AFC EAST
The New England Patriots have won the East Division 6 out of the last 7 years and if not for a salty Dolphins squad edging them out in 2008 via tie-breaker it would be 7 in a row. The Pats have made the playoffs 7 times this decade and have appeared in a league leading 4 Superbowls, having won 3 , also league leading. Tom Brady should return to form a year removed from the knee injury but the defense has become questionable.
Then of course you have the New York Jets who have put together one hell of a team on paper. A strong defense , coupled with decent special teams and " we will kick you in balls " Rex Ryan mentality to go along with rising star Mark Sanchez at QB. Not to mention the fact that they have a hall of famer ( Ladanian Tomlinson ) as their 2nd running back make the Jets a tough team. Point blank.
blank....point , blank
The power running , ball control Miami Dolphins add big time offensive threat Brandon Marshall at WR and QB Chad Henne appears poised to have a breakout year. This combo could make the Dolphins a tough win for anyone if they sport any defense at all.
Then there are the Buffalo Bills. I love to root for the hard luck Bills , and I love rookie running back C.J. Spiller but the sad fact of the matter is that the Bills are in a tough division and just don't have the goods to compete.
MY PREDICTION
NEW ENGLAND - 13 - 3---- 1 seed
NEW YORK------- 10 - 6---- 5 seed
MIAMI ------------ 8 - 8
BUFFALO --------- 5 - 11
Brady and company return to form while Mark Sanchez suffers a sophomore slump. Dolphins and Bills play spoiler.
AFC NORTH
A down year for the Steelers and some tough breaks for the Ravens allowed the Bengals to take the North last year . Don't look for history to repeat itself here. The Bengals are a good football team to be sure but this division will jack them up this year like it always does. The Ravens now have a top flight offense and if the Steelers can make it through the Big Ben suspension 3 -3 or better it will be near impossible for the Bengals to win 10 games. Despite T.O.
and despite this as well
I have big faith in Mike Holmgren's influence over an organization but these things take time. Cleveland may win some games this year and may even upset some teams in the division but in the end will not really factor.
MY PREDICTION
BALTIMORE ----- 11 - 5 ----- 4th seed
PITTSBURGH ---- 9 - 7
CINCINNATI ----- 8 - 8
CLEVELAND ------ 4 - 12
Baltimore overcomes several inadequacies in the defensive secondary to win the division.
AFC SOUTH
The Indianapolis Colts are , for lack of a better word , machines. At least in the regular season. From 2000 to 2009 the Colts won a league best 115 games. That's an average of 11.5 a year for you math dunces. The Colts have an uncanny ability to interchange parts and still dominate offensively. With Peyton Manning still running the show there is no reason for this to change.
The Tennessee Titans sport the leagues best running back in Chris Johnson and there is no way they start 0 - 6 again this year. That being said Vince Young just is not the man , and the defense has lost some key players.
The Houston Texans ( despite that weak name ) are chomping at the bit to go from just missing the playoffs , to solid playoff contenders. Their biggest hurdle as always , is the Colts. Statistically the Texans have the hardest schedule in the league this year. If they can weather that , and steal at least one game from Indianapolis , look for the Texans to make their first playoff appearance ever.
Maurice Jones-Drew is not only an awesome back , but he just might be the coolest guy in the league. What with his love of fantasy football and Madden video games. MJD rocks , but the Jags are under qualified to compete this year.
MY PREDICTION
BALTIMORE ----- 11 - 5 ----- 4th seed
PITTSBURGH ---- 9 - 7
CINCINNATI ----- 8 - 8
CLEVELAND ------ 4 - 12
Baltimore overcomes several inadequacies in the defensive secondary to win the division.
AFC SOUTH
The Indianapolis Colts are , for lack of a better word , machines. At least in the regular season. From 2000 to 2009 the Colts won a league best 115 games. That's an average of 11.5 a year for you math dunces. The Colts have an uncanny ability to interchange parts and still dominate offensively. With Peyton Manning still running the show there is no reason for this to change.
The Tennessee Titans sport the leagues best running back in Chris Johnson and there is no way they start 0 - 6 again this year. That being said Vince Young just is not the man , and the defense has lost some key players.
The Houston Texans ( despite that weak name ) are chomping at the bit to go from just missing the playoffs , to solid playoff contenders. Their biggest hurdle as always , is the Colts. Statistically the Texans have the hardest schedule in the league this year. If they can weather that , and steal at least one game from Indianapolis , look for the Texans to make their first playoff appearance ever.
Maurice Jones-Drew is not only an awesome back , but he just might be the coolest guy in the league. What with his love of fantasy football and Madden video games. MJD rocks , but the Jags are under qualified to compete this year.
so cool he can fly ...apparently
MY PREDICTION
INDIANAPOLIS------ 12 - 4------3rd seed
HOUSTON ------------ 10 - 6-----6th seed
TENNESSEE ----------- 7 - 9
JACKSONVILLE ------ 5 - 11
Tennessee and Jacksonville fade away , Houston rises up .
AFC WEST
What can you say about the 4 teams in the AFC WEST ? The last time this division represented itself well was the back to back Superbowl wins the Broncos achieved in 97 and 98 . Since then it seems that the only motivation to play well for these guys is the desire to smash a division foe. I love that actually , keep the hate West !
The Raiders and Chiefs are mired in pathetic down stretches and the Broncos aren't much better. San Diego seems to be the only team that wants to win but they happen to be saddled with the Norv Turner curse. The Chargers are the best playoff team to disappoint in the entire NFL.
Jason Cambell makes the Raiders better but not by much. The Chiefs are a disaster and 2nd year coach Josh McDaniels seems hell bent on forming a team with inferior players. For his own amusement apparently.
MY PREDICTION
SAN DIEGO -------- 12 - 4-----2nd seed
DENVER ------------- 8 - 8
OAKLAND ----------- 5 - 11
KANSAS CITY ------- 3 - 13
Chargers are still the Chargers , and the rest still suck
THE AFC PLAYOFFS
1. - N.E.--------N.E.
-----------------------------BAL-----
4. - BAL--------BAL
5. - JET
---------------------------------------------------------INDIANAPOLIS
3. - IND--------IND
6. - HOU
-----------------------------IND------
2. - S.D.---------S.D.
Colts take the AFC . I just don't think Houston has enough experiance, the Chargers can't break the curse , and as good as Baltimore is they wont hold down Manning when it counts. Colts repeat as AFC champs.
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