These Three AFC Teams Ready To Challenge Chiefs In Conference

The Kansas City Chiefs are prohibitive and unsurprising favorites to reign supreme in the AFC as the 2024 season nears.

Patrick Mahomes and Andy Reid can make NFL history this season if they're able to do what has been impossible in the sport's Super Bowl era and win three consecutive championships.

It's never easy to win one Super Bowl, let alone three in a row. Parity is the NFL's top hallmark. Just getting out of the AFC won't be easy for KC given the road the Chiefs might have to travel to even get back to the Super Bowl.

NESN.com's Mike Cole and Ricky Doyle discussed the AFC this week on NESN's "The Spread" podcast, and they believe the title probably still runs through the red conference. Whether that means the Chiefs hoist the Lamar Hunt Trophy once again, they aren't so sure.

Both believe the biggest challenge will come out of the AFC North. Where they struggled to find common ground, though, was picking the actual team to do so. Cole believes Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens are poised for another big season, and at some point, John Harbaugh's team is due to break through. Doyle, on the other hand, is buying the Cincinnati Bengals to not only win the division but for Joe Burrow (and his hair) to have one of the best seasons of his young career in his return from a season-ending wrist injury.

The other team worth keeping an eye on is the Houston Texans. Led by quarterback C.J. Stroud, the Texans were one of the NFL's biggest surprises in 2024. It might be a little different this season with expectations as high as they are -- just five teams have shorter odds than the 15-1 Texans to win the Super Bowl -- but there's so much talent on both sides of the ball. That's why even though Stroud gets all the attention, Doyle has Will Anderson circled for a potential long-shot cash-in for a year-end award.

One thing both guys agree on? The Patriots won't be anywhere near this discussion in 2024.

Listen to the entire AFC preview episode and get the guys' three bets on Spotify or watch the entire thing on NESN's YouTube page.