Earlier this week I posted the 5 teams from the NFC I feel will reach the playoffs plus 1 that I wasn't so sure of. I will now attempt to do the same for the AFC teams. Now, for some reason I found this one a lot more challenging than the NFC. Some may say that's because the AFC is much stronger. If you look back at it, from a conference standpoint, the same top teams remain at the top in both conferences. I just have a much harder time picking winners in the AFC because so many teams are improving there, whereas the NFC still has the same standout few each year no matter what things look like on paper during the off-season. Anyway, with no further ado, here are my picks for the AFC playoff picture in no particular order.
1. New England Patriots
There should be no surprise to anyone that this team is going to be in the playoffs. They have Tom Brady back. No matter how much I analyze it, I think he's the best quarterback this side of Joe Montana. My one question mark on Brady is how he will respond to live action with his repaired knee. History shows that it will take most of the regular season for him to get right. Lucky for him he has a Randy Moss and Wes Welker to bail him out of most jams. Once he goes down due to a leg tackle, I think he'll be alright. He's not exactly a scrambling QB. My other concern is their defense. Rodney Harrison is gone, and there's something to be said about losing a player like him. On the other hand, they do have Coach Hoodie, and are coming off a record that normally would have had them in the playoffs with some home games. Look for them not to cruise through the regular season, but rather to pick teams apart systematically. No, I'm not a Pats fan by any means, I'm just calling them as I think it'll happen.
2. Pittsburgh Steelers
I know, I know. It's too obvious so far. As far as the division goes the only real competition that Steel Town has is Baltimore. Big Ben is still young, and each year he's becoming a little more patient and a little more consistent. He's had the benefit of one of the most consistent, and tough defenses I've ever seen. They beat you straight up, and then blitz you afterward. They run the ball at you, they don't disguise it, and they dare you to stop them. There wasn't much of a drop off in attitude when coach Tomlin took the helm, and we've seen the results. There's not doubt in my mind that they'll be back in the playoff picture because Mike Tomlin won't allow them to have a lax attitude because they are the champs.
3. Indianapolis Colts
Having a new coach and the same Manning is not a bad thing. You know Peyton can and will get it done in the regular season. Now once they make it through the regular season, then you can question Peyton all you want, I do all the time. I think he's too busy making commercials to worry about that time of the year. Anthony Gonzalez is poised to become a very good receiver this year and we know what Reggie Wayne brings to the table. The run game gets a major boost with the return of a healthy Addai. I do have questions about his backups but only the pre-season will answer that for me. I believe that Donald Brown can be an impact rookie, but again, we'll see. All that said, if the defense can stay healthy, namely Bob Sanders, they will have a real shot at making it through the playoffs.
4. San Diego Chargers
This was the hardest one for me to decide on because the division was just flat out bad last year. I mean it stunk. And it doesn't look all the promising again this year. The reason I'm picking the Bolts to win the division is simple. Shawn Merriman. That's it. Yes, I believe 1 player can make that much of an impact, especially on defense. The rest of the defense will step up their game when he's on the field because they know he'll be there for them and will carry them. We all know Rivers has been one of the top QBs in recent years. LT is going to be back and healthy and I'm sure he'll be motivated knowing that the front office has a little faith in Darren Sproles. Despite Sprole's emergence last year, we all know a healthy LT is a better option. We'll see in the preseason if he's lost a step or two. He is 30, and usually that spells disaster for franchise level RBs. Again, this was a tough pick because I really think Denver will be better than they were last year. It came down to who I thought was a better defense. As an Eagles fan, you know I love Brian Dawkins, but he's not the same difference maker. Shawn Merriman is almost as intense, but he is younger and fresher.
5. Baltimore Ravens
Another tough one for me to pick. The Ravens definitely belong in any talks of post season teams, but the truth is that they don't really impress me offensively. Joe Flacco can be inconsistent and should be better than he was last year. McGahee is too injury prone, and right now his talk is bigger than his game. I was pulling for him since he came out of college, but lately, I'm just not sure he'll be on the field for 16 games. Ray Lewis is also another X-factor. He's fierce, but he's old now. His saving grace is his football IQ. He knows where to be to be most effective. But you can't deny Father Time for long. I thought about putting another AFC East team in this spot, perhaps the Dolphins. But I thought in the end, the Ravens would have a better record. Although Buffalo added T.O., I don't see their offensive line being as good without Peters. Baltimore has a better defense than both those teams. They'll have a shot to chase Lombardi's trophy.
6. Houston Texans
Yes, I said the Houston Texans. Stop laughing. Seriously, stop. Okay, we all know that the class of the division is the Colts. Last year the Titans had us thinking of another undefeated regular season. Yeah, well, that isn't gonna happen again. The Texans have been slowly getting better at some of the small things that matter and one of the biggest things that matter. The small stuff like, you know, actually tackling the players from the other team. Now they can get to the quarterback almost consistently. Mario Williams is proving that he definitely should have been picked #1 overall. He has produced more and become better each year he's played. You know DeMeco Ryans is a tackling beast. For a minute I thought he was a better pick than Williams. Now, offensively they now have Matt Schaub who Atlanta could no longer contain because he was too good to be a backup. He is now more comfortable as their QB. And that big thing I said the Texans are better at is protecting said QB. I don't think David Carr was as bad as everyone made him out to be. It's hard to be a good QB when you spend 40 or so minutes out of 60 either on your back or running away from someone trying to make you better acquainted with the turf. But that's irrelevant now because their line can protect Schaub and he has Andre Johnson to throw to. You can't tell me he's not as gifted and good as a young T.O.
It was a struggle to come out with this dark horse pick because there are teams out there that can easily claim the wild card. But I think they'll do just enough to beat out the rest. Regardless, at the end of the season this team will no longer be talked about as just an expansion team still looking for an identity. That team is known as the Detroit Lions. What? Hey, from what I know, only expansion teams should go 0-16.
All that being said, the AFC was tough for me because I'm an NFC guy. But I looked into it, and wanted to present a fair argument for the teams I picked. I could have said the Titans, Dolphins, etc on the strength of how they did last year and their potential for this year. I was even tempted to mention the Bengals at #6, but I chose who I chose and I now will say that I choose New England to be back in the Superbowl. If nothing else they are still trying to prove that they didn't cheat their way in the other times they made it. Thanks for reading. I definitely look forward to your comments on who you would have picked from the AFC.
Give please. In America, through pressure of conformity, there is freedom of choice, but nothing to choose from.
I am from Ireland and learning to read in English, tell me right I wrote the following sentence: "Dermal fillers take care of excessive sweating."
With best wishes :(, Tawny.
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