Identifying biggest weakness for every AFC playoff team

3. Jacksonville Jaguars: Trevor Lawrence consistency

No team is hotter than the Jaguars, who have ripped off eight straight victories and won five of their last six contests by at least two touchdowns. They are arguably the most complete team on this side of the bracket, but the inconsistency of Lawrence still gives reason for pause. Though Lawrence put on a show against the vaunted Broncos defense, he still committed the fourth-most turnovers in the NFL this season and ranked 36th with a 60.9% completion percentage. Without a strong running game to lean on, the Jaguars are going to need Lawrence to be special to take down the likes of Maye and Josh Allen, and it remains to be seen if Lawrence can string together three straight elite games. 

4. Pittsburgh Steelers: Aaron Rodgers mobility

The Steelers were able to claim the AFC North in large part because of the fourth-quarter heroics of Aaron Rodgers against the Ravens in Week 18. One of the reasons Rodgers was able to be so successful down the stretch, however, is that the Ravens were unable to generate any sort of pass-rush. This will not be the case in the Steelers' Wild-Card matchup against the Houston Texans, who have arguably the best pass-rush tandem in the league in Will Anderson Jr. and Danielle Hunter. At 42 years old, Rodgers is no longer able to manipulate the pocket and extend plays like he once was, and he struggled mightily this season against top-flight defenses. With All-Pro cornerback Derek Stingley matched up against DK Metcalf, Rodgers could be in for a long day if other pass-catchers are unable to step up and allow him to get rid of the ball quickly. 

5. Houston Texans: Offensive weapons outside of Nico Collins 

The Texans have been a popular dark horse Super Bowl pick because of their playoff experience and top-ranked defense, but their struggles on offense may end up being their undoing. Other than Pro Bowl wide receiver Nico Collins, the Texans' only other pass-catcher with over 600 receiving yards was veteran tight end Dalton Schultz, who averaged a measly 9.5 yards per reception. Their running game, meanwhile, ranked 29th in the NFL with just 3.9 yards per carry. If an opposing defense can neutralize Collins with a top-flight cornerback, such as the Broncos' reigning Defensive Player of the Year, Patrick Surtain, it's difficult to see how the Texans will be able to consistently move the ball. 

6. Buffalo Bills: Vertical passing game

The most popular answer here might be the Bills' 28th-ranked rushing defense, but none of the AFC playoff teams particularly excel at running the ball. What should really worry the Bills and their fans is their lack of a vertical passing game. Allen’s only two consistently trustworthy targets are slot receiver Khalil Shakir and tight end Dalton Kincaid, both of whom work primarily in the short and intermediate area of the field. With former first-round pick Keon Coleman falling out of favor, the Bills' primary deep threat over the last month has been 32-year-old Brandin Cooks, who was released by the New Orleans Saints just six weeks ago. The Bills' ability to generate chunk plays has been a staple of their postseason offenses in the Allen era, but they simply don’t have that ability this year. 

7. Los Angeles Chargers: Offensive line

Though the Patriots may not be able to fully take advantage, there is no getting around how big an issue the Chargers' offensive line is. No quarterback was hit more this season than Justin Herbert, as the losses of tackles Rashawn Slater and Joe Alt have forced the Chargers to completely reinvent their offense. They may be able to move the ball on a mediocre Patriots defense, but potential rematches against the Texans or Jaguars, both of which overpowered the Chargers' offensive line in the regular season, would create a far bigger issue.