The New England Patriots enter the 2015 NFL season as defending Super Bowl champions and the best team in the AFC.
Again.
That said, the conference will feature plenty of competition this season, with the potential for several teams to show great improvement.
Miami Dolphins, who upgraded their team in free agency by signing defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh from the Detroit Lions, are among them. Quarterback Ryan Tannehill and running back Lamar Miller lead a Miami offense that hopes to score enough points to put pressure on the Pats in the AFC East.
The Oakland Raiders also are hoping for better, with sophomore quarterback Derek Carr projected to have a breakout season. He will no doubt target No. 4 overall draft pick and former Alabama wide receiver Amari Cooper often.
The Pittsburgh Steelers, who open the season Thursday night at Gillette Stadium, aim to return to the playoffs after losing in the Wild Card round a year ago. Suspensions to star running back Le’Veon Bell (two games) and talented young wide receiver Martavis Bryant (four games) could complicate matters for Pittsburgh, though.
The Indianapolis Colts again are the favorites to claim the AFC South crown, but the Jacksonville Jaguars and Houston Texans both made improvements in the offseason to challenge Andrew Luck and Co. Both teams need their quarterbacks, Brian Hoyer for Houston and Blake Bortles for Jacksonville, to play better on a consistent basis to have any chance of making a postseason push.
How will each AFC division play out in 2015? Click the links below for a preview and an order-of-finish prediction for all four divisions.
Thumbnail photo via Andrew Weber/USA TODAY Sports Images
