2020 AFC Season Preview

By Peyton Schultze

Can the defending champions overcome rising competition in the conference to get back to the Super Bowl? (via Colorado Springs Gazette).

At last, football is almost upon us. After one of the most turbulent offseasons in league history that had many people wondering if there even would be any NFL football played this season, we sit just a few weeks out from the league’s 101st year of existence and the kickoff game between the Houston Texans and Kansas City Chiefs.

So what exactly will 2020 look like? Will Lamar Jackson and the Ravens redeem themselves from last year’s crushing playoff defeat to the Titans? Will a team like the Colts or Chargers make a surprise run to the postseason after down years in 2019? Will the Browns finally get their act together and win their first playoff game since the 1995 season? Or will Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs continue their conference dominance on their way toward a legitimate dynasty?

With that being said, here’s our team-by-team breakdown and predictions for the upcoming season in the AFC. In addition, please check the bottom of this post for a key statement on the outlook on the upcoming season. Enjoy, and the countdown toward kickoff on September 10th begins now!

AFC North

1. Baltimore Ravens

Baltimore’s secondary was a dangerous group in 2019, and they could be even better this season in a division full of shaky quarterback play (via Ebony Bird).

Redemption may be the key word for the Baltimore Ravens in the 2020 season, especially as Lamar Jackson returns to the field for the first time since his disappointing postseason performance versus the Tennessee Titans. Despite the unfortunate turn of events in the postseason, the 2019 regular season was one of the most special performances in NFL history by Jackson, taking home the honors for league MVP and leading the Ravens to a magnificent 14-2 record. Now, after leading the league’s top scoring offense last season, expect Jackson to be even better this season with even more weapons surrounding him on both sides of the ball. On offense, rookie running back J.K. Dobbins joins Mark Ingram II in the backfield for the league’s most lethal running attack, while the team also returns notable standout receiving weapons such as speedy wide reciever Marquise Brown and tight end Mark Andrews, one of the league’s blossoming stars at the position. On the other side of the ball, expect even greater things from a defense that ranked 3rd in scoring last season. Even though the team cut star safety Earl Thomas after some testy exchanges with the team, the Ravens’ secondary is the deepest and most dangerous group of defensive backs in the league. Meanwhile, the Ravens also made two huge offseason decisions in acquiring superstar defensive lineman Calais Campbell and battle-tested veteran Derek Wolfe to help add to their pass rush, which could transform this defense into the league’s best group. With experienced coach John Harbaugh still at the helm and without many changes from last year poised to affect their opportunities this season, expect another awesome season from Baltimore that could finish with them holding the Lombardi Trophy.

Record: 14-2

Team MVP: Lamar Jackson

2. Cleveland Browns

Odell Beckham Jr. had a down year for his standards in 2019, but positive signs from Browns’ training camp could lead to another great season for the superstar reciever (via USA Today).

The Browns were the talk of the league heading into the 2019 season, and deservedly so. With a hotshot quarterback, two star receivers, and plenty of playmakers on defense, the expectations were the highest they had been in Cleveland for years. However, their promising story was never written, and the 2019 season became an utter embarrassment for one of the league’s most notorious losing teams. Nevertheless, Cleveland still plans to run out a loaded roster in 2020, which really addressed some key holes in the offseason that plagued their 2019 season. Of all the takeaways from last year, the most positive one had to be the performance of running back Nick Chubb. A budding superstar with annual Pro Bowl abilities, Chubb figures to have another huge year behind an upgraded offensive line that should really help to protect quarterback Baker Mayfield. The young quarterback was a trainwreck in 2019 despite some outstanding offensive talent surrounding him such as Odell Beckham Jr. and Jarvis Landry, but his offensive scheme seemed to fail him and didn’t really play to his strengths. With former Vikings’ offensive coordinator Kevin Stefanski now in the picture for the Browns, expect Mayfield to get the ball out of his hands much more quickly this season and into the hands of his elite playmakers behind that improved O-Line and with star tight end Austin Hooper now on the roster as a security blanket. On defense, Cleveland still figures to have plenty of solid playmakers led by controversial-yet-phenomenal pass rusher Myles Garrett. With Sheldon Richardson and Olivier Vernon joining him on the defensive line, Garrett should have another big year for the Browns if he can avoid silly penalties that plagued this team in 2019. In addition, impact players such as Karl Joseph, Andrew Sendejo, and Denzel Ward should have good years in the secondary for the Browns, which was a point of emphasis in the offseason. In 2019, the sky was falling for Browns’ fans. In 2020, it may not be perfect, but expect some kind of recovery for a team that is desperate for some kind of success.

Record: 9-7

Team MVP: Nick Chubb

3. Pittsburgh Steelers

Smith-Schuster, one of the game;’s brightest young stars, was silenced too often in 2019, but expect a bounce-back performance from the speedy wideout (via CBS Sports).

The Steelers went 8-8 last year despite being without Ben Roethlisberger for almost the entire season, so you would expect them to bounce back in a major way, right? Well, maybe, but a lot relies on the shoulders of Big Ben and head coach Mike Tomlin in the 2020 season. Luckily for them, a mostly favorable home schedule should benefit the team in 2020 and could lift this team into the playoff picture despite a crowded AFC. Pittsburgh surely deploys one of the most lethal defenses in the league (which almost carried them to a playoff berth in 2019), but there are concerns over just how effective this defense can be in a repeat effort. However, even with concerns about aging players such as Joe Haden and Cameron Heyward, the Steelers do have two defensive superstars in sackmaster T.J. Watt and do-it-all safety Minkah Fitzpatrick. Both players were arguably worthy of Defensive Player of the Year consideration last year, and they both appear to be poised for another huge season on that side of the ball. But with so much of the responsibility falling on the Pittsburgh defense once again, the pressure is truly on the Steelers’ offense to bounce back in a major way. Running back James Conner and wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster both fell very short of massive expectations in 2019, but both found themselves beaten up often and without a reliable signal caller feeding them the ball on offense. Hence, all eyes are on their grizzled, veteran quarterback to return from injury and get this team back into the playoffs. The equation appears to be simple for the Steelers: if Roethlisberger returns to play at full strength and play at his typical Hall of Fame level, this is a playoff team that could make a run at the Super Bowl. But if Ben struggles to produce with this offense once again and appears to be closer to retirement than any sort of productive play, the end of an era could be near for both Roethlisberger and Tomlin.

Record: 9-7

Team MVP: T.J. Watt

4. Cincinnati Bengals

Rookie quarterback Joe Burrow was a phenom in his senior year at LSU, and his NFL journey will be fun to watch in 2020 (via Yahoo! Sports).

2019 wasn’t a pretty year for the Cincinnati Bengals, but they did have the ultimate benefit of acquiring the first overall pick and selecting quarterback Joe Burrow after one of the greatest single-season performances in college football history. With outstanding pocket mobility, an accurate arm in the middle of the field, and a knack for stepping up in big games, Burrow was the clear favorite to be selected #1 overall in this year’s class. However, with Burrow entering Year 1 in one of the NFL’s hardest divisions, it may be at least more of the same for the Bengals in the short-term. To put it nicely, nothing went right for the Bengals last season in head coach Zac Taylor’s debut season, as the Bengals ranked 30th in scoring offensively and 25th on the defensive side. With an inconsistent season from running back Joe Mixon, a weak offensive line, injuries to the receiving core, and a lack of impact players on the defensive side, Cincinnati was clearly one of the worst teams in all of football. And while Burrow should certainly provide a spark to the entire organization after a swaggering year for the LSU Tigers, it doesn’t seem like enough to immediately lift the hopes of Bengals’ fans into thinking there’s a chance to make the playoffs this season. In addition, with the global pandemic causing many problems for a young team like the Bengals, it could be a very slow start to the season for Cincy with a lack of meaningful reps. Taking this into account, this year should almost serve as a litmus test for how great their 2020 rookie class can be for the foreseeable future, and there shouldn’t be any kind of panic if the team fails to make any sort of noise this year. At their best, the Bengals could be a team like the 2019 Arizona Cardinals that knocked on the door of some serious contenders led by a promising rookie quarterback, but failed to make a major push forward in the short-term. But at their worse, and which happens to be the more likely scenario, it seems like it will be more of the same for the Bengals in a rough 2020 season.

Record: 3-13

Team MVP: Joe Burrow

AFC South

1. Indianapolis Colts

Philip Rivers could benefit from a new uniform and new location, but 2020 could be his final stand after a terrible 2019 season with the Chargers (via The Athletic).

Showing flashes of future success throughout the 2019 season, the Indianapolis Colts enter 2020 with a lot of promise toward a successful season with a new seasoned veteran in town under center. With longtime Chargers’ signal caller Philip Rivers now suiting up for the blue and white, the Colts have some hope that they’ll be able to bring playoff football back to Indianapolis in 2020. This isn’t to say that we think Rivers is in for a career resurgence that will see him throwing for 35 touchdowns,. but he should be better than what he showed last season behind a miserable offensive line in Los Angeles. Instead, Indy boasts one of the best groups of offensive line in all of football, and Rivers and the rest of the skill positions should really benefit. Receiver TY Hilton could be in for bigger role in 2020 as Rivers’ go-to target in the role that has been occupied by Keenan Allen for the past couple of seasons in LA, but expect some major breakout seasons for rookies Michael Pittman Jr. and Jonathan Taylor. If both of these rookie studs put up big numbers and bring a boost to this offense, teams truly need to watch out for the Colts. Meanwhile on the Indianapolis defense, the Colts deploy one of the most underrated units in the league with many solid players across the board. Of course, star linebacker Darius Leonard is the face of this defense, and his production should only continue to rise with more years under his belt. Meanwhile, pass rusher Justin Houston should only continue to cause problems for opposing quarterbacks and players in the secondary such as Malik Hooker and Kenny Moore should help lock down some of the conference’s best passing games in 2020. The Colts have potential to be a real contender in the AFC with a new leader under center and one of the most dominant position groups in the NFL with their offensive line. Whether they’ll actually rise up to that status is another question, but expect a fun year in Indianapolis in 2020 that could see them capture the AFC South.

Record: 10-6

Team MVP: Darius Leonard

2. Tennessee Titans

Derrick Henry emerged in a big way in the postseason last year, and he’ll likely need to do it again if the Titans want to reach their ultimate goal of the Super Bowl (via Music City Miracles).

The 2019 Tennessee Titans put together nothing short of a fairy tale story over the course of one of the most memorable years in franchise history. With a backup quarterback leading the team to the playoffs and one of the game’s brightest stars at running back literally carrying the Titans on his back for extended periods of time, the Titans became one of the most fun teams to watch on their way to last year’s AFC Championship Game. Now, as the Titans gear up for another shot at trying to get into the Super Bowl, they’ll do so in a wide-open division that could be anyone’s to grab. For Tennessee, their main headliner, of course, will be the play of running back Derrick Henry. The Titans’ success has often been a mirror reflection of Henry’s ability to produce offense in recent seasons, and don’t expect that to change after a historic close to last season in Tennessee. However, Henry isn’t the only factor that will make some noise on offense for the Titans. Quarterback Ryan Tannehill blossomed during his time as a starter in 2019, and he’ll look to put up another career season for the Titans to establish himself as the team’s quarterback for the near future. In addition, with a very solid and mighty offensive line up front and one of the game’s most explosive receivers in AJ Brown, this Titans offense should make plenty of noise and dominate some weaker and less physical competition. On defense, even though they’ll deal with some tough losses such as Jurrell Casey and Logan Ryan, expect at least some solid performances across the board from them with defensive minded head coach Mike Vrabel leading the charge. The head coach has quietly become one of the most respected coaches in the league during his short time with the Titans, and he can surely raise even higher up the coach rankings with another great year. The Titans, however, have a lot to prove after their Cinderella story last year. This is easily a team that could sputter out in the AFC South, or once again contend for a Super Bowl title. Based off a hard schedule and a bit of a weaker defense, we’ll say the Titans take a small step back but at least hang around Wild Card contention. With that being said, don’t write these guys off quite yet; they could easily have plenty more in store.

Record: 8-8

Team MVP: Derrick Henry

3. Houston Texans

Deshaun Watson is one of the league’s best players, but he’s in for a more difficult year without DeAndre Hopkins in the lineup anymore (via The Undefeated).

Often criticized for curious on-and-off-the-field decisions for that state of the team, head coach Bill O’Brien enters the 2020 with more pressure than any coach in all of football. Even though the Texans have become a mainstay in the playoffs in recent season, the Texans’ bold choice to send star wide reciever DeAndre Hopkins to Arizona in exchange for running back David Johnson has many people doubting just how well-run this organization is from top to bottom. We are certainly one of those critics, as we expect Houston to take a bit of a step back following Hopkins’ departure and plenty of major question marks on both sides of the ball. However, this team has too many star players to be completely thrown out the door. Front and center this year will once again be quarterback Deshaun Watson, who will likely be throwing to receiving targets such as Brandin Cooks and Will Fuller in 2020. Watson is one of the game’s best players when healthy, and a potential run to the postseason in 2020 without Hopkins could garner some serious MVP votes for the former Clemson star. If that’s the case, however, he’ll likely need better play up front on the offensive line and the re-emergence of Johnson, who has disappeared from the elite running back landscape in recent years in Arizona. Meanwhile, on the defensive side of the ball, JJ Watt once again leads a shaky defense that has been exposed in the passing game in recent seasons. Even though the team deploys several solid linebacking talents such as Zach Cunningham and Bernardrick McKinney again in 2020, the Texans will need a jolt in the secondary in order to avoid shootouts with some of the elite quarterback of the AFC. Houston faces a very interesting season that could determine the direction of the franchise for the next decade, and the pressure is all on the shoulders of O’Brien. Will he be able to lead this team to the playoffs again, or will the Texans fall deep into mediocrity?

Record: 7-9

Team MVP: Deshaun Watson

4. Jacksonville Jaguars

Gardner Minshew was a bright spot for Jaguars in 2019, and he’ll look to put together a strong season to become Jacksonville’s quarterback of the future (via 247Sports.com).

If there’s one team that almost everyone expects to be near the bottom of the standings in 2020, it’s likely to be the Jacksonville Jaguars. Although the team found an interesting flier in the case of quarterback Gardner Minshew in the 2019 NFL Draft, the Jaguars enter this year with more questions than answers following a disappointing year last season. On offense, Minshew should at least put up similar numbers to last season with quarterback Nick Foles no longer lingering over his shoulder in the quarterback room and with a solid cast of players around him. Running back Leonard Fournette remains a very solid runner despite his contract requests that have plagued Jacksonville’s offseason, and receiver DJ Chark Jr. remains one of the most underrated producers in the league after a breakout season in 2019. If this trio of players can perform at a high level and light a spark under this organization, maybe the Jaguars can outperform expectations and make some noise in the conference. However, on the defensive side of the ball, the Jaguars have truly fallen off a cliff when it comes to production. Following the departure of star players such as Jalen Ramsey and Calais Campbell from some of their best defenses of the past five years, the Jags look like a team without any sort of defensive foundation. The team does have solid defensive end Josh Allen playing at a high level for the near future, but the clear disconnect between the organization and players such as Yannick Ngakoue seems to be boiling over onto the field. Jacksonville doesn’t appear to be in store for much success in 2020 with plenty of better teams around them in the AFC, and the end of the Doug Marrone era seems to not be a matter of if, but when. On the bright side, there’s a good chance that this team could be rolling out with Trevor Lawrence of Justin Fields in the 2021 season, so maybe a step back this season won’t be the worse thing for the team’s future success.

Record: 2-14

Team MVP: DJ Chark Jr.

AFC West

1. Kansas City Chiefs

With a Super Bowl MVP award already under his belt in only his second full season as a starter, the sky is the limit for young Patrick Mahomes, the current face of the league (The Denver Post).

To put it simply, the AFC has a major Patrick Mahomes problem. Since stunning fans across the league in his first full season as a starter in 2018, all the young quarterback has done is break record after record and capture his first (of potentially many) Lombardi Trophy for the Kansas City Chiefs. With a bazooka of an arm, uncanny scrambling ability, and some of the most ridiculous highlight plays you’ll ever see from the quarterback position, Mahomes has become the face of the league and made the Chiefs a perennial contender for the next decade. So how will KC follow up their Super Bowl winning year in 2020? For starters, the defense should only continue to improve and gel over time with even more star-studded players getting time to mix together. With superstar talents such as Chris Jones, Tyrann Mathieu, and Frank Clark gearing up for a shot at the NFL’s first back-to-back title run since the 2004-2005 New England Patriots, the Chiefs only figure to rank near the top of the league in sacks and turnovers generated in the secondary. However, as everyone else in the league knows, this team is built on the brain of head coach Andy Reid and his dynamic offense. With impossible-to-guard talents such as Tyreek Hill and Travis Kelce opening up the field for Mahomes and putting up massive points each week, the Chiefs are an offensive juggernaut that may not have even hit their full potential yet. In addition, Kansas City returns the majority of their offensive line talents once again this year, but the way this offense can reach the next level will be if rookie running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire can go off in his first season with the Chiefs. Edwards-Helaire was a star at LSU despite his undersized frame, but expect Reid to take his potential and mesh it with the rest of the Chiefs’ offense very quickly. If everyone stays healthy, particularly Mahomes, there’s no reason to believe that the Chiefs aren’t one of the top three teams in the league right now. And if they do find a way to stay healthy, watch out: this could be the AFC representative once again in Super Bowl LV.

Record: 13-3

Team MVP: Patrick Mahomes

2. Denver Broncos

Drew Lock showed flashes of superstardom during his time on the field in 2019, but can he put up a repeat effort this year? (via Mile High Report).

Denver enters 2020 as one of the most unpredictable teams in the league following a promising end to last season and the uncertainty following their new quarterback under center. Drew Lock entered last season as a rookie quarterback without a ton of hype around him following a slide in the draft and an early season hand injury, which made his surprise emergence even more encouraging for a franchise longing for a return to postseason football in the Mile High City. Luckily for the Broncos, Lock won’t have to do it all by himself in his first season as the full-time starter. With newly signed running back Melvin Gordon joining former Pro Bowl running back Phillip Lindsay in the backfield behind a solid offensive line, Denver should boast one of the best rushing attacks in all of football and take the pressure off of Lock’s shoulders early and often. However, the Denver passing games figures to be just as prominent after the breakout season from wide reciever Courtland Sutton in 2019. If Sutton can produce his same numbers from last year, while rookie reciever Jerry Jeudy and tight end Noah Fant live up to their high expectations as franchise cornerstones, this Denver offense should be the best the team has seen since Peyton Manning’s days with the Broncos. Nevertheless, the Broncos are still built on defense. With head coach Vic Fangio in his second year at the helm, the Broncos could be a terror for opposing offenses if they can get clicking early. With pass rushers Von Miller and Bradley Chubb leading a defense full of defensive studs such as Jurrell Casey, AJ Bouye, and Justin Simmons, this defense can easily be a top ten unit in the league if they can avoid the injury bug that plagued them a season ago. It’s too early to say that Denver can even come close to competing with Kansas City for the top of the AFC West, but don’t be surprised if the Broncos find a way to sneak back into the playoffs for the first time since their Super Bowl winning season.

Record: 10-6

Team MVP: Drew Lock

3. Los Angeles Chargers

The Chargers aren’t expected to be one of the top teams in the AFC, but they could certainly surprise with so many solid players all across their roster (via Flipboard).

Like the Broncos, the Chargers enter the 2020 season with a ton of question marks across the board despite a relatively loaded roster. However, one major difference this year for Los Angeles will be the signal caller on offense for the Bolts. Out the door is longtime starter Philip Rivers, and in come the talents of veteran Tyrod Taylor and rookie Justin Herbert. Taylor, a solid quarterback with a proven track record in the past with the Buffalo Bills, figures to be the starter for most of the year and certainly gives the Chargers the best shot at winning this season despite Herbert’s potential in the long-run. This situation could certainly develop as the season goes on, but head coach Anthony Lynn will likely take a week-to-week approach based on Taylor’s and the team’s overall play with him in the lineup. On offense alongside Taylor, Keenan Allen and Austin Ekeler figure to have major statistical seasons once again with an increased emphasis in their direction. Both players are some of the best at their position in the NFL when healthy, and with the immobile Rivers no longer in Los Angeles, the Chargers could open up their offense even more with some expanded creativity featuring both Allen and Ekeler. However, if the Chargers are going to shock the world and get back into postseason play, they’ll likely do so on the coattails of their star-studded defense. Joey Bosa and Derwin James (update 9/2: out for the season with a knee injury) are certainly the headliners of the defense, as they have proven to produce and change the game at a high level when on the field. Nevertheless, the Chargers have other real impact contributors ready to make a serious impact across the board with players such as Melvin Ingram, Casey Heyward, and newly acquired Chris Harris Jr. from the Broncos. The Chargers have an interesting outlook for the season; they could pan out as one of the worst teams in the league, sit in the middle of the pack, or take off and look like a contender with their loaded roster. Our guess is they’ll be somewhere in the middle, but they’ll be an annoyance for teams all year long in the competitive AFC West.

Record: 7-9

Team MVP: Joey Bosa

4. Las Vegas Raiders

All eyes are on quarterback Derek Carr in the Raiders’ first year in the Sin City (via Las Vegas Review-Journal).

You could easily see the Raiders much higher on other lists, but there are plenty of justified questions about how legit this team can be in their first season in Las Vegas. For one, the Raider defense has been a travesty for the past five years, and there’s little hope toward a quick turnaround in that department. Although pass rusher Maxx Crosby should only continue to get better against some decent offensive lines in the AFC West, there’s not a whole lot of reliable help around him on the Las Vegas defense other than linebacker Cory Littleton that is enough to scare defenses. However, the Raiders’ offense is still projected to be a formidable group with some solid players all around. Perhaps the team’s greatest strength is their run game behind a vicious and gigantic offensive line, with rising star Josh Jacobs getting the bulk of the carries. Jacobs should be in for another huge year in Las Vegas, and look for head coach Jon Gruden to keep feeding the young back all season long. In addition, with solid weapons such as rookie receiver Henry Ruggs and tight end Darren Waller rounding out an intriguing passing attack, all the pressure relies on the arm of quarterback Derek Carr. With Carr constantly under pressure since Gruden’s arrival with the team, a lack of productive play at any point this season from Carr could lead to a benching and the insertion of acquired quarterback Marcus Mariota into the starting lineup. Maybe we are wrong about the Raiders, but this was a team that played too many close games against weak competition in 2019, while also getting blown out by several contenders like Green Bay, Kansas City, and Tennessee. But without the Black Hole also rooting them on inside their shiny and new stadium for the entire season, it’s hard to see the Raiders wreaking havoc over the rest of the league. And without a roster that has not been improved in a big way in this past offseason, the Raiders shouldn’t be a serious threat to overtake the Chiefs at the top of the division.

Record: 5-11

Team MVP: Maxx Crosby

AFC East

1. Buffalo Bills

Josh Allen, the young and mobile Bills’ quarterback, took a major leap forward last season by leading Buffalo to a wild card berth (via WKBW).

After causing some real noise in the AFC last season and playing in one of the best games of the 2019 postseason, few teams appear to have a brighter future than the Buffalo Bills. Unfortunately, in the midst of the global pandemic, Bills Mafia may not be able to ultimately circle the wagons as they usually do in northeastern New York. Nevertheless, with Tom Brady now headed south for the winter, Buffalo enters the new league year as the favorite to capture the AFC East title and possible even make a run toward the Super Bowl. A lot of the Bills’ hope relies on their all-world defense, led by defensive forced like linebacker Tremaine Edwards and one of the league best cornerbacks in Tre’Davious White. But after ranking second in the league in defensive scoring at 16.2 PPG in 2019, there are plenty of signs trending up for Buffalo. However, this turns even more attention to their offense, led by quarterback Josh Allen. The young quarterback has had an interesting career so far, breaking past expectations despite a clear weakness in the accuracy department. However, with a cannon for an arm and some outstanding mobility for his size, Allen has produced some solid numbers for the Bills so far in his short career. This should be a great sign for the Bills, where their offense should only continue to rise with the addition of wide reciever Stefon Diggs. If Diggs can build a connection with Allen and form a solid duo alongside John Brown, the Bills can challenge some of the top teams in the AFC on a weekly basis. Questions remain across the board in Buffalo, especially when it comes to Allen’s skills. But if last year taught us anything about the Bills, this is a team quickly on the rise that may be ready to contend sooner rather than later.

Record: 9-7

Team MVP: Tre’Davious White

2. New York Jets

Jets’ running back Le’Veon Bell is due for a bounce back season after a miserable experience in Year 1 in the Big Apple (via New York Post).

2020 has been a rough year for many, but could 2019 have gone any worse for the typically-disappointing Jets? Probably not, which makes their outlook on the 2020 season a little bit more encouraging given their decent finish to last season. With a very weak division surrounding them this season, the Jets have a chance to finally recapture some prior glory if head coach Adam Gase can get his act together after a very disconnected start to his tenure. One way that he’ll be able to bounce back is if quarterback Sam Darnold can put together the best season of his career to date, which is possible behind a slightly improved offensive line. In addition, despite some odds reports out of Jets’ camp about his usage, running back Le’Veon Bell should be able to have a much better season in 2020 behind the upgraded line and with more time to adjust to Gase’s sometimes-puzzling system. Overall, this Jets’ offense may not be near the top of the league, but they should at least take a step forward from a year ago after New York did a nice job of adding some weapons for Darnold such as speedster Breshad Perriman and rookie Denzel Mims. On the other side of the ball, the Jets actually put together a fairly decent season under coordinator Gregg Williams. Yes, the Jets will surely miss the presence of Jamal Adams (Seattle) and CJ Mosley (opt-out), but this is still a talented defense with a solid scheme. The Jets are always under scrutiny in New York City (and mostly for good reason), but they have a chance to actually put together a solid season in 2020. Without any expectations to make a run toward the playoffs, this could be a surprise team floating around a wild card spot in the final weeks of the season if all goes right.

Record: 7-9

Team MVP: Sam Darnold

3. New England Patriots

Cam’s first year in New England may not be perfect, but it should be fun to watch how he does with the six-time champions (via USA Today).

If there’s one team that walked away from the offseason with one of the worst free agency periods in NFL history, it has to be this year’s New England Patriots. Sure, the Patriots were able to eventually acquire a former MVP in Cam Newton, but they also split ways or dealt with serious opt-outs with notable players such as Kyle Van Noy and Dont’a Hightower. Oh, and they just lost the greatest quarterback of all-time to Tampa Bay. In the first year of the post-Brady era, don’t expect much at all from these Patriots. The 2020 version of the Patriots is simply too depleted to make any sort of noise, and head coach Bill Belichick could have his eyes set on the future of the organization with several prized college prospects surely on their way to the league soon enough. However, this doesn’t mean the Patriots are just going to wave the white flag. Instead, all eyes will be on the play of quarterback Cam Newton, who will join an offense alongside Julian Edelman, N’Keal Harry, and James White. The 2019 Patriots were known for not providing Brady enough weapons to create explosive plays, but with cam now in the picture, Josh McDaniels could open up his playbook and use some expanded creativity to buy some big plays for the Pats. Meanwhile on the defensive side of the ball, the Patriots do not look nearly as dangerous than they did in the first half of last season. Yes, the Patriots will bring back most of an elite secondary featuring the game’s best corner in Stephon Gilmore, but they lack a ton of impact players on defense right now that figure to be on the roster for the long haul. That’s not to say that there won’t be a few surprise stars; there easily could be with Belichick still roaming the sidelines. But this simply isn’t the Patriots year to contend with Jackson and Mahomes in the AFC, so look for them to take a step back in the division for the first time in two decades with Brady no longer in town.

Record: 5-11

Team MVP: Stephon Gilmore

4. Miami Dolphins

If Miami is slow out of the gates for the second consecutive year, look for all of the attention to turn toward Tagovailoa in South Beach (via The Phinsider).

With a strong finish to the 2019 season, there was plenty of hope on the horizon in the Sunshine State for the Miami Dolphins. After they were projected to be the worst team in the NFL, Miami stepped up to the plate and produced a solid season with a lack of impact players. However, with quarterback Tua Tagovailoa now in the picture for the future, Miami enters 2020 with plenty of promise. While their defense remains one of the lesser units in the AFC, they did at least add some impact players such as corner Byron Jones, linebacker Kyle Van Noy, and defensive end Shaq Lawson to go along with incumbent corner Xavien Howard. With these building blocks being laid into foundation, expect some promising efforts from the defense this year. However, all eyes will be on the offense for as long as Tagovailoa is in the lineup. Quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick will start the year alongside players such as star wideout DeVante Parker and running backs Matt Breida and Jordan Howard, but his time could quickly run out as the stop-gap starter until the former Alabama signal caller is ready for action. But even with these pieces in place, this isn’t a team that seems capable of making noise in the conference quite yet. However, keep in mind that their projected record isn’t based off their roster on paper; this is due to a lack of time in the offseason spent together with shortened training camps, a lack of reps, and no preseason games. Like the Bengals, this season is a bit of a test for the future and should offer a glimpse of the future for the Dolphins. This is a promising and young football team, but don’t expect great things quite yet in Year 2 of the Brian Flores-era.

Record: 4-12

Team MVP: DeVante Parker

Season Predictions

The next great quarterback rivalry between Lamar Jackson and Patrick Mahomes figures to take shape once again in 2020 (via Sports Illustrated).

Wild Card Round

#1 Baltimore Ravens (14-2) BYE

#2 Kansas City Chiefs (13-3) over #7 Pittsburgh Steelers (9-7)

#3 Indianapolis Colts (10-6) over #6 Cleveland Browns (9-7)

#4 Buffalo Bills (9-7) over #5 Denver Broncos (10-6)

Divisional Round

#1 Baltimore Ravens (14-2) over #4 Buffalo Bills (9-7)

#2 Kansas City Chiefs (13-3) over #3 Indianapolis Colts (10-6)

Conference Championship

#1 Baltimore Ravens (14-2) over #2 Kansas City Chiefs (13-3)

AFC Champions

#1 Baltimore Ravens (14-2)

• Note: All award predictions for the 2020 NFL seasons will be posted in our next preview edition of the NFC.

A Statement from The Golden Angeleno

Black Lives Matter.

It is a statement that sounds so obvious that it is truly shocking that we have to keep mentioning it time and time again. Yet there are too many things that keep happening in this country that prove that some people think otherwise. Remember these names, all recently slain at the hands of police officers around the country. George Floyd. Breonna Taylor. And now, Jacob Blake.

It’s not okay. And at this point, it’s not okay to simply let things slide for as long as a certain group, race, or community is constantly being treated unequally.

Everyone is tired of the excuses. These people do not deserve to die behind systemic racism and a twisted justice system that isn’t treating its citizens with constant love, honor, and respect for all. It’s easy to ignore something that is uncomfortable to talk about, but that doesn’t mean it’s right. What everyone wants is change, and what significant change and reform can provide is freedom, justice, and equality for every race all across the country.

Take what the late, great Kobe Bryant preached. Expand your capabilities and be better, no matter the cost. Whether it’s football, parenthood, baseball, writing, or anything else important to your own life, be better.

Take this lesson, and look toward the past to find solutions for the future. And as someone who knows a fair amount about the history of the Los Angeles Dodgers, themes of equality and fighting for what you believe in resonate throughout the fan base and to many people throughout Los Angeles.

On April 15th, 1947, a 28-year old second baseman named Jackie Robinson debuted for the Brooklyn Dodgers and broke the color barrier for the first time in professional sports. Despite major threats and the sport being segregated for over 50 years, Robinson stepped inside Ebbets Field and changed the world forever with his strength, courage, and will to make a difference in the world.

On October 6th, 1965, and Game 1 of the 1965 World Series, perhaps the game’s greatest pitcher and a proud Jewish man, Sandy Koufax, opted to sit out the first game of the matchup between the Dodgers and the Twins as it fell on the same day as Yom Kippur. Koufax faced backlash for sitting out of the first game, but chose his faith over his career without much hesitation. Just six games later, those same ‘65 Dodgers would win the World Series over the Twins after falling behind 0-2 in the series. And the World Series MVP? None other than the great Koufax.

We saw something similar this past week with the Milwaukee Bucks boycotting the fifth game of their first round playoff series versus the Orlando Magic. Although it had nothing to do with a religious holiday or a major hurdle, the Bucks made a statement to the country that they were willing to put their careers and reputations on the line if it meant standing up and attempting to fight for what they believe in.

As we enter the upcoming NFL season, these messages need to be as clear as ever. This is not a political issue; this is a human-being issue with some major implications at every step. Make a difference. Fight for equality. Rise up and cause good trouble. And of course, be better.

For more information, here are some important links if you’d like to help out or become more educated on certain subject matters. Thank you.

California Voter Registration: https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/voter-registration/

How to Register to Vote: https://www.usa.gov/register-to-vote

How to Demand Justice for Jacob Blake: https://www.elle.com/culture/career-politics/a33753261/jacob-blake-police-shooting-wisconsin-how-to-help/

Justice for Breonna Taylor: https://www.change.org/p/andy-beshear-justice-for-breonna-taylor

How to Help the Black Lives Matter Movement: https://time.com/5849721/how-to-help-black-lives-matter-protests/