AFC Preview 2011

Hello, I am writing this blog to record my predictions, provide some letter grades to players and hopefully a little bit of insight, and if anyone would end up (for some reason) reading it and liking it, then that would be cool.  Feel free to comment and subscribe.

I originally wrote this in preseason week 2, but by now it's the end of preseason...  So sorry if things are slightly messed up.  I am going to be predicting the Over/Under, O/U, for each NFL team, and give a little insight into how good I think a team's players are.  Thanks for reading.

The NFL

AFC East
New England 11
With Tony Dungy A and Jeff Fisher A- out of the league, imho they have the best coach in the NFL, Bill Belichick A.  Draft picks Ryan Mallet C- and ceiling of B QB – Albert Haynesworth F+..  wait that’s not their QB?  Oh yeah, that one guy… what’s his name?  Tom Brady  A, arguably the best QB in the game, (though I would not make the argument, since I am not a fan.)

Rushing attack led by BenJarvus Green-Ellis and Danny Woodhead B- Defense A-.  Last year the Patriots were nasty, losing only to the Ryan brothers..  (Cleveland, and the N.Y. Jets twice.)  O/U pass. So sorry, but I am not predicting much out of the ordinary for NE.  A start of 7-2,  a finish of 5-2, and an overall record of 12-4.

Miami 8

Notable draft pick, Darren Thomas B+ Didn’t trade for Orton, but instead settled for Chad Henne.  QB, Henne is not a pro-bowl type QB, however he is not as bad as most people think and last year finished 15 in yards.... not that yards matter a ton, but he's not completely horrible, Henne C. Rushing attack is led by Reggie Bush, extremely versatile but not exactly a 20 carries a game guy B-   Defense B-  I don't think they have a lot of hope for the playoffs. O/U under starts 3-6,   finishes 5-2, 8-8.

New York Jets  9

Here I finally go off the beaten path a little, I expect the Jets to fall back to earth slightly.  Draft picks Greg McElroy  Coached by Rex Ryan D+.  QB – Mark Sanchez, I’m not high on Sanchez at all..  D+ currently with a ceiling of B-.  Rushing attack led by Shonn Greene B+   Defense is thought by others to be a top 3 D, but this year I think they’re closer to a top 10 Defense,  B+.  O/U Under definitely.  5-4, 3-5, 7-9.

Buffalo Bills 6

Improving young team, solid coach. B-..  Draft acquisitions  no notables... sorry  QB – Ryan Fitzpatrick B.  Rushing attack C-.  Defense B-.  O/U under.  Buffalo could be a .500 team if the breaks fall their way this year… But I don’t really expect them to,  2-7, 2-4, 4-11.

AFC North

Baltimore Ravens 11

Draft pick spotlight - Tyrod Taylor  C- ceiling of B+   Coached by Jim Harbaugh  B-  QB – Joe Flacco, who is pretty much the definition of ‘game manager’, a solid but not spectacular B.  Rushing attack led by Ray Rice B+ Defense is probably the best in the NFL A. O/U maybe under.  They're good enough to make the AFC championship, but not much more.  5-2, then 6-3, 11-5 overall.

Pittsburgh Steelers 11

Played in the Super Bowl last year, and if Roethlisberger had played all year, then they probably would have won it.  Draft pick spotlight none  QB – Roethlisberger B-. Rushing attack led by Rashard Mendenhall B+  Defense A-.  6-3 then 4-3, 10-6.  I have them making the playoffs with the second wild card.

Cleveland Browns 6

First off I’m probably too high on Cleveland.   QB is Colt McCoy C+ ceiling of a B+ or maybe an A-.  Rushing attack led by (Madden cover) Peyton Hillis A-.  Defense B+.  O/U Idk/pass.  3-6 and finish 4-3, 7-9 overall.

Cincinnati Bengals 6

Carson Palmer is a holdout right now, so these predictions are based on Andy Dalton being their QB.  Draft acquisitions   Dalton who I will get to..  This should be another rebuilding year for the Bengals.  This is just my opinion mind you… But I don’t understand what they’re (referring to Cincinnati's GM and the front office of Cincinnati) doing in Cincinnati, they keep getting players who don’t exactly have a clean record, (Also I find it weird that they drafted Andy Dalton, who went to TChristanU, unless they’re trying to change their image.) but if they were really trying to change, then they would just trade Palmer...(btw Palmer’s a good guy I’m just saying that the player [in this case] should get what he wants… [to be traded])

Okay enough of that (Cincy used to be my favorite team, but due to their horrible moves... I moved on to the Cards, due to Warner and now the Broncos, due to Tebow.), QB- Andy Dalton C- ceiling of B+.  Rushing attack led by Cedric Benson B- WRs are young and improving B-. Defense C-.   O/U, Under.  2-7, 3-4, to finish 5-11.

AFC South

Sorry, this is a bit of a slanted division…  I expect it to be an extremely close division.  And I wouldn’t be surprised by anyone making the playoffs, except for Tennessee, sorry Hasselbeck and Titans fans.

Jacksonville 8

I like the Jags since David Garrard is such a decent guy.  Coached by Jack Del Rio B.  Draft picks  Blaine Gabbert, who is now the ‘QB of the future’ so if Garrard struggles, the front office will feel a lot of pressure to see Gabbert..  (If Flordia fans actually complain….) Quick rant… I understand the weather is generally great there and all (though somewhat warm) but seriously, why can’t fans in Florida just go to Marlins or Heat games??  Anyways, Garrard B+, and Gabbert C+ with a ceiling of A-.

Rushing attack led by  Maurice Jones-Drew  A-  Their best receiver might be a TE…. whose name is Marcedes Lewis.. WR C+  Defense is somewhat poor, C-.  O/U I’d say Over but I’m biased.  The Jags start 4-4 and finish 6-2,    10-6 and win the division.

Indianapolis Colts  11

I think the Colts are a great, classy, Christian organization.  Draft spotlight none.  'Experts' are always waiting for (and predicting) the Colts not to make the playoffs.  And since I’m totally an expert.. I predict this is the year they finish 4-12..  Jk.  No, seriously though, while I don’t have them winning the division, I do have them in the playoffs.  Coached by  Jim Caldwell  B+   Back-up Qb’s are relatively awful… (since I wrote this, they have picked up Kerry Collins C-)  QB is who else.. Peyton Manning. The only way the Colts could finish 4-12 is if Manning was seriously injured, which considering he’s started 208 (and change) games in a row, is not very likely (though it is still possible).

I do not often mention TE’s, (especially back-up TE’s) but they have a great back-up named Jacob Tamme.  Rushing attack led by Donald Brown and Joseph Addai carry the load C+ Defense is okay B.  Idk O/U   The Colts start 7-2, then 3-4 to finish 10-6. 

  

Houston Texans 9

Draft spotlight none..  They are a team that is perpetually predicted to make the playoffs (by the 'experts').  This year I would have them in the playoffs, if I didn’t like the Jags.  Coached (still) by Gary Kubiak C+  QB is Matt Schaub great numbers on a mediocre team B+.  RB is  Arian Foster breakout year last year B+   WR Andre Johnson A, the rest of the WR’s B-.  Defense is poor, but I think upgraded this year B-.  start 4-4 and finish 6-4  10-6.  As you have probably noticed it is a three way tie in the division so the Texans could easily make the playoffs. 

Tennessee  7

Draft acquisitions - they picked Jake Locker B- with a ceiling of an A.  Coached no longer by Jeff Fisher A-  they at least hired another good coach, Mike Munchak B+ QB – they decided to pick up Hasselbeck to try and remain competitive,  B+. RB is of course Chris Johnson, assuming he gets paid and starts the season (He was and he should), then he could again be a top 3 RB, A+.  Defense C.  O/U under.  If they were in the AFC West or NFC West, they’d practically be a lock to make the playoffs, but they’re in the tough AFC South so..  3-4 then 4-5  to finish 7-9.

AFC West 
Denver Broncos 6

First off Tebow, Tebow.  Draft Acquisitions  Von Miller B+ Coached by John Fox C+..  Despite asking Miami if they wanted Orton, for only a 2^nd round pick.,  Miami passed. (bad decision by Miami, if you ask me)   So the Broncos were left with a bit of a QB controversy, and had to decide to go with the fan favorite or (for now) the better QB.  So instead of playing for the future, it looks like Orton will be the starting QB on September 11. 

As you probably can tell I am a Tebow fan.  So I politely disagree with the decision.  However, Orton is a perpetually underrated QB and is a solid B+.  While I don’t normally give back-ups rankings,  Tebow gets one, B- with a ceiling of an A. 

Rushing attack led by Knowshon Moreno    Defense is pathetic but was upgraded with the draft  C+.  O/U Idk. I could give you two separate predictions, one with Tebow at QB and one with Orton..  But I’ll just join them together, 4-4 to start then 4-4 to finish 8-8.  The AFC West was biased, by me, to get Denver into the playoffs, so they’ll probably finish lower but I am biased so I’m not sure.

San Diego Chargers 9

If I wouldn’t have picked Denver due to Tebow, I definitely would have picked SD to win the division. Draft spotlight none. Coached by Norv Turner B-  Qb- Phillip Rivers is another perpetually underrated QB due mostly to his playoff failures, (except against the Colts), but he’s almost always a pro-bowler level QB A-.  Rushing attack led by Mike Tolbert and Ryan Matthews C+  Defense is extremely good, A.  O/U I have no idea.  As I have said I am biased, so I have San Diego starting 5-4 and finishing 3-4, 8-8.  And oddly enough the Chargers lose the tiebreaker to Denver. (Sorry Charger's fans)

Oakland Raiders 8

The Raiders could be this year's surprise team..  Last year the Raiders beat up on the division going 6-0, though they were 2-8 the rest of their games.  QB - Jamarcus 'Campbell'...  Sorry ,sorry... no it's actually Jason Campbell B+   Rushing-  Darren McFadden B+ Defense B+. Despite the good ratings  I’d take the U.  I have the Raiders competing for the division early, 4-4, but falling apart late 2-6, 6-10 overall.

Kansas City Chiefs 7

Coached by Todd Haley. Draft spotlight none     I don’t know if KC will be able to put up even 20 ppg.  No offense to Matt Cassel, but he isn’t that great. (not that he’s under a good system for good QB numbers, though..)  QB – Matt Cassel C-.  #1 rushing attack last year, led by Jamaal Charles and I think their running game will take a step back this year, (finish in the 20’s) still gets a B though (since I could be wrong..). Defense is average C+.  Definitively Under, the Chiefs are competitive early 4-5, but they finish 1-6,  5-11.