Serious question how good are 7-2 AFC teams (and LAC at 6-3)

[BuffaloBill]

Is there a changing of the guard in AFC power dynamics or is this an illusion?  How good are the Colts, Broncos Patriots and for honorable mention the Chargers? Do the Bills need to be worried about any of these teams from a playoffs perspective? I know threads take on their own flavor but I am asking the questions in all seriousness to see what the read is from others.

 

I also get it that injuries will say a lot about what happens over the balance of the season. This aspect of the situation is anybody’s guess.

 

 

 

[Pecker]

I’m not really scared of any of those teams.  In another season or two the Pats and Broncos will be better with their QBs likely to improve.  Some have good Ds and some have good run games, But with Allen, all things are possible. 
 

I’m still dreading facing the chiefs ravens or bengals(with burrow) in the playoffs.  
 

 

[Big Turk]

A lot of teams fade as the going gets tougher later in the year and teams start figuring out their schemes and how to defend them better.

 

I mean sure, they are quality teams, but would I feel scared to play either in the playoffs? Hell no.

[Billsfanatic8989]

Not worried about any of them. 

[gonzo1105]

The Chargers are just a different team in the road than at home. Yes we lost to the Pats but we have tons of penalties and turnovers. Very uncharacteristic. The Broncos have a great D but they have won a ton of games late in the 4th I’ll want to see if they can keep that up. 
 

The Colts will be good as far as Daniel Jones takes em 

[ScottishBills]

The two with the 2nd year QBs are very likely the most dangerous - as they have a pot of money to play with for 2-3 years and if they get the player acquisition right, they can become powerhouses. 

 

At the same time, those QBs need to prove it over 2-3 years also.  Look at the Texans and how they were viewed after Stroud in year one - and he went backwards really. 

Of course equally possible Nix and Maye take further leaps forward and those teams then have great QB play and great coaching and a winning history behind them. Dangerous. 

 

Chargers and Colts I don't see it myself 🤷🏽‍♂️

[Sojourner]

1 minute ago, ScottishBills said:

The two with the 2nd year QBs are very likely the most dangerous - as they have a pot of money to play with for 2-3 years and if they get the player acquisition right, they can become powerhouses. 

 

At the same time, those QBs need to prove it over 2-3 years also.  Look at the Texans and how they were viewed after Stroud in year one - and he went backwards really. 

Of course equally possible Nix and Maye take further leaps forward and those teams then have great QB play and great coaching and a winning history behind them. Dangerous. 

 

Chargers and Colts I don't see it myself 🤷🏽‍♂️

Colts just had a dud game. Turned the ball over and out that Steelers game out of reach. If they don’t perform against the Chiefs coming out of their bye week I may get on board with them not being a legit contender but right now Theyre 3-2 against reasonable teams (Broncos, Rams, Cards, Chargers, Steelers). Rams loss was a close one, probably would have won it if AD Mitchell didn’t fumble the ball on a 70 yard catch. 

The other teams they beat? Not good ones. And they blew the brakes off each of them; something a good team should do. 

[Fleezoid]

The Patriots are the team I'd be the most concerned about. I'm not worried about Daniel Jones. The Bills may even be able to turn that to a positive if they get him rattled. Taylor running the ball does worry me a bit. The Bills D has tightened up, but there's always the possibility of getting gashed again. 

[sleeby]

Chargers, chiefs and Broncos all have hard schedules moving forward and will play each other multiple times.  I see 4 more losses for the chiefs +/- one.  But they all have hard games of beating each other up ahead.

NE's schedule moving forward is kindergarten.  They may win afc east if they continue as they are and the Bills if the Bills blink and lose to them a second time.

[sleeby]

6 minutes ago, Sojourner said:

Theyre 3-2 against reasonable teams (Broncos, Rams, Cards, Chargers, Steelers). 

Steelers are half a decent team.  Defense.  6 turnovers and they only won 27-20.  6 turnovers and still the Colts beat them in every single stat other than turnovers and final score.  1.5x the passing yards.  More rushing.  Time of possession?!!  Total yards.  Third and fourth down efficiency.  9 more first downs.  

Can't wait to see what the Bills do to them Nov 30th.

[Sojourner]

7 minutes ago, sleeby said:

Steelers are half a decent team.  Defense.  6 turnovers and they only won 27-20.  6 turnovers and still the Colts beat them in every single stat other than turnovers and final score.  1.5x the passing yards.  More rushing.  Time of possession?!!  Total yards.  Third and fourth down efficiency.  9 more first downs.  

Can't wait to see what the Bills do to them Nov 30th.

As I said, reasonable teams. Broncos, Rams and Chargers are the notable wins. 

I’m not advocating the Steelers are great or a top team. Theyre similar to the Cardinals. Quality defense that can be a problem when the offense can manage to move the ball and score consistently in a game. 

[SC STATE NUPE]

I don’t fear any of those squads. I don’t fear being a wildcard whatsoever. I’m only afraid if Baltimore wins their division and the Bills go there with like 12 wins and lose to a 9 win squad. That’s worse case scenario stuff. But if the Bills are 5 and the Chiefs below, I can see both squads meeting in Buffalo for the AFC title game. I think the Broncos would pose a challenge some though. Payton is an aggressive offensive coach, and McDermott has struggled against those types a good bit…

[Lionel Hutz]

If the playoffs were held today the Bills, Ravens, and Chiefs would all be favored against any of the patriots, Steelers, Chargers, Colts or Broncos. 

[BuffaloBillyG]

3 hours ago, BuffaloBill said:

Is there a changing of the guard in AFC power dynamics or is this an illusion?  How good are the Colts, Broncos Patriots and for honorable mention the Chargers? Do the Bills need to be worried about any of these teams from a playoffs perspective? I know threads take on their own flavor but I am asking the questions in all seriousness to see what the read is from others.

 

I also get it that injuries will say a lot about what happens over the balance of the season. This aspect of the situation is anybody’s guess.

 

 

 

The way I see it is each of those teams are good enough to knock us out of the playoffs in a one game format. Especially if something happens and we are a little "off" that day 

 

The Bills are still a good team, but the gap is significantly smaller than it used to be. It seems we have treaded water while those teams were building and they have caught up 

[DrBob806]

Given the Bills playoff history, nothing is certain as far as who or where they play these up & coming teams. 

[QCity]

4 hours ago, BuffaloBill said:

Is there a changing of the guard in AFC power dynamics or is this an illusion?  How good are the Colts, Broncos Patriots and for honorable mention the Chargers? Do the Bills need to be worried about any of these teams from a playoffs perspective? I know threads take on their own flavor but I am asking the questions in all seriousness to see what the read is from others.

 

Serious answer - the best answer will come from the sportsbooks, entities that remove all emotion from their claims and back them up with real money (don't just use 1 book, try to get a consensus amongst all the major ones).

 

And the consensus is that right now as of Tuesday 11/4/25 the Chiefs and Bills are both the favorites to win it all.  In the 2nd tier and not far behind would be the Eagles, Lions, Packers, and Rams not necessarily in that order. Juuuust outside that 2nd tier resides the Colts, so I guess you could say the experts believe the Colts are for real (somewhat).

 

Next would be the Broncos, they range from +1500 to +1800. That means they don't really have a chance unless some extraordinary events happen.

 

Most interesting would be the Patriots. There's a lot of people here that are still mentally scarred from that franchise, but you'll be happy to know they are about +2500 to +2800. That essentially means the books are calling them complete pretenders with almost no shot to win it all this year (and if you think you know better, you can pay off those PSL's with one small wager).

 

Chargers are even farther behind the Pats.

 

Lot of season left.