And on to the predictions for the AFC conference….

AFC East (Tom Brady’s playground)

4. Buffalo Bills – The arrival of Terrell Owens certainly isn’t going to save this team, who fired their offense coordinator just before the season started. Not having RB/Thug Marshawn Lynch for the first for games won’t be helpful.

3. Miami Dolphins – Pennington can’t throw further than 20 yards and the Wildcat has been figured out by most teams at this point. After all, this is not college football.

2. New York Jets – Rex Ryan will certainly transform the defense, which was already decent. Thomas Jones is an old school inside runner that will take the pressure off rookie QB Mark Sanchez, who looks to be NFL-ready despite his age.

1. New England Patriots – Three words: Tom Brady’s back.

AFC North (Where people get hit haaarrrdd)

4. Cleveland Browns – Eric Mangini will continue the curse of Belichick assistants and continue to be a poor head coach. Brady Quinn is not ready to make any noise and Jamal Lewis is getting too old to take the beating he used to in this division. Defense = terrible, just like the city of Cleveland overall.

3. Cincinnati Bengals – The Bengals, despite popular belief will be competitive. They have a stellar passing game and their defense will surprise some folks. If Chris Henry could stay out of trouble, he’d be just as good as the other guy (Ochocino).

2. Pittsburgh Steelers – Three words: No running game. Fast Willie Parker is slow, Mendenhall can’t find the holes, and Mewelde is not an every down back. Big Ben is good enough to manage a passing game, but without establishing the run, they are in trouble. The defense and coaching will still be stellar though.

1. Baltimore Ravens – What sophomore slump, says Joe Flacco? Despite having the same corp of receivers, a healthy Todd Heap will pick up the passing game. Add in a three-headed monster of a running game and a serving of your standard Baltimore D, then you have a well rounded division champ.

AFC South (Getting weaker and weaker?)

4. Jacksonville Jaguars – They might have Jones-Drew, but that is about it. The defense is always solid, but that’s not enough.

3. Houston Texans – Steve Slaton was stellar last year, but will not be as effective, despite the strong passing game which usually opens up the run game as a result. Matt Schaub has the weapons to be a big-numbers QB, but will he do it? When in doubt, throw it towards Andre Johnson.

2. Indianapolis Colts – Peyton Manning, Reggie Wayne, Jeff Saturday, Robert Mathis, and Bob Sanders are the only guys keeping this team afloat. The end of an era is near.

1. Tennessee Titans – This will be the year that LenDale White disappears, but they are the best all around team in the division, assuming Kerry Collins can continue to effectively manage a game.

AFC West (One team pony)

4. Oakland Raiders – Sorry Raiders fans, you still suck badly. You look cool though.

3. Kansas City Chiefs – Sorry Chiefs fans, you still suck badly, even with Matt Cassel, who was only effective because he had arguably the best wide out and slot receiver in the game in Moss and Welker. Larry Johnson is no longer good either.

2. Denver Broncos – Despite all of the drama, the Broncos will finish second….with a losing record. Kyle Orton will prove to be adequate. Brandon Marshall will fall off the face of the planet and Eddie Royal will take over as #1. The revamped defense will be much better than last year too. McDaniels knows football, but needs to sharpen up on leadership and running a football team full of grown men.

1. San Diego Chargers – Get ready for LT to go off. Rivers will once again have a pro bowl type year. The defense will get even better with Merriman back, despite his domestic incidents with Tia Tequila. By far, the most talented team in the division.

Playoff Picture

Wild Card

#3 Baltimore beats #6 Indy – Peyton enjoys a sack lunch all day long

#5 Pittsburgh beats #4 Tennessee – A rematch from the first game of the year, Pitt will ride Big Ben’s clutch powers on a last minute drive.

Divisional

#1 New England beats #5 Pittsburgh through the air and rushes only 12 times all game

#3 Baltimore beats #2 San Diego – LT amasses an enormous 30 yards on the ground and Rivers throws two pick-sixes. Flacco and Ray Rice flat out dominate with their big play ability.

Conference Championship

#1 New England beats #3 Baltimore – Flacco gets a lesson up close from the master and the Ravens secondary can’t keep up with the Moss-man.

Super Bowl

New England murders Green Bay in a shootout 42-26. Brady MVP. Belichick wears hoodie.

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