AFC preview: 10 storylines to watch in the conference in 2021

Ten storylines to ticker successful the AFC this season. 

1) Will the Chiefs reign again? Kansas City is the two-time defending AFC champion and the Vegas favourite to spell to the Super Bowl again. QB Patrick Mahomes volition beryllium down a new-look O-line, arsenic K.C. traded for tackle Orlando Brown Jr., signed defender Joe Thuney and drafted halfway Creed Humphrey and tackle Trey Smith.

2) Can Urban and Trevor revive Jags? After the Jaguars tanked their mode to QB Trevor Lawrence arsenic the No. 1 wide pick, and hired manager Urban Meyer, determination is caller anticipation successful Jacksonville. Expect increasing pains, though, for the rookie backmost and a defence which ranked next-to-last successful points and yards successful 2020.

3) What’s going to hap with Deshaun Watson? Houston’s Pro Bowl backmost requested a commercialized successful January but ineligible occupation has analyzable his situation. Watson is facing 22 lawsuits for allegations of intersexual battle and inappropriate behavior. Texans first-year manager David Culley has a messiness connected his hands.

4) Can the Bills instrumentality the adjacent step? Buffalo, which mislaid 38-24 to the Chiefs successful past year’s league title game, is the apical challenger to dethrone Kansas City successful the AFC. Quarterback Josh Allen — precocious signed to a six-year woody perchance worthy much than $258 cardinal — volition beryllium counted connected to pb a balanced squad susceptible of making the Super Bowl.

5) Are the Titans who they judge they are? Since Ryan Tannehill took implicit the starting QB occupation successful Week 7 of 2019, the Titans are 18-8 and mean 30.6 points per game. Last year’s AFC South champions besides diagnostic the NFL’s reigning rushing champion, Derrick Henry, who ran for 2,027 yards and 17 TDs successful 2020.

6) Can the Patriots crook it around? Coming disconnected New England’s archetypal losing play (7-9) since 2000, manager Bill Belichick is bare to get his squad backmost into contention. Whether that’s with seasoned Cam Newton oregon rookie Mac Jones arsenic the team’s quarterback, New England’s revamped defence volition beryllium the cardinal to success.

7) Who comes retired of the stacked AFC North? Last year, the Steelers (12-4), Ravens (11-5) and Browns (11-5) each made the playoffs. That could beryllium the lawsuit again this twelvemonth with postseason expectations successful each 3 cities, and Cleveland appearing susceptible of winning its archetypal divisional rubric since 1989.

8) What tin the Bengals beryllium with a steadfast Joe Burrow? Burrow, the No. 1 wide prime successful the 2020 draft, went 2-7-1 successful 10 games arsenic a rookie earlier suffering a season-ending genu injury. With his reps managed successful the preseason, the Bengals’ hopes remainder mostly upon the young backmost taking a measurement guardant successful twelvemonth two.

9) Just however bully tin Justin Herbert get? The Chargers’ QB was named the 2020 AP Offensive Rookie of the Year aft throwing for 4,336 yards, with 31 touchdowns to 10 interceptions. If helium takes different leap, and the Chargers fig retired however to adjacent games nether caller manager Brandon Staley, Los Angeles could beryllium dangerous.

10) Can Denver’s defence support Broncos successful contention? The Broncos person a re-tooled secondary, 1 of the champion information tandems successful the league, and above-grade endowment up beforehand successful Mike Purcell and Shelby Harris. Will the Broncos’ defence beryllium bully capable — and steadfast capable — to marque up for a perchance fishy offense?