NFL 2023 AFC Preview

 AFC East

Buffalo Bills (13-4/6-0 division): A slew of talented receivers to catch for Josh Allen makes this team an offensive powerhouse.  I'm not sure if their defense has improved, but not a lot of teams can keep pace with this offense.

Miami Dolphins (11-6/4-2): Tua has plenty of talent around him, except on the offensive line.  There are still issues there, so you have to be concerned about his health.  This team takes a significant drop without him there, so they need a great start, as he may not be there for much of the latter half of the season.

New York Jets (5-12/1-5): Aaron Rodgers is enjoying his attention in New York, much better than his Packer emigre predecessor Brett Favre (anybody noticing how the Jets like to recycle former Packer QBs)?  However, he must stay healthy,as his backups are lacking.  The team has good receivers, but the running game seems weak.  That makes a more one-sided offense, which makes them an easier target for opposing defenses.

New England Patriots (4-13/1-5): Can Zeke Elliot take some pressure off of QB Mac Jones?  Maybe, but the offensive line will make Zeek work for every yard.  This team has too much youth to be truly threatening.

AFC North

Baltimore Ravens (12-5/4-2): The offense has a slew of talented receivers for Lamar Jackson to work his magic.  Decent running game, too.  Interestingly, the defense is not quite up to Ravens standards.

Cleveland Browns (9-8/4-2-4): This team believes in themselves again, as do their fans.  That's quite a chance from just a couple of years ago.  They can also be comfortable with their offensive field general.  If Deshaun goes down, DTR has proven to be a capable backup.

Cincinnati Bengals (6-11/3-3): The Bengals haven't announced a starting QB.  That makes it hard to prepare game schemes.  as each QB plays things a bit differently.I'm sure they will eventually choose one, but they will have lost a lot of prep time.

Pittsburgh Steelers (6-11/3-3):  All three quarterbacks are inconsistent.  The best one might be third stringer Mason Rudolph.  At least the wide receiving corps matches the QBs, as they are also inconsistent.

AFC South

Tennessee Titans (12-5/5-1):  This is a well-balanced and talented offense.  Defense is strong, too.  They don't produce many big plays, but they are consistent.  Excellent ball control epitomizes this team.

Houston Texans (9-8/3-3): The Texans have built a decent offense around new QB CJ Stroud, but the defense is lacking.  Stroud's good, but he wasn't as good as Justin Fields, and he has taken time to develop.  Without a defense to slow down opponents, Stroud and company are going to be coming from behind often.  Their only advantage is a weak division and a favorable schedule.

Jacksonville Jaguars (7-10/2-4): They have not released any depth chart, so I have no idea how they are arranging their talent.  They have some reasonable talent, but how they will work together is unknown.

Indianapolis Colts (4-13/0-6): This team has holes on both sides of the ball.  QB Anthony Richardson looks good, but will his offensive line keep him upright?  The odds don't look too good.

AFC West

Kansas City Chiefs (14-3/6-0): This is still a strong team, and still the team to beat.

Los Angeles Chargers (11-6/4-2): QB Justin Hebert has some new faces, but the offense still looks strong.  The defense is solid, too.  Definitely a tough competitor.

Las Vegas Raiders (9-8/1-5): Jimmy G has some talent around him, but the bench is thin.  Injuries will drop this team by midseason.

Denver Broncos (4-13/1-5):Russell Wilson looks good, but he needs to stay in the game, as there aren't good backups.  With the thin offensive line the team has, his chances don't look good.