Here’s a breakdown of each AFC team, including 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 from Brandon Marshall’s skills on the field and ability to rise to the occasion; no player other than Chad Henne. It will be interesting to see how trainer Tony Sparano and company. use the wildcat this season and if they will get the edge they needed last year. With a tough schedule up front, 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 the NFL preseason: They know how to make headlines, but what else do they bring? They’ve made some nice 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 so difficult. Still, Jets fans shouldn’t be too worried; they can still rely on having a hard D and O line that they should get away with anyone they come 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 the passing game. The key is for them to use their speed at D effectively and create 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 least productive offense needs a serious jolt of energy. Hopefully, Joshua Cribbs can continue to be a sensation on special teams and Mohamed Massaquoi can rescue Jake Delhomme, who will undoubtedly struggle in this division. The Browns should look to last season’s 4-0 finish for inspiration.
Cincinnati Bengals (8-8) Eight-five and company. he seemed to be on the rise, but his free fall to the playoffs at the end of the season concerned me. The addition of TO and first-round TE Jermaine Gresham will help Carson Palmer be better prepared, but Cincy needs Cedric Benson and his defense to repeat performances to take on the top dogs in the AFC North.
Pittsburgh Steelers (10-6) Mike Tomlin’s team is my second wild card pick in the AFC (along with the Jets). Big Ben’s absence early on will help establish Rashard Mendenhall in the running game. Look for Mike Wallace to emerge as your big play WR, and Troy Polamalu (and his $1 million fury locks) to bring 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 continued struggles in the secondary, the Ravens are looking to capitalize on Flacco’s new target in Anquan Boldin, as well as Ray Rice’s stranglehold off the field.
AFC South
Jacksonville Jaguars (7-9) Undoubtedly the hottest division, the Jaguars don’t appear to have done enough this offseason to improve on last year’s record. Maurice Jones-Drew should keep them competitive, but his front 7 will have a hard time facing offenses led by Peyton Manning, Matt Schaub and Vince Young in their cross-divisional matchups.
Tennessee Titans (8-8) The definitive 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 face, 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 will win you at least 9 games. Then add possibly the deepest receiving corpse in the league, and they’ll beat 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 up 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 a lot of questions surrounding his thin offensive line and his ability to pressure the 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 they did last season. And with Brandon Marshall out of the picture, Josh McDaniels will have to trust Knowshon Moreno more than expected. Of course, we’re all curious to see how the Tebow effect comes into play. This team will play tough teams, but they will fall a little 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.
