AFC Preview and Record Predictions
Welcome, to the first ever post for Sundays & Screens. Before I get started, let me just note that I have zero, and I mean zero writing experience/education. What you read throughout my posts will never be grammatically correct, but the point will get across.
Below will be just a quick thought on each AFC team along with record and division predictions. The 2025 season is setting up to be an all-timer (I say this every year), and there are a couple of headlines from an AFC perspective I'm particularly interested in as the season gets underway.
What I'm Watching
Mike McDaniel and the Miami Dolphins
Vibes have been all time bad in Miami, McDaniel is seemingly on the hot seat, Tua and Tyreek apparently have to rebuild their relationship, and the reports out of training camp have not been ideal to say the least. Yet this team went 8-9 in a down year last year without Tua for a bit. I could see this team surprising us or it going south quickly (pun intended) (Is that a pun?).
Who Wants the AFC South?
The South has been the Texans of late, but I don't think they have a firm grip on it. Could Cam Ward do what rookie year Jayden Daniels and CJ Stroud have done in the past 2 years and lead their teams to the playoffs in their first year? Is Liam Coen and the Travis Hunter spark enough to make the Jaguars contenders? Can Daniel Jones return to 2022 form and do enough to get the Colts a division title? I will be interested to follow along.
The Raiders (Chris Berman voice)
Here's a quick point for why I'm interested in the Raiders:
Head Coach in 2024: Antonio Pierce
Head Coach in 2025: Pete Carrol
QB in 2024: Gardner Minshew and Aiden O'Connell
QB in 2025: Geno Smith
RB in 2024: Zaire White
RB in 2025: Ashton Jeanty
The Raiders went from arguably the worst Head Coach, QB room, and RB situations in all of the NFL to now arguably top half in all 3. There should be significant improvement in competitiveness and record from the Raiders
Record Predictions
AFC East
Buffalo Bills
As long as Josh Allen is there, Buffalo will be a contender and in the playoffs. Being in the playoffs should not be good enough anymore for the fans, they need to get over the Mahomes hump and bring a championship back to the great city of Buffalo. I think I would even smash through a table if that happened.
Record Prediction: 12-5
Miam Dolphins
You just read about them above, and unfortunately, I am on the side that this season could be a disaster. Just too many bad vibes coming out of Miami, and I think they're walking on a thin rope to start the year, and one misstep could cause ownership to blow it all up.
Record Prediction: 6-11
New England Patriots
I was a big fan of the Vrabel hiring and think the combo of him and Drake Maye for the foreseeable future is really promising. They have an easy schedule but I'm not ready to say they make the big leap expected of them in year one of the regime.
Record Prediction: 8-9
New York Jets
Aaron Glenn has come in with a no-nonsense approach with not only his players but the media as well. I like that the Jets will have an identity this year (ground and pound), I just worry what happens if they trail early. I have to see it to believe it with Fields being able to throw them back in the game.
Record Prediction: 6-11
Final Standings Prediction
Buffalo Bills (12-5)
New England Patriots (8-9)
New York Jets (6-11)
Miami Dolphins (6-11)
AFC North
Baltimore Ravens
I could just copy and paste the Bills portion into this one (with a couple of name changes of course), because the point still stands: this team needs to get over the hump. The Ravens are one of the most talented teams in the league and it's time for them to take that next step and win the whole thing.
Record Prediction: 13-4
Cincinatti Bengals
When watching the new season of Quarterback I was reminded of some of the painful ways Bengals invented to lose football games. Basic probability says if some of those 50/50 games go the other way then the Bengals could be a force this year and return to the playoffs. I just can't get over how bad that defense is with not much done to improve it.
Record Prediction: 8-9
Cleveland Browns
If I was a Cleveland fan I would be prepping for the NBA season and watching a lot of College football to see who you want with your top pick. I like Kevin Stefanski but the QB situation is dire, and I just don't see any way to spin this positively for Cleveland
Record Prediction: 3-14
Pittsburgh Steelers
Death, Taxes, and Mike Tomlin going over 500. I am fascinated to see how the Aaron Rodgers situation turns out in Pittsburgh, but I can almost guarantee it'll end in a barely over 500 seasons with an early playoff exit.
Record Prediction: 9-8
Final Standings Prediction
Baltimore Ravens (13-4)
Pittsburgh Steelers (9-8)
Cincinatti Bengals (8-9)
Cleveland Browns (3-14)
AFC South
Houston Texans
Consider me worried about the Texans offensive line. I like CJ Stoud in a bounce back spot from last year, and that defense is maybe the best in the league, I just worry the offense will be very one dimensional with a horrible o-line and Nick Chubb as the starting running back.
Record Prediction: 9-8
Indianapolis Colts
As a Giants fan, I wish all Colts fans the best of luck with Daniel Jones. You will hear reports of players loving him and nobody showing up earlier or staying later in the facility that him. Unfortunately, he's still Daniel Jones and can only do so much. This offense has some nice pieces, they just need the QB
Record Prediction: 5-12
Jacksonville Jaguars
It's now or never for Trevor Lawrence, he has to prove that he can consistently be a top Quarterback in this league for years to come. Consider me a believer in Liam Coen and this offense this year, this is my first pick for a surprising playoff team.
Record Prediction: 10-7
Tennessee Titans
Look, I liked Cam Ward and wanted him for my Giants. I do think expectations are getting too high for him though. He wasn't a highly talked about #1 pick because he wasn't scouted to be as good as past #1 picks for a reason. I think he can be a good QB, but I just don't think it'll be year 1.
Record Prediction: 4-13
Final Standings Prediction
Jacksonville Jaguars (10-7)
Houston Texans (9-8)
Indianapolis Colts (5-12)
Tennessee Titans (4-13)
AFC West
Denver Broncos
I was not a Bo Nix believer going into the draft, but he definitely impressed me last year. I am a Sean Payton believer and trust him to help Nix ascend to be a top 10 QB in the league. With one of the best defenses in football and a team Payton seems to love I think they take a big step this year.
Record Prediction: 11-6
Kansas City Chiefs
Chiefs were the opposite of the Bengals last year, and instead invented ways to win games. People expect that to revert a bit, consider me as someone who will never bet against Patrick Mahomes.
Record Prediction: 13-4
Las Vegas Raiders
I am buying in to the Raiders this year. I laid it out above but I think the major upgrades in coaching, QB, and RB will push this team to be a surprise playoff team in Pete Carrol's first season.
Record Prediction: 10-7
Los Angeles Chargers
This pains me to write because I believe in John Harbaugh, but with my belief in the Raiders and the Broncos and my refusal to bet against Mahomes, I think the Chargers take a step back this year. The Slater news is already bad enough, and I like the addition of Hampton, I just think the Chargers will be one of the unlucky teams this year in a strong division.
Record Prediction: 7-10
Final Standings Prediction
Kansas City Chiefs (13-4)
Denver Broncos (11-6)
Las Vegas Raiders (10-7)
Los Angeles Chargers (7-10)
Playoff Standings
Playoff and Super Bowl predictions will come in my Thursday blog, but below is my projected playoff field based on my predictions:
- Baltimore Ravens
- Kansas City Chiefs
- Buffalo Bills
- Jacksonville Jaguars
- Denver Broncos
- Las Vegas Raiders
- Pittsburgh Steelers
Tomorrow I will breakdown the NFC for you. Thank you for reading the first post from Sundays & Screens.
