Grading The AFC

Well yesterday we graded the NFC and today we will look at the AFC outlook. So lets not waste time

AFC East

New England Patriots - This team is always good and they have made themselves incredibly stronger this year. Dumping the underachieving receivers and adding not one, not two, but three big time legit WRs for Tom Brady to throw too makes this offense a formidable opponent for even the best of defenses. This team will be very good and make another legit push for a ring. A

Buffalo Bills - I think things are starting to come together for the Bills this year. This is a weak division and I don't see the Bills having to be all that good to finish second. JP Losman seems to finally understand how to play QB and a above average defense will help him out even more. This is a deep sleeper team that could possibly make some noise. Certainly wont make the playoffs but 8-8 even 9-7 is not out of the question. B-

New York Jets - Sorry, but I think this is a let down year for the Jets, one of the big surprises of 2006. The addition of Thomas Jones helps the running game, but the passing attack is anemic at best and the defense wont strike fear in very many. I like Eric Mangini, but I'm looking for a very disappointing year out of this club. C

Miami Dolphins - I guess I was the only one who watched Trent Green look like utter crap in the playoffs last year. Supposedly he is supposed to come in and be the savior for the Dolphins who have not had a decent QB since Dan Marino left. The fact is this team sucks. Chris Chambers was a one year wonder and Ronnie Brown has never lived up to expectations. This has train wreck written all over it. D

AFC South

Jacksonville Jaguars - I'll tell you why I don't think Indy repeats next, but let me get into why I think this is the Jags year. The release of Byron Leftwich is actually a big help to this team that relies a lot on the ground, short yardage game to move its offense. Leftwich was a slow, big armed QB, that just is not what the Jags need. With three top quality RBs splitting time, look for these guys to just pound it out and wear teams down. The Jags defense is possibly one of the Top 5 in the league with the two best set of DTs in John Henderson and Marcus Stroud. This team is the best team that nobody talks about. Watch out. A-

Indianapolis Colts - They will always compete as long as they have Peyton Manning throwing the ball downfield. However they have lost too much on the defensive side of the ball this year that last year struggled mightily with containing the run. They live in a conference that is stacked with top tier running backs who will just pound it down the Colts throats. They will still win a lot of games and make the playoffs, but I don't think they repeat as division champs. B+

Tennessee Titans - Not a bad team, certainly a team on the rise but quite a few years and a few draft picks away from making a serious run. Vince Young will have to avoid the Madden curse as he attempts to lead this mostly nameless, but competent club to a few victories. I don't see them getting many, but they will certainly get more than the...C

Houston Texans - How is Mario Williams working out for you guys? Yeah, this team still sucks. They added Matt Schaub, an unproven QB and stuck him behind that same offensive line that had David Carr on his ass all the time. Not a good recipe for success. Ahman Green is done and behind that very same line he will be getting gobbled up in the backfield a lot. This team doesn't get that football is won and lost in the trenches and as long as they don't work hard at fixing that offensive line, they will continue to be bad. F

AFC North

Baltimore Ravens - These guys look like the best in this black and blue division. The defense is obviously stuff of legends and will shut down pretty much any offense that gets in their way. There is not a single hole or weak spot on this defense. The only x factor for these guys is Steve McNair. If he plays a smart, ball control style offense then this team will win a lot of games. If he goes all air-McNair though, watch out. A

Pittsburgh Steelers - Are they back? Well, sorta. Having shaken the post Super Bowl champion hangover, I think this team is probably hungry enough to compete once again. They still have some glaring question marks in places, but overall they should be able to put up a good fight. Will be a team to watch for. B+

Cincinnati Bengals - The Lions of the AFC. These guys will be fun to watch as they air the ball out all over the place and watch Chad Johnsons TD dances. However, how will they stop people? They have what is possibly the worst defense in the NFL and some claim the worst defense EVER. Look for a lot of shootouts but probably not many victories. C-

Cleveland Browns - Was there a plan for the future in Cleveland before Brady Quinn just fell into their laps? It certainly doesn't feel like it as they really have nothing else to offer on either side of the ball. The only reason to tune into a Browns game this year will be to see how Brady Quinn is doing. I imagine he will be starting about week 4. D-

AFC West

San Diego Chargers - Ok, we all know how stacked this team is. That being said they have Norv Turner as head coach. That would terrify me if I were a bolts fan. He has never shown the ability to motivate a team to win and has underachieved pretty much everywhere he has gone. Still, this team has too much talent not to win this division and probably a first round bye. But I'm feeling another playoff collapse for these guys. A-

Denver Broncos - The Broncos are probably over the last 20 years the most consistent "pretty good" teams out there. They always compete and it is never a surprise on how they will beat you. Run, run, and run. I suspect more of the same this year with a little more freedom given to Jay Cutler to get it to his downfield receivers. I like this team and think they will push the Chargers and compete for a wild card. B+

Oakland Raiders - Moving up in the world. Still wretched beyond belief on the offensive side. As of this writing they still haven't signed the first overall draft pick and instead are looking at Josh McCown to lead them. However they have a decent defense and they may just get lucky in a few games and win 4 or 5. D+

Kansas City Chiefs - This may be the worst team in the NFL. I watched Hard Knocks as they went through training camp and outside of Larry Johnson, this team has nothing, zero. The DBs get beat bad all the time, the QB they went with Huard is washed up and the young guy backing him up (Croyle) is not even close to ready. Their WRs drop balls and run poor routes. This team is a mess and its too bad because I like Herm Edwards but LJ is not going to be able to run this team out of the basement. F

Wild Card Team #1 - Jaguars over Broncos
Wild Card Team #2 - Ravens over Colts

Division Playoff #1 - Jaguars over Chargers
Division Playoff #2 - Patriots over Ravens

AFC Championship Game - Patriots over Jaguars

Super Bowl Prediction - Seahawks over Patriots