AFC projections: winners, losers and biggest surprise
The AFC boasts divisions with some of the most parity in the NFL.
Quarterback Joe Burrow and the Cincinnati Bengals look to get back to the Super Bowl after their Cinderella playoff run last season, while Patrick Mahomes and Kansas City Chiefs look to get back to building their dynasty. Elsewhere, other contenders emerge hungry for championship contention.
Meanwhile, young teams like the Jacksonville Jaguars and New York Jets expect to improve after adding more college talent. Who is ready to make a move now? Who has their sights set farther in the future?
Paste BN Sports released the NFL record projections for 2022 Tuesday to give fans some insight into how their teams — and rivals — will perform this season. Here are the AFC highlights:
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Buffalo Bills (15-2) — Conference leader
Josh Allen is perhaps the most dynamic quarterback in the NFL and only seems to be getting better. A formidable offense featuring Stefon Diggs and Cole Beasley is now supplemented by a defense improved by free-agent pass rusher Von Miller. The Bills will emerge battle-tested from a tough AFC East featuring an improved New England Patriots team, a dangerous Miami Dolphins squad and a sneaky-competitive New York Jets unit to reach Super Bowl 57.
Houston Texans (3-14) — Conference loser
With Deshaun Watson out of town, the Texans can focus on the arduous rebuilding process ahead of them. Second-year quarterback Davis Mills still has much to prove and doesn't exactly boast the best weapons locker in the league. Still, general manager Nick Caserio is laying the groundwork for the future one step at a time. But this doesn't seem like a year the Texans will be competitive.
Indianapolis Colts (9-8) — Biggest surprise
The AFC South may end up as the most winnable division in the NFL — and the Colts may be best positioned to take advantage. Indianapolis upgraded the quarterback position by adding former NFC champ Matt Ryan to an offense which already features Jonathan Taylor, perhaps the top rushing talent in the league. There are some questions at the line of scrimmage and elsewhere but the Colts could make a lot of noise in 2022.