Patriots Excluded - Your 3 AFC Teams To Beat in 2008.

[IcyPatriot]

My gut instict tells me it's going to be the Chargers ... especially if they can pick up another WR in the draft that can help them right away. This is a team that has done a 180 with Norv and I see them getting stronger next year.

With 3 West Coast games and 1 in their backyard ... if they beat us next year my guess is the road to the Super Bowl may well go through San Diego.

I put the Steelers down at #2 ... another year is all they need with a few tweaks. rothlisberger may never get great .. but he can do it if Eli can do it.

I'm torn for #3 ...
Jacksonville is going nowhere with Garrad.
Tennessee is about as good as they can get.
The Browns have some tools and a great coach ... perhaps it's them...that offense is way good.
The Colts could be #3 but I see them going backwards.

I'm going with the Browns ... tough choice however.

 

[pheenix11]

Jacksonville
Indy
Houston (you heard it here first)

 

[Disco Volante]

I also see Houston being a playoff contender for the first time this year.

Also, I see the Steelers missing out on the playoffs.

 

[TN Patriot]

San Diego
Indy
Jacksonville.

No way Houston jumps into the playoffs. They can't keep a QB healthy enough to make it.

 

[PittPatriot]

I have no reason to exclude the Colts - they have been in the top 3 virtually every year since Y2K.
The Chargers should be in the mix as long as L.T. is healthy (I won't shed a tear for his knee).
The Jaguars have all the ingredients to succeed. You can knock their QB, but we made him look pretty good on the stat sheet.

 

[patriotsdynasty12189]

Indy, San Diego, Pittsburgh.

 

[PittPatriot]

Indy, San Diego, Pittsburgh.

Pittsburgh seemed to lose every game they were supposed to on a relatively cupcake schedule (a great division on a really down year). On paper, they have All-Star caliber players at most of the skill positions.

 

[JoePats]

Indy, San Diego, Jacksonville, though the Jags will probably have to again win 3 road games to win the AFC.

Indy isn't going away, and I'm surprised some of the above posters think they are going to fade (they did go 13-2 before tanking), and I think this postseason run will boost San Diego's condfidence.

I think winning the Steeler game will help Jax's confidence wise too, and Garrard is definately better than Leftwich. They just can't beat the Colts.

 

[PatsFan24]

Indy, SD, Jax

 

[Disco Volante]

After going 5-5, the Chargers put together that 8 game winning streak before being eliminated by the Pats. This impressed a lot of people and now has them believing in a better 2008.

There was exactly one impressive win during that streak for me personally.

Ravens
Chiefs
Titans
Lions
Broncos
Raiders
Titans
Colts

Look to improve our 3 game winning streak against them to now 4.

 

[T_Brady12]

If Jacksonville adds a dynamic receiver, they'll be #1 for me.

Otherwise:

San Diego
Jacksonville
Indianapolis

If Indy can't beat SD, then they won't get to come to Foxborough anyways

 

[patriotspride]

After going 5-5, the Chargers put together that 8 game winning streak before being eliminated by the Pats. This impressed a lot of people and now has them believing in a better 2008.

There was exactly one impressive win during that streak for me personally.

Ravens
Chiefs
Titans
Lions
Broncos
Raiders
Titans
Colts

Look to improve our 3 game winning streak against them to now 4.

the chargers will be lucky to have a healthy QB next year .

 

[redbluenwhite]

1- Chargers
2- Colts
3- Jaguars/Steelers

 

[bob85ne]

Colts
Chargers
Jaguars

 

[Hamtown]

1. Indy (Peyton did not like his brother evening up the score on rings.)

2. Cincinatti (They will be healthy, #85 will shut up, and Palmer is ready.)

3. Cleveland (Derrick Anderson is prime time.)

4. Pittsburgh (Fast Willie will be all better)

5. San Diego (Norve Turner is the consimate fluke, he never repeats)

6. Houston (Schaub will hit his groove)

7. Florida Gators

8. Connecticut NCAA Women's Basketball

9. St. Mary's Boys High School J.V.

10. The New York Jets (Because there coach is MANGINA)

 

[carolinatony]

Indy, San Diego, Pittsburgh.

 

[KingBrady]

Indy, Pitt, Cleveland

 

[dwayne]

Colts, Chargers, Steelers.

Though I feel the Broncos may bounce back well.

 

[stcjones]

Indy, San Diego, Jacksonville, though the Jags will probably have to again win 3 road games to win the AFC.

Indy isn't going away, and I'm surprised some of the above posters think they are going to fade (they did go 13-2 before tanking), and I think this postseason run will boost San Diego's condfidence.

I think winning the Steeler game will help Jax's confidence wise too, and Garrard is definately better than Leftwich. They just can't beat the Colts.

We may be the team that fades this year......San Diego.....Jax......Indy (still be there)......Pitt.......Maybe even Tennessee....and I don't see Denver sucking that much longer.....I think we may be the team slipping right now.....and going into rebuilding phase....and our own division will get tougher,.....Parcells will have the doofins ready to be spoilers this year...not going to go anywhere...but they will probably be the thorn in our side that we are used to ....Buffalo was much improved last year.....and the Jests ...well let's hope they still suck because I hate Mangina and they have NO QB......

 

[dwayne]

I don't know that Tennessee will be able to make the playoffs again. A new offense for Young to play with next year may get them off to a slow start.

Of course, a sub .500 team is likely to make the playoffs next year; it happens often enough. I think the Broncos will do well, but can also see the Browns falling behind the Bengal. Everything now is wild speculation, of course.