The Other AFC Contenders and Race for the 1 seed

[JetFan79]

Going on a limb here but I'm writing the Bills and Browns off.

Bills sure, but I think the Browns will be pretty good.

 

[BobDigital]

Pats Biggest threats in order.

#1 Jags - That D is nasty. Yes. their QB sucks but if they get a defensive score they can turn the tables on the Pats.
#2 There is too much of a gap to call the next team a #2
#3 Pitt - I have to put them up here cause they will be in the playoffs and a team we will likely need to beat. But I don't see them as a threat. Brady knows their D too well. Unless they drop 30+ on us they can't win and BB usually holds them down somewhat.
#4 KC - Now that they have a QB willing to air it out things could get interesting. But a rookie QB uually only takes you so far.
#5 Baltimore - This may be a slight overreaction, but i think their D is legit. Not amazing
#6 NYJ - Their D is good. Again though. Rookie QB.

Texans were on the list... but until Watson shows he is back they are not a threat.

 

[oceansizer]

I can't rule out Texans as a decent rival to Jaguars to win the division. They lost the first game but they simply played with the best team in NFL. We really know based on the previous season that evaluating teams after opening games would be misunderstanding. If Texans stay healthy they have got pieces to threaten Jaguars.

 

[Froob]

AFC is trash, look at who we’re discussing here lol. Hell the Panthers might be the second best team in the AFC if they switched conferences.

 

[Ice_Ice_Brady]

All of the off season pundit type stuff I read said that LA Chargers were to be crowned as AFC champs. I'm not even sure they should bother playing the games this year.

I couldn’t believe the amount of Chargers hype either. I’m watching some local sports show in the Bay Area a few days ago and some ****y, smug pundit says: “The Patriots won’t return to the Super Bowl again this season. This is finally Philip Rivers’ year To hoist the Lombardi.”

Whaaaaaatt???? They act like the guy has even been close and the franchise is due. The only reason they have some young talent is from picking high because they suck. Chargers falling short of expectations is the safest bet in sports.

 

[Deus Irae]

It is too early to write anyone off.

Not yet at least.

For various reasons, I am absolutely willing to write off

Buffalo (suck team)
Oakland (suck defense that lost Mack, old team with a QB struggling to find his game)
Cleveland (it's Cleveland)
Tennessee (loss of Walker)

 

[Hyped]

Barring injury to you know who, Pats have to be 95%+ to win the division.

You never know man...even with a healthy Brady in '02...we didn't win the division. Say the Pats stumble to a 10-6/11-5 record with a 4-2/3-3 division record...the division could be up for grabs.

 

[JetFan79]

You never know man...even with a healthy Brady in '02...we didn't win the division. Say the Pats stumble to a 10-6/11-5 record with a 4-2/3-3 division record...the division could be up for grabs.

Very true, but the Pats are still head n shoulders above the rest in the division. Obviously because of Brady, but also because of just team/winning consistency.

The Bills suck. Miami... eh.

Obviously I love the way the Jets look, but Sam is a rookie in a new scheme. There's no way they're gonna be that consistent.

However if the Pats are entering week 17 with around 10 wins, December 30th is gonna be a HUGE game.

 

[Hyped]

Very true, but the Pats are still head n shoulders above the rest in the division. Obviously because of Brady, but also because of just team/winning consistency.

The Bills suck. Miami... eh.

Obviously I love the way the Jets look, but Sam is a rookie in a new scheme. There's no way they're gonna be that consistent.

However if the Pats are entering week 17 with around 10 wins, December 30th is gonna be a HUGE game.

The Jets D is always tough. And last night all of those DB's were VERY active around the ball....Brady is gonna have to throw into tight windows. Crowell is exactly what the Jets need to move the chains..and Darnold..if he continues to play mistake free (except for his first NFL throw)...that is a good recipe for success in this league.

Over the years, the Pats have rarely blown out the Jets. Usually division games are a struggle.

IMO, if the Jets/Dolphins want to be players in the AFC East race...they need to do well in their non-AFC East games to make the division games matter more.

 

[Deus Irae]

You never know man...even with a healthy Brady in '02...we didn't win the division. Say the Pats stumble to a 10-6/11-5 record with a 4-2/3-3 division record...the division could be up for grabs.

With God, all things are possible.


But, no.

 

[nabwong]

Bills sure, but I think the Browns will be pretty good.

Very excited to watch the battle of the #1 draft pick on Thursday night football next week.

 

[denverpatsfan]

Kansas City with the RPO and a real QB is the biggest threat IMO.

 

[Wheelman]

Wait, there are AFC contenders?

 

[Ice_Ice_Brady]

Pats Biggest threats in order.

#1 Jags - That D is nasty. Yes. their QB sucks but if they get a defensive score they can turn the tables on the Pats.
#2 There is too much of a gap to call the next team a #2
#3 Pitt - I have to put them up here cause they will be in the playoffs and a team we will likely need to beat. But I don't see them as a threat. Brady knows their D too well. Unless they drop 30+ on us they can't win and BB usually holds them down somewhat.
#4 KC - Now that they have a QB willing to air it out things could get interesting. But a rookie QB uually only takes you so far.
#5 Baltimore - This may be a slight overreaction, but i think their D is legit. Not amazing
#6 NYJ - Their D is good. Again though. Rookie QB.

Texans were on the list... but until Watson shows he is back they are not a threat.

These are big conclusions to draw from one week of football. Out of Jacksonville, Baltimore, and the Jets, I’d be surprised if one of them makes the playoffs. Jacksonville has a strong defense, but their offense really sucks and that’s never a good recipe for a team with a strong schedule and high expectations. Flacco is still Flacco. Jets may be better than expectations, but there’s no way they win more than 8 games with that talent level. Combined, the Jags, Ravens, and Jets just beat likely three of the worst teams in the NFL.

Pittsburgh is still number one and not an easy out. The Patriots already struggled against the Chiefs, and the Chiefs appear to have a guy who can throw the ball further than two yards. The Texans played a terrible game yesterday with Watson struggling to regain his form, but they are pretty loaded. I believe that will be the final four: New England, Pittsburgh, Houston, and Kansas City.

P.S. The AFC is overall a very weak conference, though the development of Darnold, Watson and Mahomes could change that. All three are still pretty unproven, though.

 

[Deus Irae]

These are big conclusions to draw from one week of football. Out of Jacksonville, Baltimore, and the Jets, I’d be surprised if one of them makes the playoffs.

AFCE
Patriots and nobody else

AFCN
Steelers and Ravens

AFCS
Jaguars and Texans

AFCW
Chiefs and Chargers

Barring a major surprise, or the Chargers usual 500 injuries, 7 teams are vying for 6 spots. And, if Watson doesn't get back to being the impact player he was before he popped his ACL, we've probably already got the 6 teams (above minus Texans).

 

[mosslost]

I was hoping to start this thread to generate discussion on the other contending teams in the AFC and revisit it each week as the season progresses. Which teams stand out to you as being the biggest roadblock for the Patriots to SB 53? I think we can all agree that entering the season Jacksonville, Houston and Pittsburgh were seen as the NE’s biggest threats in the AFC. After week 1, Houston and Pittsburgh don’t look so great. I know it’s early, but there have been a few surpises to me - Denver, Baltimore, and the Jets.

Denver: Case Keenum is a servicable QB who can drive a pretty talented team in the Broncos. Their defense looks strong with the addition of Bradley Chubb. I’m not 100% convinced their coaching staff is that great, but so far, Denver looks like they can win the AFCW.

Baltimore: Are the Ravens really that good or was it that they played the Bills? Probably some combination of both. I can easily see Baltimore winning the AFCN over Pittsburgh.

Jets: I hate to even bring them into a discussion about AFC contenders, but their D looked really great last night and Darnold looks better than advertised. Aside from Darnold, I think their biggest addition this offseason was hiring Jeremy Bates as their OC.

Edit: Today, the Jets admitted to knowing the Lions signals, which could explain why they looked so great on defense.

Jets say they knew Lions' offensive signals, Matt Patricia latest name from Belichick coaching tree to flop

The only thing that bothers me about the AFC is the possibility the Jets could have a long term answer at QB.... and it only bothers me with respect to future years..

 

[mosslost]

Pats

 

[Tony2046]

Very true, but the Pats are still head n shoulders above the rest in the division. Obviously because of Brady, but also because of just team/winning consistency.

The Bills suck. Miami... eh.

Obviously I love the way the Jets look, but Sam is a rookie in a new scheme. There's no way they're gonna be that consistent.

However if the Pats are entering week 17 with around 10 wins, December 30th is gonna be a HUGE game.

HUGE game???

Oh....right. That'll determine whether they're picking 8th or 9th in the draft. Gotcha.

 

[WaterfallJumper]

Okay, channeling my inner @DW Toys here . . .

The Raiders will probably need some time before they claw their way back into relevance. I wonder whether or not we could pry away Cooper while Gruden works on his multi-year plan to rebuild the Raiders? We have several extra 3rds next year (thanks to comp picks), and also an extra 2nd. A change of scenery might be just what Cooper needs. His contract would need to be restructured, but he has talent. His first two years in the league showed that he could develop into a #1 receiver. A new start might be best for all parties involved.

 

[Pat the Pats Fan]

In regards to Patricia, the pats didn’t look that good in game one last year defensively against the chiefs....let’s see if the lions can grow from this experience.