Overreactions

On #1, a lot depends on injuries but I could see this happening given schedules, coaching changes, and offseason moves.

1. No AFC Team Will Repeat as Division Champions in 2026

W1: NOT AN OVERREACTION

Last year, the New England Patriots, Denver Broncos, Jacksonville Jaguars and Pittsburgh Steelers stood atop their respective divisions, but there’s a real chance none of them will repeat as champions in 2026.

The NFC West is loaded, so if Bo Nix’s ankle isn’t 100 percent, the Kansas City Chiefs and Los Angeles Chargers will definitely be in consideration. The Patriots overachieved last year with an easy schedule, but things get much tougher in 2026. A team like the Buffalo Bills could very well sneak up and take the division.

As for the AFC South, the Jaguars actually got worse this offseason, which opens the door for someone like the Houston Texans to take the division by the horns. And finally, the AFC North is always wide open, and in my opinion, the Steelers are the third-best team in the north this year. Cincy or Baltimore will win it over them.

W2: NOT AN OVERREACTION

The AFC will yet again be a dogfight for every playoff spot and division. The Baltimore Ravens and Cincinnati Bengals improved this offseason, making the Steelers no longer a lock for the AFC North. The Houston Texans have the best defense in the NFL, and with the Jaguars not improving a ton this offseason, it could be challenging for them to repeat.

For the AFC West, Patrick Mahomes is healthy, and that’s all that needs to be said. Then the AFC East is the one division I can see repeating, but it’s never easy to count out Josh Allen. There are pathways for multiple teams winning divisions this year, making this not an overreaction.

2. The Cowboys, Packers and Steelers will all miss the playoffs for the first time since 1991

W1: OVERREACTION

Do I think the Dallas Cowboys, Green Bay Packers or Pittsburgh Steelers are Super Bowl contenders? Absolutely not, but odds are at least one of them will make the playoffs this year.

Dallas has a great offense and an improved defense. Pittsburgh made upgrades all around, and now officially have Aaron Rodgers back. And while Green Bay didn’t really do much this offseason, they’re always in that 7-seed hunt.

I’ll go out on a limb and say none of these teams win their division, but there is a very, very strong chance at least one of them makes it as a Wild Card. I’ll say Dallas sneaks in and Pittsburgh is right on the bubble.

W2: NOT AN OVERREACTION

This one took some thinking, but overall, I can see paths for each of these three teams to miss the playoffs. The main reason is how talented the NFL has gotten over the past couple of years. The NFC and AFC North are two of the toughest divisions in the NFL. The Lions, Bears, Vikings, Bengals and Ravens all improved this offseason. The Packers and Steelers didn’t make major improvements, leaving them to potentially finish third in their division and miss the playoffs.

I’m also not high on Aaron Rodgers returning at all, and think he limits the Steelers’ ceiling as a team. For the Dallas Cowboys, the moves they’ve made this offseason have been outstanding. The reality is that they have a rookie defensive coordinator, Christian Parker. Looking at the division, the NFC West is a juggernaut, and mix that with the NFC North, Second place in the NFC East may not be good enough for a playoff spot.

 

disagree.

step one was a new coach and staff.

very good free agent pickups.

young talent to work with and seem smart and versatile with ability to grasp their roles well.

approach to teaching by the staff.

not just doing what we do.

depth at important positions.

our younger players hitting that important 3rd year plus in the league where many times it comes together.

the rest of our division has had to replace a lot.

 

Everything you list can be applied to the Ravens and the Browns this year..... i.e. nothing is static in the NFL.

 

they are both as up in the air on their o-lines as we are and maybe more so. i don't think any team in the afc north has much of an advantage over the other. i like our vet depth and we started adding our newbies earlier for them to come into their own before they have. porter, wilson, frazier, fautanu, mccormick, washington, herbig are not brand new anymore and have seen a lot of football going into this season. i think we have more seasoned new players at this point than many in our division.

 

1: No AFC Team Will Repeat as Division Champions in 2026 - True
- New England Patriots - I can't believe Vrabel got into that mess. Will it be a distraction? The Patriots are a good team but they did not belong in the Super Bowl and it was on full display. Did they improve?
- Denver Broncos - Denver should have been in the Super Bowl but losing Nix and going with some guy with the weather conditions, not good. Solid coaching, decent off-season and a tough division make this division a favorite to win the Super Bowl.
- Jacksonville Jaguars - In my opinion, Lawrence finally had the year we all thought he should have every year. Anomaly? I don't know. Houston is going to be a beast and if they can get the QB to play at a higher level then they should own the division.
- Pittsburgh Steelers - Lot of optimism on the return of Rogers and it is a great story. A lot has to go right and the Ravens and Bengals will be challenging.

2. The Cowboys, Packers and Steelers will all miss the playoffs for the first time since 1991 - Not True.
- A lot of folks in the biz think the Cowboys will fall short. The Eagles somehow landed on their feet after a rough start to the offseason and they seem to win with an average QB. Washington, if they can remain healthy, looks very good on paper.
- Packers - They were very quiet in the off season. Detroit, I think falls some. The Bears look like a team on the rise and Vikings look like the odd man out. I think the Bears win this division and may well be the NFC Super Bowl entry.
- Steelers - They can certainly challenge a spot but a lot of 'new' things have to fall into place.

 

Since when is any AFCN team "a lock" to win the division? As of where we are in the year today, I think the Browns are a lock to not win the division. But honestly, if things go like they did last season for the Ravens and Bengals injury-wise, and the Steelers get bitten as well, the Browns might make a run at it. Surprised but not shocked if that happened.


I still think the Steelers will focus on going 1-0 each week just like every season. However, I do think there is more of an eye toward building for the future with this coaching hire. The next 4-5 years will be that same mentality. I don't know this, just how I see it.


Overreaction: How exactly did the Bengals improve enough on defense and the OL for the talking heads to now consider them favorites to win the division? I don't see them as a deep playoff team yet.
We have no idea how this Ravens team will look. I do think they will be tougher on defense. But they were so bad on defense last year they have to be tougher this year. That doesn't mean they will be better than 2-3 seasons ago though. And they were no juggernaut then.
I will give the Steelers just as much chance to repeat as division champs as the article gives the O'Tucky Bengals and the Nevermore Ravens to knock us off.

 

Vegas disagrees....

 

I already got money on Bengals making the playoffs. Not necessarily winning the division, but making the playoffs.
When was the last time the Steelers weren't picked by someone to be the 3rd in the division??
I will keep saying this about people saying right now we have no chance at making the SB, show me those same people that at this time last year had Seattle, and NE making the SB.

 

Seattle and New England made moves that put them over the top. Seahawks acquiring Darnold at QB. Patriots drafting Maye the year prior. Steelers haven't made any ground-breaking moves to put them over the top. There's been a lot of good free agent acquisitions in the off season... but we've seen this movie before. Every year, Steelers get what seem like awesome free agent pickups, that ultimately end up being mediocre, on IR or non-factors.

 

Uh oh, not a good start for one AFCN team....

 

Chances are good that AR will show his age and we’ll be around 500.

less likely he’ll have a comeback year, along with TJ, but still possible i guess. Hes 43. Thats Vinny Testaverde, Steve DeBerg, George Blanda territory.


I agree, were probably the 2nd or third best team in the division.