With the 2026 NFL Schedule coming out very soon, it's not a bad idea to predict records for every single team. The AFC, specifically, was one of the more fun things to witness during 2025. Many teams ended up being a lot better or a lot worse than the overarching predictions, and the playoffs were just flat-out amazing.
Given how much young talent at the quarterback position is present in the AFC, the 2026 season could feature more of the same awesomeness. There are also a ton of high-end rosters in the AFC as well, so it's really impossible to predict, but that won't stop us here.
Let's predict records for every single AFC team in the 2026 NFL Season ahead of the NFL schedule release.
Predicting records for every single AFC team ahead of the 2026 NFL Schedule Release
AFC North
Baltimore Ravens: 11-6
If the Baltimore Ravens simply stay healthier in 2026, which isn't unlikely, this team should be just fine. The Ravens have plenty of roster talent and also boast one of the best quarterbacks of this generation. Hiring Jesse Minter, a defensive mastermind, should also help that side of the ball at least get to an average spot in year one.
Cincinnati Bengals: 10-7
On paper, the Cincinnati Bengals have more talent than a 10-win team, but in recent years, we have seen this team get in their own way and lose way more than they should. With a remade defense, and kudos to the front office for that, the Bengals finally get things figured out a bit but aren't quite able to break into that top tier.
Pittsburgh Steelers: 7-10
With no quarterback solution in sight, and no more 'non losing seasons' from former head coach Mike Tomlin, the Pittsburgh Steelers may actually be in a position to not win a ton of games in 2026. Mike McCarthy is a high-floor coach if nothing else, but even with Aaron Rodgers back in the picture, if that does indeed happen, Pittsburgh doesn't do anything particularly well or well enough to warrant a strong prediction.
Cleveland Browns: 4-13
The Cleveland Browns do boast a solid defense, and that unit should be good enough for this team to stack a few wins here and there, and perhaps even play spoiler, but the Browns just aren't yet close to being a competitive team. While there is always a chance that Deshaun Watson could win the starting job and look competent, he's been unplayable his entire Browns tenure and is coming off major injuries.
AFC South
Houston Texans: 12-5
The Houston Texans began the 2025 NFL Season with a poor 0-3 start, and it really seemed like things were about to go off the rails. Given how solid this offseason has been for Houston, which has included help at running back and along the offensive line, this team could win a much more stable 12 games and not endure an 0-3 start.
CJ Stroud's ceiling is in question, but he has helped lead this franchise into the playoffs all three years of his career. It's not clear at the moment, though, if Stroud is good enough to elevate this team into contention. Houston could again win a ton of games given how great the roster is, but elevating to that juggernaut tier might not be in the picture if Stroud's game doesn't improve.
Jacksonville Jaguars: 10-7
Losing Travis Etienne and Devin Lloyd in free agency is going to hurt this team big-time, but we saw an elite coaching job by Liam Coen in year one, and head coaches typically prove themselves one way or another quite early in their tenure.
With Trevor Lawrence having heated up down the stretch last year, the Jacksonville Jaguars may suddenly have a very high-floor and still be in a position to win double-digit games and get in the playoffs for the second year in a row.
Indianapolis Colts: 8-9
Could it be two-straight 8-9 seasons for the Indianapolis Colts? If this prediction does happen, the Colts would likely begin making some major changes. The roster is good, not great, and the same could also likely be said about the quarterback and head coach.
It's not clear at the moment where the Colts are going to gain a consistent advantages over opponents for 2026.
Tennessee Titans: 6-11
The Tennessee Titans should be a much improved football team from the prior season, but this franchise is still a solid year away. A 6-11 record prediction in 2026 isn't necessarily a bad thing, either, as the coaching staff is new, and many of the players are in year one with the team. This operation could take some time.
AFC East
Buffalo Bills: 12-5
The Buffalo Bills should be able to take back ownership of the AFC East this coming season, as the New England Patriots schedule gets significantly harder from the previous season, and the Bills are more of a known commodity right now, even with the coaching changes this team made.
And while Drake Maye did have a better season than Josh Allen last year, Allen is still a more dynamic and impactful player.
New England Patriots: 9-8
New England could absolutely still finish with a winning record, but that schedule gets a lot tougher, and this team did own one of the easiest schedules we've seen in the NFL in quite some time in 2025. On paper, this team is rock-solid, but there isn't really a unit where the Pats can simply overwhelm opponents.
There's a lot of good with this team.
Miami Dolphins: 2-15
Projecting to be one of the worst teams in the NFL this season, the Miami Dolphins might have a bottom-3 roster and a bottom-3 quarterback, to be honest. It's going to be hard for this team to win a single game, as they also have a new coaching staff.
If there was ever an indication of what 'ground zero' may look like in the NFL, it's the 2026 Dolphins. However, a bad season like this could put the team in contention for the top pick in the 2027 NFL Draft, where a generational quarterback prospect could be had.
New York Jets: 2-15
Another 2-15 team in our predictions, the New York Jets did get active this offseason, notably improving big-time on offense, but two things that stick out like a sore thumb are the quarterback, Geno Smith, who was flat-out horrendous in 2025, and the head coach, Aaron Glenn.
Sure, the Jets didn't have a good team in 2025, but Glenn clearly looked to be in over his head. I'm not saying he can't improve, but there really isn't a strong basis to say he will.
The Jets could again be enduring another tough season when the 2026 campaign kicks off in September.nf
AFC West
Denver Broncos: 12-5
After a 14-win season in 2025, the Denver Broncos are in a great position to follow that insane year up with another strong regular season. It is insanely difficult to win that much in this league, and we did kind of see that first-hand in 2025. In 2024, the Detroit Lions and Kansas City Chiefs both went 15-2 in the regular season and earned the top seed in each conference.
In 2025, the Lions won nine games and missed the playoffs, and the Chiefs win six games and missed the playoffs. The Broncos could easily win fewer games, but with how great this roster is and how well-coached the team is, the Broncos also have a path to stack 12 wins and earn another division title.
Los Angeles Chargers: 10-7
Did the Los Angeles Chargers do enough in the offseason? Sure, the offensive line looks a bit better on paper, but the upgrades weren't as great as many thought they would be. Overall, the Chargers again feel like a good team, and nothing more. Losing Minter as the defensive coordinator is also a major blow.
Kansas City Chiefs: 9-8
After an offseason in which the Chiefs did invest a ton into the defensive side of the ball, an improvement is on the horizon, but the health of Patrick Mahomes is not 100 percent clear for Week 1, and this offense is still littered with holes.
Las Vegas Raiders: 4-13
The Las Vegas Raiders may again be slated to deal with another brutal season. The team did draft Fernando Mendoza, but with Kirk Cousins signing this offseason, he's likely in line to start.
AFC Playoff Picture
1. Buffalo Bills
Buffalo earns the top seed in the AFC playoffs in our predictions, perhaps being put in a position where this year could finally be the year.
2. Denver Broncos
The Broncos win the AFC West for the second year in a row in our predictions and earn the No. 2 seed, which would host the seventh seed.
3. Houston Texans
Houston, our AFC South winners, earn a home playoff game against a familiar foe...
4. Baltimore Ravens
Baltimore gets back into the playoffs and earns a home playoff game against Jacksonville in our predictions. Could Lamar Jackson have a path in this scenario for a Super Bowl run?
5. Jacksonville Jaguars
After a 13-win season, the Jags cool off a bit in our predictions, but still do enough to earn the fifth seed.
6. Los Angeles Chargers
Los Angeles is again entrenched in a Wild Card seed, as this team just did not do enough to separate themselves in the conference.
7. Cincinnati Bengals
Having not been into the playoff since 2022, the Cincinnati Bengals figure things out in our predictions and slide into the seventh and final seed.