An Outlook on the AFC after the playoffs
By: Will Aimette
( Image Credit: Bleacher Report)
The AFC was loaded in the 2024-25 season. Below we investigate the winners and losers of the playoffs with key details about each team.
Denver Broncos
Eliminated In: Wild Card vs. Bills
Reason for Elimination: Still rebuilding
Key Factor: Rookie QB Bo Nix
Nobody thought the Broncos were going to make the playoffs. Barely any thought they would even come close. Even many sports analysts didn’t predict them to have a record over .500. So, was this just a fluke, or a sign of things to come? Rookie QB Bo Nix will tell you otherwise, as he knows how to win. He led his former college team, Oregon, to the Pac-12 Championship Game in 2023. Same goes for CB Patrick Surtain II, the defensive phenom that almost unanimously made the all-pro team. This clearly is a talented team. If the Broncos had better receivers and a better O-line, watch out. However, this team obviously was not ready to face the Bills in the Wild Card, as they lost 31-7. But the fact they made it there in the first place made this year a massive success.
Reason to be excited: QB Bo Nix, CB Patrick Surtain II
Reason to be gloomy: The Broncos still have a long way to go in the rebuild, as they need good role players to build around a talented young QB
Successful Season? Yes
Buffalo Bills
Eliminated In: AFC Championship Game vs. Chiefs
Reason for Elimination: Their archnemesis- The Chiefs
Key Factor: QB Josh Allen
Another year, another Bills vs. Chiefs AFC Championship Game. It’s almost routine now. And who is the perennial winner of that game? The Chiefs, of course. Josh Allen can always manage to beat them in the regular season, but when it matters most, with the Super Bowl on the line, he can’t quite get the job done. However, they weren’t even projected to do this well. The 2024-25 MVP, Josh Allen, put the team on his back, making it to the AFC Championship without a single top 15 Wide Receiver (According to CBS.com). With only few offensive weapons, like star Running Back James Cook, they managed to get back to the AFC Championship Game for the third time in five years by beating the star-studded Ravens. Keep the hopes high, Bills fans, this is a special and resilient squad that has an MVP caliber Quarterback to lead them.
Reason to be excited: Reigning MVP Josh Allen, and a young talented defense with veteran leadership
Reason to be gloomy: Another year without a Super Bowl Trophy, and the Bills still don’t have a true WR1
Successful Season? Yes
Los Angeles Chargers
Eliminated In: Wild Card vs. Texans
Reason for Elimination: Weren’t ready
Key Factor: Coaching + QB Justin Herbert
We all knew it would be a good building block for the Chargers this season. We also knew they weren’t ready. From the start of that Wild Card game against the Texans, it was obvious Franchise QB Justin Herbert still didn’t feel comfortable on that stage. He’s now 0-2 in the playoffs. Combined with Harbaugh taking the head coaching job, players had to adjust to new plays and interim coaches. It was a massive rebuild this year for the Chargers, and a successful one. With new starting receivers like Rookie WR Ladd McConkey, who quickly adjusted to their new WR1, they made it to the playoffs after a drought of 2 years. Overall, this season can be looked at as a great success for the Chargers and a giant step towards the future.
Reason to be excited: WR Ladd McConkey, Coach Harbaugh
Reason to be gloomy: Time is running out with Herbert, Defensive Stars Declining (Khalil Mack, Derwin James Jr.)
Successful Season? Yes
Houston Texans
Eliminated In: Divisional vs. Chiefs
Reason for Elimination: Lack of experience
Key Factor: Injuries
Texans fans this year came in with high expectations. After a huge offseason, signing All-Pro WR Stefon Diggs, and Pro-Bowler RB Joe Mixon, they found the missing puzzle pieces to completing the puzzle. Unfortunately, it all just collapsed. WR Stefon Diggs got a season-ending ACL tear in Week 8. WR 2, Tank Dell, another Pro-Bowler, suffered a season-ending injury with a torn ACL in Week 16. Still, Houston bounced back and got to the divisional round, but we all knew with those key players out they didn’t have a chance against the Chiefs. However, don’t be too suprised if they make it further next year, as they have so much young talent throughout their whole squad. Coming off a Wild Card win vs. a weak Chargers team, the Texans look to build off of that small success for 2025-26.
Reason to be excited: YOUNG TALENT. AND A LOT OF IT. (C.J Stroud, Will Anderson, Derek Stingley Jr, Kamari Lassiter, Danille Hunter, Tank Dell, Nico Collins)
Reason to be gloomy: The Texans are right back where they started last year, only without Diggs, as they only acquired him for one disappointing year.
Successful Season? Developmentally, Yes ; Playoffwise, No
kansas city Chiefs
Eliminated In: Super Bowl vs. Eagles
Reason: One bad game in one great season
Key Factor: QB Patrick Mahomes, Offensive Line
From the kickoff of Super Bowl LIX, it was obvious the Eagles won. The Chiefs were clearly outmatched. While having a 15-2 season, tied for the best in the NFL (Although some games were questionable), they just came up short of a three-peat. Even in the playoffs, they looked shaky. It was only a matter of time. (Not to mention every sports team in professional sports were rooting against them.) I’m sure the Chiefs will rebound, they are a great team. However, they have big risk of losing star TE Travis Kelce, combined with the fans that come along with him. However, while it was technically not a successful season, there were upsides, like Rookie WR Xavier Worthy, who broke out towards the end of the season. But for now, the NFL is still yet to have a three-peat champion.
Reason to be excited: The duo of former MVP Patrick Mahomes and speedy WR Xavier Worthy
Reason to be gloomy: TE Travis Kelce is on his way out, the hopes of the three-peat are crushed
Successful Season? No, it was win Super Bowl or bust
Pittsburgh Steelers
Eliminated In: Wild Card vs. Ravens
Reason: Lack of WR’s, Russell Wilson is past his prime
Key Factor: Defensive Line, Russell Wilson
Russell Wilson is not the QB he once was. Against a stacked Ravens defense, it was no shocker he fell short against them. Besides Russell, this team DESPERATELY needs at least one good Wide Receiver. George Pickens isn’t going to do it for me as a WR1. On the bright note, the rest of this team has clear talent. One of the best D-Lines led by Pro-Bowler Cameron Hayward shut down every RB teams had to offer (Except Derrick Henry, but does he even count as human anymore?!). With a very deep defense led by Rookie CB Joey Porter Jr, and a All-Pro Safety Minkah Fitzpatrick, they are only a few pieces away from an AFC Title.Even though this season will not be looked at as a success, there were many good building blocks to work off of, so watch out if the get some good role players to compliment their star-studded defense.
Reason to be excited: Their top 5 defense
Reason to be gloomy: Need a new QB and a WR1
Successful Season? No
Baltimore Ravens
Eliminated In: Divisional vs. Bills
Reason: Turnovers
Key Factor: TE Mark Andrews, QB Lamar Jackson
The Ravens were easily the most stacked team in the AFC this year, if not the whole NFL. They probably should have won the Super Bowl, or at least made it. I mean, Lamar Jackson, Derrick Henry, Zay Flowers and Mark Andrews on the same team is almost unfair. Almost. And paired with a top 3 defense?! So, how exactly did this team lose? Well, it’s actually pretty simple. Turnovers. Lamar threw a wild interception right into the Bills hands. The Runner-Up MVP only did this four times in the regular season. He also fumbled on a strip sack, giving the Bills great position in the Ravens territory. Mark Andrews also fumbled at midfield, giving the defense no chance to stop Josh Allen. And still, with all these mistakes, they could have won. Mark Andrews dropped a game tying 2-point conversion late in the fourth quarter, sealing the game. On a good note, they are the favorite to win the 2025-26 Super Bowl. So watch out NFL, you might not get as luck as last year.
Reason to be excited: Their whole team. They have so many stars everywhere (9 Pro Bowlers; most in NFL)
Reason to be gloomy: TE Mark Andrews is getting older, wasted opportunity this year.
Successful Season? No
(Image Credits: Shutterstock, Bleacher Report, Cleanpng, ESPN)
