The AFC playoff race is heating up, and several teams have emerged as legitimate contenders for the conference crown. The New England Patriots currently hold the top record, but they’re closely followed by the Denver Broncos and Indianapolis Colts.
However, it’s the Kansas City Chiefs, Buffalo Bills, and Baltimore Ravens who remain the most battle-tested and experienced squads. The Chiefs sit at 5-4 after a tough start to the year, but remain a threat under Patrick Mahomes’ leadership. Baltimore stands at 4-5, fighting through injuries to Lamar Jackson, while the Bills, at 6-3, continue to ride the arm of Josh Allen despite inconsistency.
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All three have had their ups and downs, yet their elite quarterbacks keep them firmly in the contender conversation.
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Marcus Spears’ take on AFC’s Big Three
ESPN’s Marcus Spears made his stance clear on ‘The Rich Eisen Show’, naming the Chiefs, Ravens, and Bills as the AFC’s true contenders because of their quarterbacks.
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“Bills, Ravens, Chiefs — all three,” Spears declared. “Would we be surprised if Josh Allen, Lamar Jackson, or Pat Mahomes lost their mind for a three or four-week span? Nobody would be shocked.”
Spears’ argument centers around trust and potential. Mahomes, with 2,349 passing yards and 17 touchdowns this season, remains the league’s most proven postseason performer. Jackson, though battling a hamstring injury, has thrown for over 1,200 yards and 15 touchdowns. Allen, meanwhile, leads with 15 total touchdowns and continues to be Buffalo’s heartbeat on offense.
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“The only problem with them,” Spears said, “is they have to play each other. Lamar Jackson in the playoffs. I know hasn’t been great, but we know what he’s capable of. We’ve seen Josh Allen play to the highest level and still lose with 15 or 13 seconds on the clock. And I’m not gonna waste my time talking about 15 in Kansas City.”
His comments underline the high bar for playoff success in a conference stacked with quarterback talent. While Mahomes seeks another deep postseason run, Jackson aims to rewrite his playoff story, and Allen looks to finally get over the hump.
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