Why Each AFC Team Will/Will Not Win The Super Bowl
Photo by Mark Konezny from Imagn Images
It’s officially time for the NFL postseason.
We’re in the final home stretch.
Which means it is time for our annual series about why every team will, or will not, win the Super Bowl this year.
We begin with the AFC. Tomorrow, we will discuss the NFC.
Let’s get it.
Kansas City Chiefs
Why They Will
Best QB. Best coach. Best defense. Won the last two Super Bowls.
This one feels kind of easy.
Why They Won’t
They don’t do a great job protecting Patrick Mahomes.
And I watched a Super Bowl where they could not protect Patrick Mahomes.
He did everything he possibly could, but they still got blown out.
In a conference with some really good offenses, and solid defenses, their lack of protection on the left side could be a big, big problem.
But that’s pretty much it.
Buffalo Bills
Why They Will
Josh Allen is an unbelievable quarterback.
He’s not only fun to watch, but he loves proving me wrong.
I didn’t think he’d magically become accurate out of college, and then he did.
I thought he’d struggle without Brian Daboll, and he didn’t.
I thought he’d struggle without weapons, and he’s having the best year of his career.
Hey Josh, I think you won’t give me one million dollars.
And now we play the waiting game…
Why They Won’t
This defense just isn’t good enough.
Allen is playing lights out, but we have seen week after week that this defense can not get the stops needed to win shootouts over and over again.
The Bills can keep it close against anyone, but I trust teams like the Chiefs or Ravens more to get that extra stop.
Baltimore Ravens
Why They Will
This is an insanely good football team.
Great quarterback. Great running game. The defense is significantly better than it was to start the year. Well coached. Their receivers are finally starting to cook with Zay Flowers and Rashod Bateman.
They’re one of the best teams in the league. Period.
Why They Won’t
Just because the issues of the early season haven’t shown up in a while doesn’t mean I forgot about them entirely.
I’ve watched Lamar struggle in mudfight type games. I’ve watched the coaching staff abandon the run for some reason. I’ve watched Justin Tucker miss kicks. I’ve watched the defense get torched.
It’s all still lingering there.
And it does seem to rear it’s head a lot come playoff time for Baltimore.
Houston Texans
Why They Will
I’ve seen C.J. Stroud be very very good.
So all the Texans need is for him to be basically perfect and they’ve got this!
Why They Won’t
That won’t happen, and it won’t happen because the Texans offensive line is an unmitigated disaster.
It’s been a problem all year long, and there’s nothing they can do to fix it.
It’s a wasted opportunity after a very good rookie season for Stroud, but that’s how it goes sometimes.
Los Angeles Chargers
Why They Will
They have the exact formula you need to be a Super Bowl team.
A good defense, a good running game to possess the ball, a good quarterback to get you out of jams, and a good coaching staff.
What’s not to like?
Why They Won’t
The problem is, everything I just mentioned is done better by someone else in the division.
The Chiefs and Ravens have better defenses. Better run games. Better quarterbacks. Better coaches.
It’s a very good first year for Jim Harbaugh, and they have the right blueprint going forward, but this isn’t the right time.
Pittsburgh Steelers
Why They Will
I’m a Seahawks fan.
When I watched the Seahawks win the Super Bowl in 2014, the recipe was an excellent defense, a great run game, and a dynamic Russell Wilson taking care of the ball apart from the occasional moonball for a big play.
That’s the same formula the Steelers have.
The defense is great, they have the 4th best rushing offense in the AFC, and Russell Wilson does what he needs to do and makes plays when called upon.
Why They Won’t
At least it was a month ago.
Now, it’s completely different.
The defense is still good, don’t get me wrong, but the run game has quieted down, and Russell Wilson is starting to turn into the type of player who tries to do too much and gets careless with the football.
They had winnable games against the Ravens and Bengals to potentially win the division, and they let them get away from them with dumb turnovers and lazy play.
This team is trending downward.
Denver Broncos
Why They Will
The defense is great, and so if Bo Nix fulfills the prophecy of many draft analysts and turns into prime Drew Brees, this is clearly a Super Bowl team!
Why They Won’t
I don’t think Bo Nix is prime Drew Brees.
No disrespect to him. He had a very good rookie year.
But I don’t trust him more than any other quarterback in this conference, and I know that Sean Payton has turned this ship around but I also don’t think he’s the genius coach everyone else claims he is.
This isn’t a Super Bowl team.
Maybe it will become one, but it is not one yet.
