The AFC is filled with a ton of quality teams, but that doesn't mean the worst possible outcome can't happen during the 2024 NFL Season. Crazy things happen in the NFL, and the 2024 season will surely be more of the same. There are a ton of solidly talented teams in the AFC, and you could make an argument that nearly all of them could make the postseason.
However, bad things happen in the NFL, and there is no doubt that some teams could be faced with some nightmare scenarios in the 2024 NFL Season.
One nightmare scenario for each AFC team ahead of the 2024 NFL Season
AFC North
Cincinnati Bengals - Joe Burrow never fully recovers from 2023 wrist injury
Don't look now, but Bengals QB Joe Burrow has suffered two season-ending injuries, so this could be something to monitor. His latest one was a torn ligament in his throwing wrist, which is simply not ideal. The nightmare here is that Burrow never fully recovers from his 2023 wrist injury and maybe even is forced to miss some games in 2024.
Baltimore Ravens - More insane injuries keep Ravens from postseason
It feels like most every single season, the Baltimore Ravens are dealing with some insane injuries. The obvious nightmare here is that the team again deals with some back-breaking injuries, and they're enough to keep them out of the playoffs. In 2023, Baltimore earned a spot in the AFC Championship Game, but could not get past the Kansas City Chiefs.
Cleveland Browns - Deshaun Watson is... Dewashed
Yeah, this is the one. If Deshaun Watson just isn't good anymore, what direction do the Cleveland Browns go in? They're stuck with Watson for another few seasons and he just hasn't look good during his first two years with the team. The Browns gave up a metric ton of resources to get Watson on the team, and they have yet to receive any sort of return on their investment.
Pittsburgh Steelers - Russell Wilson and Justin Fields can't fix the QB issue
The Pittsburgh Steelers overhauled their QB room this offseason, as all of Kenny Pickett, Mitchell Trubisky, and Mason Rudolph are on new teams. The top two QBs are now Russell Wilson and Justin Fields. Well, if Wilson and Fields cannot get the QB situation fixed for at least one year, that's another year wasted for the Steelers, who somehow won 10 games and snuck into the postseason in 2023.
AFC South
Houston Texans - Team cannot build on their breakout 2023 season
The Houston Texans went 10-7 in 2023 with a rookie head coach and a rookie QB. They even won a playoff game and ended up in a Divisional Round game with the Baltimore Ravens. Well, it's clear that the Texans are trying to go all-in for this coming season, as they've made two of the biggest moves of the offseason in a trade for Stefon Diggs and a free agent signing of Danielle Hunter.
The disaster here is that the Texans don't make much progress from 2023 and maybe regress a bit in the 2024 NFL Season.
Indianapolis Colts - Anthony Richardson continues to get hurt and/or can't progress in year two
Indianapolis Colts QB Anthony Richardson missed most of his rookie season with injuries, and it's really a shame, as Richardson show some signs of being a legit, franchise quarterback. Well, could there be a possibility in year two that Richardson again struggles with injuries? Is it also possible that maybe he isn't cut-out to be a franchise quarterback in the NFL?
The Colts do have a very strong roster and did win nine games in the 2023 NFL Season with Gardner Minshew at the helm for a majority of the season. This team has the talent and coaching to win a ton of games, and if Richardson can hit his potential, Indy is going to be dangerous.
Tennessee Titans - Will Levis is no good
Simple, right? This is the Will Levis show now, for at least the 2024 NFL Season. The Tennessee Titans did load up on offense this offseason, as GM Ran Carthon signed two big-name wide receivers in Tyler Boyd and Calvin Ridley, and they already have DeAndre Hopkins in the mix.
With some added additions along the offensive line, the Titans seem to be in a good spot on offense, but all of this does hinge on Will Levis. If Levis is no good, the Titans might not win more than a few games and could be back to square one heading into the 2025 offseason.
Jacksonville Jaguars - Maybe 2023 Trevor Lawrence is who is really is?
Maybe the statistical production we saw in the 2023 NFL Season from Trevor Lawrence is actually who he really is? Maybe I am wrong? Well, only time will tell, but the Jaguars did ink him to a five-year, $275 million contract, so now he's tied for being the highest-paid QB in NFL history alongside Joe Burrow.
If Trevor Lawrence cannot regain the form we saw in 2022, the Jaguars are in deep trouble.
AFC East
Buffalo Bills - Josh Allen turns into a mess without his top wide receivers
Josh Allen threw 18 interceptions in the 2023 NFL Season, and now he's without both Stefon Diggs and Gabe Davis, so this WR room could be a huge problem in 2024. Their top wide receiver is, who? Keon Coleman? Curtis Samuel? Someone else? It's just not an ideal situation for the Bills, so the nightmare here is that Josh Allen just amps up the turnover-happy ways that have plagued him his entire career.
Could we see Josh Allen throw as many as 20 interceptions in 2024? That would be awful for the Buffalo Bills.
New York Jets - Aaron Rodgers ends up being washed up
Pretty simple, really, Aaron Rodgers is turning 41 years old at the end of the 2024 NFL Season. He's also coming off of a major injury. A torn Achilles at 40 years old is just not ideal, and Aaron Rodgers didn't play all that well in his last full season in 2022, his last year with the Green Bay Packers.
The New York Jets will go as Aaron Rodgers goes, and if he's simply not his old self, well, you can see where the nightmare comes into play. Literally everything hinges on Rodgers' health in 2024. Everything.
Miami Dolphins - All the added talent can't help team make progress in postseason
The Miami Dolphins have added a good bit of talent this offseason. And frankly, they've got the best roster in the AFC East. It's quite good, and they have enough talent to make a pretty deep playoff run if all goes well. Unless, however, their quarterback, head coach, both, or something else holds them back, it won't be pretty, and GM Chris Grier making all of these moves this offseason will be for nothing.
The Dolphins also have this interesting reputation for not being able to play in cold weather, so they also need to figure that out as well.
New England Patriots - Early indications that Jerod Mayo can't coach
I was not at all a fan of the Jerod Mayo hire, and the nightmare scenario here is what Mayo can't coach, and there are some early indications of that during his first season as a head coach in the NFL. I'm not sure what Mayo brings different to the table, and him being a Patriot for life really does not play well in my head.
Getting the head coach right is a huge step to rebuild an NFL, team and I'm afraid Mayo might not be that guy.
AFC West
Denver Broncos - Bo Nix just doesn't look the part in any form
Many people have criticized the Denver Broncos for the Bo Nix selection, as they took him with the 12th overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. If Nix can play, and the Broncos were correct in their evaluation, then this team is in business. The obvious flip side here is that Nix can't play and should not have been a first-round pick.
This leaves the Denver Broncos without much of anything at QB, and it instantly turns up the seat of Sean Payton. Where would the Denver Broncos go for their next QB if Bo Nix is not it?
Kansas City Chiefs - Travis Kelce declines + wide receivers are still iffy
Travis Kelce did show some decline in 2023, and that could hit him even more aggressively in 2024. This, coupled with the potential that their WR room is still inconsistent, could make for another bumpy year on offense for the two-time defending Super Bowl chamions. To be fair though, they did win it all with a pretty average offense in 2023, so just imagine how good they could be if the WR room can figure themselves out.
I don't necessarily think we should expect the Chiefs to have it easy on offense in 2024. Yes, they have won the last two Super Bowls, but the 2024 NFL Season does not care about that.
Los Angeles Chargers - Justin Herbert proves to not be as good as we think
I am firmly in the camp that Justin Herbert is simply not as good as some think, and now that he finally seems to have some consistent coaching, the pressure is officially on. Well, what if Herbert is indeed not as good as we think? What if he's just a more athletic version of Kirk Cousins? The Los Angeles Chargers could be stuck in a tough situation if that's the case.
Las Vegas Raiders - Antonio Pierce just isn't cut out to be a head coach
Another hire I was not a fan of, the Las Vegas Raiders decided to make Antonio Pierce their interim head coach, and I do not like their chances with Pierce at the helm. Their roster is bad, and most importantly, their QB situation is bad. This could put some early pressure on Pierce to figure something out, but what if he's simply another coach who isn't cut-out to be a head coach in this league.