Overview of The Athletic Football Show episode
Robert Mays and Derek covered one of their annual offseason exercises: ranking every AFC team’s offensive supporting cast around the quarterback. They graded each team by more than just raw talent — also weighing depth, offensive line quality, play-calling, and the overall offensive ecosystem. The big takeaway: the AFC has a lot of volatility, and coaching/scheme may matter almost as much as personnel in several spots.
Main themes from the discussion
Play-calling and system matter a lot
- The hosts repeatedly emphasized that a strong offensive architect can lift a unit several spots.
- Teams like the Broncos, Chargers, Patriots, and Jaguars were placed higher partly because of faith in the coaching structure.
- Conversely, teams with talented players but shaky offensive infrastructure were pushed down.
Offensive line uncertainty drove a lot of the rankings
- Several teams were hard to place because of uncertain or young offensive lines.
- Health, continuity, and scheme fit were major factors for the Colts, Ravens, Texans, Jets, and Patriots.
- The Broncos and Bills were valued highly because their offensive lines were seen as more stable and proven.
Elite pass-catchers can carry a lot
- Cincinnati’s Jamar Chase and Tee Higgins combination was treated as one of the strongest weapons groups in the league.
- Brock Bowers, Nico Collins, and Ladd McConkey were also highlighted as potential difference-makers.
- The show repeatedly asked: who can create explosives or win consistently on their own?
AFC supporting cast rankings
| Rank | Team | Why they landed there |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Broncos | Best overall blend of line, scheme, and receiving talent; Sean Payton’s offense was a huge factor. |
| 2 | Bills | Strong offensive line, reliable run game, and a passing game that gained more juice with added weapons. |
| 3 | Colts | Shane Steichen’s system, a strong run game, and a promising skill group kept them near the top. |
| 4 | Bengals | Jamar Chase + Tee Higgins pushed them up despite questions elsewhere. |
| 5 | Chargers | Health of the offensive line and Mike McDaniels/creative scheme projections made them attractive. |
| 6 | Patriots | AJ Brown’s arrival plus a solid structure made New England’s unit much more dangerous. |
| 7 | Jaguars | Liam Coen’s play-calling confidence and the upside of the passing game outweighed line concerns. |
| 8 | Ravens | Derrick Henry still carried serious weight, but the line and pass-catcher questions kept them lower. |
| 9 | Steelers | Solid floor with Mike McCarthy and an intriguing but still developing offensive line/receiver mix. |
| 10 | Texans | Nico Collins and a better offensive line outlook gave them upside, but there were still enough questions to cap them. |
| 11 | Chiefs | Andy Reid and Patrick Mahomes still matter, but the supporting talent was viewed as less complete than in past years. |
| 12 | Jets | Talent was intriguing, but the play-calling/infrastructure concerns — especially Frank Reich — dragged them down. |
| 13 | Browns | Lots of upside with young players, but also a lot of uncertainty, especially at rookie pass-catcher spots. |
| 14 | Raiders | Brock Bowers and Ashton Jeanty are exciting, but the receiver room and line concerns were too much. |
| 15 | Titans | Offensive line questions and limited certainty at receiver/running back kept them near the bottom. |
| 16 | Dolphins | The least complete group; the roster build was intentionally thin, with too many questions at receiver and line. |
Biggest debates and takeaways
Browns vs. Texans
- The Browns were considered one of the biggest “could be wrong about this” teams.
- If the rookie receivers and offensive line clicks quickly, Cleveland could outplay its placement.
- The Texans were also seen as a potential jump team if their offensive line improvements and new pass-catchers hit.
Patriots vs. Bengals
- New England got a boost from AJ Brown, but Cincinnati’s Chase/Higgins duo was considered more overwhelming.
- The Bengals’ ceiling was tied closely to whether the offensive line and run game can stay functional.
Chiefs in a different place than usual
- One of the more notable points was skepticism about Kansas City’s offensive support around Mahomes.
- The hosts both suggested Andy Reid no longer automatically guarantees a top-tier supporting cast the way he once did.
What’s next from the show
- The crew will continue with the NFC rankings in the next episode.
- They also previewed a “lingering questions” series focused on rookie quarterbacks and their second-year outlooks.
- More offseason content is coming throughout June and July, with the show back to four days a week.