Every AFC team's worst fear: Will Chiefs continue to drop ball?

No matter its record, every NFL team has concerns — some big, others small. In the AFC North, the spotlight (unsurprisingly) is on quarterbacks. In the AFC West, a Super Bowl contender has a major issue that affects its league MVP candidate. In the AFC East and South, meanwhile, teams have questions about head coaches.

As determined by Yardbarker NFL writers, here is the worst fear for each AFC team:

AFC East 

BUFFALO BILLS | WR Stefon Diggs' struggles sabotage playoff hopes: The All-Pro is still cruising to another 100-catch, 1,000-yard season, but Diggs' production has fallen since mid-October. Since posting five 100-yard games in his first six games, Diggs has failed to reach that mark in his last seven, and if that trend continues, he could cost Buffalo (7-6) a playoff spot.

MIAMI DOLPHINS | Fear of being a "pretender" is confirmed: After blowing a 14-point lead with less than three minutes left to Tennessee in Week 14, doubts are mounting for the Dolphins (9-4), who still haven't beaten a team this season with a winning record at the time of their matchup. However, with games against Dallas, Baltimore and Buffalo to close the regular season, we'll soon find out whether the Dolphins are capable of making noise in the playoffs. 

NEW YORK JETS |  QB Zach Wilson earns next season's backup job: He turned in a career-best performance in a 30-6 win over Houston in Week 14 — his first start following a two-game benching — finishing 27-of-36 passing for 301 yards and two TD passes. The Jets might hesitate to cut ties with Wilson if he continues excelling, but a more capable backup is needed, as 2024 would likely be a repeat of this season if Aaron Rodgers suffers another significant injury.

NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS | HC Bill Belichick pulls a Lovie Smith: According to NBC Sports Boston's Tom E. Curran, the Patriots will move on from their six-time Super Bowl-winning head coach this offseason, which isn't a shock considering their 3-10 record. However, if Belichick has petty motives — or simply wants to go out on top — it's possible he undermines New England's chances of drafting a franchise quarterback by winning an otherwise meaningless game, as Smith did in Week 18 last season for Houston. — Colum Dell

AFC West 

DENVER BRONCOS | Passing offense: The offense lacks balance, ranking 27th in the league in passing yards (185.8) and 13th in rushing yards (115 YPG). Denver must spark its passing game, or it could miss the playoffs for an eighth consecutive season.

KANSAS CITY CHIEFS | Their wide receivers keep blowing it: The receiving corps leads the league in drops (34) and keeps making foolish mistakes late in games — we're looking at you, Kadarius Toney. If Kansas City’s pass-catchers don’t get their act together, they could cripple the team’s Super Bowl aspirations and test MVP candidate Patrick Mahomes' patience.

LAS VEGAS RAIDERS | DE Maxx Crosby’s knee injury becomes a bigger issue: Through 13 games, Crosby has played in a career-high 97 percent of defensive snaps, and it’s apparently taking a toll, as he’s battling a lingering knee injury. The defense struggles with the star pass-rusher, too, ranking 30th in the league in pressures (86), per Pro Football Reference, and would only get worse if he has to miss time.

LOS ANGELES CHARGERS | Ground game keeps floundering: Per the Associated Press, QB Justin Herbert underwent season-ending surgery on his right index finger Tuesday, so the team's underwhelming rushing attack must step up. L.A. ranks 26th in the league in rushing yards (96 YPG), and star RB Austin Ekeler has averaged a career-low 3.7 yards per carry in 10 games. — Clark Dalton

AFC North

BALTIMORE RAVENS | The injury bug bites again: The only thing that can stop the Ravens, who have the fourth-best offense and second-best defense in points per game, is poor health. Baltimore was one-and-done in the playoffs a year ago after QB Lamar Jackson suffered a sprained PCL late in the season, and it surely hopes it can stay healthy this time around.

CLEVELAND BROWNS | Another quarterback injury: Veteran QB Joe Flacco may be the savior of the season — he has passed for 565 yards and five touchdowns the past two games. If Flacco were to suffer a significant injury, however, the team would have to turn back to rookie QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson, likely ending Cleveland's Super Bowl aspirations.

CINCINNATI BENGALS | Joe Burrow suffers a setback: Backup QB Jake Browning has played well lately, but he won't get the Bengals to the Super Bowl this season. The focus should instead be on Burrow, who is recovering from a torn ligament in his throwing wrist, and making sure he's fully healthy for another Super Bowl run in 2024.

PITTSBURGH STEELERS | Kenny Pickett isn’t the guy: He is expected to miss another game or two as he recovers from ankle surgery, but the Steelers should be able to get another look at their 2022 first-round pick before the season ends. If he continues to struggle, the Steelers will need to add QB to their growing list of offseason needs. — Aaron Becker

AFC South

HOUSTON TEXANS | Dameon Pierce isn’t just having a down year: After a promising rookie season (939 rushing yards), the 23-year-old running back has been underwhelming in Year 2, rushing for just 391 yards on 133 carries and averaging nearly 1.5 yards fewer per carry (2.9 to 4.3). For the Texans to be a threat in the AFC, QB C.J. Stroud needs a competent run game to take pressure off his shoulders. Houston may need to ask itself if Pierce is the guy.

INDIANAPOLIS COLTS | QB Anthony Richardson isn’t the same after surgery on AC joint: He had season-ending surgery on his throwing arm in October, and while his prognosis for a full recovery is good, procedures such as his always come with the risk that the player won’t be as good as he was before. The Colts invested a lot in Richardson after drafting him fourth overall, and they can’t afford for him to be anything less than he was prior to Week 1. 

JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS | Trevor Lawrence isn’t an elite QB1: It has been nearly three full seasons since the Jags took Lawrence No. 1 overall, but he has yet to ascend into that top-10 quarterback conversation. He has had good games and shown flashes, but he ranks 11th in completion percentage (66.6), 15th in passer rating (91.2) and 16th in touchdown passes (17) this season. Jacksonville may have to come to terms with the prospect of Lawrence being an above-average-but-not-elite QB.

TENNESSEE TITANS | Mike Vrabel wants out of Tennessee: With head coach Bill Belichick’s status in New England uncertain, there will be whispers Vrabel wants to leave town to coach the team he played for from 2001-08. The Titans appear to be all-in on Vrabel, but does he feel the same about them? — Michael Gallagher