming a head coach soon. The Bills are going to be a tough team to beat this coming season but to get to that elusive Super Bowl, will need to figure out how to run the football effectively. Losses: vs WFT, @ Chiefs, vs Dolphins, @ Buccaneers

3rd Seed Prediction: Cleveland Browns (13-4)
The Browns should consider themselves the "Off-Season Champions". What they were able to accomplish this off-season is downright incredible. The signings, picks, and trades they have made have the team set up beautifully for the future. That future starts with this season in which they will be right in the mix for the Super Bowl. They return Baker Mayfield at QB and their dangerous backfield of Chubb and Hunt. Jarvis Landry and a healthy OBJ will headline the pass catchers along with an o-line that is top 3 in the league. Their defense is the improvement story. DPOY candidate Myles Garrett leads the unit along with Pro Bowl CB Denzel Ward and big ticket signing safety John Johnson III. Top pick rookies CB Greg Newsome and LB Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah figure to be day 1 contributors as well. Don't forget the slept on signing of former no. 1 overall pick Jadeveon Clowney who could thrive lining up next to Garrett. The Browns have one of the league's most stacked rosters from top to bottom and an elite young HC in Kevin Stefanski that will have Cleveland trying to pry the Lombardi trophy from the Bucs hands. Losses: @ Chiefs, vs Cardinals, @ Bengals, @ Ravens

4th Seed Prediction: Tennessee Titans (12-5)
The battle for the AFC South crown is going to be a bloody one between these Titans and the Indianapolis Colts. I do think at full health, the Colts are better than the Titans, but with Carson Wentz likely to miss some time to start the year, the Colts lose a few too many games to end up beating out the Titans for the South. While the start of the off-season went roughly in Tennessee, losing star players Corey Davis, Jonnu Smith, Malcolm Butler, and Adoree Jackson to name a few, they followed it up nicely. They got a steal with their first rounder in high potential CB Caleb Farley who could be their week 1 starting corner if healthy. They also signed edge rusher Bud Dupree to a massive deal to give them a big threat off the edge. Oh yeah, and then they traded for Julio Jones. Only one of the best WRs in NFL history. He will slot in opposite of young superstar AJ Brown also on the same offense as the league's best RB in Derrick Henry. QB Ryan Tannehill is getting better each year in Nashville and even though the defense is suspect, this offense might be too good for anyone to stop. The Titans might not have the defense to make a deep playoff run, but they should host a playoff game at least. Losses: vs Bills, vs Chiefs, @ Colts, @ Rams, vs 49ers

5th Seed Prediction: Los Angeles Chargers (13-4)
One of my favorite teams entering 2021. I think the Chargers are the surprise team of the 2021 season. As their amazing predicted record shows, they will be right in the thick of things for a chance at the AFC West crown. Many would be shocked if the Chiefs don't win it and secure the one seed but I think there is a genuine chance that the Chargers take it. These Bolts are one of the most improved teams of the off-season. They revamped their once terrible O-line into a unit that looks now above average. See Corey Linsley and Rashawn Slater. Their defense is also about to take a major step forward. New HC Brandon Staley is fresh off a one year stint as the Rams DC in which they were the league's top defensive unit. Justin Herbert is the main reason for this hot prediction. He was arguably the best rookie QB we've ever seen en route to winning OROY and he probably will get even better in 2021. With Keenan Allen and Austin Ekeler also on his offense to throw the ball to, Herbert could seriously win MVP in his second season. He is that good. I don't think the Chargers take the division in 2021, but they establish themselves as one of the best teams in football and make it known to the Chiefs that they are here to stay. They will beat the Chiefs at least once this season head to head. Losses: @ Chiefs, vs Browns, @ Broncos, @ Raiders

6th Seed Prediction: Indianapolis Colts (11-6)
Here is where the Colts slot in. Pre the Carson Wentz injury, I had the Colts winning their division. The defense the Colts boast along with the offensive line that new QB Wentz would be playing behind was too good to overlook. It still is, but my doubts are starting to creep in a little bit. If Wentz started the year out healthy, the Colts win a few more early games and get some confidence and momentum. Instead, they look to backup second year QB Jacob Eason who has never started a game in the NFL. I just don't know what all of this will also do to Carson Wentz's already dinged up confidence and it could end up screwing them in the end. Anyways, when he is on the field for Indy, I expect him to be pretty good. The Colts have probably the best O-line in the game and some nice weapons as well. TY Hilton and Michael Pittman are a pretty good WR duo and second year back Jonathan Taylor is likely ready to make the next step to the elite tier of RBs. The Colts defense helps them hang with any team, led by LB Darius Leonard and DT DeForest Buckner. If the offense can improve like I think it will, a healthy Colts team has a real chance at a Super Bowl berth. I'm serious. They have what it takes at full health to beat the Chiefs or Bills. Health and the play of Carson Wentz will tell us everything. Losses: vs Seahawks, vs Rams, @ Titans, @ Bills, vs Buccaneers, @ Jaguars

7th Seed Prediction: Miami Dolphins (11-6)
The Dolphins are one of the teams that I am most intrigued by heading into 2021. With the way their schedule works out early, I think the Dolphins will start the year out as one of the hottest teams in the league before sort of fading more and more by the playoffs in which they barely end up making. I think there could even be a couple week period in which the Dolphins are the top seed or the second seed in the AFC. As an overall roster, the team is stacked. They have stud players at almost every position. The ultimate question mark for the Fins is Tua Tagovailoa. Their second year QB. He wasn't very inspiring as a rookie but was a top 5 pick and obviously has a lot of talent and potential. This will already be a make or break year for him in Miami. The team has an elite roster and coaching staff around him but it will come down to him for winning games. If he can't get it done, the Fins will flip to a new QB next year. That being said, he is in a great place to succeed. The team drafted his former target from college in the speedy Jaylen Waddle with the 6th pick in the draft to add to a core of Devante Parker and Mike Gesicki. They also signed Texans standout Will Fuller who could have a major impact right away. The defense is one of the best in the league. They have pretty much everything they need. It now will all fall on the left arm of Tua because if he is a star, the Dolphins have a legit chance to get the one seed. Losses: vs Bills, vs Colts, vs Panthers, @ Saints, @ Titans, vs Patriots

The Rest of the AFC (Outside the Playoffs)
8. Ravens (11-6)
9. Patriots (9-8)
10. Jaguars (7-10)
11. Bengals (7-10)
12. Raiders (6-11)
13. Steelers (5-12)
14. Broncos (4-13)
15. Jets (3-14)
16. Texans (0-17)

Early Playoff Predictions (if these were the standings)

Wildcard: Bills over Dolphins, Browns over Colts, Chargers over Titans
Divisional: Chiefs over Chargers, Browns over Bills
AFC Championship: CHIEFS over Browns

If the season were to start today with my current knowledge of each team, this is what I think the season would look like. I think it would end up with the Chiefs barely edging out the Browns en route to meeting the Bucs in a Super Bowl rematch. I think the AFC playoffs are going to be more interesting than the NFC because I think the Chargers and Browns both could easily knock off the Chiefs, I just don't have it happening as of now.