AFC Season Preview

Ok here it is the night before the season starts and its time for the picks

I am going to pick the final record of each team and give a opinion of how it will play out.


AFC East


New England Patriots 14 - 2
Buffalo Bills 7-9
Miami Dolphins 5-11
New York Jets 3-13


The Patriots are obviously the class of this division. Last year they finished 11-5 with Matt Cassel at QB. This year Tom Terrific returns and barring another catastrophic injury we can assume 35 td and 4500 yards. The running game should be deep with 3 solid runners plus Kevin Faulk the greatest 3rd down back of this generation. Moss and Welker are studs and they are joined by old man burner Joey Galloway. Baker and Watson should be good at TE. The defense does have holes ecspecially with the trade of Richard Seymour which might look like a steal if the raiders keep losing. The D line is still strong with big man vince wilfork in the middle. A switch to the 4-3 is possible. Jarod Mayo is now the man in the middle and if he can stay healthy he looks like a star. The secondary is new at both corner spots. BUt another year of sanders and merriweather looks strong. Special teams looks as strong as ever. With Brady healthy the skies the limit

The Bills come in to this season with 2 solid wideouts, Lee Evens and TO could be dynamic. The question is which Trent Edwards shows up. Will TO help more than he hurts. He is one of the best wide outs in the league but makes Keyshawn Johnson and Chad Ocho Cinco look like deaf mutes. The man never shuts up and yells at all his QB's this is by far the worst QB he has had in his carreer. Lych is back to tote the ball but is suspended for the 1st three games. Jackson is a decent back who can fill in for the first 3 games. Defensively is anyones guess lots of good individual players in Stoud, Posluszny and Whitner but can they come together?

The Miami Dolphins caught everyone including New England by storm last year with the wild cat. it led to an amazing season for them and a playoff birth. Miami was helped by an injury to Brady, Farve falling apart down the stretch, no serious injuries and a weak scheduel. They come back to earth this year. The wildcat started to slow down when defenses got to see it on tape. Pennington is a good QB and the running game is solid with Brown and Williams. The question here is the wide outs Devon Bess had a good season and Ted Ginn continues to improve, but neither is the go to guy you need. The defense is solid but getting older. they resinged Taylor after a year away but can he be the player he once was? A first place schedule and another year of tape on the wildcat will send the Fins back to earth.

The New York Jets enter a new error. Sanchez better be good with the bounty of picks traded to get him. Rex Ryan has alot of pressure on him in the big apple. The man does not seam to know when to shut up. He picks fights with the fins then says he's not here to kiss Bill Belichicks rings. My guess is just like his dad great defensive coordinator faliure as head coach. The jets will only go as far as the rook will take them. Jones and Washington are the key here. Both backs have talent but with no solid #1 reciever what gives. Keller should get better in year 2 at tight end. The oline is very strong and the guess is that ryan relies heavy on the run until Sanchez with only 16 career college starts gets comforatable. Defense wins championships and with ryans help the Jets should have a top 10. But with Pace being suspended for the first few games whats going to happen. Reavis is a stud at corner and Rhodes should flourish. All said and done we cant expect to much this year

AFC North.

Pittsburg Steelers 14-2
Baltimore Ravens 10-6
Cincinnati Bengals 6-10
Cleveland Browns 3-13


The Steelers are the reighning super bowl champs. And they are back for more. Big Ben has a knack for being in the right place at the right time in the 4th quarter. As i said in last years superbowl preview I have never been a fan of his but when the games on the line he comes through. His numbers should improve this year with a healthy running game with Parker Mendanhal and Moore. If willie can get back to his old self and Mendanhal can stay healthy thats a nice 1-2 punch, Moore is a great back out of the back field. The Holmes/Ward tandem is one every fan would like to have. Holmes saying he wanted the ball at the end of last years bowl shows he is a player. Hines Ward has always been a favorite of mine and i love his intensity. Heath Miller is a down and dirty TE who can make the plays when needed. The line gets alot of crap because of Roethlisberger, who always holds onto the ball to try and make the play. The defense is back and damn good. The Defensive line is strong and unsung. They take up the lineman for that great linebaking crew. Woodley Farrior Timmons And Harrison are as good as anyone can throw out there. The secondary is no frills and will give up the up and out patterns but they dont get beat often. Do the steelers have what it takes to repeat we shall see.

The Ravens played some good ball last year behind rookie Joe Flacco. Another trip to the AFC championship is unlikely though. Flacco made good decision and had a nack for winnning his first year. A solid running game lead by le'ron McClain helped. THis year McClain will move to full back and Ray Rice and Willis Magahee will take over the running load. Again this is the streagth of the team. The wideouts are lead by old man derrick Mason and Mark Clayton who has yet to show me anything. Todd Heap is just an average TE now. And the line looks good. Defense is baltimores calling card. WIll the loss of Ryan hurt. I would say no. The line is lead by Ngata who is a beast Linebakers Terrell Suggs and Ray Lewis are still there along with Ed Reed. They are an oportunistic defense that gets after the QB. A playoff birth is possible but 1 and done is what im predicting.

The Bengals get Mr Palmer back, and that can only be good news. They were lost without him and so was ocho cinco and whos you mamma. If healthy Palmer is a diference maker. The Bengals actually got something out of Ced Benson last year. A top draft pick with the bears he never quite panned out, but with the cats he was solid. He should be the #1 option all year. The loss of housh to the seahawks could have hurt but in comes former Jet Coles. Team him with Ocho and you got a solid 1 - 2 core. They are high on TE Coats and Jeremi Johnson is a solid Full Back. Coach Marvin Lewis was known for Defense with Baltimore but that has not been the case in Cinci. They are hoping to resurect Tank Johnson carreer. The LB's are decent but Dahani jones is not the player he was in Philly. The secondary is good with Joseph and Hall at the corners and if Roy Williams can bounce back from a wasted year in Dallas all could be good. This will be Marvin Lewis' last year in Cincinatti.

The Cleveland Browns. Sure they have all the records from the original browns but this team is nothing like them. They plain suck. As much as they hated Belichick when he was there the new owners have tried to get his clone. First it was RAC Romeo Crennel who caught lighting in a bottle with Anderson in '07 but last year was a mess. Do they really think they are better with Mangenius. Eric Mangini had one solid year in new york before losing his team. yet the browns think he is the man to lead this team. I swear they are in love with former patriot coordinators. Up until the other days it was anyones guess who would be QB1 now we know its Brady Quinn, Charlie Weiss has never been the same at ND with out him but he has yet to stay on the field in the NFL. Lewis returns as the lead back with no real challenger He was a stud and still can move the chains but the years are adding up. Wide out has Edwards who had a bit of the dropsies last year but is still # 1 on the depth chart. They traded thier best reciever in tight end Kellen Winslow JR. and no one else looks to be up to the job. Can Cribbs be anything more than a good returner. Joe thomas is a blossoming stud at LT. The defense is a work in progress with Wimbley being the only name with talent. Phil Dawson continues to kick well.


AFC South

Indianapolis Colts 11-5
Houston Texans 11-5
Tennesee Titans 10-6
Jacksonville Jaguars 6-10

The Colts are still around as long as Peyton Manning is at the Helm. Sure they lost Dungy and Moore but Manning rivals Brady for the best around. The running game got a lift from Brown from UConn. And Addai will be better with Less carries. Reggie Wayne and A Gon are solid. But who is #3 without Harrison. Dallas Clark is a big play TE and The line is lead by Jeff Saturday. They still have the tools to win this division. The defense is lead by Bob Sanders who when on the field is a play maker but he can never play 16 games. Dwight Freeny and Robert Mathis are edge rushers that anyteam could want. But they are getting older. Linebakers are young and up and coming but a tad slow. Vinatieri might not have the leg anymore but he can still kick it when need be. They win this tough division.

The Texans are everyones darlings this year. Im picking them to finish 2nd. If Matt Schaub could stay healthy they could be scary good. Schaub is a smart qb with a good arm. The running of steve slaton was a surprise last year. He is fast and shifty and has really helped this team become more balanced. A Johnson is a young talented playmaker and other that Fitzy may be the best young reciever in the league. He averages almost 100 yards a game and catches over 7 balls. The other wideout is little known kevin walter a solid 2 in the last year of his contract. The TE is Owen Daniels who is a big safety valve for Schaub. The defense is lead by Williams the first pick in the draft a few years back. The texans were laughed at when they selected him over bush, all he has done is become one of the best dlineman in the NFL. 12 sacks last year. Ryans is the man in the middle the former rookie of the year a defensive play caller. Rookie cushing from USC should really help the outside rush. Look out for the weak link secondary.


The Titans stormed the league to a 10-0 start last year behind the running of Johnson and White. They combined for over 2000 yards rushing and look to do the same this year. White has lost a lot of wait by cutting out as he says the tequila. that guy must have been hammered all the time. Johnson was a stud last year running and recieving. Journeyman Kerry Collins leads the offense. He is a winner taking 3 different teams to the playoffs including a superbowl with the giants. The recievers are just there they threw big money to get washington from Pittsburg to help out. Justin Gage looks to build on last years coming out. Rookie first rounder Britt could be the real deal. Te Bo Scaife was the leading reciever last year but only scored twice. The defense lost Haynesworth and thats a big loss. Anyones guess how that will turn out. The line will need big play from the freak and vanden bosch. Bulluck and Thornton lead athletic linebakers who are always around the ball. The secondary is lead by courtland finnegan and his ball halking style. Coach Jeff Fisher is the longest tenured coach in the league and there are few better.

The Jaguars are anyones guess 2 years removed from the playoffs, they suffered through an injury riddled season. The Oline was starting guys who bagged my groceries by week 3 last year. David Garrard is a decent option whos first year as the full time starter was just average. They rely on Jones-Drew alot the question is can he hold up without All time leading rusher Fred Taylor. Torry Holt comes over from the rams, to bad it wasnt the Holt from 2 years ago. Not much is expected from this offense aside from Jones Drew. The defense is Del-Rio's specialty but its not that special. Aside from jones drew they got nothing.


AFC West

San Diego Chargers 12 - 4
Kansas City Chiefs 8-8
Denver Broncos 5-11
Oakland Raiders 3-13


The Chargers 8-8 last year but they made the playoffs. How you ask well the broncos lost there last 4 games and the charge caught fire at the right time. Phillip Rivers established himself as a big time qb last year. LT though aging is healthy this year. He has played in the preseason for the first time in years. Add that to the diminutive Sproles and you have thunder and lightning. Vincent Jackson has established himself as a true 1 wide out. Chris Chambers is a big endzone target who can get open in big spots. he may not be what he once was but he still has skills. Antonio gates was slowed last year by injuries but he is still an elite recieving option at Tight End. The line opens whos consistanly and keeps rivers on his feet. Defense missed merriman so much last year. It wasn't until the last few weeks of the season that they started to gel. With shaun back they should be back to one of the best in the league. If cromartie and jammer live up to thier potential they will be tough to throw agaist. The wildcard here is Norv Turner. He is a brilliant offesive mind, but for some reason or another that has not shown in his head coaching stops.


The Kansas City Chiefs were once a proud franchise that has fallen on hard times. Herm Edwards was a disaster as coach. The Hunt family needed something different to bring to one of the best fan bases in all of football. Enter Scott Pioli for vp of player personal for the New England Patriots. Pioli is Bill Parcels son in law and has his fire and spunk. In new england he helped create one of the best teams the league has ever seen in '07 along with only the second team to ever win 3 sb's in 4 years. Todd Haley was hired as coach fresh off a super bowl apperance with the cards. The first step was to bring in the franchise QB which Pioli traded a 2nd round pick for in Matt Cassel. Cassel was an unknown last year for the patriots when Tom Brady went down. He never started a game in College sitting behind Heisman trophy winners Carson Palmer and Matt Leinhart. All he did was out proform both of them while leading the Pats to an 11-5 record. Although he has alot to answer as to weather it was him or the pats offensive weapons... At RB Larry Johnson returns, He is on again off again and can still tote the rock. His best days are behind him but he can still be counted on for 1000 plus yards and helping cassel. Wide out has the up and coming Bowe. He's stuck between a 1 and 2 now maybe with better quarterbacking he will make the leap. The other wr's are no names. perhaps the man with the hardest job is sean ryan all he is being asked to do is replace the best tight end of the last 15 years in tony gonzalas. The defense is young upfront with second year man glen dorsey anchoring the line. But the linebacking crew got a bump in years in the cassel trade landing former Patriot star Mike Vrabel. Vrabel should help ease the transition to the 3-4 Kansas city will make big strides but they are still a few players away.

Hows this for Josh McDaniels first season as Broncos head coach, in less than a month he was able to allienate the only QB to be mentioned in the same rocky mountain thin air as john elway in Jay Cutler. Cutler fired his way out of town and by demanding a trade away from the young team. In steps Kyle Orton who was a star at purdue and has the make up to lead the broncos in the spread attack. Knowshawn Moreno was drafted with the broncos first pick after a steller year at Georgia. THe last time the Broncos had a star back from georgia they were winning back to back superbowl. At Wideout there is Marshall who is trying to whine his way out. Eddie Royal had a good rookie season and Jabar Gaffney was brought in to help with the offensive transition. At TE in this offense is Dan Graham the former first round pick. The Defense is soft and only Champ Bailey has super talent. It was the defense not the offense that cost the broncos a chance at the division. Mike Shannahan was a legend and Josh McDaniels will find it just as hard to live up to him as every QB since Elway found it to live up to the great John


The Oakland Raiders, With so many top picks they are bound to turn the corner sometime. But not with Al Davis running the show. The man has lost his mind. He has played musical coach since "Chuckie" left. They made the super bowl the following year and have been terrible since. This is a make or break year for Russell at Q. He has all the talent in the world but a ten cent head. A long rookie hold out really hampered him. At running back McFadden has won the job. If he can stay healthy and thats a big if he could be speacial. Justin Fargas and Micheal bush are both dependable back ups. Wide reciever sees Higgens as there best talent although that not saying much. Their Tight end is still thier best option. New coach and former o line boss Tom Cable has work to do up front. Defense should be interesting Richard Seymour has reported so basically the raiders gave up Derrick Burgass and a 1st round pick for Seymour and a 5th. The raiders continue to be the patriots bitch in trades. A 4th for Moss???? Tommy Kelly is a solid DT but way over paid. At LB morrison is a star in waiting. Asomugha was laughed at for getting picked in the first round but he is now the leagues best corner. He is another bright spot for the raiders. The special teams are solid with Lechler and Janikowski. All in all this team is going no where as long as al davis is in charge.


Playoff Seeding

1. Steelers
2. Patriots
3. Chargers
4. Colts
5. Ravens
6. Texans


How it will play out

Wild Card
Chargers 34 - Texans 20
Ravens 20 - Colts 17

Division
Patriots 34 Chargers 28
Steelers 17 - Ravens 9

AFC Championship

Patriots 28 - Steelers 24


Again the steelers will host the pats in the championship game and will come up short. Big Ben will look like he sealed the deal with minutes left in the game but vintage brady will come back and lead the patriots back to the superbowl for the 5th time this decade.

Next up NFC Preview