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San Diego, Denver and New England are the 3 teams that I think are a virtual lock to be the AFC representative in the Super Bowl this year.
I don't care about that crap statement that you must beat the man to be the man because in Indy's case they have simply lost way too many guys in critical areas of defense and their best offensive lineman to be a dangerous SB challenger this year - Indy is not New England and can't just replace anyone with success, the colts have lived off of getting top players in the draft and not losing much of their team. This year is different,thus comes the Super Bowl curse of having the nucleus of your team breaking up after a championship. They still have Manning, Harrison and Sanders but it won't be enough for me to put them in the top tier.
Jacksonville has their big chance to overtake Indy in the south and their defense may be the best in the league when all is said and done so they will be a team to worry about although the QB issue may be their downfall and keep them out of my elite ranking
Baltimore has a great defense but quarterback issues.
Cincinnati has a great offense but their defensive secondary is questionable.
Jets are a one year wonder.
Pittsburgh needs to adjust to a new coach after all the years of Cowher and may take a year or two to be back to prominence,this is a team not as talented as SD and needs time,also adjustment to what I think will be less smash mouth and more of a passing team as Roethlisberger wants it to be.
Everybody else is an also-ran unless we see a miracle cinderella season from one of these bottom tier teams, not likely
I think San Diego is so damn talent laden that it will easily overcome the coaching changes and a below average coach in Turner - Guys like Tomlinson and Merriman can make an average coach look great so don't think they are done or are in transition, they are a VERY dangerous team.
Denver has Shanahan and a potential Elway clone although an unproven Cutler and a heck of a secondary which will dominate most teams so they are a dangerous team too, Javon Walker will have a MONSTER season IMO.
So overall here is how I see the AFC....
ELITE TEAMS TO BE AFC RESPRESENTATIVE IN SUPER BOWL...
New England,San Diego and Denver
TEAMS ON THE BUBBLE JUST OUTSIDE OF ELITE
Indianapolis,Jacksonville
TEAMS IN CONTENTION BUT NOT QUITE A DANGEROUS TEAM
Baltimore,Pittsburgh,Cincinnati,Jets
TEAMS TO WAIT UNTIL NEXT YEAR OR LONGER
Miami,Cleveland,Houston,Tennessee,Buffalo,Kansas City,Oakland
I don't care about that crap statement that you must beat the man to be the man because in Indy's case they have simply lost way too many guys in critical areas of defense and their best offensive lineman to be a dangerous SB challenger this year - Indy is not New England and can't just replace anyone with success, the colts have lived off of getting top players in the draft and not losing much of their team. This year is different,thus comes the Super Bowl curse of having the nucleus of your team breaking up after a championship. They still have Manning, Harrison and Sanders but it won't be enough for me to put them in the top tier.
Jacksonville has their big chance to overtake Indy in the south and their defense may be the best in the league when all is said and done so they will be a team to worry about although the QB issue may be their downfall and keep them out of my elite ranking
Baltimore has a great defense but quarterback issues.
Cincinnati has a great offense but their defensive secondary is questionable.
Jets are a one year wonder.
Pittsburgh needs to adjust to a new coach after all the years of Cowher and may take a year or two to be back to prominence,this is a team not as talented as SD and needs time,also adjustment to what I think will be less smash mouth and more of a passing team as Roethlisberger wants it to be.
Everybody else is an also-ran unless we see a miracle cinderella season from one of these bottom tier teams, not likely
I think San Diego is so damn talent laden that it will easily overcome the coaching changes and a below average coach in Turner - Guys like Tomlinson and Merriman can make an average coach look great so don't think they are done or are in transition, they are a VERY dangerous team.
Denver has Shanahan and a potential Elway clone although an unproven Cutler and a heck of a secondary which will dominate most teams so they are a dangerous team too, Javon Walker will have a MONSTER season IMO.
So overall here is how I see the AFC....
ELITE TEAMS TO BE AFC RESPRESENTATIVE IN SUPER BOWL...
New England,San Diego and Denver
TEAMS ON THE BUBBLE JUST OUTSIDE OF ELITE
Indianapolis,Jacksonville
TEAMS IN CONTENTION BUT NOT QUITE A DANGEROUS TEAM
Baltimore,Pittsburgh,Cincinnati,Jets
TEAMS TO WAIT UNTIL NEXT YEAR OR LONGER
Miami,Cleveland,Houston,Tennessee,Buffalo,Kansas City,Oakland