Biggest strength for every AFC team heading into the regular season

The NFL season is just around the corner. While some teams have more to be excited about than others, each club has areas to lean on to succeed. After beginning the series by finding every NFC team's biggest strength, we continue with a look at the AFC.

NFC / AFC

Baltimore Ravens

Playmakers on offense

Scott Taetsch / Getty Images Sport / Getty

It sounds unusual for a franchise that's long been built on its stout defense to expect its offense to carry the load, but that's where the Ravens find themselves in 2023. Not only did Baltimore lure back dynamic dual-threat quarterback Lamar Jackson with a lucrative contract extension, but the front office finally surrounded him with serious firepower. Aside from their dominant running game that includes Jackson and the likes of J.K. Dobbins and Gus Edwards, the Ravens also signed Odell Beckham Jr. and Nelson Agholor while drafting Zay Flowers, too. Add those receivers to a group of pass-catchers that features Mark Andrews and Rashod Bateman, and you get the most complete offense that Jackson has ever had.

Buffalo Bills

Josh Allen

The bottom line is that Buffalo will go as far as Allen takes it. The 27-year-old has led the Bills to three straight division titles, with their playoff exits in that span only coming when the team ran into a quarterback playing at an equal or higher level than Allen (Patrick Mahomes and Joe Burrow). The signal-caller's chemistry with wide receiver Stefon Diggs is almost telepathic in nature, but Allen also has the ability to elevate others around him. Don't discount his dual-threat ability, either. Allen has thrown for 25 touchdowns while also rushing for over 700 yards in each of the last two seasons.

Cincinnati Bengals

Wide receiver room

This one is obvious when looking at the Bengals' depth chart. Cincinnati's wide receiver room is one of the best in the entire NFL, with Ja'Marr Chase, Tee Higgins, and Tyler Boyd. Chase and Higgins - two of the biggest rising superstars at the position - have recorded 1,000-plus-yard campaigns in each of the last two seasons. Meanwhile, Boyd is as reliable as they come in the slot, as he's put up 700-plus yards every year since 2017.

Cleveland Browns

Ground-and-pound offense

Even with three-time Pro Bowler Deshaun Watson entering his second season under center with the Browns, the team's biggest strength is its running game. Nick Chubb, one of the league's top backs, is coming off a career-high 1,525-yard season, his fourth consecutive 1,000-plus-yard campaign. He owes a big part of his success to the big men blocking up front for him in the trenches. Cleveland's offensive line has been one of the NFL's best units for years, and that remains the case in 2023.

Denver Broncos

Coaching

It should be a night-and-day difference as the Broncos go from having Nathaniel Hackett to Sean Payton roaming the sideline. There's no sugarcoating it: Denver was a mess in almost every aspect last season, especially in leadership and game management. Thankfully, a proven winner and culture-builder like Payton should repair the Broncos' woes. Payton finished with a .500 or better record in 11 of his 15 seasons with the New Orleans Saints. He's also never carried worse than a 7-9 record as a head coach.

Houston Texans

Safety tandem

Cooper Neill / Getty Images Sport / Getty

The Texans have a lot of young talent to keep an eye on, but when it comes to an area they can rely on, look no further than the deep protectors of the secondary. Jalen Pitre is entering Year 2 after a phenomenal rookie season that saw him collect five interceptions and 147 combined tackles. Pitre also has help on the way in the form of free-agent signee Jimmie Ward, who recorded five interceptions over the last two seasons with the San Francisco 49ers.

Indianapolis Colts

Veteran leaders

There isn't much to smile about in Indianapolis with the nasty and public feud between the Colts and disgruntled running back Jonathan Taylor. Taylor was supposed to be a major piece of the offense alongside rookie Anthony Richardson, but that isn't shaping up to happen due to a trade request and a PUP list stay. Instead, the true strength of this Colts team will come from its locker room leaders to steer the ship through rough waters. Veterans like Quenton Nelson, Shaq Leonard, and DeForest Buckner will need to rise up to the occasion in what could be a turbulent 2023 season.

Jacksonville Jaguars

Aerial attack

It's been more than two decades since the Jaguars had a passing attack that looked as formidable as the one they have now, and not since the days of Mark Brunell has Jacksonville had a quarterback set to launch into the atmosphere of superstardom. Trevor Lawrence, the former No. 1 pick, enjoyed a great sophomore season in 2022 and is set to run it back this year with the same weapons in Christian Kirk and Evan Engram. However, he'll have a new alpha in the receiver room in the returning Calvin Ridley.

Kansas City Chiefs

Patrick Mahomes

Not much needs to be said here. The Chiefs have been the AFC's strongest team over the last five years, and that's solely because of Mahomes. What's concerning for the rest of the conference is that Mahomes somehow continues to get better. The reigning Super Bowl MVP set new career highs in completion percentage (67.1%) and passing yards (5,250) last season.

Las Vegas Raiders

Skill-position players

The Raiders have a tall task ahead of them if they hope to be competitive despite an unbalanced roster and playing in the tough AFC West. Luckily for them, they have two of the game's top weapons at their respective positions in Davante Adams and Josh Jacobs. Adams put up over 1,500 receiving yards last season, while Jacobs led the NFL in rushing with 1,653 yards. Jakobi Meyers and Hunter Renfrow are also great pieces in the receiving room.

Los Angeles Chargers

Wide receiver depth

Kevork Djansezian / Getty Images Sport / Getty

Justin Herbert will have no shortage of weapons to throw to this upcoming season. The usual standouts in Keenan Allen and Mike Williams return, but the Chargers have now also added TCU product Quentin Johnston to the mix. Johnston is another vertical threat like Williams but also possesses rare YAC ability for his size. Rounding out the receiver room is Joshua Palmer, who actually led the team's wideouts in receptions (72) last year. Not bad for a fourth option.

Miami Dolphins

Speedy wide receivers

The Dolphins carry the potential to turn any play into a home run, and that's largely thanks to the wide receiver partnership of Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle. Both wideouts have done wonders, not only for the development of quarterback Tua Tagovailoa but also for the ceiling of this Dolphins team. Hill proved he didn't need Mahomes in his first year in Miami by putting up 1,710 receiving yards. Meanwhile, Waddle averaged a league-high 18.1 yards per catch.

New England Patriots

Secondary

There isn't a true ace card in the Patriots' secondary, but that doesn't mean they don't have a good hand. Jonathan Jones, Kyle Dugger, Marcus Jones, and Jack Jones combined for 11 interceptions last year. This secondary also got a massive injection this offseason in the form of first-round cornerback Christian Gonzalez. The safety group also contains quality depth in Adrian Phillips, Jalen Mills, and Jabrill Peppers.

New York Jets

Leadership under center

It's hard to settle on one area that stands out for the Jets. The defense is equipped to defend against the pass and get after the quarterback, while the offense features top skill-position players such as Garrett Wilson, Allen Lazard, Breece Hall, and new signee Dalvin Cook. With a strong, balanced roster on paper, the biggest difference from last season is the leadership that can help this team overcome a lengthy playoff drought. That leadership comes in the form of four-time league MVP Aaron Rodgers, who can demonstrate traits of a winning culture both on the field and in the locker room.

Pittsburgh Steelers

Pass-rushers

It's the pass-rushing department that shines brightest for the franchise known for legendary defenses. With the three-headed monster of T.J. Watt, Alex Highsmith, and Cameron Heyward, the Steelers are going to be a nightmare for opposing quarterbacks. Highsmith is coming off a career-high 14.5 sacks last season, while Heyward recorded at least 10 sacks for the second straight year. A former Defensive Player of the Year, Watt should also pick up right where he left off now that his injury-plagued 2022 campaign is in the rearview mirror.

Tennessee Titans

Derrick Henry

Wesley Hitt / Getty Images Sport / Getty

If the Titans hope to get back to their winning ways, they're going to have to rely on Henry again. That's not much of a surprise, as that's been the team's blueprint for ages. Even though Henry is now entering his age-29 season, he doesn't seem to be slowing him down. The three-time Pro Bowl running back received a league-leading 349 carries for 1,538 yards last year.

Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.