2024 AFC Preview: One key storyline for every team

Football is back, and as we anticipate the 2024 season kicking off in a week, it’s time we take a closer look at the teams hitting the field and the stories that will soon unfold before our eyes. 

The AFC is home to some serious powerhouses — we’re talking about a conference that includes the back-to-back Super Bowl champs in Kansas City, the league’s toughest conference up north, an offence that’s hotter than the Miami sun, and everyone’s favourite new contender in the Houston Texans. 

To count the number of elite QBs in the AFC, you need both hands. To count the contenders, you need more playoff berths than the NFL offers up. And storylines? It’s got plenty of those, too. 

As we look ahead to the 2024 campaign, we’re highlighting one major storyline we’re watching for every team in the league, starting with the AFC. 

NORTH

BALTIMORE RAVENS

2023 record: 13-4, clinched No. 1 seed in AFC, lost AFC Championship vs. Chiefs

Storyline we’re watching: A new voice on defence. Year two of the Todd Monken-Lamar Jackson union promises plenty more fireworks, especially with the addition of Derrick Henry — seriously, imagine boasting the two-time rushing king as the second-best running option on your roster! But on defence, there’s a new voice calling the shots now that Mike Macdonald is in Seattle after his masterclass in defensive play-calling last year earned him his pick of head coaching jobs. While Maconald’s successor, Zach Orr, learned under his system it’s worth wondering whether we’ll see any significant scheme changes — and growing pains that come with it.

CLEVELAND BROWNS

2023 record: 11-6, lost in Wild Card Round vs. Texans

Storyline we’re watching: It’s déjà vu all over again. Injuries — both physical and of the self-inflicted kind — plagued the Browns through the entirety of 2023, and yet so talented is this defence that they still made the playoffs with Joe Flacco running the offence. But we’re back to another year of Deshaun Watson in Cleveland, and another year of talking about a team that could be great… if only they had a quarterback that could keep up. At what point does Cleveland move on? Maybe this year brings an answer.

PITTSBURGH STEELERS

2023 record: 10-7, lost in Wild Card Round vs. Bills

Storyline we’re watching: Defence is a sure thing, but offence brings questions. The acquisition of Patrick Queen was perhaps the most fitting off-season signing league-wide, and yet it’s been overshadowed this summer by a certain pair of quarterbacks battling it out for the starter’s spot. Russell Wilson was announced the No. 1 guy on Wednesday but how long is his leash? One bad game in the NFL’s toughest division, and the Justin Fields chatter will start up again. But it’s not just the QB situation that’s new on this offence — after three years as head coach in Atlanta, Arthur Smith is back in his offensive coordinator roots. 

CINCINNATI BENGALS

2023 record: 9-8, missed playoffs

Storyline we’re watching: Ja’Marr Chase’s hold-in continues. Last year at this time, Joe Burrow was the subject of all the headlines — his contract situation and his health. (He got his deal, of course, but spent most of the season plagued by injuries.) Burrow’s back now, and ready to start the season off right… but can we say the same about his No. 1 weapon? One week before kickoff and Ja’Marr Chase still hasn’t practised as his hold-in for a new contract continues. Even if he signs on the dotted line now, it’s worth wondering if he’ll need a little time to get up to speed on the field. 

EAST

BUFFALO BILLS

2023 record: 11-6, lost Divisional Round to Chiefs

Storyline we’re watching: Coleman’s got big targets to fill. No one can question Josh Allen’s talent and ability to grab hold of a game, but the departures of top receivers Stefon Diggs and Gabe Davis have prompted more than a few questions about who exactly will be catching his passes. Enter Keon Coleman, the 33^rd overall pick in April’s receiver-heavy draft and the Bills’ new WR1… hopefully. Coleman has impressed in camp, and his progress will be a focal point as the season gets underway. 

MIAMI DOLPHINS

2023 record: 11-6, lost in Wild Card Round to Chiefs

Storyline we’re watching: The injury bug could bring early hurdles. The season has yet to open, and already we’re talking health in Miami. This could all wind up being a very minor storyline by October — let’s hope that’s the case — but with Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle both dealing with minor injuries through much of camp and newcomer Odell Beckham Jr. missing the first four games on the PUP list, it’s hard not to be a little concerned. If the Dolphins are to build on last season’s strong offence, they need their stars at full speed. 

NEW YORK JETS

2023 record: 7-10, missed playoffs

Storyline we’re watching: Aaron Rodgers’ debut, Take Two. All the excitement and sky-high expectations ahead of last season still apply in 2024 as the Jets look to fit the missing piece into their star-studded roster. Only now, we add an astounding comeback story into the fold as Aaron Rodgers returns from a devastating Achilles rupture suffered last September just four snaps into his debut. The fate of this great QB experiment really rests on the revamped offensive line suiting up in front of him. Keep Rodgers in the game, and these Jets should be special.  

NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS

2023 record: 4-13, missed playoffs

Storyline we’re watching: The Maye-Mayo era starts… when, exactly? The Patriots are no strangers to quarterback conundrums in the years since Tom Brady’s departure, and this season presents a particularly interesting situation between rookie Drake Maye and veteran Jacoby Brissett. Brought in to be a placeholder, Brissett was named the starter on Thursday, allowing Maye to learn from a safe distance — “safe” being the key word here, because we all know that the space behind the Patriots’ porous offensive line is a treacherous place to be. The question is, how long will Brissett’s season-opening stint last? 

SOUTH

HOUSTON TEXANS

2023 record: 10-7, lost Divisional Playoffs to Ravens

Storyline we’re watching: C.J. Stroud’s second act brings Super Bowl-sized expectations. “If you thought last year was amazing, just wait until you see what’s next.” – the Texans, probably. But seriously, if there’s a team more hyped than Houston heading into this season, we haven’t seen it — and considering how C.J. Stroud and DeMeco Ryans turned a 3-13-1 squad into a 10-7 contender and a playoff win last year, it’s all warranted. Add star receiver Stefon Diggs and some impressive pass rushers in Danielle Hunter and Denico Autry, among others, to the mix and you’ve got a not-so-sneaky Super Bowl contender. 

JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS

2023 record: 9-8, missed playoffs

Storyline we’re watching: The search for consistency continues. You’ve got to hand it to the Jaguars… they’re never boring. Back-to-back 9-8 seasons were identical in record only, with both years bringing giant mid-season momentum swings in opposite directions. Last year’s Jaguars were a curious case of regression as they went from 8-3 to losing through December and falling out of the post-season after a string of injuries caught up with Trevor Lawrence. This is a club that cannot afford another 9-8 campaign in a division that’s quickly climbing to powerhouse status. 

INDIANAPOLIS COLTS

2023 record: 9-8, missed playoffs

Storyline we’re watching: Anthony Richardson shows us what he’s learned. We got merely a glimpse of what Anthony Richardson can do as a Colt before he went down with a season-ending injury in Week 4, but last year wasn’t a lost year for the 2023 fourth overall pick or his team. In a league that so rarely affords top picks the time to sit and learn before jumping into the action, Richardson’s time on the sidelines — albeit by injury, not choice — could prove to be incredibly valuable moving forward. Here’s hoping he can stay on his feet and show us what he’s learned, because when he’s at his best Richardson is as dynamic as they come.  

TENNESSEE TITANS

2023 record: 6-11, missed playoffs

Storyline we’re watching: Titans’ revamped o-line sets Levis up for a breakout. Maybe we were all distracted by the head-scratching decision to release head coach Mike Vrabel or sign Tony Pollard to a deal that could’ve gone to Derrick Henry, but a look back at the off-season reveals some surprisingly savvy moves — especially along the offensive line, which is newly revamped and looking pretty formidable. That bodes well for Will Levis, who up to this point has been known more for his questionable coffee consumption than his actual abilities as a serious starter. This season should bring things into focus. The addition of former Chiefs cornerback L’Jarius Snead was seriously smart, too. 

WEST

KANSAS CITY CHIEFS

2023 record: 11-6, won Super Bowl LVIII vs. 49ers

Storyline we’re watching: Mahomes’ offence looks a whole lot speedier. While the Tyreek Hill-sized hole in Kansas City’s lineup the past two seasons didn’t stop the Chiefs from winning back-to-back Super Bowls, the team’s lack of offensive firepower has been evident, shifting the club’s identity to a defence-first squad last season. But after a year that saw Patrick Mahomes’ receiving corps let him down in several crucial moments, the club targeted the position in both the draft and free agency. Fleet-footed first-round pick Xavier Worthy has already earned plenty of comparisons to Hill, while free agent signing Marquise Brown could flourish in the Mahomes-Reid system. Defences, you’ve been warned.

LAS VEGAS RAIDERS

2023 record: 8-9, missed playoffs

Storyline we’re watching: Maxx Crosby has a new BFF. Feeling a little underwhelmed by this offence? Join the club. Even head coach Antonio Pierce sounded less than inspired by his squad’s quarterback competition. But this team isn’t really about its offence — especially in the wake of Josh Jacobs’ departure and amid rumours of Davante Adams’ discontent. The defence that played under Pierce upon his mid-season hiring last year showed flashes of greatness, headlined by the XXL wrecking ball of an edge rusher that is Maxx Crosby. Add in newly acquired edge Christian Wilkins, and they’ve got a group capable of overwhelming opponents. 

DENVER BRONCOS

2023 record: 8-9, missed playoffs

Storyline we’re watching: The Bo Nix era begins. The list of quarterbacks to start for the Denver Broncos since Peyton Manning hoisted the Lombardi Trophy and hung up his cleats runs 13 names long and includes a running back and one of the worst trades in NFL memory. Atop Sean Peyton’s list of priorities this off-season was overhauling his trio of quarterbacks, headlined by the selection of Bo Nix out of Oregon with a redemption-seeking Zach Wilson backing him up. The 24-year-old Nix is the starter, but is he the answer? And what happens if he isn’t?

LOS ANGELES CHARGERS

2023 record: 5-12, missed playoffs

Storyline we’re watching: Harbaugh’s building from the O-line out. From the status of Justin Herbert’s plantar fascia injury to the state of his receiving corps following the mass exodus of top weapons, the Chargers might be the hardest team to project this season. But one storyline we can count on is new head coach Jim Harbaugh’s drive to keep his QB upright. Harbaugh is known for his emphasis on building up the trenches, and considering his successful track record it’s a formula that might bring more wins than we think.