AFC Championship Predictions NFL 2022-23: Odds, Picks and Projections

The only AFC Championship predictions you’ll need this year

You’ve arrived at the right place for AFC Championship predictions throughout the NFL season. We’ll be covering news from the division, providing updates on form, making AFC Championship picks and looking for some smart money AFC Championship odds as well.

AFC Championship picks: The AFC matchup of the week

Browns vs Steelers: Steelers to win

We’ve opted to look at the all AFC North clash for our prediction this week and specifically the Browns vs Steelers clash. We fancy the Steelers to win the match and there are three key factors to consider. Firstly, the Steelers have home advantage. Secondly, they are in better form and, finally, they hold a decent record in recent head to head meetings. Of course, home advantage is self-explanatory. The form is pretty simple too with the Steelers having won five of their last six games whilst the Browns have lost three of their last five away games and, finally, the head to head record shows the Steelers to have won two of the last three meetings. It all points to a Steelers win!

Our best bet on who will win AFC Championship in 2023

We’ve already taken a detailed look at the divisions that make up the AFC on their own dedicated pages, which are linked at the bottom of this section for your later reference. Now though we’re looking at that higher level and, first things first, we are offering the biggest of the AFC Championship predictions in the shape of a conference winner.

The season hasn’t even seen the first game as yet but we’re firmly in agreement with the AFC Championship odds and, as such, we are backing the Buffalo Bills to clinch the title. Last season ended in near misses and thought of what might have been but a few months off – along with a good summer of trade additions – will see the Bills arrive in the new campaign highly confident and much wiser after a last-second collapse at the back end of last season.

When you consider what a fully firing Bills side was capable of last season, the idea of seeing similar again this season with the likes of Von Miller coming into the mix is quite a frightening prospect for some of the other AFC teams. Look deeper than the star-studded name of Miller and you’ll find a plethora of depth options that they didn’t have a season as well.

With all this considered, even as favorites, we genuinely believe the Bills deserve to feature on top of our AFC Championship 2023 picks. Find out if we think they have what it takes to win the big prize by taking a look at our Super Bowl odds page.

What are the current AFC Championship odds?

Right, let’s have a look at some of the odds to win the AFC Championship in 2023:

• Buffalo Bills @ +175
• Kansas City Chiefs @ +230
• Cincinnati Bengals @ +600
• Baltimore Ravens @ +950

If your team isn’t listed above then, sorry guys, you’re way down the list of AFC Championship odds and we don’t see you proving the bookies wrong either!

If you’re looking for the other conference then flick on over to our NFC Championship odds article.

A closer look at the current situation in the AFC

The AFC is surprisingly still quite open considering we are now at the final round of fixtures for the regular season; at least there is far more to still be decided relative to the NFC. With that said, it’s important to kick off this week with a nod to Buffalo’s safety Damar Hamlin, who suffered a cardiac arrest on the field in the Bills’ recent clash with the Bengals. That game has been binned off with no desire for a replay from the league; most would agree that’s sensible decision making with both teams confirmed for the playoffs already. What could be impacted is the stadium used for the AFC Championship game. We wish Hamlin the best of luck with his recovery but, nonetheless, we have some football to talk about.

Three of the four AFC divisions already have Champions confirmed. The Bengals put up an 11-4 record to see off the second placed Ravens, who have secured their route to the post season thanks to their wildcard selection. The Bills and Chiefs though are emerging as the best sides in the NFL as proved by their respective records of 12-3 and 13-3 respectively.

Over in the AFC West, the Rams have booked a wildcard slot leaving the Raiders and Broncos eliminated. The AFC North isn’t too dissimilar to that sort of situation. The Bengals and Ravens, who we’ve touched on already, have their post season route confirmed whilst the Browns are finished. That leaves just Steelers and their 8-8 record in the mix this weekend. The East has two teams still alive too. We have known the Bills we’re winning that group for a while and the Jets, valiant battle as it was, we’re always being tipped for an elimination. The two sides left – the Patriots and Dolphins – sit on 8-8 too.

Finally, we have the South to discuss. The Texans and Colts are finished for the season. Enough said. The Jaguars and Titans, however, are battling like crazy to steal the top spot. Right now the Jaguars edge things thanks to an 8-8 vs 8-9 record but those two do play each other this weekend in a game that is likely to be a mix of cagey, insane and, ultimately, absolutely enthralling.

A glance at the AFC’s player records

Season records

Before we sign off on our AFC Championship picks article, we’re just going to put up a list of interesting stat leaders meaning you can stay clued up on some records throughout the season:

• Most passing yards – Peyton Manning, Denver Broncos, 5,477 in 2013
• Most passing touchdowns – Peyton Manning, Denver Broncos, 53 in 2013
• Most rushing yards – Jamal Lewis, Baltimore Ravens, 2,066 in 2003
• Most rushing touchdowns – LaDainian Tomlinson, San Diego Chargers, 28 in 2006
• Most interceptions – Lester Hayes, Oakland Raiders, 13 in 1980
• Most tackles – Ray Lewis, Baltimore Ravens, 156 in 1997

Will 2023 be the year for some season-long AFC Championship prop bets that someone breaks one of these records?