T.G.I.F (Thank God Its Football season) because Sunday’s were becoming very lonely without you. There are so many storylines as per usual when the NFL season starts. 26 players enter the season with a suspension, Tom Brady's suspension has been rescinded, Jason Pierre-Paul blew up his finger in a fireworks accident and safety Kam Chancellor is walking a very tight rope as he decides to sit out until he gets PAID!
Here's my breakdown of the AFC and how the playoffs might look come January.
AFC EAST:
(1) New England Patriots: 11-5
(2) Miami Dolphins: 10-6
(3) Buffalo Bills: 9-7
(4) New York Jets: 5-11
The Skinny: It’s tough to not give it to the defending super bowl champions, and up to about a week ago I had the Dolphins winning this division. That was until Judge Berman decided that Tom Brady suspension should be revoked and that barring any injuries should play the full 16 games. Despite the loss of key defensive players (Revis,Browner and most importantly Vince Wilfork) Head Coach Bill Belichick has always been able to turn average joe's into superstars, and they have GRONK!…. The Miami Dolphins were busy during the off-season brining in highly touted free agent DT Ndamakong Suh, young wideout Kenny Stills from New Orleans, Tight-End Jordan Cameron and drafted rookie WR DeVante Parker. These weapons should help young QB Ryan Tannehill who is quietly moving up tiers in the NFL’s quarterback echelon…Over in Buffalo the Bills brought in a bunch of new faces including the man to lead them. Head Coach Rex Ryan doesn’t have to go far, as he stays in the AFC East and joins another potent defense in the Bills. Ryan likes to run the ball as does new offensive co-ordinater Greg Roman coming from San Francisco, and they got the right man to feed 25-30 touches a game in LeSean McCoy. The also added slot reciever Percy Harvin to help complement Sammy Watkins. The question was: Who would start either EJ Manuel or Matt Cassel? The answer is neither of them as Rex has decided to go with the very young and very fast Tyrod Taylor who was a 6th round pick in 2011... That leaves the New York Jets in the rearview mirror as the one team in the division that won’t finish the season with a winning record. I do like the Head Coach they brought in from Arizona in Todd Bowles. Cornerbacks Darrelle Revis and Antonio Cromartie, should be able to keep games close, but no one could have foreseen QB Geno Smith getting sucker punched by a then fellow teammate costing him to miss the beginning of the season. More like the beginning of the end for a team that has become the laughing stock of the league.
AFC NORTH
(1) Pittsburgh Steelers: 10-6
(2) Baltimore Ravens: 9-7
(3) Cincinnati Bengals: 8-8
(4) Cleveland Browns: 7-9
The Skinny: The thing with the AFC North this year is that they have to face two of the toughest divisions in football in the AFC/NFC West. Each team has to go up against Seattle, Arizona, St.Louis, Denver and San Diego. The North has been usually known for its defense, but it’s the Pittsburgh Steelers offense that will allow them to remain atop of the division. QB Ben Roethlisberger has the best weapons he’s ever had. Antonio Brown caught the most passes last year in the league and it was no fluke, the guy has shown he could flat out play. Le’Veon Bell will miss the first two games of the season because of a suspension. He showed on Instagram that he’s ready for this year, posting a picture with just 2% body fat. This will be the first time in over a decade that the Black and Yellow will be without safety Troy Polamalu who retired in the off-season… The Baltimore Ravens were caught up in a whole mess of things last year, with the Ray Rice ordeal and their lone bright spot was the guy who replaced him. Journeyman Justin Forsett had a career year for the Ravens last season, but it will be tough to have that same production, as the offensive line is very weak. They lost Torrey Smith to free agency, which leaves Steve Smith Sr. (playing in his final season) and a cast of no names to make QB Joe Flacco look good. Look for TE Maxx Williams, the Ravens 2nd round pick to have an impact and lead the team in receptions… The Cincinnati Bengals are the team with a reputation, and it’s not a good one. They have been a 1-and done team in the playoffs for the last few years and this is a year where Head Coach Marvin Lewis in on the hot seat. WR AJ Green had a rough season last year, but is still the best target for QB Andy Dalton. Dalton has had some flashes, but for the most part has been very inconsistent throughout his career, which includes the playoffs the last few years. They brought in veteran and Ohio native A.J. Hawk to help a defense that is in the top of the league…While the Cleveland Browns remain a team on the rise, this year won’t see any playoff games for the franchise yet again. Whether its Josh McCown or Johnny Manziel at QB, this team will struggle offensively. They lost their two best weapons in Tight End Jordan Cameron (Miami) and Josh Gordon (Suspension). They brought in wide recievers Dwayne Bowe and Brian Hartline in the off-season, but the only way this team wins games is if there defense can play like they did last year, or better. Joe Haden still remains one of the best cornerbacks in the game.
AFC SOUTH
(1) Indianapolis Colts: 12-4
(2) Houston Texans: 9-7
(3) Jacksonville Jaguars: 7-9
(4) Tennessee Titans: 4-12
The Skinny: The Indianapolis Colts are the team to beat in this division and arguably the entire AFC, and they only got better in the off-season. Andrew Luck has so many weapons to throw too, but he’s never had a good running back like he does now in Frank Gore. Gore might be up there in age, but still showed last year he has something left in the tank. Then they bring in one of the top wide-outs from this decade in Andre Johnson from their rival Houston Texans. Luck continues to impress, and is a strong candidate for league MVP. On the defensive side of things they bring in LB Trent Cole (Phi) and Robert Mathis is coming back from injury…The Texans however did some shopping of their own this off-season brining in two-time super bowl winner DE Vince Wilfork. It’s clear that this team revolves around one player, number 99 DE JJ Watt. Watt was without a question the defensive player of the year, but what was even more impressive was the touchdowns he scored on offense. LB Jadaveon Clowney is also comeing back from and injury, and if he becomes the player they think he will be, then the Colts will have a lot of competition for years to come… Also moving up the competition latter is the Jacksonville Jaguars under Head Coach Gus Bradley. The team showed signs of improvement last year despite their 3-13 record. QB Blake Bortles hopes to have a better sophomore year, and there is no reason why he wont have a solid year. They brought in TE Julius Thomas (who is out for the first month of the season) from Denver, and drafted RB T.J. Yeldon out of Alabama to go along with the versatile Denard Robinson. Their defense was a lot better then the stats may show… A team that might be the walkover of the league is the Tennessee Titans. The Titans finally found their QB of the feature drafting Marcus Mariota 2nd overall and may have found a strong weapon for him 38 spots later in WR Dorial Green-Beckham. Both these players will be good in the league at some point, but in their rookie season, with this team very much in a rebuilding mode, they are years away from competing.
AFC WEST
(1) San Diego Chargers: 11-5
(2) Denver Broncos: 10-6
(3) Kansas City Chiefs: 8-8
(4) Oakland Raiders: 6-10
The Skinny: The Denver Broncos have been the crown of this division ever since Peyton Manning arrived in town, but things are going to change as father time might actually catch up with the future Hall-of-Famer… Which means the division will be a 3-horse race. At the top though is the San Diego Chargers. Phillip Rivers is the unquestionable leader on this team, and the franchise rewarded him with a huge contract in the off-season that will see him start and finish his career in the bay area. Management let Ryan Matthews go, but found a more then suitable replacement in rookie Melvin Gordon. Gordon will lessen the load for Rivers who still has an array of options to throw to, and their defense led by safety Eric Weddle isn’t that bad either… Meanwhile over in Kansas City they tried to fill a void at wide-out by signing Jeremy Maclin. Maclin has a great relationship with Head Coach Andy Reid, and they still have one of the best running back in the league with Jamaal Charles. The return of Eric Berry will be a spark for an already formidable defense that has Pro Bowlers DT Dontari Poe and DE Justin Houston… A defense that could use a spark is the Oakland Raiders. New Head Coach Jack Del Rio should help solidify the defense, along side last years defensive rookie of the year LB Khalil Mack. QB Derek Carr has shown some chemistry with rookie WR Amari Cooper, but in this division, this year there is roughly no chance at the post-season.
Playoffs:
Wild Card Round:
(3)New England v. (6)Denver(WC)
(4)Pittsburgh v. (5) Miami(WC)
Divisional Round:
(1)Indianapolis v. Miami
(2)San Diego v. New England
AFC Championship: Indianapolis v. San Diego
AFC Winner: Indianapolis
No comments:
Post a Comment