{"id":132788,"date":"2025-09-04T17:43:15","date_gmt":"2025-09-04T17:43:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/132788\/"},"modified":"2025-09-04T17:43:15","modified_gmt":"2025-09-04T17:43:15","slug":"nfl-execs-rank-afc-teams-should-ravens-bills-or-chiefs-be-no-1-and-who-comes-next","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/132788\/","title":{"rendered":"NFL execs rank AFC teams: Should Ravens, Bills or Chiefs be No. 1? And who comes next?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Editor\u2019s note: This article is part of our Countdown to Kickoff series, in which we highlight the NFL\u2019s top teams, players, predictions and storylines to watch as the 2025 season begins.<\/p>\n

The Athletic has live coverage of Cowboys vs. Eagles<\/a> from 2025 NFL season kickoff.<\/a><\/p>\n

After wading through a muddled NFC<\/a>, where eight NFL team executives cast votes for five teams in the top three spots, we find clarity atop the AFC.<\/p>\n

The Baltimore Ravens, Buffalo Bills and Kansas City Chiefs were the only teams commanding top-three votes from the eight execs. But there was still a lot to debate regarding the proper order, with strong cases made for all three teams as the class of the conference.<\/p>\n

From there, it gets a little fuzzy.<\/p>\n

\u201cAfter Buffalo, Baltimore and Kansas City, I think any of those next five could be reverse order,\u201d one of the execs said.<\/p>\n

The eight execs, whose backgrounds range from personnel evaluation to contracts\/salary cap and analytics\/strategy, ranked every team in each conference on condition of anonymity for competitive reasons. They also offered explanations, included below.<\/p>\n

Teams are ordered by the median of their rankings, with ties between teams broken by average vote. The Ravens lead the way, even though Kansas City is coming off a 15-2 season that saw the Chiefs reach their fifth Super Bowl in six seasons.<\/p>\n

Eight execs rank the AFC<\/p>\n

RkTmAvgMed12345678<\/p>\n

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1. Baltimore Ravens<\/p>\n

Votes: 1-2-2-1-1-3-1-3 | Avg: 1.75 | Median: 1.5 | Vegas wins: 11.5 (T-2nd-AFC)<\/p>\n

Four of the eight voters placed the Ravens atop their ballots, with Buffalo and Kansas City splitting the remaining four No. 1 votes.<\/p>\n

\u201cI feel like they were really the best team last year and are even hungrier now with the loss in the playoffs, not getting over the hump,\u201d one voter said. \u201cI think they\u2019ll have a top-five defense, maybe even top-three. Last year, it took them a while after losing (coordinator Mike) Macdonald. They won\u2019t have the Justin Tucker struggles, either.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Ravens were fifth in combined EPA on defense and special teams over their final nine games last season, after ranking 30th over the first eight. The offense ranked in the top three over both of those time frames.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll go Baltimore this year, because of the quarterback and then the overall roster,\u201d said another exec who ranked the Ravens No. 1. \u201cThey have a good combination of young guys and veteran guys this year.\u201d<\/p>\n

2. Buffalo Bills<\/p>\n

Votes: 3-3-1-2-2-2-2-1 | Avg: 2 | Median: 2 | Vegas wins: 12.5 (1st)<\/p>\n

The Bills carry the AFC\u2019s highest Vegas win total, which reflects not just team strength, but also schedule.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think Josh Allen is right, dead square in his prime,\u201d one of the execs ranking the Bills first said. \u201cThey have to do it this year. Baltimore is so well-coached and so sound, and Lamar Jackson is explosive. It is a dead heat between those two.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Bills are 2-0 against Baltimore in the playoffs when Allen and Jackson were in their teams\u2019 lineups.<\/p>\n

\u201cTalent-wise, Baltimore might be better in certain spots, but they just haven\u2019t shown the ability to take that next step,\u201d another exec said. \u201cBuffalo has shown that in crucial moments, crucial games, they are able to make that one extra play, the few times they have played.\u201d<\/p>\n

That excludes the Ravens\u2019 35-10 victory over the Bills in Week 4 last season.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think Buffalo has the best roster and the best quarterback right now,\u201d the other exec ranking the Bills first said. \u201cKansas City will find a way because of the quarterback. That is what they do. I am not trusting Baltimore as much.\u201d<\/p>\n

One of the voters ranking Buffalo third questioned the Bills\u2019 staying power.<\/p>\n

\u201cBuffalo is third, but I don\u2019t think they will be there at the end,\u201d he said. \u201cThey are very thin, and I think the defense is a really big concern for them. The division sucks, so that helps.\u201d<\/p>\n

The exec who endorsed Buffalo\u2019s roster as the best pushed back against the concerns on defense.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey have (pass) rushers,\u201d he said. \u201cThey have different ways to pressure without having to scheme. I trust their scheme as much as anything. I do think getting (Jordan) Poyer back, although he is not the player he once was, solidifies them with a leader back there.\u201d<\/p>\n

3. Kansas City Chiefs<\/p>\n

Votes: 2-1-3-3-3-1-3-2 | Avg: 2.25 | Median: 2.5 | Vegas wins: 11.5 (T-2nd)<\/p>\n

The Chiefs were a near-consensus No. 1 choice among execs entering last season. They proceeded to secure the AFC\u2019s top seed with a 15-1 record before resting Patrick Mahomes and other starters in Week 18 on their way to the Super Bowl.<\/p>\n

Why the relative skepticism here?<\/p>\n

\u201cKansas City has been up there so long,\u201d one exec said. \u201cI think long seasons, older players now, natural regression. As good as Mahomes is, they aren\u2019t as explosive as they used to be, like Buffalo or Baltimore.\u201d<\/p>\n

One of the voters ranking Kansas City first thinks that last part will change, especially if rookie Josh Simmons solidifies the situation at left tackle.<\/p>\n

\u201cGet ready,\u201d this voter said. \u201cNFL MVP: Patrick Mahomes. I think he is at a point in his life where he is like, \u2018Uh-uh, I\u2019m the guy.\u2019 He is in a great spot. I think he is coming for all the haters. We are going to see a huge year from him, a 38-touchdown-passes type of year.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"A<\/p>\n

Patrick Mahomes<\/p>\n

\"Logo<\/p>\n

Chiefs<\/p>\n

\n \u25c2 Worse
\n Better \u25b8\n <\/p>\n

Mahomes averaged 38.7 touchdown passes per season from 2020-22 before dipping to 27 and 26, respectively, over the past two seasons.<\/p>\n

\u201cSeeing the Netflix documentary on the (1990s) Cowboys, how hungry they were after missing out on a three-peat, I could see those guys being super motivated now,\u201d another voter said. \u201cI feel this will be Mahomes trying to air it out more. He has a lot of speed out there. Rashee Rice will come back from suspension.\u201d<\/p>\n

This voter had Baltimore first, Kansas City second and Buffalo third on his ballot.<\/p>\n

\u201cFrom a roster standpoint, I think Kansas City is not as complete as Baltimore or Philly,\u201d he added. \u201cK.C. is more on Buffalo\u2019s level, where there are some holes, but with the totality of the coaching, the schemes, the superstars, I\u2019ve got them at 2.\u201d<\/p>\n

4. Cincinnati Bengals<\/p>\n

Votes: 4-6-4-4-6-5-5-6 | Avg: 5 | Median: 5 | Vegas wins: 9.5 (T-4th)<\/p>\n

The Bengals are the only team with all eight votes from fourth to sixth, but their footing atop the conference\u2019s second tier feels tenuous.<\/p>\n

\u201cCincinnati is really talented and arguably should be the fourth team based on offensive production, but I just don\u2019t know that they have really gotten to a point where defensively they can match up,\u201d said an exec who ranked Houston fourth and Cincinnati fifth.<\/p>\n

The 2024 Bengals were sixth in offensive EPA per play and 29th on the defensive side. That was the largest rankings gap in the league.<\/p>\n

\u201cI trust Burrow and Cincy\u2019s offense,\u201d another voter said. \u201cIf it is a shootout, so be it. They were the team everyone was scared of late in the year.\u201d<\/p>\n

Best-case scenario, the Bengals could be where the Chiefs were entering the 2019 season. Those Chiefs had ranked first on offense and 31st on defense in the previous season, at which point they changed defensive coordinators, sparking marked improvement on that side of the ball. One huge difference: Kansas City hired Steve Spagnuolo, a coordinator with a Super Bowl-winning pedigree. Cincy is taking a less proven route.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t know if that is an upgrade going from (Lou) Anarumo to (Al) Golden (as defensive coordinator),\u201d one voter said. \u201cThey did re-sign their stars. Give them credit for that.\u201d<\/p>\n

5. Houston Texans<\/p>\n

Votes: 5-8-5-5-5-4-9-4 | Avg: 5.625 | Median: 5 | Vegas wins: 9.5 (T-4th)<\/p>\n

The Texans were the only team in the top six to get votes outside the top seven spots, a reflection of general consensus atop the conference.<\/p>\n

\u201cI wanted to put Denver here, but how much of last season was the last-place schedule?\u201d one voter said. \u201cBecause when they got into the playoffs, you could see they were in that next tier.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Texans, for all their struggles last season, did win in the playoffs for a second consecutive season with coach DeMeco Ryans and quarterback C.J. Stroud.<\/p>\n

\u201cI really like Houston\u2019s defense,\u201d an exec ranking Houston fifth in the AFC said. \u201cThey have the most underrated defensive ends in the NFL. If (Derek) Stingley is not the top corner with (Pat) Surtain, he is two or three. They just play aggressive on defense.\u201d<\/p>\n

This exec was more worried about the Texans\u2019 offensive line than he was about Stroud, although those worries are connected.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s a great passer, but he needs time, he needs a window, because he\u2019s not great under pressure,\u201d this exec said. \u201cHe\u2019s a little bit slower going through progressions, but he is very accurate, he\u2019s got the arm, he\u2019s athletic. It\u2019s just when he sees a lot of zones, he takes just a touch longer. That is where Burrow is so damn good \u2014 I think he\u2019s brilliant.\u201d<\/p>\n

6. Denver Broncos<\/p>\n

Votes: 6-5-6-7-4-6-4-5 | Avg: 5.375 | Median: 5.5 | Vegas wins: 9.5 (T-4th)<\/p>\n

Denver rounds out a second tier of teams ranked fourth through sixth, with a larger gap to the next group, which features the Steelers and Chargers.<\/p>\n

\u201cDenver is getting better and could win that division this year, actually,\u201d said an exec who nonetheless had Cincinnati-Houston-Denver in his 4-5-6 slots.<\/p>\n

The Broncos ranked first in defensive EPA per play last season. How high can they climb from their No. 16 ranking on offense?<\/p>\n

\u201cI trust the coach (Sean Payton), and Bo Nix is still underrated,\u201d one voter said. \u201cThey paid (Courtland) Sutton, they got RJ Harvey to go with J.K. Dobbins. I think (Evan) Engram will be the big piece for them to open up the offense. We know Sean loves tight ends who can get up the seam.\u201d<\/p>\n

That would help overcome potential regression on defense.<\/p>\n

\"A<\/p>\n

Bo Nix<\/p>\n

\"Logo<\/p>\n

Broncos<\/p>\n

\n \u25c2 Worse
\n Better \u25b8\n <\/p>\n

\u201cI think Denver is the fifth-best team,\u201d another exec said. \u201cIs it good enough (to contend)? Probably not. My issues are quarterback-related, which is why I have Houston fourth. I trust that quarterback more than some of the others.\u201d<\/p>\n

7. Pittsburgh Steelers<\/p>\n

Votes: 7-4-8-9-8-7-8-7 | Avg: 7.25 | Median: 7.5 | Vegas wins: 8.5 (T-8th)<\/p>\n

Aaron Rodgers plus DK Metcalf plus Arthur Smith equals \u2026 what?<\/p>\n

\u201cPittsburgh just seems like a calamity waiting to happen with all the hodge-podge pieces that were added,\u201d an exec who ranked the Steelers eighth in the AFC said.<\/p>\n

That is not the only possible outcome.<\/p>\n

\u201cPeople are saying Mike Tomlin is finally going to have a losing season, and it\u2019s going to be because of Rodgers,\u201d the voter ranking Pittsburgh fourth said. \u201cNope. I see it the other way.\u201d<\/p>\n

This voter thinks Rodgers will be better physically after having more time to recover from the torn Achilles tendon that cost him his 2023 season.<\/p>\n

\u201cRodgers is coming back, and that is going to lift their offense, their entire team,\u201d this voter said. \u201cTheir defense and special teams are really good. I have them in the playoffs and making a run.\u201d<\/p>\n

Another voter saw Rodgers as a Tier 4 quarterback this season, meaning he ideally would not start a full season at this point in his career.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut as I was looking at their defensive depth chart, their (starters) are as good as anybody\u2019s on paper,\u201d this voter said. \u201cYou can imagine them not having turnovers, which Rodgers is good at avoiding. But the (offensive) line is just OK, and when you have a pocket, immobile quarterback without a great O-line, how can they stay on track? That is where the run game will be key, and short fields with that defense.\u201d<\/p>\n

8. Los Angeles Chargers<\/p>\n

Votes: 8-9-7-6-7-8-7-8 | Avg: 7.5 | Median: 7.5 | Vegas wins: 9.5 (T-4th)<\/p>\n

Losing left tackle Rashawn Slater to a season-ending injury was a huge blow for a team that wants to grind out games on the ground.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey are going to have to play good defense and rely on (Justin) Herbert to pull it out in clutch games, which he has not had a track record of doing in the big games, the close games,\u201d a voter ranking the Chargers eighth said.<\/p>\n

Per TruMedia, Herbert is 0-7 over the past two seasons (0-2 in 2024) in games decided by three or fewer points, despite ranking third in EPA per pass play among 27 QBs with at least five starts in such games. One reason: Only Tua Tagovailoa was more \u201cbetrayed\u201d in these games (measured by subtracting team defensive\/special teams EPA from QB EPA<\/a>).<\/p>\n

\u201cThey led the league in fewest turnovers last year, but then turned it over a bunch in the playoffs,\u201d another voter said. \u201c(Omarion) Hampton will be good to do what they do, with more upside than (J.K.) Dobbins last season. Turnovers can be a huge regression stat, but if they run it as much as Greg Roman wants to run it, they shouldn\u2019t have a ton of turnover exposure.\u201d<\/p>\n

9. Miami Dolphins<\/p>\n

Votes: 10-10-9-13-11-9-6-9 | Avg: 9.625 | Median: 9.5 | Vegas wins: 7.5 (T-10th)<\/p>\n

The Dolphins are in their own tier here, with large gaps between them and the surrounding teams. A fringe playoff team, perhaps.<\/p>\n

\u201cI have them ninth, just outside the playoffs, but if they make it, it\u2019s not a big surprise,\u201d one of the execs said.<\/p>\n

Tua Tagovailoa is one of four quarterbacks to start at least nine games in each of the past five seasons while having a winning record in all five seasons. Mahomes, Jackson and Allen are the others. Miami\u2019s defense was critical in Tagovailoa\u2019s early success, but still \u2026<\/p>\n

\u201cThe record with Tua and (coach Mike) McDaniel is too good to overlook,\u201d another voter said. \u201cIt seems like the GM\u2019s on the hot seat, the coach is on the hot seat, but they still got Tyreek Hill and (Jayden) Waddle and (De\u2019Von) Achane and Tua. When those guys are healthy, they should have no problem scoring. And then defensively, they got a lot of talent still. They are thin in the secondary, and that will be tough.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"A<\/p>\n

Tua Tagovailoa<\/p>\n

\"Logo<\/p>\n

Dolphins<\/p>\n

\n \u25c2 Worse
\n Better \u25b8\n <\/p>\n

10. New England Patriots<\/p>\n

Votes: 16-12-11-10-10-10-10-12 | Avg: 11.375 | Median: 10.5 | Vegas wins: 8.5 (T-8th)<\/p>\n

All but one voter had the Patriots 10th to 12th.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think New England could take a jump, the quarterback having a year under his belt,\u201d a voter ranking the Patriots 11th said. \u201cI\u2019m a big Mike Vrabel fan. I think they\u2019ll be better.\u201d<\/p>\n

One voter had the Patriots 16th (they finished last season 13th in the AFC).<\/p>\n

\u201cI just feel like that roster was in such bad shape, and you see it in all the cuts they made, like the first-round reach Cole Strange, and now Kyle Dugger is demoted,\u201d said the voter who ranked New England last. \u201cI love the coach, but to have expectations improve that much when the cupboard is so bare, I don\u2019t know.\u201d<\/p>\n

The other voters thought Vrabel would gain more traction early.<\/p>\n

\u201cDolphins, Patriots, you can flip a coin,\u201d another exec said. \u201cI think the Patriots have better coaching and will be more of a physical team, but the Dolphins, they have some explosive players and some things on offense that they can really be really, really special with.\u201d<\/p>\n

11. Las Vegas Raiders<\/p>\n

Votes: 11-11-10-8-9-14-12-11 | Avg: 10.75 | Median: 11 | Vegas wins: 6.5 (T-13th)<\/p>\n

The Raiders drew votes in six different slots, most for any team in the AFC.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey will be better,\u201d the exec ranking the Raiders lowest (14th) said. \u201cBut I think the whole AFC West has gotten so much better. Even if Geno Smith plays the best he\u2019s ever played in his career, he\u2019s still the fourth-best quarterback in that division.\u201d<\/p>\n

The voter ranking the Raiders 10th picked Las Vegas as the one team among the bottom seven with the best shot at surprising skeptics.<\/p>\n

\u201cGeno is better than people think as long as he doesn\u2019t turn it over, which he didn\u2019t do as much when he was with Pete (Carroll) before,\u201d this voter said. \u201cI think Chip Kelly will be good. If they have success, it will be interesting to see what happens with Chip there long term.\u201d<\/p>\n

Questions at wide receiver proliferated.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey will run the ball with (Ashton) Jeanty and feed (Brock) Bowers,\u201d this voter said. \u201cJeanty and Brock are good in the short and intermediate pass game. Defensively, with (Maxx) Crosby and (coordinator) Patrick Graham, I think they will be scrappy.\u201d<\/p>\n

12. Jacksonville Jaguars<\/p>\n

Votes: 12-7-12-11-12-11-13-10 | Avg: 11 | Median: 11.5 | Vegas wins: 7.5 (T-10th)<\/p>\n

For all the focus on new coach Liam Coen\u2019s work with incumbent quarterback Trevor Lawrence, his efforts in reviving Tampa Bay\u2019s run game could be underrated.<\/p>\n

\u201cI have a ton of respect how he turned around Tampa\u2019s run game from 32nd to top-five,\u201d one voter said. \u201cThey have a lot of good backs who have different strengths. O-line will be a question mark. It comes down to how quickly can they get production out of Trevor, who did look better in the preseason.\u201d<\/p>\n

Only one voter slotted the Jaguars higher than 10th. This voter had the Jaguars seventh, ahead of AFC South favorite Houston.<\/p>\n

\u201cI just think we get a better year from the quarterback, and then the defensive scheme that (Anthony) Campanile runs emphasizes turnovers,\u201d this voter said. \u201cThey will have some turnover luck this year that will help them.\u201d<\/p>\n

13. Indianapolis Colts<\/p>\n

Votes: 9-14-13-14-15-15-11-13 | Avg: 13 | Median: 13.5 | Vegas wins: 7.5 (T-10th)<\/p>\n

There\u2019s some thought that the Colts, freed from the charade of pretending Anthony Richardson is ready to start, might outperform expectations despite Daniel Jones\u2019 limitations.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think they\u2019ll be better than people think,\u201d the voter ranking Indy ninth said. \u201cDaniel Jones has a lot of talent around him, where he doesn\u2019t need to do anything crazy.\u201d<\/p>\n

The voter slotting Indy 11th sounded conflicted.<\/p>\n

\u201cI probably have them too high, but it\u2019s like they always find their way to the middle of the pack,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Another voter said he could see right away during the preseason why the Colts went with Jones over Anthony Richardson: The former allows coach Shane Steichen a better shot at calling a coherent game offensively.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s probably like, \u2018Dude, just give me a guy who\u2019s not going to give me the one bad play that\u2019s going to blow up the drive, and just get me on schedule so I could keep dialing it up,’\u201d this voter said.<\/p>\n

There is a catch.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe thing with Daniel Jones is, he\u2019s a limited-upside, low-ceiling quarterback that is turnover prone,\u201d another exec said. \u201cBut he\u2019s going to give you a (better) chance to compete and give you what Gardner Minshew did when they almost made the playoffs (at 9-8 in 2023) \u2014 a guy that\u2019s better than Gardner.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"A<\/p>\n

Daniel Jones<\/p>\n

\"Logo<\/p>\n

Colts<\/p>\n

\n \u25c2 Worse
\n Better \u25b8\n <\/p>\n

14. New York Jets<\/p>\n

Votes: 14-13-16-15-14-13-14-15 | Avg: 14.25 | Median: 14 | Vegas wins: 6.5 (T-13th)<\/p>\n

For the first time in a few years, there\u2019s very little hype surrounding the Jets entering the season. All eight voters slotted them 13th or lower.<\/p>\n

\u201c(New coach) Aaron Glenn will be fine, and Garrett Wilson is a good player,\u201d one exec said. \u201cI\u2019m not a big Justin Fields fan. He\u2019s a bridge at best and a really good backup.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Jets are going to play one way.<\/p>\n

\u201cWin it on defense, shorten the game running the ball, have a running quarterback and play a 13-10 ballgame,\u201d the exec added.<\/p>\n

Another voter said it was too early to know much.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe bit that I\u2019ve seen in preseason was nice, but I\u2019ve still got to see what they are,\u201d this exec said. \u201cI think they\u2019re going to be a year in transition. They very well could be close to as bad as Tennessee.\u201d<\/p>\n

15. Tennessee Titans<\/p>\n

Votes: 15-16-15-12-13-16-15-14 | Avg: 14.5 | Median: 15 | Vegas wins: 6.5 (T-13th)<\/p>\n

Execs expect rookie quarterback Cam Ward to help the Titans, but not to transform them.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t know if he has enough around him,\u201d one exec said. \u201cI don\u2019t think he is a franchise changer, but he\u2019s good.\u201d<\/p>\n

The voter ranking Mike Vrabel\u2019s former team (Tennessee) over Vrabel\u2019s current team (New England) made his case.<\/p>\n

\u201cI like Cam Ward, and I think they have more talent,\u201d this voter said of the Titans. \u201cI like the Cam Ward and Calvin Ridley duo. (Tony) Pollard is solid. They\u2019ve invested a lot in the O-line. I expect (line coach Bill) Callahan to get the most out of that line. And then defensively, not the greatest unit, but they have impact players like Jeffery Simmons.\u201d<\/p>\n

16. Cleveland Browns<\/p>\n

Votes: 13-15-14-16-16-12-16-16 | Avg: 14.75 | Median: 15.5 | Vegas wins: 5.5 (16th)<\/p>\n

Four of the eight execs ranked Cleveland last in the conference. The voter ranking them highest (12th) had the Titans, Colts, Jets and Raiders lower.<\/p>\n

\u201cCleveland is not going to be great, but they\u2019re not going to be as bad,\u201d this exec said. \u201cI think they have a good enough defense to help them stay in a lot of games. And if they have decent quarterback play, which they should have with (Joe) Flacco, they\u2019ll stay afloat.\u201d<\/p>\n

The voter ranking the Browns 13th pointed to their coaching in elevating Cleveland over the Patriots and Jets.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey\u2019ve got the best coaches between (Kevin) Stefanski and (Jim) Schwartz,\u201d he said. \u201cThat defense should be really good with (Myles) Garrett and Denzel Ward, and I liked the second-round linebacker (Carson Schwesinger). You would like them more on offense if they had (Quinshon) Judkins.\u201d<\/p>\n

Countdown to Kickoff is part of a partnership with NFL Sunday Ticket from YouTube TV.<\/p>\n

The Athletic maintains full editorial independence. Partners have no control over or input into the reporting or editing process and do not review stories before publication.<\/p>\n

(Photo of Lamar Jackson, left, and Josh Allen: Al Bello \/ Getty Images)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Editor\u2019s note: This article is part of our Countdown to Kickoff series, in which we highlight the NFL\u2019s…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":132789,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[63],"tags":[8849,1807,1822,1799,7820,4058,3686,1811,1236,1812,6337,1322,1815,5702,349,1321,99,8853],"class_list":["post-132788","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-nfl","tag-baltimore-ravens","tag-buffalo-bills","tag-cincinnati-bengals","tag-cleveland-browns","tag-denver-broncos","tag-houston-texans","tag-indianapolis-colts","tag-jacksonville-jaguars","tag-kansas-city-chiefs","tag-las-vegas-raiders","tag-los-angeles-chargers","tag-miami-dolphins","tag-new-england-patriots","tag-new-york-jets","tag-nfl","tag-pittsburgh-steelers","tag-sports","tag-tennessee-titans"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/132788","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=132788"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/132788\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/132789"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=132788"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=132788"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=132788"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}