NFL Season Preview: AFC Dark Horse Playoff Contenders

Time to take a look at which NFL teams could be dark horse candidates to win each AFC division.

There are division favorites, then there are teams who could give the NFL favorites a true test.

Usually, these teams are able to clear a hurdle and enter the playoffs as Wild Card teams. Which team in the NFC East will be the biggest challenge for the defending Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles? Who will pose the most prominent threat to the Pittsburgh Steelers and their AFC North crown last season? Let’s jump right into things with the dark horse team out of the AFC East.

AFC East Dark Horse: Buffalo Bills

Let’s be honest, as long as #12 trots on the field for the New England Patriots, they are the king of the mountain in the AFC East. However, the Buffalo Bills were playoff-bound last season thanks to a hard-nosed defense and a run game that was sixth in the NFL averaging 126.1 rushing yards per game.

With LeSean McCoy in tow, the Bills will be one of the best teams in the league in running the ball and controlling the clock. All eyes will be on the quarterback position, however.

There is a new rookie in Josh Allen, who was taken seventh overall in this year’s draft out of Wyoming. He comes equipped with a rocket arm but his last season at the collegiate level was pretty sporadic and left plenty to be desired.

The team brought in AJ McCarron via free agency from Cincinnati after moving on from Tyrod Taylor. The defense is young and has superb talent at each level of the defense.

The Bills kick off the season with three of their first four games on the road at Baltimore, Minnesota, and Green Bay. As a matter of fact, five of the team’s first seven games are road contests. Can this young team knock the Patriots off their perch? That seems to be a very tough task even with the Bills talent. But they will prove to give New England their biggest test within the division.