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2022 AFC playoffs: Does Miami make this too early prediction?

By Juan Vasquez

MIAMI GARDENS, FLORIDA - DECEMBER 13: (L-R) Xavien Howard #25, Nik Needham #40, and Jerome Baker #55 of the Miami Dolphins celebrate and interception against the Kansas City Chiefs at Hard Rock Stadium on December 13, 2020 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Mark Brown/Getty Images)
MIAMI GARDENS, FLORIDA - DECEMBER 13: (L-R) Xavien Howard #25, Nik Needham #40, and Jerome Baker #55 of the Miami Dolphins celebrate and interception against the Kansas City Chiefs at Hard Rock Stadium on December 13, 2020 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Mark Brown/Getty Images) /
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ARLINGTON, TEXAS – NOVEMBER 25: Maxx Crosby #98 and Derek Carr #4 of the Las Vegas Raiders wait to take to the field ahead of the NFL game between Las Vegas Raiders and Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium on November 25, 2021 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)
ARLINGTON, TEXAS – NOVEMBER 25: Maxx Crosby #98 and Derek Carr #4 of the Las Vegas Raiders wait to take to the field ahead of the NFL game between Las Vegas Raiders and Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium on November 25, 2021 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images) /

Wildcard, Las Vegas Raiders:

The Vegas Raiders have been another team who has been aggressive in their off-season bringing in new HC Josh McDaniels and superstar WR Davante Adams. The Raiders have one of the most loaded offenses in the NFL, not even a year after turning into a complete mess and somehow making it to the playoffs.

Derek Carr is a very underrated QB and finally having a true #1 to throw to will be a game changer for him, the division is brutal but in the end I believe the Raiders are banking on outscoring their opponents to win games.

If the Raiders defense can keep up with the firepower in the division they could definitely earn a higher seeding, but in the end I see them battling it out in division and taking must have W’s in other games.

The AFC West is the group of death but if the teams I mentioned in this article make it out they will be battle tested better than all the other teams, and that really holds weight in the long run.

Honorable mentions, did not make it:

Baltimore Ravens:

This team has barely made any significant moves during their off-season to improve an offense that relies strictly on Lamar Jackson making something happen, but injuries for Jackson are a concern for me. If Lamar needs to be superman every game, they are going to keep missing the playoffs and taking chunks of time out of Jackson’s career.

Cleveland Browns:

The Browns should be good with Watson, but he might be suspended and the situation overall seems too messy. I can only see it getting more out of hand as time moves on and I predict we won’t see the best of Watson. Year and a half of no Football, and 22 cases of sexual misconduct hanging over his head, no human can block that out. It will affect Watson, the situation in Cleveland is uncertain, dark, and morbid until the legal situation is figured out.

Tennessee Titans:

The Titans are signing injury prone players and the formula of having Derrick Henry carry is getting old, plus having Ryan Tannehill at QB doesn’t help.

Kansas City Chiefs:

The Chiefs are due for a reality check, unless Mahomes turns into a magician again. But a bit of mystique has worn out of Pat Mahomes after he looked very human, imperfect, and at times pedestrian in 2021. He still had a monster season by the rest of the league standards, but the magic tricks have worn off a bit.

Follow me on Twitter @3rdnJuan for Dolphins content everyday.

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