Summer is here, and the heat means we’re getting closer to the day that every American sports fan loves: the NFL season kickoff.
Americans love football to the tune of 15.4 million viewers per regular-season game!
This year, the 2021 NFL season starts with a prime-time matchup between the Dallas Cowboys and the Super Bowl Champion Tampa Bay Buccanneers.
What will be the story of the season? How will your favorite team fare through an expanded 17-game regular season?
If you’re a football fan, you know the NFL season is a rollercoaster of emotions and is often full of surprises.
Don’t be caught off guard.
Read on for a comprehensive NFL 2021 preview focusing on the AFC.
AFC East
For years, the AFC East was the New England Patriots and everyone else.
During the two-decade run of Belichick and Brady, none of the other three AFC East teams presented a challenge to the throne.
From 2001 through 2019, there were only two seasons where the Patriots weren’t atop the division.
New England Patriots
Times have changed with Brady’s departure, but maybe not as much as Bills, Dolphins, and Jets fans would like to believe.
While Cam Newton remains the starting New England QB, the Patriots drafted Alabama all-pro Mac Jones in the 2021 NFL draft.
We know the Patriots’ defense will present challenges to the rest of the division.
If Belichick found a star in Mac Jones, it could once again be a rough season for the other AFC East teams.
Key Matchup: December 6, 2021. The Patriots and the Bills will trade punches during prime time.
Buffalo Bills
The Bills Mafia was reborn last year with the emergence of Josh Allen.
A blow-out loss to the Kansas City Cheifs in the AFC Championship game proved they are not yet ready for primetime.
During the offseason, the Bills brass decided to stand pat. The only significant roster change was the addition of veteran wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders.
If Allen continues to improve, the Bills are as strong a team as any.
If he plateaus or regresses, the Bills will still be a playoff team, but not a true contender.
Key matchup: October 10, 2021. The Bills go on the road to play the Kansas City Cheifs. We’ll find out early in the season whether the Bills are contenders or pretenders.
New York Jets
After a terrible 2020 season, the front office dismantled the vital components of the team and its coaching staff.
They sent USC golden boy OB turned disappointment Sam Darnold packing in a trade to the Carolina Panthers.
They fired head coach Adam Gase after two disastrous seasons.
In their place, 2021 NFL draft pick Zach Wilson and former San Francisco 49ers defensive coordinator Robert Saleh.
Saleh’s defensive expertise should go a long way to improve the Jets.
Key matchup: September 19, 2021. The Jets host the Patriots in week two. If they can catch a slow starting Patriots team, the division will be up for grabs.
Miami Dolphins
The Dolphins were a surprise 10-6 in 2020. Miami nearly shocked the world with a playoff birth but ultimately fell short.
While this team is trying to give Tagovailoa all the tools for success, they face divisional challenges that will more than likely dash their NFL 2021 season playoff hopes.
Key Matchup: The Dolphins start the season against the Patriots and the Bills in consecutive weeks.
An early 2-0 division record will help the Dolphins gain momentum and jumpstart Tua’s confidence.
AFC North
Like the Patriots in the AFC East, the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Baltimore Ravens dominated the AFC North during the previous two decades.
Last season saw the rise of the Cleveland Browns while the paper-champion Steelers flamed out.
Baltimore, while still dangerous, regressed. The Bengals saw rookie phenom, Joe Burrow, injured at the start of the season.
Cleveland Browns
With Baker Mayfield, Odell Beckham Jr., and workhorse RB Nick Chubb, the Browns went on a 3-2 run to end the 2020 season.
They made the playoffs and eliminated the Pittsburgh Steelers. The sky is the limit this year in an increasingly weak division.
Key Matchup: October 31, 2021. The Browns host a Pittsburgh Steelers team bent on revenge.
If the Browns dominate the Steelers during this game, expect them to take the division.
Baltimore Ravens
The Ravens hope to rebound after a disappointing 2020 season. 2019 league MVP Lamar Jackson regressed, but the defensive tradition kept pace.
Last year’s Baltimore defense ranked ninth in the league.
A reinvigorated passing offense with WR Sammy Watkins could lead Baltimore back to the top of the AFC North so long as Jackson commits himself to show patience in the pocket.
Key matchup: December 10, 2021. The Ravens go on the road to face the Cleveland Browns. This game will have crucial division implications.
Pittsburgh Steelers
The Steelers started the 2020 season 11-0. They finished 12-4 and got boat raced by the rival Browns. What happened?
A season-ending injury to linebacker Bud Dupree and a less than thrilling running attack derailed the Steelers.
Though legend Ben Roethlisberger returns, the loss of Dupree will cause the 2020 number one defense to slip.
The now immobile Roethlisberger plays behind an average offensive line, and the team lacks legitimate receiver weapons.
Key Matchup: Four of the final seven games are against divisional opponents. The Steelers may need to sweep all four to get into the playoffs.
Cincinnati Bengals
Joe Burrow tore his ACL in 2020, and the Bengals never were able to recover.
The Bengals are a team a few years away from having a meaningful season.
Expect them to stay at the bottom of the division, though Burrow’s ability will help them play spoiler.
Moral victories are all they can hope for this year.
Key Matchup: September 26, 2021. The Bengals travel to Pittsburgh. These games are always physical, and the Steelers tend to lose games against inferior opponents.
AFC South
The AFC South is a division full of question marks. Will Deshaun Watson recover from off-field issues?
Will Carson Wentz reinvigorate his career in Indianapolis?
What about the tandem of Urban Meyer and Trevor Lawrence in Jacksonville? There isn’t another division as wide open as the AFC South.
Tennessee Titans
The Titans lost both their starting CBs but added Pro-Bowl LB Bud Dupree. A fierce rushing attack may take the pressure off the secondary, but not enough.
Derrick Henry will carry the load once again as the Titans return their ground and pound offense.
If QB Tannehill can have another strong year and Henry stays healthy, the Titans have a good shot at winning the division.
Key Matchup: October 18, 2021. The Bills present the Titans with their first measuring stick game.
Indianapolis Colts
Philip Rivers retired, but the Colts replaced him with Carson Wentz. The Indy defense ranked top 10 last year, and a majority of its starters return.
This season depends on whether Wentz can recapture his early-career form.
If he can, the Colts should be able to leapfrog the Titans for division supremacy.
Key Matchup: September 19, 2021. The LA Rams come to town with a dominant defense. This game should reveal early in the season whether Wentz is on the rebound.
Jacksonville Jaguars
They hired legendary college coach Urban Meyer. They drafted Trevor Lawrence, the most highly regarded QB in 20 years. The hype surrounding the Jaguars is more intense than any other team in the NFL.
College coaches typically struggle with the NFL and first-year quarterbacks need time to develop.
If this Urban Meyer experiment will work, it’ll take a few years. Meyer, however, may not make it a few years.
Key matchup: September 12, 2021. The Jags open against Houston, and this game should provide an easy opponent.
Houston Texans
A few seasons ago, Houston looked poised to dominate the division. They had a qualified head coach in Bill O’Brien. They drafted QB Deshaun Watson and won the AFC South four out of six seasons. Then the wheels fell off.
A new head coach combined with Watson’s off-the-field turmoil will be a bridge too far.
Expect Houston to stay at the bottom of the AFC South.
AFC West
NFL Season Win Total Predictions all show Kansas City as the AFC West winner. It’s hard to disagree. Patrick Mahomes is the most dynamic player in the league, and Andy Reid is a top-tier coach.
While KC looks to stay on top, the battle for second place could be intriguing.
Kansas City Chiefs
Although they came up short during last season’s Super Bowl, there’s no reason to expect the Cheifs to take a step back.
An improved defense should help their chances. If Mahomes stays healthy, no team can touch them.
Key Matchup: November 7, 2021. The Chiefs play the Green Bay Packers in what may be a preview of the next Super Bowl.
Los Angeles Chargers
Justin Herbert adjusted to the NFL game quicker than anyone expected.
Should he take the next step with an improved offensive line, the Chargers could compete for the AFC West crown.
Not quite yet. Unless Mahomes goes down, the Chargers will play for second.
Key Matchup: October 4, 2021. The Chargers host the Las Vegas Raiders. These two offenses should make for an entertaining game.
Las Vegas Raiders
To call the Raiders 2020 offense explosive is an understatement. Las Vegas ranked top ten in points and yards.
The question for Jon Gruden isn’t whether his team can score points. It’s whether his team can stop opponents from scoring.
The Raiders gave up the third-most points in the league.
Offseason acquisitions Yannick Ngakoue and Solomon Thomas should improve their pass rush.
Unfortunately, the Raiders appear to be stuck in limbo once again this season.
Key Matchup: September 19, 2021. The Raiders travel to Pittsburgh. While it has no divisional implications, seeing these old-school rivals lock horns is one of the most fun 2021 NFL dates.
Denver Broncos
Since Peyton Manning retired, the Denver Broncos have been in search of their next star QB. Drew Lock has played well but isn’t the top-flight QB a team needs to be successful.
Rumors swirl about Aaron Rodgers and his playing situation in Green Bay.
If Denver can pry Rodgers away from the Packers, the division dynamic will change. If not, expect Denver to remain at the bottom.
2021 NFL Season Preview: AFC
The 2021 NFL season will be full of drama, intriguing matchups, and surprise teams.
Do yourself a favor and check out all of these big-time AFC showdowns.
While Kansas City looks to repeat as AFC kings, exciting teams like Buffalo and Cleveland are hungry to take the crown. Do you want more fun sports news?
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