The AFC is loaded for bear heading into the 2022 NFL season. The first week of free agency has seen blockbuster signings and trades that will have a major impact on the upcoming football season. We are seeing offenses amass weaponry like never before.
While the Kansas City Chiefs have had a bit of a stronghold on the conference since Patrick Mahomes’ arrival in 2018 (minus a second-half meltdown against Cincinnati), the rest of the conference is tying to catch up, and they are succeeding. While the NFL Draft is still to come, let’s take a look at the five offenses (on paper) that could lead the way in the AFC.
Top 5 AFC offenses 2022
- Cincinnati Bengals. The defending AFC champions are absolutely loaded with young talent. This offseason, there is a clear emphasis on improving the offensive line. Add to that three stud receivers, a 1,000 yard rusher and a star-in-the-making QB and you likely are looking at one of the best offenses in the league.
- Kansas City Chiefs. The Chiefs have been the offensive gold standard in the AFC since 2018. While Travis Kelce is a year older and Tyreek Hill is gone, the signings of JuJu Smith-Schuster and Marquez Valdez-Scantling will help immensely. The Kansas City offensive line got better in a hurry last season and we saw the emergence of running back Jerick McKinnon late in the year.
- Los Angeles Chargers. L.A. is primed to break through in 2022. They’ve also been primed to break through for many years and have failed to do so. It was clear defensive improvement was on their minds this year trading for Pro Bowler Khalil Mack. The team also managed to sign WR Mike Williams to an extension and we know how dangerous Keenan Allen can be when healthy. Justin Herbert seems ready to enter the upper-echelon category amongst NFL QBs but we need to see the get to the playoffs first.
- Buffalo Bills. We all witnessed the Bills fall just short of a major playoff victory at Kansas City in January. Josh Allen has proven to be an elite NFL QB and he has plenty of targets at his disposal. WR Gabriel Davis is a star in the making and a perfect compliment to Stefon Diggs. It might behoove the Bills to get more out of its running game this year as Josh Allen was the team’s best option much of the season which is likely not sustainable.
- Las Vegas Raiders. Perhaps the most controversial addition to the list, Las Vegas’ signing of Davante Adams could but this offense over the top. Derek Carr has already proven himself capable of putting up big numbers in the passing game and he’s largely done it with subpar weapons.
