Ranking The 5 Biggest AFC Threats To New England Patriots

Jan 14, 2017; Foxborough, MA, USA; New England Patriots free safety Duron Harmon (30) returns an interception against Houston Texans guard Oday Aboushi (78) in the second half in the AFC Divisional playoff game at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports /

The New England Patriots remain the masters of the AFC and are once again defending Super Bowl champions. Not much has changed.

Still, every year is a little different in the NFL. It’s hard to repeat, especially with a 40-year old quarterback. Even if he is Tom Brady. No doubt the rest of the conference is itching to knock the Patriots off their lofty pedestal. It’s a matter of whether any team is equipped to do so. There are some who look like threats but which is the biggest of them all? Here are the five teams that New England will probably want to watch the most this coming season.

#5: Denver Broncos

They’re still the team that knocked off the Patriots two years ago and still have one of the best defenses in the league. It counts for something. However, with no stability at quarterback and their defensive scheme about to undergo some changes it’s fair to wonder whether this is even close to the same team that won a Lombardi trophy in February of last year. Much of it will fall on how quickly their new coaching staff can acclimate to the roster.

#4: Oakland Raiders

Adding Marshawn Lynch will bring a new dimension for the Oakland Raiders, but much of why they’re a threat is they have the hottest, young quarterback in the business. People saw just how valuable Derek Carr was to the Silver and Black after he broke his leg late in 2016. As he continues to mature within that offense, the threat he poses will only grow. Especially if the Raiders can start to put an actual defense on the field to compliment him.

#3: Pittsburgh Steelers

Once the Patriots showed how inferior the Pittsburgh Steelers are to them when it comes to big games. The two teams have met 13 times since Bill Belichick took over the Patriots in 2000. During that span the Steelers have beaten him just three times. Perhaps it’s proof that for all the highlights Pittsburgh is good for, their ability to execute against a discipline team and game plan remains shoddy at best. Their AFC championship collapse proved it.

#2: Houston Texans

The score won’t say it, but the Houston Texans looked like a genuine problem for the Patriots in their playoff meeting. Defensively they flustered Tom Brady for over half the game before fatigue inevitably sank them. Keep in mind they’ll be getting J.J. Watt back. A scary proposition in itself. Then it becomes a matter of whether they can find a decent quarterback. Most are secure in the knowledge that if this happens, that team is gunning for the Super Bowl.

#1: Kansas City Chiefs

The trick to beating the Patriots doesn’t lay in sheer talent. It lay in preparation and execution. Often that’s why teams that are the most well-coached tend to best New England more often. Andy Reid is one of the best head coaches in recent NFL history. His Kansas City Chiefs have made the playoffs three of the past four years. They have defense, can run the ball and a quarterback who knows how to avoid the big mistakes. This team is not one to be trifled with.

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