The 2026 NFL season is officially underway, and while every fan base might be dreaming of that Lombardi Trophy, the cold, hard truth is that glaring roster holes and quarterback questions could absolutely derail multiple AFC teams right out of the gate. We’re talking awful offensive lines, questionable quarterbacks, shaky secondaries, and pathetic pass rushes. The optimism flying around right now? It might be totally unwarranted for more teams than you think.
Baltimore’s O-Line Shake-Up Spells Trouble for Lamar Jackson
Down in Baltimore, the Ravens are facing a massive interior offensive line overhaul, and it’s looking like a recipe for disaster. They’ve got three new starters: John Simpson at left guard, then either Ethan Pocic or Jovaughn Gwyn stepping in at center, and first-round pick Olaivavega Ioane taking over at right guard. If this brand-new group can’t stop pressure up the middle, Lamar Jackson is going to be scrambling for his life. Yeah, the two-time NFL MVP is incredible at escaping pressure, but at what cost? Jackson missed four games with a hamstring injury in 2025, and even when he returned, something was clearly off. He tallied just 12 touchdowns against eight turnovers in his final nine games, and his rushing yards per game plummeted from 41.5 to a meager 20.3. If this offensive line can’t keep him upright and healthy, the Ravens’ season is toast, simple as that.
Cincinnati’s Defense Has a Historic Problem
Over in Cincinnati, the Bengals’ defense is supposedly going to be “better” this year thanks to additions like Dexter Lawrence II, Boye Mafe, and Bryan Cook. But honestly, how much better can it get? Last season, this unit ranked third-worst in scoring defense, giving up a brutal 28.9 points per game, and they were dead last in yards per play allowed at a staggering 6.2. They’ve missed three straight postseasons after making back-to-back AFC title games, and their defense has been a huge part of the problem. Can Mafe, Myles Murphy, Shemar Stewart, and Cashius Howell suddenly generate a real pass rush? Will linebackers Barrett Carter and Demetrius Knight Jr. finally step up in their second year? The secondary looks fine on paper, but they gave up 7.0 YAC per reception last season. That’s the most by any team in the last two decades! The Bengals have to prove those defensive issues are fixed, or it’s another year watching the playoffs from home.
The 2026 NFL season has just kicked off, and these early warnings are impossible to ignore. For the Browns, despite Andrew Berry putting together an impressive draft class last season and seemingly another solid one coming in with Spencer Fano, KC Concepcion, Denzel Boston, and Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, and with their defense looking promising, the big question mark is still at quarterback. For all these teams, the stakes are high: will these glaring weaknesses define their season, or can they defy the early trends? We’re about to find out.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
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