2011 AFC Preview

When this blog was started, it existed as a sports and current events blog before morphing into the hodge podge of articles and music it is today. Much like last year, 0ver the next three days I’ll be going back to my sports roots and providing a breakdown of the NFL, beginning today with the AFC, followed by the NFC tomorrow and a playoff breakdown on Tuesday.

Disclaimer: If you’re considering taking these picks seriously, I would encourage you to take a look at my picks from last season, found here, here, and here. If after that you still believe these picks have a chance to work, I would encourage you to see a doctor.

AFC East

1. New York Jets
Last Season Prediction (LSP): 7-9
Last Season Finish (LSF): 11-5, Wildcard

If there’s two things I learned last season, it’s that Rex Ryan might be crazy, but he can coach, and that if you go to prison, your first season out you’ll be a superstar. Guess what team just signed Plexiglass Burress?
Prediction: 12-4

2. New England Patriots
LSP: 9-7
LSF: 14-2, Division Champs

Oh…damn…did not see Danny Woodhead coming. Or Deion Branch. Bill Belichick could lead a pee-wee league team to a .500 record in the NFL.
Prediction: 12-4, Wildcard

3. Buffalo Bills
LSP: 4-12
LSF: 4-12

Fun fact: The last time the Buffalo Bills made the playoffs Bill Clinton was in office. Even more fun fact: The last time the Bills had a winning season, the summer Olympics were being held…in Greece.
Prediction: 6-10

4. Miami Dolphins
LSP: 11-5, Division Champs
LSF: 7-9

To recap their offseason: Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams are gone, Brandon Marshall is injured (reportedly) and mentally unstable (confirmed), and they have one player on their entire defense (Cameron Wake) capable of making the Pro Bowl. Ouch.
Prediction: 4-12

AFC North

1. Baltimore Ravens
LSP: 12-4, Super Bowl Champs
LSF: 12-4, Wildcard

This might be their last year they can beat the Steelers without any help from the rest of the division and/or AARP.
Prediction: 12-4

2. Pittsburgh Steelers
LSP: 6-10
LSF: 12-4, AFC Champs

lolSteelers
Prediction: 11-5, Wildcard

3. Cleveland Browns
LSP: 6-10
LSF: 5-11

So if the Browns are historically awful, and Peyton Hillis is on the cover of Madden, which dooms teams to bad fortunes, does that mean the Browns will be good this year?
Prediction: 8-8

4. Cincinnati Bengals
LSP: 10-6, Wildcard
LSF: 4-12

The good news for the Bengals is they have four games against the NFC West this season. The bad news is, even the NFC West could go 4-0 against the Bengals.
Prediction: 1-15

AFC South

1. Indianapolis Colts
LSP: 13-3, Division Champs
LSF: 10-6, Division Champs

Much like Baltimore, their window to win the division is closing fast. Could this be Peyton Manning’s last hurrah?
Prediction: 11-5

2. Tennessee Titans
LSP: 10-6, Wildcard
LSF: 6-10

If Matt Hasselbeck stays healthy (and that’s a big if), he can lead a team with a good offensive line and an elite running back. If.
Prediction: 9-7

3. Jacksonville Jaguars
LSP: 6-10
LSF: 8-8

Did you know that with three weeks left in the regular season last year the Jaguars were leading the AFC South? Neither did I.
Prediction: 7-9

4. Houston Texans
LSP: 8-8
LSF: 6-10

The only time Houston won’t be on the wrong end of a beating is the two times Andre Johnson takes on Cortland Finnegan again. Sadly, that was the high point in the season for both teams involved.
Prediction: 5-11

AFC West

1. San Diego Chargers
LSP: 7-9
LSF: 9-7

There’s always that one team in each league that barely missed the playoffs the previous season, only to storm out to a hot start the next year and win their division. The Chargers look like that team on paper, despite the presence of Norv Turner.
Prediction: 11-5

2. Denver Broncos
LSP: 9-7, Division Champs
LSF: 4-12

So the Broncos went 4-12 last season in spite of playing the NFC West (and going 1-3 against the worst division in football). Why do I have them second place this season? Kyle Orton won’t lose the starting job the entire season. You heard it here firstish.
Prediction: 8-8

3. Kansas City Chiefs
LSP: 4-12
LSF: 10-6, Division Champs

KC had the NFC West and the worst AFC teams to face on their way to a 10-6 record last season. This year, they have a five week stretch where they play (in order) at New England (on Monday night), versus Pittsburgh, at Chicago (in December), at the Jets (in December), and home against Green Bay. That won’t end well.
Prediction: 6-10

4. Oakland Raiders
LSP: 7-9
LSF: 8-8

One of the few spoiler teams I called right in the AFC last season (at least I did slightly better in the NFC), but the Raiders just aren’t a good football team. There’s no way they go 6-0 against the AFC West again this year.
Prediction: 6-10