The AFC doesn't lack for drama or star power even though Tom Brady has taken his talents to Davis Beach.
The six-time champion with New England is tearing up the NFC at age 43 although the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' new (old) quarterback is realizing Drew Brees is every bit the nemesis Peyto Manning was.
In the wake of his departure, the Patriots have crashed like a meteorite, Tua Tagovailoa looks like the answer in Miami and the Bills are chasing their first AFC East crown in a quarter century.
Lamar Jackson again leads an potent Ravens team, Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs have suffered no hangover from their first Super Bowl title in half a century and the AFC South-leading Titans have weathered the worst coronavirus outbreak of this pandemic season.
But the biggest story is in Pittsburgh, where the unbeaten Steelers (8-0) are off to the best start in the storied franchise's 87-year history but were hit with the news Tuesday that battered quarterback Ben Roethlisberger has been placed on the COVID-19/reserve list along with three teammates.
This disturbing development came a day after Steelers tight end Vance McDonald went on the list after testing positive following a closer-than-expected 24-19 win at Dallas, which came down to the final snap just as Pittsburgh's two previous games did.
The NFL's last unbeaten team isn't overpowering opponents as much as they are outlasting them, and heading into the second half of the season, the Steelers are the hunted.
"We have a target on our back," tight end Eric Ebron said. "We're undefeated."