Ranking the Future Outlook of the 6 AFC Playoff Teams, Not KC

#6 Pittsburgh Steelers

The Pittsburgh Steelers will always be competitive with Mike Tomlin as their head coach, but if this season showed anything, they still have a big question to answer at the quarterback position. With Kenny Pickett's struggles amid the Matt Canada fiasco, Pittsburgh dealt with adversity. However, Tomlin and the team found a steady diet of success after Canada was dismissed from his duties and Mason Rudolph became the starting quarterback. If the Steelers can find their answer at QB, they have all the tools and talent to be a very competitive football team. But with a question mark at the most crucial position on the field, their future remains in question. 

#1 Baltimore Ravens

The Baltimore Ravens fell short in the AFC Championship, ending their historic season. Despite their impressive year and clinching the No. 1 seed, Baltimore's season ended against Patrick Mahomes and the reigning NFL Champs. Nonetheless, with a primarily young and dominant defense and likely a two-time MVP winner in Lamar Jackson leading the ship, it'll be hard not to consider their future as one of the brightest out of this group. 

#2 Buffalo Bills

The Buffalo Bills' future outlook is a bit of a tricky one. The team faced early season struggles, but along the long season journey, Buffalo figured it out. After firing offensive coordinator Ken Dorsey, the Bills' offense picked up steam under interim offensive coordinator Joe Brady, and the team looked like the AFC East champs of the past. Ultimately, the Bills are one Tyler Bass field goal away from possibly being in the Super Bowl. As long as Josh Allen is under center, Buffalo will be a threat in the AFC, and with the talent on both sides of the ball, Sean McDermott will always get the best out of his team.

#3 Houston Texans

The Houston Texans have just as good of a future as any team on this list. Following the hiring of one of the best young head coaches in the league, DeMeco Ryans, last year, the Texans followed it up by drafting their franchise quarterback and a defensive freak with their first two selections. In Ryans's first year with the team, he turned the Texans' franchise around and led them to the Divisional round of the playoffs. With C.J. Stroud leading the way, Houston will be a force to reckon with for a long time in the AFC.

#4 Cleveland Browns

The Miami Dolphins had one of their best seasons in years. Still, after an end-of-season collapse, Miami lost their division championship and home-field advantage in the playoffs, ultimately leading to one of the coldest games in NFL history, where they lost to the Chiefs. The team also dealt with season-ending injuries to multiple critical pieces like Jaelan Phillips and Bradley Chubb. On the bright side, Tua Tagovailoa played his first full season, and the Dolphins had one of the most explosive offenses. At the end of the day, injuries are a part of the game, and execution down the stretch of the season is the deciding factor. The Dolphins have the talent and the coach to be a top team in the NFL next season, but they'll have to figure out a way to get over the big game hump. 

#5 Miami Dolphins

The Cleveland Browns may have had one of the most impressive yet overlooked seasons of the year. Despite the constant injury woes all over the team, the Browns dealt with the most issues at the quarterback position. After Deshaun Watson was ruled out for the year, Cleveland finally rounded their guy for the rest of the season in Joe Flacco, the fourth quarterback to suit up for the team in 2023-24. Thanks to head coach Kevin Stefanski and the Browns' stout defense, Cleveland finished the year strong before losing on the road to Texas in the Wild Card. Nonetheless, with Watson returning next year and the outstanding talent all over their roster, the Browns could be on a revenge tour next season. 

#6 Pittsburgh Steelers

The Pittsburgh Steelers will always be competitive with Mike Tomlin as their head coach, but if this season showed anything, they still have a big question to answer at the quarterback position. With Kenny Pickett's struggles amid the Matt Canada fiasco, Pittsburgh dealt with adversity. However, Tomlin and the team found a steady diet of success after Canada was dismissed from his duties and Mason Rudolph became the starting quarterback. If the Steelers can find their answer at QB, they have all the tools and talent to be a very competitive football team. But with a question mark at the most crucial position on the field, their future remains in question.