The 2026 NFL season is officially here, and every fan base believes they have a chance to hoist the Lombardi Trophy (except maybe the Miami Dolphins and Arizona Cardinals). It's all happiness and butterflies for football fans as we enter opening week, but have you ever stopped to wonder if all this optimism is unwarranted? Let's get pessimistic and talk about one reason why every team in the AFC will disappoint its fan base in 2026.
If your team fails to meet expectations this season -- whatever those are -- what will be the reason? From awful offensive lines to questionable quarterbacks, to shaky secondaries and pathetic pass rushes, there are reasons to be wary of every team in the NFL. The Baltimore Ravens have three new starters on the interior of their offensive line: John Simpson at left guard, Ethan Pocic or Jovaughn Gwyn at center and first-round pick Olaivavega Ioane at right guard.
If this group can't stop pressure up the middle, Lamar Jackson is going to be scrambling for his life. Now, the two-time NFL MVP is pretty good at scrambling, but if he suffers any kind of injury, the Ravens are toast. Jackson missed four games with a hamstring injury in 2025, and while he eventually returned, the Ravens quarterback accounted for just 12 touchdowns compared to eight turnovers in the final nine games of the season.
Anyone who watched the Ravens knew something was off, as Jackson's rushing yards per game dropped from 41.5 to 20.3. So, can this offensive line keep Jackson upright and healthy? The Cincinnati Bengals defense is expected to be "better" in 2026 given the additions of players like Dexter Lawrence II, Boye Mafe and Bryan Cook.
This unit ranked third-worst in scoring defense (28.9) and dead last in yards per play allowed (6.2) last year. The Bengals have now missed three straight postseasons after back-to-back AFC title game appearances, largely because of the defense (along with Joe Burrow's injuries). Can Cincinnati generate any pass rush with Mafe, Myles Murphy, Shemar Stewart and Cashius Howell?
Will linebackers Barrett Carter and Demetrius Knight Jr. perform better in Year 2? The secondary looks solid on paper, but this group gave up 7.0 YAC per reception last season -- the most by any team in the last 20 years! The Bengals will have to prove their issues on defense are fixed.
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