The confetti has been cleared out of the field since the historic three-peat by the Chiefs. The 2025 NFL draft buzz has gone down to rookie murmurs. As July’s heat descends, the attention of the entire league inevitably turns to September. There is a lingering question on the minds of fans and pundits alike. Will the AFC or the NFC have the bragging rights going into the 2025-26 NFL season?

At first sight, the answer is easy. The kingpin is Patrick Mahomes, the obviously dominant figure, in a rising dynasty in Kansas City. They have lifted the Lombardi Trophy six times in the last seven years. However, look behind the shiny championship rings and you get an interesting, nuanced portrait. The NFC is getting loaded once again with explosive young quarterbacks and defense that could be ready to upset the perceived hegemonic AFC. It is not just the Chiefs, but depth and volatility and the shifting of tectonic plates of NFL power that are beneath our feet.

The AFC: Kingdom of Mahomes and the competitors on the gates

The good news is, there is no denying the Kansas City Chiefs (AFC West) are the gold standard in the league. Even without Tyreek Hill, Mahomes keeps doing the impossible. The speedster Xavier Worthy on the other side of Rashee Rice (provided he is available) is another chess piece that Andy Reid can use. On the defensive side, the core is still very elite and losing the shutdown ability of L’Jarius Sneed is a major challenge. They are the favorites until somebody forces them to change, but the target is huge, and the AFC is filled with real challengers.

The Baltimore Ravens (AFC North) are always mentioned. Lamar Jackson is an MVP, a unique player. The presence of Derrick Henry gives them a frighteningly physical aspect to their already formidable run game. Their receiving corps outside of Zay Flowers and Mark Andrews is a question mark and the defense, though solid, requires health. They are constructed to go out and to beat anybody, Kansas City included, and to beat them in January weather.

And lastly, we have the young gunslingers. C.J. Stroud has changed the Houston Texans (AFC South) overnight. Stroud will have arguably the most explosive trio of receivers in the game by adding Stefon Diggs to Nico Collins and Tank Dell. Their defensive unit, which is powered by Danielle Hunter and Will Anderson Jr., is on the rise. They are no longer the feel-good story; they are genuine Super Bowl contenders. In the same way, Joe Burrow and the Cincinnati Bengals (AFC North) are about to make a huge comeback following a 2024 season that was marred by injuries. Having a healthy Burrow, Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins is a nightmare to any secondary. The window is still wide open.

The Buffalo Bills in the AFC East should not be slept on. They have lost veterans such as Stefon Diggs and Tre’Davious White but have gone hard at retooling. Josh Allen is still one of the best 5 QBs who can win any game by himself. They should have a strong defense with a healthy Von Miller (hopefully) and the budding star Terrel Bernard.

The story of the New York Jets (AFC East) centers on their 41-year-old quarterback Aaron Rodgers recovering from his Achilles tendon injury. Assuming that Aaron Rodgers is back to normal, with weapons such as Garrett Wilson, Mike Williams, and rookie Malachi Corley, along with a defense that has Sauce Gardner and Quinnen Williams, then they become an instant threat. But it is the final high risk, high reward bet.

The AFC has got phenomenal top-level QB talents (Mahomes, Jackson, Burrow, Stroud, Allen, Rodgers, Herbert, Lawrence). Teams such as the Los Angeles Chargers (AFC West) under Jim Harbaugh, the rebuilt Pittsburgh Steelers (AFC North) with Russell Wilson/Justin Fields, and the Miami Dolphins (AFC East) with Tua and Tyreek make it so that there are no easy games. This is an almost-bottom-to-top brutal conference.

The NFC: Emerging Talents and Stopping Machines Want to Claim the Crown

With the recent trophies on its side, the AFC is the big threat. The NFC is a silent counter-punch, with its own generation of top-notch QBs and choking defenses.

In 2024, the party was crashed by the Detroit Lions (NFC North) which reached the NFC Championship Game. The gritty team of Dan Campbell is back nearly without any changes. Jared Goff is efficient and clutch, Amon-Ra St. Brown is a machine, and their offensive line is the best. The acquisition of cornerbacks Carlton Davis and Terrion Arnold will go a long way in plugging their greatest gap. They are starved and are convinced that they must be there.

It also seems that the San Francisco 49ers (NFC West) are the most complete team in the NFC. Brock Purdy, who is statistically elite, must get rid of the label of being a game manager in the most important moments. They are unrivaled in their weaponry of McCaffrey, Deebo, Aiyuk (provided he plays) and Kittle. The defensive line of seven people with Bosa and Hargrave at the forefront is extremely frightening. A bitter three-year record in the NFC Championship and a painful Super Bowl defeat last year makes the urge to complete the task strong.

Next, there is the Chicago Bears (NFC North). Caleb Williams comes with more hype than any rookie QB since Andrew Luck. His initial OTA and minicamp reviews are raving — he has a tremendous arm and is imaginative. He is surrounded by an embarrassment of riches of DJ Moore, Keenan Allen, Rome Odunze, and Cole Kmet. Montez Sweat is in charge of a defense that is getting better. The Bears are the ultimate wild card in the NFC: they can be superb in a short period of time.

The Green Bay Packers (NFC North) showed last season that life without Rodgers was not only a possibility, but it was also fun. Jordan Love turned out to be a real star, and his young receiving corps (Watson, Doubs, Reed, Wicks, Kraft) is dynamic. They have youthful and developing defense. They are one year older and more dangerous.

Do not underestimate the Philadelphia Eagles (NFC East) too. Jalen Hurts, DeVonta Smith and A.J. Brown are an offensive elite. The addition of Vic Fangio as DC ought to settle down a unit that crumbled late last season. They are ready to come back with a vengeance.

The Dallas Cowboys (NFC East) are, as they say, the Cowboys. Dak Prescott, CeeDee Lamb and Micah Parsons are stars. Their offseason, however, was marked with a lot of exits (Tyron Smith, Tyler Biadasz, Tony Pollard) and not much activity. Will the defense be rejuvenated under Mike Zimmer? Will they be able to hold up their offensive line? The heat is enormous in Dallas.

The Los Angeles Rams (NFC West) never fail to be interesting when it comes to Sean McVay, Matthew Stafford and Cooper Kupp. Aaron Donald cannot be replaced, yet Kobie Turner is a prospect. They might argue or die out.

The Great Divide: Depth, Defense and Defining Factors

Quarterback

AFC. Mahomes changes the balance by himself. And add Jackson, Burrow, Stroud, Allen, Herbert, and maybe even Rodgers and the AFC has elite QB depth that cannot be matched. The NFC has got some promising talent (Love, Williams, Purdy, Hurts, Goff), but has nothing after Stafford that has proven it can win championships except maybe Purdy (who is still proving it). The sky is the limit for Williams, but he is a rookie.

Defensive Dominance

NFC. Consider the top ones, 49ers, Lions, Packers, Bears (on paper), Cowboys (with Zimmer), Rams (after Donald change). There is always a more defensive top-10 in the NFC. There are powerhouses in the AFC (Chiefs, Jets on paper, Ravens, Texans rising), and plenty of heightened volatility and questions.

Top-End Contenders

Toss-Up. Chiefs, Ravens, Bengals, Texans, Bills, Jets (if Rodgers) over 49ers, Lions, Packers, Eagles, Bears (if Williams hits). Each of the two conferences has 5-6 teams that have valid title claims to the conference.

Depth and Volatility

Edge AFC. The middle and the bottom AFC look more challenging. Teams like the Steelers, the Chargers, Dolphins, Colts and even the Jaguars or Brown could beat any team on any given Sunday. The NFC has teams that are either clearly rebuilding (Panthers, Commanders, Giants, Cardinals) or are in serious flux (Saints, Falcons, Vikings after Cousins), which is why they are more likely to become involved. This arguably makes the AFC playoff race tortuous week in week out.

It also lends itself to a lot of detailed debate, especially among fans who want a different choice from the obvious favorites. The unpredictability has sparked vibrant communities across social platforms, with Telegram channels becoming particularly popular hubs for real-time NFL analysis and betting discussions. These channels usually include experienced handicappers and enthusiastic fans, and they go in-depth with the matchup analysis, injury news, and betting value. Browse through these specialised NFL Telegram channels and you’ll find raging debates on which middle-level AFC teams are the best bets. What teams are the dark horses to win a division? Which teams could even win a playoff spot?

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Coaching Stability

Slight Edge NFC. It has a solid core of McVay, Shanahan, Campbell, LaFleur, Sirianni, McCarthy, and now a tested Dan Quinn in Washington. The AFC is well-anchored with Reid, Harbaugh, Tomlin, and McDermott, as well as fresher faces in DeMeco Ryans, Jim Harbaugh (proven in college, total unknown in the NFL), and the always unpredictable Robert Saleh in NY.

The Scouting Report of 2026: The Crystal Ball

As the league looks into the future, the defensive line and offensive tackle have already been pointed out as areas of incredible depth in the 2026 NFL Scouting Report when it comes to the next college crop. This may be to the advantage of the NFC teams, who have to strengthen their trenches to fight the defensive prowess of the conference or safeguard their young QBs. The AFC teams, especially those that need to rush the passer against the top guns they encounter regularly, will also be interested in that pass-rush potential. This is because the team that gets a top LT prospect would have a decade of sure-footed offense, which will have a long-term effect on the balance of the conference.

The verdict: AFC is the crown holder, but the NFC is polishing its sword

With training camps starting in late July 2025 the AFC still has a very small overall advantage in the conference power rankings. Why?

• Mahomes is still the biggest strength in the game. His conference is wearing the crown until January when somebody will consistently dethrone him.
• There were other QBs in the AFC who could be classified as elite, and the mere fact that there are so many of them makes the AFC a gauntlet in terms of QBs.
• There are little soft landings in the AFC schedule.

Still, it would be foolish to disregard the NFC. The difference is shrinking, possibly to a great extent.

• The NFC has all the most interesting young offensive rosters (Bears, Packers, Lions) and up-and-coming QBs (Love, Williams).
• As a whole, the NFC has more reliable and overall powerful defenses that can shut down even the most aerial offenses of the AFC.
• The best teams of the NFC are driven by close calls and the desire to break the AFC stranglehold of winning the championship.

The Bottom Line

This NFL season could be a classic inter-conference match of 2025-26. The AFC prides itself on the king and his most deadly challengers, which flourish in the pressure cooker of the elite competition. The NFC responds with tooth-and-nail defenses, youthful offenses that are emerging, and an overall desire to once again hold the top of the mountain in the league. Although the AFC has a track record and quarterback royalty and thus have the edge in the preseason, the NFC is loaded, lethal, and on the fast track. Each Sunday will be the battle of conferences, and the result is not predetermined. Fasten your seatbelts because this season is setting up to be an interesting battle over the soul of the NFL.