Which AFC team has the best supporting cast around its quarterback?

About this episode

<p>Last season's Seahawks became the latest team to prove that you don't need an elite quarterback to win the Super Bowl. An elite supporting cast can do just as much heavy lifting as a quarterback who appears headed for a gold jacket. So, which teams have the best supporting casts in the league? Which teams have the worst? We'll explore those questions over two episodes, divided between AFC and NFC. On this episode of The Athletic Football Show, Robert Mays and Derrik Klassen rank the AFC supporting casts from worst to first.</p><br><p>Timestamps are approximate</p><p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jEraPJe4wcM" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">0:00</a> Welcome to the show</p><p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jEraPJe4wcM&amp;t=29s" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">0:29</a> Ranking the AFC supporting casts</p><p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jEraPJe4wcM&amp;t=196s" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">3:16</a> Miami Dolphins</p><p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jEraPJe4wcM&amp;t=348s" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">5:48</a> Optimism around Bobby Slowik?</p><p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jEraPJe4wcM&amp;t=505s" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">8:25</a> Tennessee Titans</p><p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jEraPJe4wcM&amp;t=622s" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">10:22</a> Brian Daboll's offense</p><p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jEraPJe4wcM&amp;t=782s" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">13:02</a> Las Vegas Raiders</p><p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jEraPJe4wcM&amp;t=858s" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">14:18</a> Raiders wide receiver group</p><p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jEraPJe4wcM&amp;t=1156s" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">19:16</a> New York Jets</p><p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jEraPJe4wcM&amp;t=1440s" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">24:00</a> Cleveland Browns</p><p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jEraPJe4wcM&amp;t=1744s" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">29:04</a> Harold Fannin Jr. and rookie tight ends</p><p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jEraPJe4wcM&amp;t=2090s" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">34:50</a> Kansas City Chiefs</p><p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jEraPJe4wcM&amp;t=2122s" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">35:22</a> Andy Reid no longer elite?</p><p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jEraPJe4wcM&amp;t=2465s" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">41:05</a> Houston Texans</p><p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jEraPJe4wcM&amp;t=2754s" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">45:54</a> Baltimore Ravens</p><p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jEraPJe4wcM&amp;t=2875s" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">47:55</a> Derrick Henry</p><p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jEraPJe4wcM&amp;t=3026s" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">50:26</a> Pittsburgh Steelers</p><p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jEraPJe4wcM&amp;t=3175s" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">52:55</a> Steelers pass catchers</p><p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jEraPJe4wcM&amp;t=3281s" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">54:41</a> New England Patriots</p><p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jEraPJe4wcM&amp;t=3530s" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">58:50</a> What version of AJ Brown will Patriots get?</p><p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jEraPJe4wcM&amp;t=3656s" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">1:00:56</a> Cincinnati Bengals</p><p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jEraPJe4wcM&amp;t=3731s" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">1:02:11</a> Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins</p><p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jEraPJe4wcM&amp;t=3970s" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">1:06:10</a> Robert wants to change his rankings</p><p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jEraPJe4wcM&amp;t=4005s" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">1:06:45</a> Jacksonville Jaguars</p><p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jEraPJe4wcM&amp;t=4102s" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">1:08:22</a> Confidence in Liam Coen</p><p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jEraPJe4wcM&amp;t=4279s" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">1:11:19</a> Los Angeles Chargers</p><p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jEraPJe4wcM&amp;t=4330s" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">1:12:10</a> Mike McDaniel changes Chargers</p><p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jEraPJe4wcM&amp;t=4403s" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">1:13:23</a> Monstrous season for Ladd McConkey?</p><p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jEraPJe4wcM&amp;t=4559s" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">1:15:59</a> Indianapolis Colts</p><p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jEraPJe4wcM&amp;t=4858s" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">1:20:58</a> Buffalo Bills</p><p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jEraPJe4wcM&amp;t=4999s" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">1:23:19</a> Robert and Derrik both have Denver Broncos at No. 1</p><p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jEraPJe4wcM&amp;t=5204s" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">1:26:44</a> Recapping AFC supporting cast rankings</p><br><p>Host: Robert Mays</p><p>Co-Host: Derrik Klassen</p><p>Executive Producer: Michael Beller</p><p>Senior Producer: Katy Duffy</p><p>Social Producer: Scott Krinch</p><br><p>Follow Robert on Bluesky: @robertmays.bsky.social</p><p>Follow Derrik on Bluesky: @qbklass.bsky.social</p><p>Follow Dave on Bluesky: @davehelman.bsky.social</p><p>Follow Robert on X: @RobertMays</p><p>Follow Dave on X: @DaveHelman_</p><br><p>Theme song: Haunted</p><p>Written by Dylan Slocum, Trevor Dietrich, Ruben Duarte, Kyle McAulay, and Meredith VanWoert / Performed by Spanish Love Songs</p><p>Courtesy of Pure Noise / By arrangement with Bank Robber Music, LLC</p><hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>