The first three weeks of the 2026 NFL season have shown us a lot.
With 14 games left to play, the drama is only going to intensify, but the field looks as deep as ever. Last year's division champions in both the AFC and NFC are officially on notice.
With the first 'month' of the season in the books, what have we seen from each of last year's division champions in the AFC? Which teams look poised to defend their crown, and which teams have taken steps back?
Entering a loaded slate of Week 4 action, let's take a look at where each of these four teams stands.
Grading every reigning AFC division champion after the month of September
Denver Broncos, AFC West
Grade: B
After a decade of watching the Kansas City Chiefs become the NFL's next dynasty, the Denver Broncos finally took back the AFC West in 2025.
Not only that, but this was the #1 seed in the entire AFC last season.
The Broncos have been okay since the start of the 2026 season, getting absolutely blown out in Week 1 by the Kansas City Chiefs before ripping off back-to-back comeback wins over the Jaguars and Rams.
The comeback kids haven't gone anywhere, apparently.
The Broncos are getting a "B" grade because we need to see this team take the next step. You aren't going to be upset with this team for being great situationally, especially late in games, but the offensive ineptitude early in games cannot be a "thing" for this team to truly be considered a contender in the AFC.
With the Chiefs and Raiders both 3-0 to start this season, the Broncos know they have to pick it up offensively.
New England Patriots, AFC East
Grade: D
Even with one win so far this season, the Patriots have been one of the league's biggest disappointments.
They lost in Week 1 to a Seattle Seahawks team that lost Sam Darnold early in the game. And they didn't just lose that game, but they blew a 10-point lead in the process.
New England's blowout loss against the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 3 was one of the most eye-opening games of the week. The Jaguars not only exposed Drake Maye even more than he already has been this season (and dating back to last year's playoffs), but it was the worst game the New England defense has played all year.
With AJ Brown on IR for the next handful of weeks, Drake Maye not playing with any sort of confidence, and the Bills already at 3-0, the start to the 2026 season has been about as bad as it gets for the New England Patriots.
Jacksonville Jaguars, AFC South
Grade: A
If there is one AFC division champion from last season that has passed the early eye test, it's got to be the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Aside from a rough second half against the Denver Broncos in Week 2, the Jaguars' offense has been back to the otherworldly level we saw in the second half of last season.
Trevor Lawrence has played like an MVP, spreading the ball around to the team's plethora of talented weapons in the passing game. The running game has done just fine with Bhayshul Tuten replacing Travis Etienne as the lead back.
The Jaguars look like they could start running away with the AFC South rather quickly, especially with the Texans starting off the season 0-3.
Pittsburgh Steelers, AFC North
Grade: B-
The Pittsburgh Steelers find themselves in familiar territory here after the first three games of the 2026 season.
They don't look like a great team, but they are 2-1 and atop the AFC North for the time being.
That's kind of been the story with this Steelers team in recent years. They might not look the most impressive on a week-to-week basis, and they might be inconsistent, but they simply find ways to win and stay in the mix every year.
I'm still not banking on this team being a major factor in the AFC, even if they get back to the postseason, but you can't grade them too harshly for the way they've played this season. They were seemingly sleep-walking through the first two games before an offensive explosion in Week 3, as well as some clutch plays from the defense.
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