AFC divisional picks & best bets for the 2022 NFL season: Ravens to rule North

Free American football tips, best AFC divisional bets and analysis for the 2022 NFL season, which starts on Thursday.

Best bets

Indianapolis to win AFC South
3pts 5-6 Betfred

Baltimore to win the AFC North
3pts 7-4 Coral, Ladbrokes

Buffalo-Miami straight forecast AFC East
2pts 2-1 bet365

Kansas City to win AFC West
2pts 8-5 general

Divisional previews - AFC East

The AFC East was dominated by the New England Patriots throughout the Bill Belichick-Tom Brady era, but that dynasty is long gone and the Buffalo Bills are odds-on to win the division.

That's no surprise, as they are the outright favourites to win the Super Bowl and it's also deserved given the progress Sean McDermott's team have made led by quarterback Josh Allen.

The schedule looks kind enough for Buffalo to win the division comfortably for the third straight year and they went 5-1 in the AFC East last season, losing only to New England in a game played in atrocious conditions.

The Bills have had their season ended by the Chiefs in the last two seasons and would no doubt fancy their chances of exacting revenge if their paths meet again. The real question, with the Bills a general 4-9 to win it, is who will finish second – and it might not be the Patriots this time.

The Patriots did well enough last season and rookie QB Mac Jones was not the liability some imagined but the glory years are a long way behind them and they could fall behind the Miami Dolphins, who have a seriously talented roster.

Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa has yet to prove he is the man to realise its potential, but he's not lacking for weapons, with Tyreek Hill having arrived from Kansas City. With the New York Jets looking a year or two further away from putting it all together, take Miami to follow the Bills home.

Caleb Wilfinger

Recommendation
Buffalo-Miami straight forecast

AFC North

The AFC North supplied a surprise Super Bowl team in the Cincinnati Bengals last season but Zac Taylor's squad are not even the clear favourites to win their own division this year.

The Bengals have not done anything wrong in the off-season - in fact they've shored up their main weak point of a shaky offensive line - but their odds recognise that the dream playoff run they had last season will be hard to repeat.

Having posted just six wins in the previous two seasons, the Bengals managed to top the section with a 10-7 record, helped by an electric connection between QB Joe Burrow and rookie wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase. However, they could easily be a better team this year and not get as far as they did last year.

The Baltimore Ravens' 2021 season was ruined by a sickening series of serious injuries, particularly to their running backs, but they should be back in full force this year.

The Pittsburgh Steelers used to be a standing dish in this division, but they are embarking on a new era after the retirement of long-time QB Ben Roethlisberger, while Cleveland's playoff hopes took a huge hit when new QB Deshaun Watson's suspension was increased from an initial six games to 11.

With the Browns' generally excellent roster left in the lurch by missing Watson for most of the regular season, this year’s AFC North title could be a contest between the Ravens and Bengals with the edge going to Baltimore.

Phil Agius

Recommendation
Baltimore

AFC South

It's another year, another new quarterback for the Indianapolis Colts, but in veteran Matt Ryan they may well have the right man to lead them to the AFC South title this season.

With the Houston Texans and Jacksonville Jaguars having been among the weakest teams in the league for the last couple of years, the division has gone to Tennessee. The Titans were the AFC's number one seed in the playoffs last year but blew their big chance with a home loss to the upstart Bengals.

The Colts have surprisingly not won the division since 2014, but they have had multiple winning seasons and made it to the playoffs as a wildcard team. They have all the ingredients in place to make a strong playoff run and they are clearly on the up while the Titans appear more likely to regress.

Their leading receiver from last season, AJ Brown, was traded to the Eagles and their defence suffered a major blow this week when star pass rusher Harold Landry was ruled out for the year.

The Houston Texans, having finally parted ways with controversial QB Deshaun Watson after he sat out last season, are a long way from being relevant again, while Jacksonville should be improved under new coach Doug Pederson, The Jaguars have a lot of young talent but also a lot of work to do.

Colts running back Jonathan Taylor led the league in rushing last year and he can lead his talented team to the divisional crown this time around.

Ricky Dimon

Recommendation
Indianapolis

AFC West

The Kansas City Chiefs have dominated the AFC West in the Andy Reid-Patrick Mahomes era. They have won six successive AFC West titles and no doubt have a major chip on their shoulder after disappointing in the playoffs in the two seasons since their Super Bowl win.

The competition in their own division will be hotter than ever this season with the Chargers looking like Super Bowl contenders themselves and the Las Vegas Raiders and Denver Broncos also making significant acquisitions to give them playoff pretensions.

Wide receiver Davante Adams (Raiders), quarterback Russell Wilson (Broncos) and linebacker Khalil Mack (Chargers) have all arrived in the division and every AFC West game this season looks set to be a real dogfight.

The Broncos have looked like contenders who were just missing an elite quarterback for a couple of years but they have that now with former Seahawk Wilson, and running back Javonte Williams is a major talent. The Raiders should remain at the back of the pack, but they can no longer be taken lightly either.

The Chargers and Chiefs should be locked in a tight competition for the AFC West title in 2022, but the Chiefs are capable of extending their run for one more season.

The creative mind of head coach Reid will find ways to compensate for the loss of leading receiver Tyreek Hill and they have much more playoff experience than any of their rivals.

Keith Schmelter

Recommendation
Kansas City

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