SamBam39

I think we all know the Pats, Colts, and Chargers are the top contenders, but better not sleep on the Broncos after they acquired Dre Bly and Travis Henry, and the Ravens after they acquired Willis McGaheee !! Here's how I see the ranking of the AFC's top contenders:

1)Patriots - filled all their holes and reloaded, plus still have 2 first rounders. They almost won it all last year, so look out.
2)Colts - defending champs, they're the best until they're beaten.
3)Chargers - you know they will be a very very determined team this year, and they have toms of talent.
4)Broncos - if Jay Payton comes of age, this team could explode. Bly and Henry are serious upgrades to an already terrific team.
5)Ravens - Don't look now, but that defense is getting an offense. MArk Clayton really developed last year, McNAir will be in his second year with the team, and they replaced the plodding Lewis with the explosive McGahee. Their defense is historic, so don't just assume they aren't that good.
6)Bengals - still gotta prove they can play tough D.
7)Jets - Thomas Jones was a GREAT pickup and they will get better through the draft as well. Mangini will keep them playing tough, smart, and disciplined.
8)Chiefs - with Huard at QB they will be better, and with Edwards and HArris added at LB they will defend better. Could become really tough if they ever get some WR's.
9)Steelers - can they win without Bettis, Porter, and Cowher ?? They still have Roethislberger, Ward, Parker, and a tough D, but they'll have to prove they can still hang with the big boys with a new coach.
10) Jaguars - tough D and good running game, they just can't seem to put it together in the passing game. If they ever do, they could arrive.
??Titans?? - not ready for prime time yet.

makewayhomer

"2)Colts - defending champs, they're the best until they're beaten."

but you rank them #2?

also, they weren't the best team last year - just b/c they won doesn't make them the best.

I think it's something like this:

Chargers/Patriots
Colts
Ravens/Broncos/Bengals

carolinatony

Pats
Chargers/indy/broncos
ravens/steelers/bengals
...
the rest



Media picks
Indy
Jetsters
chargers
pats

ursa99

I think there will be turmoil with the Chargers and would rank them #4 or lower. They had a HUGE turnover in the their coaching. Head coach and a bunch of assistants are gone.

SkiHound

I think that's about right going into the year. I'd rank the Colts number 1. They won it last year and they deserve to be ranked #1. I think the Pats are stronger, at least on paper. IMO, the Chargers are a complete enigma going into next year; perhaps the most talented team in the NFL but how will the radical coaching transition tranlate to on field play? I'd also slip the Dolphins in at around 8. Their OL is not good and things are completely unsettled at QB but they have a defense that's among the very best in the league.

mgcolby

Hard to do this in March but as of right now.

Pats

Broncos - some very good offseason moves so far - Cutler really came on at the end of last season. Bly if he doesn't get traded will make that one of the best defensive secondary's in the league. They get to play KC and Oakland twice and will most likely split with SD.

Colts - they have been stagnet so far and that defense hasn't gotten better with the defections. Not sure if June has signed anywhere but he most likely will leave. Harper doesn't appear to be to much of a loss because of Jackson who has played an awful lot over the past two seasons. But they will add productive rookies via the draft as usual. The offense will still be at the top of the league - but we all know how the season following a SB usually end for most teams. Did anyone honestly think last March the Steelers would end up as bad as they did?

Chargers - Probably the most athletically talented team in the League. But showed their lack of discipline in the playoffs and the week leading up to the Pats game. They lost their entire coaching staff, hired the "Best" defensive coordinator in the league (who couldn't get a HC job) as their LB coach and hired a retread to run the defense. Not to mention Norv Turner is their coach. They will have to prove that they weren't a one year wonder and that they can win with Norv and his new staff or inspite of them. Just not sold on them having a 13+ win season. I think they finish in the 10-6/11-5 range.

The Ravens and Steelers will fight for the North. The Jets, Jags, Chiefs and a sleeper will vie for the WC with the 2nd place team from the West and North.

But this is March a lot can and will change between now and Kickoff weekend.

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PatsFanInVa

I had the same thought on ranking "the best until they're beaten" #2.

But then you employ identical double think saying "just b/c they won doesn't make them the best."

Hello? They won. The object is to win it all. Who did it better? That makes them... what, class?

PFnV

ayjackson

Jay Payton came of age years ago, and it did nothing for the broncos.

JoePats

No chance the Jets are picked ahead of the Pats by the majority of the media.

The Chargers are really good, but they have a bad coach. I don't know how to rank them.

Probably 1-Pats, 2-Bolts, 3-Colts, 4-Denver

and Jay Payton is a bad outfielder.

SamBam39

ok ok - obviously I meant jay cutler, not payton.

regarding the colts, they were the best last year and I'm trying to give them their fair respect and due, but if I'm ranking tgeams for the new year, I like the pats chances better with all the moves that have happened to each team.

thats all.

don't you think the pats will be better?