BobDigital
Pro Bowl Player
- Joined
- Aug 10, 2013
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Time to make bold predictions or declarations without much to back them up. I'll go first!
#1 Same old Colts - This is pretty much the same team as last year. I didn't see why people put them atop the AFC and still don't. Soft and under talented. Luck can have a great day any sunday and make things hard on you but i don't see them as closing the gap.
#2 Plain old Peyton - It was thought maybe he could bounce back. He did.. a little. But he is behind (or ahead depending on what you feel is more appropriate) of his downward slope from last year. The defense looks improved but an old Ware, Talib and undersized Miller make me think the wheels will come off on that D like it has a few times. They might be better on the defensive side of the ball overall than last year but that O I think will not be able to preform come playoff time and they will look like a similar team to the way they ended last year.
#3 Ravens - I don't like to look too much into the Ravens early follies. They are a notoriously hot and cold team and always seem to get hot come playoff time. I feel though they took a step back on offense just looking at the talent there and doubt they can put up 28-31 generally unless they get a lot of help with PI. The Defense looks solid but I want to know what is looks like without Suggs. That is a big loss. Overall a step back from last year.
So the 3 other final 4 teams seem to be weaker or made up no ground IMO. Frankly they are not the teams I am most worried about right now. Who am I most worried about?
#3 Bills - Usually a team without a QB is not a threat to do much in the playoffs. However if you believe a D is truly exceptional and a run game exist that is very solid you could have a hard match up. The Bills beating the Colts was no fluke. They are better than the Colts. Their D is legit top 5 and has play makers at all levels. They are a young team as well that can and will improve as the year goes on. Rex as a coach is laughed at sometimes and his style does run dry. But I think it is particularly effective when he first comes to a team. He shakes up a good team and and gives them the confidence and aggression while the discipline has yet to fall by the way side. The QB does not worry me except that he can run. If he makes no mistakes and gets the ball into his play makers hands (Harvin, Watkins, Clay, ect..) They can be an issue. However their offense is built off their D getting good field position and turnovers. They can do both. I think McCoy will become a bit part of their O as the year goes on and they want to rely more on the run to cover for their QB. Not a bad pass catcher either of course.
#2 KC - This defense looks good enough. Houston is a game changer and it seems other parts of it are coming together well too. It will not be confused with Seattle but still a solid unit. The Offense is the story here. Smith is a solid game manager but his weapons are anything but merely solid. Charles is awesome but what worries me the most is Kelce. He is IMO the closest thing to Gronk right now in the NFL. The WR core while unheralded is not without talent. Maclin gives them a deep threat and a few other names while not stars are solid enough vets to chip in 1-2 catches a game. They look like a team that can convert their red zone chances and control the clock. The have a few game changers on D that can really hurt you suddenly. I see them as a playoff team and a dark horse to make the AFCCG.
#1 Steelers - Getting that win over them was important. Both teams were hurt but the Steelers clearly had more missing IMO. I am not worried about their D but their O is legit scary and makes me think this game might just come down to who has the ball last (unless one QB has an off day or multiple fumbles/horrible penalties). I think the Steelers are more likely to make a mistake in the first 55 minutes to give you a 2 score lead than the Pats are but i don't think either team can stop the other on 4 downs.
That is how i see the AFC right now anyway.
#1 Same old Colts - This is pretty much the same team as last year. I didn't see why people put them atop the AFC and still don't. Soft and under talented. Luck can have a great day any sunday and make things hard on you but i don't see them as closing the gap.
#2 Plain old Peyton - It was thought maybe he could bounce back. He did.. a little. But he is behind (or ahead depending on what you feel is more appropriate) of his downward slope from last year. The defense looks improved but an old Ware, Talib and undersized Miller make me think the wheels will come off on that D like it has a few times. They might be better on the defensive side of the ball overall than last year but that O I think will not be able to preform come playoff time and they will look like a similar team to the way they ended last year.
#3 Ravens - I don't like to look too much into the Ravens early follies. They are a notoriously hot and cold team and always seem to get hot come playoff time. I feel though they took a step back on offense just looking at the talent there and doubt they can put up 28-31 generally unless they get a lot of help with PI. The Defense looks solid but I want to know what is looks like without Suggs. That is a big loss. Overall a step back from last year.
So the 3 other final 4 teams seem to be weaker or made up no ground IMO. Frankly they are not the teams I am most worried about right now. Who am I most worried about?
#3 Bills - Usually a team without a QB is not a threat to do much in the playoffs. However if you believe a D is truly exceptional and a run game exist that is very solid you could have a hard match up. The Bills beating the Colts was no fluke. They are better than the Colts. Their D is legit top 5 and has play makers at all levels. They are a young team as well that can and will improve as the year goes on. Rex as a coach is laughed at sometimes and his style does run dry. But I think it is particularly effective when he first comes to a team. He shakes up a good team and and gives them the confidence and aggression while the discipline has yet to fall by the way side. The QB does not worry me except that he can run. If he makes no mistakes and gets the ball into his play makers hands (Harvin, Watkins, Clay, ect..) They can be an issue. However their offense is built off their D getting good field position and turnovers. They can do both. I think McCoy will become a bit part of their O as the year goes on and they want to rely more on the run to cover for their QB. Not a bad pass catcher either of course.
#2 KC - This defense looks good enough. Houston is a game changer and it seems other parts of it are coming together well too. It will not be confused with Seattle but still a solid unit. The Offense is the story here. Smith is a solid game manager but his weapons are anything but merely solid. Charles is awesome but what worries me the most is Kelce. He is IMO the closest thing to Gronk right now in the NFL. The WR core while unheralded is not without talent. Maclin gives them a deep threat and a few other names while not stars are solid enough vets to chip in 1-2 catches a game. They look like a team that can convert their red zone chances and control the clock. The have a few game changers on D that can really hurt you suddenly. I see them as a playoff team and a dark horse to make the AFCCG.
#1 Steelers - Getting that win over them was important. Both teams were hurt but the Steelers clearly had more missing IMO. I am not worried about their D but their O is legit scary and makes me think this game might just come down to who has the ball last (unless one QB has an off day or multiple fumbles/horrible penalties). I think the Steelers are more likely to make a mistake in the first 55 minutes to give you a 2 score lead than the Pats are but i don't think either team can stop the other on 4 downs.
That is how i see the AFC right now anyway.
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