NFL kicks off tomorrow night with the Saints and Packers. Let us look at the AFC first, and tomorrow we will look over the NFC.
AFC EAST
1. NE PATRIOTS - This team was 14-2 last year. Brady and HC Hoodie aren't getting any younger. But the defense is! Granted, the did bring in some older guys in Haynesworth and Ellis. Pats have all the parts and the coaching to get them to February. Not much really to say about this group. They are who we think they are.
2. NY JETS - HC Rex Ryan can sure talk a good game. Though his Super Bowl promises have fallen short, 2 AFC Championship games with QB Sanchez is pretty good. But this team is about defense and that is what the team feeds off of. The defense will be superior again. Question is can Sanchez take that next step. And for this team, that step is the Super Bowl.
3. BUFFALO BILLS - I will call for the Bills to suprise some people this year. Everyone is down on this franchise, but this is the NFL, and anything can happen. Plenty of worse to first stories. Now, I don't think this team will win the division, but there is enough talent to beat out the flounder Fish of Miami. Chan Gailey needs to get Fred Jackson and CJ Spiller involved and take the pressure of Ryan Fitzpatrick.
4. MIAMI DOLPHINS - Not really the vote of confidence QB Chad Henne wanted when this team was trying to trade for a QB. They do have WR Brandon Marshall, but with Reggie Bush as your everydown back, this could turn ugly fast for the offense. The Dolphins do have the self-proclaimed 'best corner duo' in the league. Hmm. It isn't the humidity in South Beach warming things up, its the coaches Hot Seat...
AFC NORTH
1. BALTIMORE RAVENS - I have picked this team to win here last year, and I will come back here again. QB Flacco will love his new field-stretcher in WR Lee Evans. That should open things up more for RB Ray Rice. The offense needs to step it up as the defense led by Ray Lewis and Ed Reed are not getting younger. Ravens must finally break through vs Pitt and get that elite status.
2. PITTSBURG STEELERS - I really like HC Mike Tomlin. The guy gets the most out of his players. And he has some good ones. I just always have a problem with the offense. Don't ask me why. Big Ben has old reliable Hines Ward and a big target in Mike Wallace. The run game will always be there. The defense has some serious playmakers. Coming off that Super Bowl loss, I don't expect a hangover, not from this franchise. The fun gets started early as Pitt and Balt face off in Week 1. Early bragging rights by 4:15 EST this Sunday.
3. CLEVELAND BROWN - New HC is Pat Shurmur, but this is Colt McCoy's team. Tough spot for them with BLT and Pitt in the division, but they get 2 wins facing the hapless Bengles. New DC Dick Juron is bring back the 4-3. Good news is that 3 of their first 4 games are at home! A brutal December stretch will have the Dawg Pound barking for the draft come Jan 2.
4. CINCINNATI BENGALS - HC Marvin Lewis is in for a looooonnnggg year. They have handed the team over to rookie QB Andy Dalton. I am sure RB Cedrick Benson will be complaining by October. Now with the 1st pick in the 2012 draft...
AFC SOUTH
1. HOUSTON TEXANS - Could the stars be lining up for the Texans. Peyton Manning is not going to be 100% this year. And even if he comes back in a month, will he ever be the same. The time is now for the Texans. They have an explosive offense, and new DC Wade Phillips is great on the defensive side of the ball. He just gets over his head when he has HC duties. It is playoffs or Gary Kubiak gets the ax.
2. TENNESSEE TITANS - Yeah, a suprise pick here. But Indy is Manning. If that guy is out for a month or not 100%, that team is in deep trouble. I will go out a limb here and back new HC Mike Munchak. He has a monster RB in Chris Johnson. Matt Hasselbeck is a perfect fit here. He's a pro and will contribute on the field as well as mentor #1 Jake Locker.
3. INDIANAPOLIS COLTS - As goes Manning, so do the Colts. Kerry Collins has had a nice career and is familiar with HC Jim Caldwell. What to say about this team. Its offense is made for Manning. The defense has Freeney and Mathis to harass opposing QBs. But the bottomline is Manning's injury.
4. JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS - I like HC Jack Del Rio, but this guy is done here. Obviously ownership is looking to move. You don't tell the coach its playoffs or bust then cut your starting QB 4 days before Game 1. Now Garrard was just going to be keeping the seat warm for Blaine Gabbert, but he deserved better. I am still wondering aloud, with Manning out, and the Texans, the Texans who have never been to the playoffs before now a the division favorite, how do you cut a guy who has won for you. Maurice Jones Drew isn't getting any younger. And now Luke McCown, you know Luke right. 1 game played last year, 0 the year before, 18 games played since 2005. He is your starter. Scary.
AFC WEST
1. SD CHARGERS - Can Norv Turner get this team out of the gate winning. Every year they start slow. QB Phillip Rivers is a monster. He has plenty of weapons around him. This team was 12-4 last year and only lost KR Darren Sproles. They have a new special teams coach since Sproles was the only bright spot there. They should have a relatively easy time repeating in this weak division.
2. OAKLAND RAIDERS - I will put the Raiders here at 2. It is a tough call for me. There isn't much difference between the remaining 3 teams here. Oakland has a great RB tandem in Darren McFadden and Michael Bush. TE Kevin Boss was a nice steal from the Giants. I always liked QB Jason Campell. They guy never had the same OC for 2 years in row. Here he gets a familiar face in new OC Al Saunders from his Redskins days. The defense is solid up front. The kicking game is superior.
3. KC CHIEFS - HC Todd Haley has an explosive runner in Jamaal Charles, a monster horse in Thomas Jones and a do it all guy in Dexter McCluster. This is the top rushing unit in the league and that helps QB Matt Cassell. For me the DL underachieves, while the LB corp and secondary are solid and getting better. KC does have a tough schedule and I can't see them getting 10 wins again this year.
4. DENVER BRONCOS - HC John Fox will need some time to field a defense. This team could be really bad this year. But Fox will have his guys and his schemes in place fast enough. Give it time Bronco faithful.
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