Chiefs Top Five Challengers in AFC 2021
The Kansas City Chiefs are favorites to win the AFC for a third straight season, but here are five teams who could potentially knock them off.
5. New England Patriots
This one is unlikely, but don’t count out Bill Belichick. If Mac Jones surprises and turns out to be a franchise quarterback, the Patriots have added weapons galore and always have a solid defense with an excellent secondary. With Belichick at the controls, the Patriots are always dangerous and even when they’ve lost to Patrick Mahomes, have made life tough on the youngster. Again, a long shot, but the brain power is there.
4. Indianapolis Colts
This entirely depends on what we’re getting from Carson Wentz. Last year, we watched as the Colts went 11-5 with Philip Rivers essentially managing the offense. If Wentz is a disaster as he was in his last year with the Philadelphia Eagles, take this off the board. However, if the former MVP candidate can rebound, Indy has an elite coaching staff with terrific players on both sides of the ball.
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3. Baltimore Ravens
Now we’re into the heavy hitters. Baltimore finally won a playoff game last Eason before bowing out against the Buffalo Bills in the Divisional Round. In three years at the helm, quarterback Lamar Jackson has been one of the most electric players the league has ever seen. However, until beating the Tennessee Titans in the AFC Wild Card game, he hadn’t had postseason success. Now he has. However, the Ravens haven’t beaten the Chiefs when facing Mahomes, going 0-3. Can they finally get over the hump?
2. Cleveland Browns
Everybody loves the Browns coming into this season, and why not? Kevin Stefanski has proven himself a quality head coach, and we watched quarterback Baker Mayfield bounce back after a hideous 2019 campaign. The weapons are everywhere with running backs Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt, tight ends David Njoku and Austin Hooper, and receivers Odell Beckham Jr. and Jarvis Landry. Also, the offensive line is great. The defense is the concern, but it also got an infusion of talent this offseason. Cleveland is a real threat.
Read: New England Patriots Newbie Mac Jones Catching The Eye
1. Buffalo Bills
The Bills deserve the top spot. While they were beaten twice by Kansas City last year (Week 6 and the AFC Championship Game), Buffalo went 13-3 and had quarterback Josh Allen almost take home MVP honors. It’s tough not to see the Bills as an elite team who, if they catch the Chiefs at the right moment, could steal victory and go to Super Bowl LVI.
