As the NFL enters its final stretch of the season, many players, coaches and executives are under intense scrutiny.
Ahead of Week 14, Yardbarker NFL writers identify the AFC members most at risk for each team.
AFC East
Buffalo Bills (10-2) | QB Josh Allen | In Week 13 against the San Francisco 49ers, he First quarterback to score rushing, receiving and passing touchdowns In the game. Now he’s the favorite to be the NFL’s MVP. per ESPN bet. It won’t be easy for Eagles running back Saquon Barkley to stop, and with the AFC’s No. 1 seed still up for grabs, he’ll need to be in top form for Buffalo’s final five games.
Miami Dolphins (5-7) | WR Tyreek Hill | Hill is on pace to fall short of 1,000 yards receiving for the first time since 2019 and could lose $500,000 if the Dolphins miss the playoffs. According to Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk:Although Hill’s contract includes a clause that could pay him up to $500,000 for a playoff appearance. According to ESPNThe team has only an 11% chance of making the postseason.
New York Jets (3-9) | QB Aaron Rodgers | The Jets have lost eight of their last nine games with Rodgers as their starting quarterback. This is not what the team expected when it gave Green Bay multiple draft picks to get him in 2023. Of course, it’s not all his fault. Rogers was quick to point out: After Sunday’s loss to Seattle. But he needs to play better on a team that has already fired its head coach (Robert Saleh) and GM (Joe Douglas) this season.
New England Patriots (3-10) | Director Jerrod Mayo | Replacing future Hall of Famer Bill Belichick won’t be easy. But if first-year New England HC Mayo can lead the team to their third win in their last four games, he’ll be off to a better start than his predecessor. A year before leading the Patriots to a Super Bowl victory in 2001, Belichick went 5-11 in his first season in New England, numbers Mayo hopes to win in 2024. — Bruce Ewing
AFC West
Denver Broncos (8-5) | WR Courtland Sutton | Sutton, who ranks 9th in the league in receiving yards (846 yards in 13 games), could earn a hefty salary if he continues to put up fantastic numbers for the rest of the season. Contracted until 2025 Spotrac Quote His market value is a three-year contract worth $19.6 million per year.
Kansas City Chiefs (11-1) | QB Patrick Mahomes | Mahomes puts the Chiefs in position to hoist the Lombardi Trophy for the third time in four seasons. If he wins another Super Bowl, he will join Joe Montana, Terry Bradshaw and Tom Brady as the only QBs with four or more Super Bowl rings.
Las Vegas Raiders (2-10) | Director Antonio Pierce | After Las Vegas suffered a miserable Week 13 loss to KC, Sports Illustrated and “Thursday Night Football.” Insider Albert Breer said:“There is a lot of talk around the league about Antonio Pearce being able to stand on his own as a manager.” Pierce needs the Raiders to show signs of improvement. Otherwise, you may need to update your resume soon.
Los Angeles Chargers (8-4) | Edge rusher Joey Bosa | Bosa had the second-largest cap hit on the team. 2025 ($36.47 million)So he needs to get his Pro Bowl form back to avoid being a cut candidate. Through his first nine games, he recorded just three sacks and 15 tackles. — clark dalton
AFC North
Pittsburgh Steelers (9-3) | Director Mike Tomlin | The Steelers have consistently been competitive under Tomlin. He hasn’t had a losing season in 18 years as a Pittsburgh HC, but hasn’t won a playoff game since the 2016 season. This team has shown the ability to perform well in the AFC, but will Tomlin fall short again in the postseason?
Baltimore Ravens (8-5) | Kicker Justin Tucker | What on earth happened to Tucker? The future Hall of Famer has missed four of his last eight field goal attempts, and he is no longer the all-time leader in field goal percentage. (Harrison Butker of Kansas City) Beating him 89.212% to 89.032%.) If Tucker continues down this path, retirement may be closer than expected.
Cincinnati Bengals (4-8) | Defensive Coordinator Lou Anarumo | Anarumo’s defense ranked sixth in the NFL in points allowed just two seasons ago, but the Bengals 31st in scoring defense (28.3 PPG) This season, they have given up at least 34 points in four of their last five games. QB Joe Burrow is playing well enough to lead the Bengals to the playoffs, so Anarumo will be criticized if he doesn’t get there. Per ESPNCincinnati’s chances of advancing to the postseason are slim (2%).
Cleveland Browns (3-9) | GM Andrew Berry | Berry and owner Jimmy Haslam took on the responsibility of trading Deshaun Watson and giving him a five-year, $230 million fully guaranteed contract. The NFL’s youngest GM (37) has a big offseason ahead of him with important decisions to make. Especially at QB, where Watson has struggled and Jameis Winston has not proven himself to be a long-term solution. — jack doherty
AFC South
Houston Texans (8-5) | Offensive Coordinator Bobby Slowik | Slovic, who left a hot name in the coaching world last year, had a difficult season with Houston’s mediocre offense, which ranked 12th in scoring. (23.7 PPG), 17th in yards (335.2 yards per game).
Indianapolis Colts (6-7) | QB Anthony Richardson | Having already been benched once, Richardson could secure a starting spot in 2025 with a strong finish to the season. Since returning to the starting lineup in Week 11, Richardson has gone 43-of-82 (52.4%) for 553 yards (6.7 yards per attempt). ), totaled six touchdowns (three passing, three rushing) and three turnovers.
Jacksonville Jaguars (2-10) | GM Trent Balcke | The Jaguars are on track to land the No. 1 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft and could be in the market for a head coach. Having already survived the Urban Meyer debacle in 2021, Baalke is right in the hot seat. Would Jacksonville want to give him another chance?
Tennessee Titans (3-9) | QB Will Levis | Tennessee’s second-year quarterback has been a mixed bag this season, making several costly mistakes that cost the Titans multiple games. Unless things settle down over the next five weeks, Tennessee may look to replace its QB, who is 2-7 as a starter in 2025 with 12 TD passes and 9 interceptions. — Eric Smithling
