Here’s a breakdown of each AFC team, including the prediction standings by division.
AFC West
Buffalo Bills (6-10) As we all know, they are still stuck in an endless rebuilding phase. His incoming draft class looks promising, but CJ Spiller alone won’t be able to revive a franchise plagued by a banged-up QB and defensive inconsistencies.
Miami Dolphins (8-8) Miami will definitely benefit Brandon Marshall’s on-field skills and ability to rise to the occasion; no player other than Chad Henne. It will be interesting to see how trainer Tony Sparano and co. use the wildcat this season and whether they will get the advantage they needed last year. With a tough schedule early on, the Dolphins will need a spark from their playmakers on both sides of the ball to keep up with the rest of the division.
New York Jets (9-7) So far, the Jets have been the Paris Hilton of NFL preseason: They know how to make headlines, but what else do they bring to the table? They’ve made some good offseason acquisitions, most notably Santonio Holmes, Jason Taylor and Johnny Appleseed himself: Antonio Cromartie. But with OLB Calvin Pace out indefinitely and Revis Island still out of sight, last year’s No. 1 defense doesn’t seem all that difficult. Still, Jets fans shouldn’t be too worried; they can still rely on having a tough D and O line that should get their way with anyone they go up against. I’d be surprised if the Jets aren’t a WildCard team when all is said and done.
New England Patriots (10-6) The Pats are my pick to win the division. Wes Welker’s speedy recovery will be huge for them. The signing of Algie Crumpler and the growth of Julian Edelman will complement Moss and Welker in passing attack. The key is for them to use their speed at D effectively and generate turnovers.
AFC North
Cleveland Browns (5-11) The Browns have gotten used to being the worst in the AFC North, maybe the Cavs should do the same. Last year’s less productive offense needs a big jolt of energy. Hopefully Joshua Cribbs can continue to be a special teams sensation and Mohamed Massaquoi can rescue Jake Delhomme, who will no doubt struggle in this division. The Browns should look to last season’s 4-0 finish for inspiration.
Cincinnati Bengals (8-8) Ochocinco and company. he seemed to be on the rise, but his free fall into the playoffs at the end of the season worried me. The addition of first-round TO and TE Jermaine Gresham will help prepare Carson Palmer better, but Cincy needs repeat performances from Cedric Benson and defense from him to compete with the top dogs in the AFC North.
Pittsburgh Steelers (10-6) Mike Tomlin’s team is my second AFC Wild Card selection (along with the Jets). Big Ben’s absence early on will help establish Rashard Mendenhall in the running game. Look to Mike Wallace to emerge as your big play WR, and Troy Polamalu (and his $1 million fury locks) to get your defense close to where they were for their Super Bowl 2 years ago.
Baltimore Ravens (11-5) The Ravens will be hailed as this year’s AFC North champions. Aside from their ongoing struggles in the secondary, the Ravens are looking to capitalize on Flacco’s new target in Anquan Boldin, as well as Ray Rice’s utter dominance off the field.
AFC South
Jacksonville Jaguars (7-9) Arguably the most streaky division, the Jaguars don’t seem to have done enough in the offseason to improve on last year’s record. Maurice Jones-Drew should keep them competitive, but his Front 7 will have a hard time taking on offenses led by Peyton Manning, Matt Schaub and Vince Young in their cross-division matchups.
Tennessee Titans (8-8) The final question: who appears, the team that started 0-6 or the one that finished the season 8-2. Chris Johnson and Vince Young may be the most dynamic double in the league, but the defense needs to fill the void left by Keith Bulluck, Kyle Vanden Bosch and, let’s face it, Albert Haynesworth.
Houston Texans (9-7) The connection between Matt Schaub and Andre Johnson rivals the best in the NFL, and with Owen Daniels healthy, his passing attack could be lethal. If their backfield can become a legitimate concern for the teams they’re up against, they’ll be able to steal a few games here and there.
Indianapolis Colts (12-4) Last year’s Super Bowl loss could mean this AFC South powerhouse will play with a bit of a chip on his shoulder. Put Peyton Manning on any team and he’ll win you at least 9 games. Then throw in possibly the deepest receiving corpse in the league, and they’ll earn you 12. If that defense can be strengthened and Bob Sanders returns to full form, this group may be flirting with a repeat trip to the big game.
AFC West
Oakland Raiders (6-10) It looks like Jason Campbell is back on track after a preseason injury, which is good news for a team that hasn’t had a formidable QB threat since the Rich Gannon era (remember that guy?). The Raiders are putting some good pieces on both sides of the ball, but they’re still a world away from getting to the next level of competitive play.
Kansas City Chiefs (6-10) A solid RB duo will definitely help Matt Cassel, as will his former Patriots teammates Charlie Weis and Romeo Crennel. Dwayne Bowe will be a reliable target for Cassel, but there are still plenty of questions surrounding his thin offensive line and his ability to pressure defense.
Denver Broncos (8-8) With Indy, Tennessee and Baltimore in Weeks 3, 4 and 5 on their schedule, don’t expect them to start 6-0 like last season. And with Brandon Marshall out of the picture, Josh McDaniels will have to rely on Knowshon Moreno more than expected. Of course, we are all curious to see how the Tebow effect comes into play. This team will play tough teams, but they will fall a bit short of playoff contention.
San Diego Chargers (10-6) It may seem like SD has lost its identity with the departure of LT and the hiatus of Vincent Jackson, but it will open the doors for Philip Rivers and rookie phenom Ryan Matthews. Expect San Diego’s light schedule to propel them into the playoffs, but how far they play in January is another story.
