My AFC Predictions

Monday 9/7/09 - Len

I think it's time to make my AFC Predictions for the upcoming 2009 Season. I will put each division and rank each team, obviously with the 1st team winning the division- an asterisk will distinguish a playoff spot.

Here we go, starting with the AFC East:

AFC EAST:

*1) New England Patriots (12-4): With the team of the decade (well, the first part of the decade) having a clear chip on their shoulder after missing out on the playoffs in 2008, I see this team dominating the AFC and landing a top seed. Oh yeah, Tom Brady's back too.

2) Miami Dolphins (9-7): A slight drop-off from last season, but still respectable. I expect to see Chad Henne play alot in the last quarter of the season, especially when the division and wild card are well out of reach.

3) New York Jets (7-9): I want to say this team is an 8 to 9 win team, but I just can't. Rex Ryan will be a good NFL coach, but he needs some experience coaching the Belichick's of the world. The receiving game is suspect- expect Leon Washington to have over 500 receiving yards this year. As for Sanchez, don't expect a Matt Ryan-type of season. Instead, take a Joe Flacco-type with about 15 TDs and 12 INTs, and a little under 3,000 yards passing. This is a team built on defense, which is no surprise seeing who their coach is.

4) Buffalo Bills (6-10): They are slowly creeping their way out of the only city that loves them, but that is the least of their troubles. TO matched up with another star receiver in Lee Evans will create turmoil for Jauron, who will most likely be fired after the season's end.

AFC NORTH:

*1) Pittsburgh Steelers (11-5): Gotta give props to the Champs, who are fielding almost the identical team to 2008.

*2) Baltimore Ravens (10-6): Flacco's targets are quickly aging, and the other target on Baltimore will be on Flacco's chest. This guy has sophomore slump written all over him. Their defense lost Bart Scott and Justin Leonhard, but are still one of the NFL's best.

3) Cincinnati Bengals (6-10): Carson Palmer at full strength along with Chad Ochocinco and Laverneus Coles will result in a nice air-it-out offense for Marvin Lewis. But after week 8, the NFL will realize their run-game is non-existent and they will quickly falter. Marvin Lewis may be out by season's end. Lone bright spot will be USC's Rey Malaneuga, who will have an instant impact on the defense.

4) Cleveland Browns (4-12): Regardless whom this team puts behind center, they are just down-right awful. The only date circled on the Brown's calendar this year is the date of the draft.

AFC SOUTH:

*1) Indianapolis Colts (12-4): It didn't matter who replaced Tony Dungy, this is Peyton's team and he will carry them. Anthony Gonzalez will have a break-out season at the wideout position in 2009, especially with the absence of Marvin Harrison.

*2) Tennessee Titans (10-6): Not quite 13 wins, but enough to get into the post-season. Their two-back system with Chris Johnson and LenDale White was one of the best in the NFL in 2008, and I expect it to be the same this year. Look out for rookie WR Kenny Britt out of Rutgers to have an immediate impact on a team that was desperate for a big man.

3) Houston Texans (8-8): I'm dying for the Texans to be good- trust me. But, I need to see a complete year out of Matt Schaub to fully judge the future of this team. What I will say is that their defense will be very good, and Schaub has an immediate target in Andre Johnson. The lone question remains with Schaub.

4) Jacksonville Jaguars (5-11): Jack Del Rio, the most dapper coach in the NFL, will be looking for a new team to buy him some suits after 2009. They are one of the teams who are struggling with selling tickets in a not-so-typical football city. Some of their games are blacked-out for 2009, and I predict a west coast trip in their future- but it's a one-way ticket. Los Angeles wants a team, and Jacksonville has to move- a match made in football heaven.

AFC WEST:

*1) San Diego Chargers (10-6): They pretty much win this division by default. Regardless of that, they are a very talented team and many think that since Phillip Rivers took San Diego to the bank this off-season, he should take them to a Super Bowl. I don't think so, but they will have a chance to do so. Also, let's hope this Merriman-Tequila thing is nipped in the bud, because they don't need him suspended- something the Commish doesn't hesitate to do in situations like this.

2) Denver Broncos (5-11): They went from a playoff threat to a joke within a few months. Their franchise QB bolted for Chicago, and although they got a few first rounders in return, it's going to be painful to watch. Their defense is horrendous, and their star WR hates playing there. Great job, Josh McDaniels. Where have you gone, Mike Shannahan?

3) Kansas City Chiefs (4-12): Matt Cassel and Dwayne Bowe can't do it all. Their defense stinks and their running game is non-existent. Just another AFC West doormat.

4) Oakland Raiders (2-14): I'm giving the Raiders the worst record in the NFL for two reasons: 1) Because they are the worst team in the NFL, and 2) I just want to see what Al Davis will do with the Number 1 overall pick. The NFL has to get involved and save this team- which is one of the proudest in the history of the AFC and has clearly become the black hole of the NFL - no pun intended.

2009 AFC PLAYOFFS

1) New England (East- 12-4) --BYE

2) Indianapolis Colts (South- 12-4) --BYE

3) Pittsburgh Steelers (North- 11-5) 

4) San Diego Chargers (West- 10-6)

5) Baltimore Ravens (North- 10-6)

6) Tennessee Titans (South- 10-6)

WILD CARD PLAYOFFS:

PIT vs. TEN -- The LenDale White Towel Stomp Story begins once again, but the Champs prevail in Pittsburgh in a rout.

SD vs. BAL -- San Diego snuck away with a first round win in 2008 against Indianapolis, but won't be as lucky in 2009. Baltimore comes up with the W in the Golden State.

DIVISIONAL PLAYOFFS:

NE vs. BAL -- New England is a dangerous team week to week, but give Bill Belichick two weeks to prepare and the team is unstoppable. New England in typical New England fashion- a chess match where one bad move by Baltimore results in a two touchdown victory.

IND vs. PIT -- This game would be a great AFC Championship Game, but we'll settle for an amazing AFC Divisional Game. All week highlights will stream of the 2005 Playoffs where the Colts blew the game to the Cinderella Steelers en route to Pittsburgh's 5th Title. This time though, Pittsburgh will win solely because they are the better team.

AFC CHAMPIONSHIP:

NE vs. PIT -- In the 50th Anniversary of the AFC, what better match-up can you have? Granted, the Steelers DID start off in the NFL back in the days of leather helmets, but since the expansion they have emerged as the class of the American Football Conference. The Patriots have been to 6 Super Bowls in 50 years, winning 3 in their illustrious history. These two teams have 5 Super Bowls between them in the decade, so there really isn't a better game that could be played. Tom Brady, fresh off a 2008 where he watched the Pats play while he nursed his bum leg, will lead the Patriots to the big game.

AFC CHAMPION: New England Patriots

Well there's my AFC prediction, hope you enjoy. The NFC Prediction will be up either tonight or tomorrow...