Week 6 of the NFL has arrived. There are five top-caliber teams in the AFC that all have impressed so far this season.
With two Super Bowl-contending teams (Baltimore Ravens and Kansas City Chiefs) not playing up to their standards, there are now three 4-1 teams (Buffalo Bills, Indianapolis Colts, and Jacksonville Jaguars) looking to improve their Super Bowl odds.
Not far behind them (New England Patriots, Los Angeles Chargers, and Denver Broncos), all at 3-2, while the Pittsburgh Steelers are at 3-1 after their bye a week ago. With all these teams playing at their best, which teams should concern the Bills the most in the coming weeks?
5 teams who could damper the Bills changes of winning the AFC championship
1. New England Patriots
The Patriots pulled an incredible franchise-altering win over the Bills on Sunday Night Football. Young quarterback Drake Maye has played excellently through the first five weeks, and ex-Bills receiver Stefon Diggs has registered consecutive games with over 100 yards since joining New England.
The Patriots also boast a physical defense under head coach Mike Vrabel, who, in his first year, is already restoring the championship leadership that was once established by Bill Belichick and Tom Brady.
2. Los Angeles Chargers
After beginning the season 3-0, the Chargers have cooled off with two straight losses. While every team has injuries, the team has been playing without the services of rookie running back Omarian Hampton.
Besides quarterback Justin Herbert continuing to be an elite quarterback at the NFL level, the Chargers' fierce defense has placed in the top 10 in points permitted per game.
Look for Herbert and the team to bounce back from their two last losses and step up this week against the Miami Dolphins.
3. Denver Broncos
The Broncos are 3-2 on the year after picking up a wild 21-17 upset win on the road against the Philadelphia Eagles. Their season has been kind of a roller coaster this year after going 10-7 last season and making the playoffs.
Second-year quarterback Bo Nix continues to make strides this season, throwing for 1,103 yards with eight touchdowns and four interceptions. The highlight of the Eagles game was head coach Sean Payton's gutsy decision to go for two points and take the 18-17 lead with over five minutes left in the fourth quarter.
The Broncos will also be looking for revenge after the Bills eliminated them last year in the AFC wildcard matchup.
4. Indianapolis Colts
The Colts enter week 5 with the NFL's leading rusher in running back Jonathan Taylor, while quarterback Daniel Jones is looking like a new and empowered signal-caller.
The defense has been spectacular, permitting only the third-lowest points in the NFL through the first five weeks. Time will tell how far this team can really go, but right now, Daniel Jones and the Colts look to be the biggest threat to the Bills in the AFC.
5. Jacksonville Jaguars
What is going on here? There must be something lucky in the waters of Duval County, or it's just the brilliant coaching of young Liam Coen. Everywhere he's been, he's a quarterback whisperer.
When the Jags fired head coach Doug Pederson after going 4-13 in 2024, the Jags needed new blood coming from a culture-building coach. They landed on former Tampa Bay offensive coordinator Coen, a 39-year-old offensive guru known for developing some top quarterbacks.
Fans were not sure if his luck would rub off on Lawrence, as he had looked like he was heading for bust status before him. But five weeks into the season, and Lawrence has the Jags to an impressive 4-1 start, and he is playing some of his best football in his career.
Jacksonville also boasts a tough defense and an impactful running game under Coen so far. If any team should be taken seriously, it's the Jacksonville Jaguars.