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Ranking the top five NFL teams in the loaded AFC for 2022

By Lou Scataglia

KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI - JANUARY 23: Quarterback Josh Allen #17 of the Buffalo Bills scrambles while being chased by defensive end Frank Clark #55 of the Kansas City Chiefs during the 4th quarter of the AFC Divisional Playoff game at Arrowhead Stadium on January 23, 2022 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI - JANUARY 23: Quarterback Josh Allen #17 of the Buffalo Bills scrambles while being chased by defensive end Frank Clark #55 of the Kansas City Chiefs during the 4th quarter of the AFC Divisional Playoff game at Arrowhead Stadium on January 23, 2022 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) /
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INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA – MARCH 05: Kansas City Chiefs Head Coach Andy Reid sits courtside during the game between the Butler Bulldogs and the Villanova Wildcats at Hinkle Fieldhouse on March 05, 2022 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Brady Klain/Getty Images) /

The AFC was loaded even before the free agency period began. Now that it is mostly over, the AFC got even better, but which teams are among the very best?

In the 2021 season in the AFC, six teams boasted 10 or more wins, and 10 teams had winning records.

Somehow, someway, the AFC actually got a lot stronger going into the 2022 NFL season.

The free agency period for a few AFC teams was nothing short of spectacular, and while other contenders in the conference didn’t make headlines with their signings, they still had very solid free agency periods.

Some of the teams who were aggressive in free agency are also now among the league’s very best.

Perhaps one of the worst things about such a loaded conference is that not every “good” team can make the playoffs.  The AFC is set to have over 10 viable playoff teams in 2022, but only 7 get into the postseason.

The NFC is much weaker and does not have this issue, so the AFC is set to dominate the ratings game this upcoming season.

Since there has been so much movement within the AFC, it’d help if we were able to identify the 5 best teams in the conference as we head into the last wave or two of free agency and into other offseason activities.

Top 5 teams in the loaded AFC

5. Kansas City Chiefs

To be fair to the Chiefs, they have made the AFC Championship game every year since 2018.  However, their free agency period has not been as strong as some of their opponents’.

Tyrann Mathieu does not look like he will return to the team, and they haven’t really been able to add any heavy impact players like their AFC West opponents have.

They traded Tyreek Hill to the Dolphins, which will completely change how teams play them.

Their defense in 2021 ended the year as a very average unit, and they don’t exactly have huge threats at wide receiver or running back.

Even still, they have Patrick Mahomes and Andy Reid, so they’ll figure something out.  I think the loss of Tyreek Hills is monumental, and it would not surprise me to see a much less prolific Chiefs’ offense in 2022.

They did get a nice return for the player which should help when the NFL Draft rolls around.

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