NFL: Predicting the Divisional Winners in the AFC 

The playoff picture in this year’s NFL is starting to take shape. Just four weeks remain in the regular season in North America’s top football league, and it’s anyone’s guess as to who will be lifting the Lombardi Trophy in Glendale, Arizona in February. One thing that is certain, however, is that the reigning champions aren’t invited to the postseason party. 

The Los Angeles Rams were the team that achieved Super Bowl success last season, becoming the second team in succession to win the championship on home turf. They lifted their second Lombardi Trophy in franchise history at the SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California. But the defense of their crown couldn’t have gone much worse, with the Rams sitting rock bottom of the NFC West, with a dismal record of three wins and nine losses. 

According to Bovada’s Super Bowl odds, the Buffalo Bills are the favorites for Super Bowl glory this season. In fact, two of the three front runners for success in the betting odds come from the AFC, with the 11 and 1 Philadelphia the sole NFC representative. 

But it is in New York State in the AFC East where we start. Here are our predictions as to who will win the four AFC divisions this season. 

AFC East – Buffalo Bills 

As we eluded to earlier, the Buffalo Bills are the favorites to go all the way this season, and that has been the case since a ball was kicked. In quarterback Josh Allen and wide receiver Stefon Diggs, they have two of the finest offensive players in the league, and Sean McDermott’s side now has the best chance of bringing a championship to Buffalo for some thirty years. 

If they can do that, they will lay to rest the ghosts of the early nineties. The Bills remain the only team in football history to reach four consecutive Super Bowls, a feat they achieved between 1991 and 1994. Unbelievably, however, they lost all four. 

Before the Bills can think of the postseason, however, they need to see off the challenge of the Miami Dolphins. The Florida-based outfit is just one win behind in the AFC East standings, and with the pair facing off on December 18th, all is still to play for. But with that being said, we believe the Bills will have enough about them to wrap up the division. 

AFC West – Kansas City Chiefs 

The Kansas City Chiefs have been the most consistent team in the NFL for a number of years now. They have reached the Conference Championship in each of the last four seasons, winning twice and losing the other two – including a heartbreaking overtime loss to the Cincinnati Bengals last season, on home turf. This season, we fancy them to make the championship game once again. 

With Patrick Mahomes directing traffic, it’s no surprise that the Chiefs are currently well clear of the opposition in the AFC West. He’s currently one of the top options to win NFL MVP right next to Jalen Hurts. Their closest rivals are the Los Angeles Chargers, who are some three victories behind. Andy Reid’s side would have to lose every game remaining this term to lose their stranglehold on the division, and we can’t see that happening. 

AFC North – Cincinnati Bengals 

Last season was a momentous one for the Cincinnati Bengals. They won a playoff game for the first time in 31 years, but they didn’t stop there. They won another two – including against Mahomes’ Chiefs – to reach their first Super Bowl in 33 years. 

As we all remember, however, it would end in disappointment, with Cooper Kupp’s last-gasp touchdown sending the trophy to Los Angeles rather than Ohio. And this season, it looked like that heartbreak lingered. 

They went 0 and 2 at the start of the season, but since then, quarterback Joe Burrow has once again found his form, and the Bengals have risen from the ashes. They are currently just one win behind the Baltimore Ravens in the AFC North, and the pair will face off in the final game of the regular season, potentially with the divisional title on the line. 

AFC South – Tennessee Titans 

The final division left to predict is the AFC South. However, in this case, we have unfortunately left the worst till last. The Tennessee Titans are currently well clear of their divisional rivals, and we expect them to comfortably lift the divisional crown at the turn of the year. 

How far they can go in the playoffs remains to be seen. In each of the lost two campaigns, they have lost their first game, despite being top seeds. They will be hoping to at least get a win under their belt in the upcoming postseason, and see where that takes them. We don’t think it will be good enough to take them to Super Bowl LVII though. 

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