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Sat, 09 Sep 2006
2006 NFL Predictions!!!...AFC PREVIEW

Sorry for the delay people, but I had to get my fantasy drafts done and also have been sick and in bed for the last 2 days, or I would have had this posted prior to the MIA/PITT game. Anyway, here's what you have been waiting for, my predictions for 2006!!!!So lets get started....
AFC EAST
1. Patriots
2. Dolphins
3. Bills
4. Jets

While the Dolphins have improved I just can't help but feel Tom Brady will again lead New England to another AFC East title. While the Bills may have the best defense in the division, the NE defense still has veterans like Teddy Bruschi, Mike Vrabel and Rodney Harrison and should be considered a top 10 defense themselves. Throw in a helluva coach in Bill Belichik and a favorable schedule and this team should remain trouble for the rest of the league in 2006, and another 12 win season may not be out of the question. Miami may also be a threat to win 12 games this season but is more likely to see a wild card then a division title. They still need some help in the secondary and on the offensive line to be considered a true Super Bowl contender but should still have a good season as long as Culpepper can perform well. The Buffalo Bills are a tough team to figure out because they have one of the better defenses in the league, but you still need to score points to win games. It's hard to put up points when your offensive line is throwing alot of "lookout" blocks!!! Expect the Bills to be in alot of close games this year but until the offense can put up consistent points expect no more than 5 or 6 wins for Buffalo this year. If, however, the line somehow plays well, this could be a dangerous team, but again,not likely to happen. The Jets again are another team that will probably live or die by their D. Unfortunately, they are not as good as the Bills D but their offensive line is better. With Curtis Martin's knee problems threatening his career, ex-49er Kevan Barlow must take over at RB and I tell ya folks, he ain't no Martin!!!! Look for WR Laveranues Coles to have a good year because frankly, they really have no one else. 5 wins may not be out of the question for this team, but don't expect much more than that.Again, I would look for the Patriots to win the division with the Dolphins taking a wild card slot.

AFC NORTH
1. Bengals
2. Steelers
3. Ravens
4. Browns

QB Carson Palmer will be back strong and it is tough to stop the Johnson and Johnson duet of RB Rudi and WR Chad and also keep the reigns on WR T.J. Houshmandzedah. The defense may start slow but will get play-making LB Odell Thurman back from suspension after their bye and should be good enough to hold teams to less points than this team will score. With an improved defense and a nice offensive line along with a good schedule, 13 wins is not out of the question for this Bengal team. Then again, in this division you always have to be looking out for those friggin Steelers. If Roethlisberger can stay healthy, they still have a top 10 defense and maybe the best offensive line in football and a favorable schedule. If 2 teams were to get 13 wins in one division this could be it. The Ravens and Jamal Lewis should have a better season, but being in the same division as the Bengals and the Steelers is always tough, so an 8-8 season could be in order here. However, don't think 11-5 is out of the question, but their inconsistent play and having 2 power teams in their division as well as having to face the Panthers as well as road games against the Bucs,Broncos, and Chiefs looks more like a .500 season. The poor Browns!!!! First Pro Bowl center LeCharles Bentley is gone for the season after the first practice. Then C Bob Hallen retires....Then C Alonzo Ephraim gets suspended 4 games...Romeo Crennel,you deserve better....Throw in a young QB with a bad offensive line and a defense that looks better on paper then it does on the field and again this could be a tough year for you Browns fans. Romeo deserves at least a $100k raise for every win this team gets,because with the team he is forced to field week in and week out,they should not get any. The Bengals should edge out the Steelers for the division but look for the Steelers to get a wild card berth.
AFC WEST
1. Chiefs
2. Chargers
3. Broncos
4. Raiders

RB Larry Johnson will be a force to be reckoned with and with an improved,although not great, defense the Chiefs should arise in the West. QB Trent Green and TE Tony Gonzalez are also good enough to be counted upon when needed and veteran WR Eddie Kennison keeps improving each year. With one of the better offensive lines in the league,even without William Roaf,and a division which is more offense than defense, a 10-12 win season is not out of the question for these Chiefs. Chargers QB Philip Rivers is young but RB Laidanian Tomlinson will certainly help his confidence. However,the secondary is still a question mark as rookie CB Antonio Cromartie may need more time to develop into a starter and vet S Marlon McCree is really not much of an improvement over Bahwoh Jue and Terrence Kiel. I would say this team would probaly finish around the 7-9 mark, but if things gel with the D and Rivers plays well enough an 11 win season would not be out of the question. What is all this Super Bowl talk with the Broncos???? Look at their schedule and this team is in trouble. This team will not be able to stop the run and has to go up against the likes of Larry Johnson,twice,LT,twice,Lamont Jordan,twice, Steven Jackson,Jamal Lewis,Shaun Alexander,Edgerrin James,Rudi Johnson and the running attacks of NE and the Colts as well. Granted,this offense will put up some points, but to me these looks like a team that has 5-11 written all over it. Lucky to finish 5-11 may be the Aaron Brooks led Raiders, however! Brooks to Moss should have it's share of hookups this year along with alot out of RB Lamont Jordan, but along with Brooks comes fumbles and interceptions and another year of Randy Moss whining and storming off the field. The offensive line is still questionable as well as the defense and with a schedule against some young and hungry teams, 3-13 in Shell's first year back may be possible. The Chiefs should win the division and should be the only team to go to the playoffs from this division, although a challenge by the Chargers may not be out of the question.

AFC SOUTH
1. Colts
2. Jaguars
3. Titans
4. Texans

You don't even know how much it pains me to say this, but yes, I think the Colts may be the best team this year. Brother Eli may be younger but may get the upper hand on opening night playing at home and with a ferocious defense, but if they do lose, Indy may have a hard time losing again. They play the Eagles,Bengals and Dolphins, but all are at home and on the road they must face Dallas and New England, and this year I don't think it matters where they play. The defense is still in need of defensive backs but the front seven cause enough havoc to still make it one of the better defenses in football. Even though Edge has moved on to Arizona, rookie Joseph Addai and vet Dominic Rhodes will be enough to give Manning more than enough opportunites to find Harrison and Wayne and Stokley along with Dallas Clark for plenty of trips to the end zone. For these reasons I believe a 15-1 season would not be out of the question for the Colts this season. Unfortunately for the Jaguars, this is not a good year to have to play the Colts twice along with the NFC EAST. Although the Jags may be a pretty good team, their schedule is what would lead me to believe an 8-8 season is more likely than not. The defense is still among the top 10, but can Leftwich and Fragile Freddy Taylor stay healthy all season and can Matt Jones or Ernest Wilford become the next Jimmy Smith? Until these are answered yes I have to stick with a finish of around .500. The Titans are another team that seems to be on the verge but may need another year or so to break through. This team is much like the Jaguars. While they have a young and improving defense the offense still has to have a healthy Drew Bennett step up to help the RB's and TE's in the passing game. Why bring in Kerry Collins? Volek has proven he deserves a starting chance and if not rookie Vince Young looks capable of taking over. If the Titans opt to go with Collins as their starter, expect things to be worse. With Volek, I would not think a .500 season would be out of the question, however with Collins, I think 8-8 may be pushing it. The Houston Texans are becoming another one of those teams,must be an AFC SOUTH thing, with an improving defense but questionable offense. Now with RB and workhorse Domanic Davis out for the season, what kind of production can they expect from rookie Wali Lundy and RB Vernand Morency? How is the pick of DE Mario Williams over RB Reggie Bush looking now? WR's Andre Johnson and Eric Moulds will have to supply some help for QB David Carr, but can this young offensive line keep him protected? Also burdened with a semi- tough schedule, Houston will once again be lucky to come out with more than a win under it's belt. The Bills and Browns at home, or more unlikely at the Jets, may be the only games they're in this year. Expect the Colts to once again dominate this divison and possibly the AFC.
Look for NE to edge out Pitt and the Dolphins to upset the Chiefs in Wild Card action. I would then take the Colts over the Fish and the Bengals over the Patriots to go to the Championship with the Colts to move on to and yes, I can't believe I am saying this, win the Super Bowl over....check out my NFC Preview to find out!
Posted 11:20

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