The AFC is home to some of the best quarterbacks in the NFL and many of the top teams. Competing in the AFC playoffs is never easy, and getting there is tough, too. Every single player on every roster has to be firing at the maximum to beat an alien like Josh Allen or Lamar Jackson. After running down an X-Factor for each team in the NFC, in this article we’ll look at one X-Factor for each AFC team that could be the make or break for their team in 2025.
Kansas City Chiefs: Rashee Rice, WR
Rashee Rice had an extremely rough 2024. Not only did he tear his ACL in September and miss most of the season, he’s also in some legal trouble due to a high speed crash he was in in Dallas. However, in his rookie year, he looked like a volume receiver that Patrick Mahomes could rely on. If he can set aside all the off-field distractions and continue to rehab his injury, he could get back to that level. The Chiefs drafted Xavier Worthy and still have Travis Kelce for at least one more year, but Rashee will have to step up to the plate and become a true #1 WR that Pat Mahomes can rely on. If he does, the Chiefs could make another deep run and maybe avenge their Super Bowl loss.
Los Angeles Chargers: Tuli Tuipulotu, EDGE
Tuli Tuipulotu had an excellent rookie year, and if he can build on it, he will become a star on the Chargers. In 2024, he racked up 53 total tackles, eight tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks, two forced fumbles, a pass breakup, and a fumble recovery. He shined as a run defender especially, but only came 4th on his team in sacks. With Joey Bosa leaving for the Bills in free agency, Tuli will have to step up as the clear partner to Khalil Mack. His run defense will be just as, if not more, important after the departure of Poona Ford, but he’ll also need more sacks. As always, I’m rooting for any and all USC Trojans and have high hopes for Tuli. If he has a great 2025, so will the Chargers defense and the team.
Las Vegas Raiders: Jackson Powers-Johnson, C
The Raiders’ O-Line had a rough year last year, being ranked 23rd by PFN. A particularly memorable moment was the botched snap against the Chiefs on Black Friday, which cost them the game. Hopefully, Jackson Powers-Johnson learned a lot from that year and will improve in year two. They picked up two more young O-Linemen in the third round in Caleb Rogers and Charles Grant, and they have the honor of blocking for Ashton Jeanty, a wrecking ball in human form. If JPJ can coordinate the young O-Line and improve their performance, they can have an incredible year protecting Geno and blocking for Ashton.
Denver Broncos: Nik Bonitto, EDGE
Bonitto is coming off a great year where he had 13.5 sacks and some great highlights, including a pick six. With their first-round pick, the Broncos upgraded their defense even more, securing one of the best corner duos in the league with Jahdae Barron alongside Pat Surtain II. They also added two star defenders from the 49ers, Talanoa Hufange and Dre Greenlaw. That group should give the Denver D-Line plenty of time to get after the quarterback, and if Bonitto can repeat the kind of production he had in 2024, this defense (and this team) will be very scary in 2025.
Jacksonville Jaguars: Travis Hunter, WR/CB
When you move up to draft someone at #2 overall, it’s pretty much make or break for your franchise. The Jaguars gave a lot up to get him, and their plans seem to be centered around him. He’s also one of the most unique prospects in NFL history, but also one of those whose potential will be hardest to pay off. Travis Hunter will be the barometer for the entire Jacksonville Jaguars franchise for the foreseeable future. If his numbers are good, Liam Cohen’s offense is working, and the Prince might finally live up to his promise. If they can get him involved on offense and defense, they’re a great coaching staff that might bring some long-needed stability to Jacksonville. Basically, as Travis goes, the whole franchise goes, and I can’t wait to watch.
Tennessee Titans: Tyler Lockett, WR
Cam Ward is the big story for the Titans, despite being a rather quietly received #1 overall pick. All the Titans offseason moves were about setting the table for Ward to succeed, and Lockett was one of the biggest. He’s a stalwart veteran presence that should be a reliable option for the young gunner. He helped Russell Wilson start his career and remained a great option for him, and he could now help another young QB develop. If he is great, Cam Ward also has the chance to be great, and we’ll all be watching to see if Ward is the guy for the Titan’s future.
Houston Texans: The Entire Offensive Line
Sorry, I can’t choose just one because they’re all under so much pressure. Not only were they already one of the league’s worst teams, but they also lost their two best players in Laremy Tunsil and Shaq Mason. The Houston Texans have a great roster and just added another great RB in Nick Chubb. But everyone knows the offense lives and dies by how good the line can be. The Texans could easily be a playoff contender, given the quality of their defense and the overall strength of their roster. But as the O-Line goes, so does the rest of the team. Without these guys shaping up, the Texans will likely not make it out of the starting gate.
Indianapolis Colts: Daniel Jones, QB
Cheating with another quarterback, but the drama out of this room is just too good. Anthony Richardson’s shoulder injury brings up even more questions alongside his very middling play. This is a make-or-break year for AR, but it may be even more important for Daniel Jones. He will very likely see some playing time and even a few starts, and after being soundly rejected by the Giants and cheaped out on by the Vikings, this could be the end of the road for his career. Even if he’s able to establish himself as a workable backup, that could be huge for him. The Colts season also likely hinges on how well he can play, again assuming that Richardson’s injury is serious or that his play doesn’t improve.
Pittsburgh Steelers: Derrick Harmon, DT
This is a make-or-break year for the Steelers, especially their aging D. With the addition of Aaron Rodgers, it’s clear they’re going all in. This is a smart move given that TJ Watt and Cameron Heyward likely have just a few years left in their career. Harmon is the future plan to replace them on the D-Line alongside Alex Highsmith. If he hits the ground running and beefs up the line right away, the Steelers could have a strong 2025 and finally getting that playoff win they’re dying for.
Baltimore Ravens: Isaiah Likely, TE
Mark Andrews and the Ravens had an unfortunate end to 2024, and many will point the finger at Andrews’ drop. Andrews’ future seems highly uncertain, with trade rumors with his name on them. Isaiah Likely has already had a couple of great years and started to overtake Mark Andrews, but now he is the long-term future at the position for Baltimore. The Ravens have never had great luck with receivers, though Zay Flowers is promising. Lamar has always leaned on the tight end as his safety blanket and Likely will be an important tool for Lamar’s offense in 2025. If he can keep the momentum going, they might get back to the playoffs and make a run this year.
Cincinnati Bengals: The Front Office
Cheating again, but this situation is an absolute joke. Not only are they cheaping out on their star (and the sack king) Trey Hendrickson, but they’re also somehow screwing up the easiest contract of all time, the rookie contract. The numbers are literally set in stone and yet the Bengals have to pick at random language for no reason. Their defense was already the reason they missed the playoffs last year, and not only are they letting the only great player on their defense languish while waiting for the payday he deserves, but they’re also not paying the guy they drafted to ostensibly replace him. Pretty simple, pull out the same Brinks truck you did for Jamarr Chase and Tee Higgins and get these guys to practice so your defense doesn’t scuttle your year again.
Cleveland Browns: The Starting QB
This is a real stretch, but it’s impossible to say who the Browns’ starting QB will be, and it’s impossible to deny that the answer to that question defines their whole season. Will one of the rookies break out? Will the stalwart veteran Flacco right the ship? Will Kenny Pickett have a renaissance in Cleveland? I’m not really sure,e and honestly, I don’t love any of these guys. But whichever one starts the majority of 2025 will be the determining factor for the season. The drama and QB competition will also tell us a lot about the state of the organization as they recover from the Deshaun Watson disaster.
New England Patriots: Garrett Bradbury, C
A lot is new for the Patriots this year, including their head coach and their new center, Garrett Bradbury. He’ll be leading a unit featuring two other new linemen, 1st-round pick Will Campbell and veteran tackle Morgan Moses. The Patriots’ O-Line was horrid last year, and Bradbury was one of the many investments they put into improving that. He’ll most likely be calling protections and leading this group. If he can help them protect Drake Maye and establish the run, the Pats could have a breakout year, and we could see what Drake Maye is made of.
Miami Dolphins: Jonah Savaiinaea, OL
He’s a rookie, but I think Savaiinaea was a great pickup for the Dolphins. The biggest thing the Dolphins need in 2025 and going forward is some toughness, and the way you get that is with the big men up front. First-round pick Kenneth Grant was another great step in this direction, and it could easily be his face here. But it’s impossible to talk about the Dolphins without the other elephant in the room, which is keeping Tua upright and healthy. That will be Jonah’s job starting 2025, and if he can do it well, the Dolphins can improve massively and hopefully get that long-awaited playoff win.
New York Jets: Garrett Wilson, WR
This is Garrett Wilson’s third head coach and the ninth different quarterback that will be throwing to Garrett Wilson in his three-year career. He’s widely seen as one of the elite WRs in this league, but this year he’ll really have to prove it. Justin Fields isn’t the best QB in the world, but a truly great receiver should be able to get his yards anyway. If Garrett Wilson does well this year, it proves that he’s an A+ guy and will help with his second contract. If he can help Justin Fields feel confident and the Jets offense flow, they could have a great start to the Aaron Glenn era.
Buffalo Bills: Keon Coleman, WR
Much hay has been made about the Keon Coleman/Xavier Worthy dichotomy, and it’s certainly an interesting thread to pull. Trades between the Bills and Chiefs have a storied history, and they are playoff rivals almost every year. They very likely will match up again this year, and Keon Coleman needs to prove that he was the right pick for Buffalo. He only had 556 yards and 4 TDs last year, and he’ll need to do better than that this year with Amari Cooper gone. If Keon steps up, the Bills offense could be truly scary with Josh Allen having two scary weapons alongside James Cook.
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