AFC Preview

[BZBot]

With ten potential playoff teams fighting for six spots, what's not to like about the AFC?

Source: http://www.bengalszone.com/article.php?sid=434

[duus]

I know that I am in the extreme minority, and that my hatred of the Black-N-Urine forms an undying bias, but my personal AFC playoff seeding prediction:

#1 Indianapolis

#2 Cincinnati

#3 Miami

#4 Denver

#5 Jacksonville

#6 San Diego

A few notes for those who will poke a little fun at those predictions:

* The Colts are a tough call without the Edge, but I think they'll pull it off. they go 11-5, but beat the Bengals for head-to-head. And blow it in the playoffs once again. Jacksonville will upset Denver and go into Indy and beat the Colts. Bummer.

* The Bengals will fight and claw through a tough schedule for a 11-5 record, even after starting 2-2. They will beat Cleveland and NE to start the year, but lose their first two on the road. Things will change after the bye. Their only losses after the bye are to the Panthers, Colts, and Broncos.

* I am a believer in Miami this year. 10-6.

* Denver will win a tough division at 10-6. Jacksonville once again loses the division to the Colts, but posts a very good 11-5 record. SD grabs the last spot at 9-7, but wins the tie-breaker with the Steelers via head-to-head.

* Yes, the Steelers fail to make the playoffs. Why? Well, number one is that Cowher has long had a tradition of having his team play best when they are not expected to. And the opposite is also true. Look back at each year and you will find this to be true. They will lose to Miami in the opener and then go on to a 9-7 record. Not good enough. Another bummer. (I will rejoice). Oh yeah, no NE either. Just a feeling. Times are changing in the AFC.

Fun stuff.

[BengalChamps]

My seeds:

1. Indy

2. Chiefs

3. Patriots

4. Bengals

5. Jax

6. Denver

Notes:

Culpepper is not that good. Miami wont win when it counts.(in the cold in December)

You cant leave out Brady. No way.

You cant leave out Larry Johnson.

The Jax D scares me.

SD relied on Brees. Brees is gone.

[chrishcovga]

I know this was in another forum but, I gotta see us going 11-5 again. A healthy Palmer is the only real way we can get that though. Then again, he has to be healthy, the League wouldn't let him practice.

Week1: If Palmer starts ? Cincy 27 - Chiefs 20

2: If Palmer Starts ? Cincy 34 - Browns 10

3: If Palmer Starts ? Steelers 16 - Cincy 10 - I don't like it either but we never play Pitt well early.

4: Palmer Starts after the buy. Cincy 31 - Pats 24 - Pats won't stop the run this year.

5: Cincy 23 - Bucs - 9

6:(Game of the Year Here) Cincy 30 - Panthers - 27

7: Cincy 28 - Falcons 17

8: Ravens 20 - Cincy 17 - Air McNair

9: Cincy 26 - Chargers 16

10: Cincy 45 - Saints 21

11: Cincy 27 - Browns 13

12: Cincy 31 - Ravens 20

13: Cincy 28 - Raiders 13

14: Indy 28 - Cincy 21

15: Broncos 20 - Cincy 17

16: Cincy 38 - Steelers 17 ( Call it the Redemption Bowl ) Game won't be as close as the score.

Game with Buccs could actually go either way, but I don't by the Hype on Chris Simms. So maybe 12-4.

Steelers make the playoffs, and we beat them in the Divisional round 28 - 10.

Play the Colts again in Cincy ( Home field advantage ) after Colts beat the Pats in Wild Card Game and then the Broncos in Indy. Cincy 38- Colts 31.

Super Bowl Bengals 28 - Eagles 20 . Palmer, Rudi, or Bengal Offensive line is named MVP.

[ChadJohnson-85]

Here's my seed's:

1# Indy 14-2

2# Cinci 13-3

3# Denver 13-3

4# KC 11-5

5# New England 11-5

6# Jax 10-6

Here's some notes:

The Colts dont have Edge but they still have Marvin, Wayne & Peyton.

IMO Lawrence Maroney was great when he played against the Falcons & will probably take Dillon's place soon.

IMO the Jags have the best Defense in the NFL and they also have a great QB + a great RB.

[derekshank]

The Colts will not go 14-2. Edgerring James was the only reason we lost to them last year. You can't go just based on the stat line. He stats were identical to Rudi Johnson's (which is pretty damn good)... but he's also the best pass blocking RB in the NFL. Something that "Happy Feet Manning" will sorely miss.

Even if Rhodes and Addai can make up for James in the running game (which I'm not completely sure about) they have no chance to be the pass blocker he was. They will still have a good season, and a very high-powered offense... but teams with a pass rush will beat them. It was true last year... and will be even more true this year.

I'm also not drinking the Miami kool-aid. Culpepper is not a bad QB... but he still can't read defenses... and when you have to play Pittsburgh and NE twice, that hurts.

I like New England in the East... just because I don't like anyone else in that division.

I like Denver in the West. Even though they lost several good players that no one seems to notice, I think SD is a year away with Rivers at the helm, and KC will falter again with a bad defense and now a hefty chink in the strongest part of their offense - that O-Line.

I like Indy in the South, because even though I mentioned their weaknesses... they are still a damn good team.

I like Cincy in the North if Palmer starts game 1. If he misses until the bye, I think Pittsburgh might take it ( but they've lost too many players to do it again in my opinion). I still see Baltimore as old and over-rated.

That leaves the Wild-Card battle to either Pitt/Cincy, KC, SD, and Jax.

Just my opinion that I will admit is still way to early to be anything more than a guess.

[Kazkal]

Jacksonville Jaguars: Jags Fan, Ken Anderson is tutoring your franchise QB and his most consistent receiver just retired, but you’re still assuming you’re going to make the playoffs. Get ready for disappointment. Remember when they were talking about “who should the Bengals take? Carson or Leftwich?” Haven’t seen that comparison in awhile. Leftwich is in McNair territory. Yes, he’s tough and he plays through injuries, but when do you stop saying how tough he is and start pointing out that he’s more injury prone than Eric Davis? Two things you cannot count on, Jags Fan: Freddie Taylor’s groin, or Ernest Wilford’s hands. One thing you can count on: Matt Jones will have a great year.

I'm tired of everyone hating on leftwich he's a great QB,ya hes not putting up 30+ TD's but the jaguars dont do that he also takes care of the ball with a 3td-1int ratio

I think our 3 hardest games will be Panthers,falcons and Bucs they all have a great run game with falcons having insane run game...perk is their NFC teams so dont hurt as much on tie breakers if we do lose

[bengalboomer7]

Jacksonville Jaguars: Jags Fan, Ken Anderson is tutoring your franchise QB and his most consistent receiver just retired, but you’re still assuming you’re going to make the playoffs. Get ready for disappointment. Remember when they were talking about “who should the Bengals take? Carson or Leftwich?” Haven’t seen that comparison in awhile. Leftwich is in McNair territory. Yes, he’s tough and he plays through injuries, but when do you stop saying how tough he is and start pointing out that he’s more injury prone than Eric Davis? Two things you cannot count on, Jags Fan: Freddie Taylor’s groin, or Ernest Wilford’s hands. One thing you can count on: Matt Jones will have a great year.

I'm tired of everyone hating on leftwich he's a great QB,ya hes not putting up 30+ TD's but the jaguars dont do that he also takes care of the ball with a 3td-1int ratio

I think our 3 hardest games will be Panthers,falcons and Bucs they all have a great run game with falcons having insane run game...perk is their NFC teams so dont hurt as much on tie breakers if we do lose

I think calling Leftwich a "great QB" is stretching it a tad. Unless he shortens that release of his, he'll always have problems