Why Each Team Will/Will Not Win the Super Bowl: AFC
Photo by Rob Carr from Getty Images
“Super” Wild Card weekend, as it’s now known, starts this weekend, which means it’s time for a playoff preview.
The NFL has shown multiple times that any team that makes the playoffs can win the whole thing, but that also means the dominant favorites may falter unexpectedly.
So here is why every AFC team will, or will not, win the Super Bowl in Las Vegas this year.
Baltimore Ravens
Why They Will
I mean, where do you want me to start?
Their quarterback is (probably) about to win his second MVP, the best defense in football, and excellent coaching all the way around.
This team is a juggernaut, and not just on paper. They have demolished playoff teams like the Lions, 49ers and Dolphins.
Why They Won’t
Lamar Jackson has played 4 playoff games, and really none of them have been good.
That’s not necessarily on him entirely. The Ravens defense put him in bad shape against the Titans, while bad snaps ruined his chances against the Bills, but it is something to keep an eye on.
If the Ravens don’t win it all, it will most likely be because Lamar Jackson didn’t have a good game.
Buffalo Bills
Why They Will
The Bills were in serious danger of missing the playoffs. They pretty much needed to run the table to make it.
They basically did, going 6-1 in their last 7 games and winning the AFC East.
A lot of that is due to the play of Josh Allen who, despite still being extremely careless with the football, was playing lights out to overcome all of that.
He’s getting hot.
Why They Won’t
Remember that 6-1 thing I mentioned above?
That’s what it says on paper.
4 of those 6 wins, they not only didn’t play well, I’m inclined to say they were pretty bad.
Now, they deserve credit for getting the wins in the end, obviously, but I do not have any confidence they’ll make a deep run with how they’ve looked so far.
And Josh Allen’s Russian Roulette style of football, while extremely fun to watch, is not a building block for postseason success.
Kansas City Chiefs
Why They Will
Are you going to bet against the Chiefs?
Are you going to bet against Patrick Mahomes, the man who has not missed the AFC Championship game in any of his years as a starter? Who has 2 Super Bowl wins and 3 Super Bowl appearances in 5 seasons as a starter?
If you want to, that’s on you.
Why They Won’t
The Chiefs have been through hard times during the Mahomes era, so it’s not like things have been perfect, but this year feels different.
In the 2020 Super Bowl, the Chiefs were down 20-10 but there was always that lingering feeling that it didn’t matter. They were going to comeback.
And then I watched them play the Raiders at home on Christmas and fall behind by 10 points, and I didn’t have that feeling.
Moreso than that, I don’t think they had that feeling either.
The confidence that once made them almost unbeatable seems to be gone, and if they fall behind to anyone this postseason, odds are they’re headed out.
Houston Texans
Why They Will
Here are some important things teams need to succeed in todays NFL.
Good coaching, good quarterback play, and a good pass rush.
The Texans have all of that thanks to rookie coach Demeco Ryans, rookie quarterback CJ Stroud, and rookie edge rusher Will Anderson.
The pieces are there.
Why couldn’t they?
Why They Won’t
The word rookie was used an awful lot up there, wasn’t it.
This has been a remarkable season for the Texans, and one where I don’t think a single fan would even be upset if they lost this weekend. They are playing with house money and the future is bright.
But it feels too early for a team that young and new to the show to win the whole thing.
Cleveland Browns
Why They Will
The defense and offensive play calling is so good that all the Browns need is stable quarterback play and there is not a team in this league they can’t beat.
And after they switched to Flacco late in the year, that’s what they’ve gotten, and it’s paid huge dividends.
It doesn’t hurt either that Flacco has historically been quite a good playoff quarterback.
Why They Won’t
The Browns need stable quarterback play, and Flacco at times during this Browns stint has become the “F it, someone’s down there” level of gunslinger.
When it works, it works!
But there’s a reason Brett Favre only ended up with one title.
If it’s not stable, it might sink them.
Miami Dolphins
Why They Will
This is an offensive league, and the Dolphins have insane weapons and a great offensive play caller.
When this offense starts cooking, they are almost impossible to stop.
Why They Won’t
The defense is insanely hurt, with the Phins missing their 3rd top edge rushers.
The only way they can overcome that is by Tua and the offense lighting the world on fire, which they simply have not done in big games this year.
If they can’t do that, they don’t have a chance.
Pittsburgh Steelers
Why They Will
Despite the fans immense (and unwarranted) anger towards Mike Tomlin, the Steelers are insanely well coached and have a smack you in the mouth level defense.
What’s the saying, again? Defense wins championships?
Why They Won’t
If Mason Rudolph, Mitch Trubisky, Kenny Pickett, or whatever random body Pittsburgh throws out at QB can springboard an offense that’s been mostly lifeless all year and win a Super Bowl, I will be beyond baffled.
They went 10-7, and that’s cool, but man this offense still ain’t fixed!
