More Chips for the Chiefs?: Division winners for the 2020 season

AFC North: Pittsburgh Steelers

Record: 10-0

The Pittsburgh Steelers have not been a bad team in the past decade. However, with only six playoff appearances in the last ten years and a disappointing 2019 season headlined by a serious elbow injury that sidelined veteran quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, the Steelers were projected to only have a 10% chance to reach a 7th seed position before the year started. The combination of a much-improved offense, terrific coaching, and a stalwart defense is why the Steelers are the only NFL team with a perfect record as of week 10. The critical piece of the puzzle has been their defense, which has given up only 306.9 yards/game (4th), collected 38 sacks (1st), and forced 12 turnovers (1st). If the Steelers elevate their offense––which is entirely possible with players like Chase Claypool and Diontae Johnson––they can win it all this year.

AFC West: Kansas City Chiefs

Record: 9-1

Coming off an impressive Super Bowl led by their prodigal QB—Patrick Mahomes—the Chiefs are dominating the league with their revolutionary style of play. In addition to phenomenal defense, impressive coaching, and an assortment of offensive weapons, the true magic comes from the 2019 NFL MVP Patrick Mahomes. Mahomes has one of the highest quarterback ratings (85.3) and has thrown the most yards (3,035) of any quarterback this season. He is also third in most touchdowns (27) and has thrown only 2 interceptions, which is the lowest of any starting quarterback with over 30 completions. Their defense has been great as well, forcing the third-most turnovers (8) of all defenses. With a lineup led by Mahomes’ playmaking and Andy Reid’s modernized West Coast schemes, the Chiefs look poised to win back-to-back titles.

AFC East: Buffalo Bills

Record: 7-3

After the dynamic duo of Brady and Belicheck came to an abrupt end this offseason and seemingly half of the Patriot’s defense opted out of this season, the door was left wide open for a team in the NFL East to seize the crown, and the Buffalo Bills filled that spot. The big story with the Bills lies in quarterback Josh Allen who has arguably improved the most in the league over the past few years. Drafted in 2018, Allen has risen from being ranked as second to last of all starting quarterbacks to having the 7th most passing yards (2871) and the 6th best QBR (77.4) in the league. Be on the lookout for this Bills team––a sleeper team for this year’s playoffs.

AFC South: Tennessee Titans

Record: 7-3

The AFC South has turned into a close race between the Titans and the Colts for the top spot. With cold weather fast approaching, the adaptability of both teams to imminent inclement weather will be a factor in which team wins the division. Comparing both teams, the advantage in cold weather goes to the Titans because of Derrick Henry. Typically, teams with solid run games and defenses are shown to perform better in cold weather, but the key is in the offensive styles of both teams. With the Colts defense giving up the second-fewest yards in the league (298.1) and the Titans defense forcing the second-most turnovers in the league (10), both defenses seem relatively equal. The Colts are typically an aerial offense passing an average of 293.6 yards per game, the second-most right behind the Chiefs. The Titans on the other hand rush around 151.1 yards per game, which is the fifth-most in the league. With the Colts having a tough schedule ahead and a brutal outdoor game with the Steelers, the Titans have a better chance of winning the division.

NFC North: Green Bay Packers

Record: 7-3

As the only team in the division with a winning record, the Packers will most likely make the playoffs. But, how far in the playoffs will they go? The Packers showcased their offensive potential in Week 11, as they scored 31 points against a Colts team that allowed the fourth-fewest points in the league. However, they lack offensive consistency as just a few weeks earlier, they were flattened by the Buccaneers 10-38. Their defensive side has made some crucial stops especially during the Saints game, but their enemy is consistency as well. Although the team looks disorganized at times on the offensive end, a phenomenal season from Aaron Rodgers can uplift them from a first-round exit to a deep postseason run.

NFC South: New Orleans Saints

Record: 8-2

The Saints have had a strong start to the season in what looks to be a final push to get their veteran quarterback Drew Brees another ring before his impending retirement. The most recent development for this team has been their starting quarterback choice after Brees injured his ribs and had a punctured lung in Week 10. Forecasted to miss at least three weeks, the next quarterback on the depth chart was expected to be Jameis Winston, the former starter on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. However, in the days leading up to last Sunday’s matchup, the Saints named Taysom Hill the starter for the game. What at first seemed like an odd decision––as the consensus was that Winston was a better quarterback overall––became an effective one, as Hill led the Saints to a decisive victory over the Falcons. In the game, Hill threw an impressive 18/23 (completions/attempts thrown) for 233 yards (passing). Showcasing his athleticism, he ran for an additional 51 yards and two touchdowns playing a huge factor in the 29-4 win. Although their star quarterback will be out for two more weeks, the Saints’ lead in the South seems secure with rising star Hill.

NFC West: Los Angeles Rams

Record: 7-3

Like the battle in the AFC South, there is another close contest between the Seattle Seahawks, Los Angeles Rams, and the Arizona Cardinals for the division. The Seahawks currently have two wins and two losses in their division and are yet to play the Rams at home and the 49ers in San Francisco. The Seahawks have already lost a game against the Rams––with a score of 16-23––and with both having a similar schedule difficulty, the head-to-head matchups seem likely to determine the division winner.

If the Rams beat the Seahawks again, not only do the Seahawks go a game behind the Rams, but they also lose the tiebreaker if necessary. The Rams meanwhile play the Cardinals in Arizona next week and host them later on in the season along with the previously mentioned matchup with the Seahawks. The test for the Rams is going to be this crucial game this Sunday as beating the Cardinals instantly propels them to the favorites in the division, as they will have a head-to-head advantage over the rest of the division.

The Cardinals, however, are in the toughest position. They have two games against the Rams and a home game against the 49ers towards the end of the season. If the Cardinals lose to the Rams, then it makes it nearly impossible for the Cardinals to win the division. The win, however, would vault them to the same record as the Rams and the highest amongst divisional wins.

NFC East: Washington Football Team

Record: 4-7

No team here is a valid contender for any sort of postseason run. The Dallas Cowboys are led by Andy Dalton, who’s red hair seems to be the only thing reminiscent of his early days in Cincinnati. The Eagles seem to be in conflict with their quarterback, giving him anything resembling protection sounds almost as repulsive to them as Santa in Lincoln Financial Stadium. The Giants made no changes this past offseason and hoped that signing Jason Garret as OC could instantly propel them to the promised land but who would have thought that banking their entire future on one singular player would be a bad idea.

The Washington Football Team will probably end up winning this division for simply being the best of the bad.