Originally Posted by KChiefs1
AFC East: Unanimous for Bills to repeat
Buffalo made the AFC Championship Game last season, and the Bills are another of three unanimous picks to win their division in 2021. Being picked to finish 12-5 would be down a peg from 13-3 a year ago, but still in line for a first-round bye in the AFC playoffs. The Patriots, perhaps playing with a rookie quarterback in Alabama’s Mac Jones, finished behind the Dolphins, who will have quarterback Tua Tagovailoa in his second season after a 10-6 record last year. The Jets, despite a new coach in Robert Saleh, were picked to finish last in three of four ballots, perhaps a nod to playing a rookie quarterback in BYU’s Zach Wilson.
AFC North: Close call between Browns, Ravens
The only overall tie out of eight divisions is here in the AFC North, with Cleveland and Baltimore, both fresh off 11-5 seasons, expected to surpass the defending champion Steelers. Pittsburgh finished no higher than third on any ballot, behind the Bengals on one, while the Ravens and Browns evenly split the top two spots for all four voters.
Pittsburgh arguably has the most difficult schedule in the NFL, with 10 games against playoff teams from last season. And between the Ravens and Browns, an easier schedule could help Cleveland, which gets to face the Texans, Patriots and Cardinals on a third-place schedule, while Baltimore faces the Colts, Dolphins and Rams, considerably more difficult.
AFC South: Colts edge Titans for first
The Titans and Colts had matching 11-5 records last year and both lost in the wild-card round, but the Colts were picked as the team to beat with a strong supporting cast around new quarterback Carson Wentz. Tennessee is harder to peg, getting a first-place vote but also one third, with our Texans writer picking the shiny-new Jaguars to finish ahead of them.
The Texans, with lingering uncertainty surrounding their lone remaining star in quarterback Deshaun Watson, were one of two teams picked unanimously to finish last, along with the Lions.
AFC West: Chiefs unanimous to win again
Kansas City has been to back-to-back Super Bowls, and while they lost convincingly to the Bucs in Tampa, they’ve rebuilt their offensive line to better protect quarterback Patrick Mahomes. As such, they’re no surprise to be one of three teams picked as unanimous division champs, along with the Bills and Bucs.
The rest of the division is a blur, with the Chargers and second-year quarterback Justin Herbert getting the nod over the Broncos, who would have Teddy Bridgewater at quarterback if they aren’t able to wrangle Rodgers from the Packers. Denver got a second-place vote but also two last-place nods, while the Raiders finished no higher than third on any ballot.
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