Note b Baltimore Ravensof Buffalo Bills And other AFC front runners.
They might be messed up.
Patrick MahomesAn injury at the end of last December opened the door for the long-time rivals. Lamar Jackson And his crows and Josh Allen And the Bills to finally win the mound and secure those elusive Lombardi trophies. But neither is capitalized.
A pair of daggers killed both crows and bills last winter.
Baltimore fans are still smart. Starting kicker Tyler LuppHe missed a potential game-winning field goal in Week 18, costing the Ravens the AFC North title and a trip to the playoffs. Hardest for Bills fans to stomach: The Controversial interceptionwhere Denver Broncos Corner back Ja’Quan McMillian He wrestled the ball from Brandin Cooks while lying on the field in the divisional playoffs. A different ruling would have set Buffalo up for a game-winning field goal.
Both teams sported new looks after firing their respected head coaches, and Sunday’s Week 1 victories were explosive and impressive.
Offense takes center stage in Week 1
Mike Sandow
But then came Monday night, when Mahomes returned from a torn ACL and LCL, ending the Kansas City Chiefs’ 10-year playoff run. The quarterback and his Chiefs They didn’t just beat their AFC West rivals, the Broncos. They beat last season’s AFC runner-up in every phase of the game. 31-10 explosion.
A stout Kansas City defense held one of last season’s most promising offenses to just 176 yards. New-look rushing attack led by Super Bowl MVP-turned-free agent pick-up Kenneth Walker220 yards rushing (173 of which went to Walker). And Mahomes didn’t show any bad results from the injury, passing for two touchdowns and rushing for another.
Just as the Chiefs dynasty began to unravel, with critics assuming that Mahomes’ elite days were now behind him, the greatest quarterback of this generation is back to smiling and dynamic. Meanwhile, his supporting cast seems as well rounded as ever. It’s a bad sign of the times for Jackson, Allen and the rest of the AFC. Joe BurrowAnd each of their groups, of course.
Mahomes and the Chiefs have long stood in the way of these quarterbacks and teams. He blocked Allen’s playoff push four times. It sent Jackson and Burrow packing once again.
That’s why last summer represented a golden opportunity for either Allen or Jackson, especially, to finally lead the team to one of those legendary Super Bowl runs. But now, following Mahomes’ surprisingly quick return and the Chiefs’ equally impressive retooling, their mission has been heightened once again.
Of course, it’s a week, and the NFL A season is an 18-week marathon. This isn’t another Mahomes/Chiefs crown – yet. But Kansas City has signaled to the entire league that it would be unwise to count them out. If Week 1 is any indication, the 2026 campaign will feature a heated arms race between the four elite quarterbacks in the AFC, and their teams will play from start to finish for the top spot.
With the Ravens under new coach Jesse Minter and Jackson paired with the highly-ideal, detail-oriented Dylan Doyle, Baltimore could be more effective on both sides of the ball, and Jackson could have one of his best seasons.
Allen continues to provide financial support for the Bills, but offseason moves have improved his reception, and new coach Joe Brady seems determined to attack with intensity.
How different will the Bills and Ravens be under new head coaches?
Robert Mays
of Cincinnati Bengals The Burrows’ aggressive and disruptive defense seems to have finally backed up, which should translate to more opportunities for the talented quarterback and top flight. Ja’Marr Chase And T. Higgins.
It looks like any of the three have Super Bowl contenders.
But when the boss hangs 30-plus on one of the league’s tightest defenses without even asking Mahomes to provide the Wizards, it’s a bad sign. Their high-scoring night also came despite two rare offensive mishaps from the All-Pro center. Creed Humphrey Or miscommunications here and there from Mahomes and receivers.
Of course, Mahomes did enough on Monday night to dispel any concerns about falling in the playoffs. But the Chiefs didn’t need magic from him (he only passed for 184 yards). The increased physicality and efficiency of the run game set the pace. A revamped defense denied Denver time and time again — holding the Knicks to 45.5 percent of its shots, the second-most of his career — allowing Kansas City to keep the game flowing.
Defenses will be held to a certain standard and expecting 200-plus yards per week from a rushing attack is unrealistic. But this could very well rank as one of the best coaching staffs of the Andy Reid/Brett Veach era. Kansas City hasn’t had a 1,000-yard rusher since 2017, and Walker finally gives them that talent.
Allen and the Bills, Jackson and the Ravens, and Burrows and the Bengals all have unique potential, and each quarterback offers the ability to provide the difference every championship-caliber team needs. And it looks like each of their teams can provide enough support in key areas. But to date, getting over Mahomes has been very difficult. Now he’s back and with a play that could be the best ever, the pressure on Mahomes’ three special teammates will only intensify.
Will they be able to muster enough to win their souls?
