A Cliffs Notes Version of the AFC

Alright, you’ve had time to digest my brilliant predictions for the NFC, now let’s get on to the AFC. Again, I reserve my right to “tweak” these based on teams I have picked to win losing and such, so here we go.

AFC East

1. New England Patriots
A new, former stud receiver, a great QB, and a maniacal head coach will have the Pats at the top of the division and possibly the AFC again this year.

2. New York Jets
Still a good team. Notice I didn’t say great team. I’m still not sold on Chad Pennington or Thomas Jones as stars, but they are definitely better than the Dolphins and Bills, so they fall here.

3. Miami Dolphins
The Dolphins will be better by simply being without the idiocy that was Nick “I’m not going to be the football coach at Alabama” Saban. Trent Green is a serious upgrade from Daunte Culpepper at QB, but their defense has gotten old. This is where they will fall in the division this year.

4. Buffalo Bills
The Bills will be better as J.P. Losman improves, but they just don’t have enough talent to compete in this division.

AFC North

1. Baltimore Ravens
The Ravens will be extremely good again. There offense will be better with McGahee at RB and their defense is …well, just like always.

2. Cincinnati Bengals
Great offense, but the defense isn’t as good as it was last year. They won’t unseat the Ravens this year.

3. Pittsburgh Steelers
New coach Mike Tomlin will be fine, but his team is not on the level with the Ravens and Bengals at this point.

4. Cleveland Browns
Aweful, Aweful, Aweful. They drafted a grossly overrated QB in Romeo Crennel’s “do or die” year. I guess they will be a little better, but they won’t win more than 6 games.

AFC South

1. Indianapolis Colts
Great on offense, but not as good on D this year. It will be very tough to repeat.

2. Jacksonville Jaguars
Byron Leftwich will be playing for a contract, so he might make it through the whole year for a change. The Jags are solid everywhere, but not quite strong enough to knock off the defending champs.

3. Tennessee Titans
If it weren’t for Jeff Fisher, I would probably have the Titans in last place in this division. The front office did nothing this offseason to help this team. The VY factor will win a few games, but there isn’t enough talent there to make a run at anything this year.

4. Houston Texans
David Schaub, Matt Carr… Who’s playing QB for the Texans this year?? Does it matter?? Whoever it is won’t be standing up long enough to throw the ball anyway. The Texans, still, won’t be able to do anything on offense due to their line play. “…But their defense is built to beat the Colts!” Uhhhh O.K.!!!

AFC West

1. San Diego Chargers
Basically, the same team that went 14-2 last year with one difference. Norv Turner has never won as a head coach in the NFL and what the Charger’s brass could have been thinking is anyone’s guess. It had to have been crack. Honestly, what other explanation could there be??

2. Denver Broncos
Great defense, good offense, and very well coached, but I’m not convinced QB Jay Cutler is ready to take them to a level that would allow them to overtake the Chargers.

3. Kansas City Chiefs
Bad offseason. First, they grossly overpay for QB Damon Huard and now he is in a battle for his position in training camp. Are you kidding me?? What the #@$^%?

4. Oakland Raiders
O.K., O.K., maybe this is where Daunte Culpepper can succeed without Randy Moss. Can you even name any other Raiders?? Oh Yeah, Jamarcus Russ…. Nothing!!!

As for my prediction… I mean statement about the Super Bowl? The Baltimore Ravens will beat the New Orleans Saints 31-20 in Arizona on February 3, 2008.

Alright there it is. Come and get me.
Bloggles everyone.