Which team wins the AFC (other than the Patriots)

[PATSNUTme]

Let's take the Patriots out of the picture for this exercise. Which team would win the AFC knowing what we know now.

Based on a couple of pre-season magazines and on line sites who have made predictions, her are 4 teams that are mentions as AFC champs.

1. Colts- always a media darling- but one hit away from being 8-8. Houston will give them trouble in their division this year and TN might also.

2.SD Super Chargers- for the past 3+ years they have been a choice of some pre-season guru's. They have the softest schedule of all the contenders but find a way to choke ion the playoffs.

3. NY Jets. A 7-7 team before the Colts quit on them. Had a good little run in the playoffs (Cincy who was bad and SD who always chokes) . Now they are another media darling but will not win the AFCE, IMO.

4. Ravens. This is a team that is legit and did well in the off-season and draft. My pick to do it if the Patriots don't.

Is there another team out there that yo consider a favorite?

 

[patriot lifer]

Re: Which team wins the AFC (other than the Patiots)

i have to go Colts, the conservative pick. However much i dislike them, they have a number of players returning from injury. Ravens are a popular team now, but they still have a tough division and a young qb, however good he is.

 

[Rex Ryan's Gut]

Re: Which team wins the AFC (other than the Patiots)

Teh Jest

filler

 

[Ryan]

Re: Which team wins the AFC (other than the Patiots)

The Ravens.

Flacco was already pretty good and will have another year under his belt.

Great running game.

Much improved receiving corps with Bolding coming in. Stallworth could end up being a big acquisition as well.

The defense is always good.

They had a very good draft.

Baltimore was already a very good team that has done some damage in the playoffs 2 years in a row. I wouldn't be shocked if they won it all to be honest.

 

[TBradyOwnsYou]

Re: Which team wins the AFC (other than the Patiots)

Not sure how you can pick anyone other than the Colts as the favorites on that list.

 

[chevss454]

Re: Which team wins the AFC (other than the Patiots)

The Ravens. Great offseason. The team is built solidly down the middle. Flacco should be much better this year and has some weapons to use although they are still a run based offense. This is a very tough team for any opponent to face.

 

[Gwedd]

Re: Which team wins the AFC (other than the Patiots)

I agree with the Ravens. They are built for the pounding match in the trenches and on the ground. If they can avoid the injury bug, that can go all the way.

Having said that, I don't believe they will fare as well against the Patriots this next time around.

 

[Kontradiction]

Re: Which team wins the AFC (other than the Patiots)

I hate this damn team with a passion. However, everybody left the Colts for dead last year in the offseason and look what happened. Until I see otherwise, it has to be them. The Ravens are impressive and have now added some legitimate receiving threats to go along with Mason. If they can get the issues worked out in their secondary, they're going to be tough to beat. I honestly can't see the Chargers advancing to the Super Bowl with Norv Turner and I think the Jets will fall apart.

 

[PATSNUTme]

Re: Which team wins the AFC (other than the Patiots)

I hate this damn team with a passion. However, everybody left the Colts for dead last year in the offseason and look what happened. Until I see otherwise, it has to be them. The Ravens are impressive and have now added some legitimate receiving threats to go along with Mason. If they can get the issues worked out in their secondary, they're going to be tough to beat. I honestly can't see the Chargers advancing to the Super Bowl with Norv Turner and I think the Jets will fall apart.

As Manning goes, so do the Colts. I think they are a 8-8 team without him.

Not implying that I want to see him injured, just making a point that they are not a playoff team without him.

 

[HEY BRO! WHAT UP?]

Re: Which team wins the AFC (other than the Patiots)

My pick wouldn've been the Ravens but their defense is a little overrated and can't beat the Colts. Take away their defensive scheme and their secondary is one of the worst in the NFL (even with Ed Reed).

My pick is the Colts because nobody on the list can beat them.

 

[Rob0729]

Re: Which team wins the AFC (other than the Patiots)

I'm going with the Ravens. I think the Colts will have the easiest road to the playoffs yet again, but I still don't think they are a strong contender. They are a top AFC team, but several teams are better. I don't think the Chargers are that strong either. They have a terrific passing game (which will be severly weakened if the standoff with Vincent Jackson and Marcus McNeil goes on too long), but their defense is suspect and their running game could go either way. I think the Ravens are the most complete team in the AFC as of June 21, 2010. Granted the most complete team in June can be swiss cheese come the regular season (in June of last year the general concensus two most complete teams were the Pats and Eagles and both showed some significant weaknesses come the regular season).

 

[bostonia3333]

Re: Which team wins the AFC (other than the Patiots)

Colts are leaps and bounds ahead of any team in the AFC, including our very own Patriots. They dont seem to miss Bob Sanders at all. Their offense hasn't missed a beat despite turnover with their roster. Garcon is someone that has really turned out to be a potent addition to their offensive unit. Safety ney Dallas Clark may slow down this year , so that might be something to keep an eye on. I just dont see other teams from the AFC putting up much of a fight...people keep saying the Ravens, Chargers, and Titans are gonna get better every year it seems dating all the way back to 2000, but it never happens. How many super bowls have they even got to in recent memory?

 

[PATRIOTSFANINPA]

Re: Which team wins the AFC (other than the Patiots)

I never heard of the 'Patiots'

Is that a new franchise?

 

[PatsFanSince74]

Re: Which team wins the AFC (other than the Patiots)

As I look around the AFC, I see a bunch of hungry teams (many under new or relatively new leadership), whose fans and management are sick and tired of the dominance of the Pats, Colts and Steelers.

Some of them are ready to challenge now: I put the Ravens at the top of that list. But I think the Jets and maybe even the Bungles and Texans belong on it as well.

Others are a season or two away from challenging: I'd put the Broncos and Dolphins on that list for sure.

Others have made it clear that they will no longer accept the mediocrity with which they have too long been associated: I'd put the Chiefs at the top of that list and would also put the Browns there, after Holmgren gets rid of the Rat.

And before you dis any of those teams, just ask yourself how many genius pundits thought the 5--11 Pats were anything less than years away from challenging in 2001.

 

[Rob0729]

Re: Which team wins the AFC (other than the Patiots)

Colts are leaps and bounds ahead of any team in the AFC, including our very own Patriots. They dont seem to miss Bob Sanders at all. Their offense hasn't missed a beat despite turnover with their roster. Garcon is someone that has really turned out to be a potent addition to their offensive unit. Safety ney Dallas Clark may slow down this year , so that might be something to keep an eye on. I just dont see other teams from the AFC putting up much of a fight...people keep saying the Ravens, Chargers, and Titans are gonna get better every year it seems dating all the way back to 2000, but it never happens. How many super bowls have they even got to in recent memory?

Their passing game is leaps and bounds over everyone else, but they have no running game and their defense is inconsistent. They are one major Peyton Manning injury away from being a 5 win team in 2010. With Manning, they can win 12-14 games, without him they are playing for a top 10 draft pick.

 

[fxkane]

Re: Which team wins the AFC (other than the Patiots)

Given the Colts 2009 performance, with all those playmaker defenders sidelined, it's very hard to expect them to do worse this year. I hate to say it, but they seem to be able to adjust to almost any adversity--except the loss of the Man.

 

[PATSNUTme]

Re: Which team wins the AFC (other than the Patiots)

I never heard of the 'Patiots'

Is that a new franchise?

What you talking about?







Sometimes mod powers come in handy.

 

[BrewCity Cheesehead]

Re: Which team wins the AFC (other than the Patiots)

I gotta say the Ravens. Their pieces seem to be coming together. Flacco gets better every year and has emerged as a very solid quarterback (I wouldn't go with the "elite" status yet). Difference this year being that he has better receivers with the acquizition of Boldin. And their defense has always been solid.

Jets seem to be putting together a good team this year, and I think they'll do very well this year, BUT being this year's paper champion, they'll fall short in the playoffs.

I always used to pick the Chargers in the AFC in the past, and I've finally learned my lesson... they have all the tools to win, but they always find ways to blow it... not sure what it is (coach maybe?) but, I won't pick them to win the AFC again until they prove they can.

 

[Reckedtrek]

It's got to be Ravens or Colts. I'm going with the Ravens on this one- maybe just a hangover from last season, but the Ravens seem to have a very balanced team, whereas they used to be 95% Defense.

 

[stinkypete]

I voted Baltimore, but am now switching toward Indy. I've learned not to bet against the Colts contending until they prove that they're done.

The missing piece for Baltimore, Flacco. He's pretty good, not Super Bowl good. He can become Super Bowl good, but who can predict whether or not that will happen. The AFC belongs to Manning, Brady and Roethlisburger, maybe Rivers, until another young QB proves otherwise.