The AFC or Alpha dog Football Conference is where all the parity talk in the NFL flies right out the window. Pencil in the Pats, Chargers and Colts. The rest of the teams comprise the beta dogs (well except for KC they could be best summed up as the three legged dog that urinates blood and lives in a gutter), and these teams will fight for the meager scraps left come playoff time.
Basically all the Pats and Colts need are for Brady and Manning to be healthy, but since these two guys are numbers 2 and 3 behind Favre in consecutive starts that’s probably not going to be a problem. Of the three teams it’s much more likely LT loses a step or suffers more injuries and joins Merriman on the sidelines. IF (big if) that happens and Rivers can’t make progress this year (which is also unlikely) the Raiders could be the biggest playoff sleeper of the year.
The Raiders offer a dynamic backfield of Fargas and McFadden that might just click enough to surpass that big IF Chargers team. They have a first week match up against the Donkeys, and that game will determine just how determined and ready they are for the year, because the rest of the AFC is too tough for them to sneak in with a wild card, and I believe their only chance will be a theft of the division.
That leaves one division unaccounted for…the very tough AFC North. Not so much because of the insurmountable talent, but because of the well roundedness of the division, and the toughness of schedule this season. They drew the NFC East, and that’s the one division that could tout three playoff teams. I’m going to give the early edge to the Pittsburgh Steelers. Mainly because they have an offense that can compete with any out there. We all know the prowess of Big Ben, the leadership of Hines Ward, the skill of Santonio Holmes and Willie Parker, but this team will flat out dominate if Rashard Mendenhall and Limas Sweed can impose themselves in that offense. Sweed especially has the ability and talent to surprise in a deep receiving core.
The Bengals will flounder as usual…they just can’t sustain a season with that personnel. There are too many problems with management and coaching. Bringing back Chris Henry just set them up for the fall. Once Chad Johnson runs out of antics he’ll revert to pouting mode, and I don’t think TJ and Palmer will be as palatable this time around.
The Browns have more hype to live up to this season than Joba Chamberlain and Reggie Bush multiplied by two. They have prime time games and big names, but I smell big bust. This year will prove just how good Derek Anderson is, and it should be a great learning experience for a relatively young team. I think they’re still a year away.
I’m not sure what to make of the Ravens except their underachieving defense of a year ago is a year older, and they still don’t have a QB. The schedule will just prove too much for them.
The AFC wild card should prove the race to watch down the stretch, because there are just too many quality teams in the conference, so someone who shouldn’t will miss the playoffs.
The main contenders will be the Jaguars and the Jets. The Jets are primed to make a move after a complete reload in the off-season. Obviously we know about Favre. His adjustment to the team will have an immediate impact. We know he can throw, but he’ll have to lead this revamped team, and while his reputation will earn him the respect of the younger players like Nick Mangold, he’ll need to prove himself on the field to corral the entire team to victory. Look for the anemic offense of a year ago to be a driving force for the team this year. Thomas Jones managed to rush for over 1,000 yards on that old team, and with the moves that were made he’ll surpass that mark, but the real target is the goal line, because he rushed into the end zone just once last year. Leon Washington and Dustin Keller will provide some talented depth to that offense as well, and if Favre still has it in them the Jets will make the playoffs.
The Jaguars probably think they have it in them to catch the Colts this year, but sorry JAX, Garrard is no Manning and the combo of Fred Taylor and MJD, while intimidating, isn’t an unstoppable force yet. The Jaguars have been really focused on team play and starting off on the right foot. Not only are they ready to avenge their loss to the Titans in last seasons opener, but after the shooting of offensive tackle Richard Collier this group has really come together in support, and should carry these emotions into the start of the season. Jaguar fans would be hard pressed to find a better team leader that Rashean Mathis, and with his guidance I believe this could be a Super Bowl year for the Jags.
Predictions
AFC East
Patriots
AFC North
Steelers
AFC South
Colts
AFC West
Chargers
WC
Jets
WC
Jaguars
AFC Champion
Steelers
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