With training camp on the horizon, it's time to get back to football. The NFL is set for a another great season, but which teams will perform as the best teams? Who will come out on top to win the Super Bowl? All won't be answered until the season begins in September, but we can at least predict the outcome, beginning with the AFC.
AFC East:
1. New England Patriots: 11-5: The Patriots continue to dominate the east in the AFC. The defense has gotten stronger over the course of the last two seasons, and should get stronger this season with the additions from the offseason such as CB Darelle Revis and the return of players that fell to injury last season like DT Vince Wilfork. This division is the Patriots' to win easily until another team decides to take it from them.
2. New York Jets: 8-8: The Jets were a surprising 8-8 last season, and there is very little reason to say 8-8 won't happen again. Still plenty of uncertainty coming from the quarterback position is the main culprit of no improvement in the standings. Geno Smith will either improve as a passer, or will be replaced by Michael Vick. The defense will be the strength of the team and will keep the Jets in games. Rex Ryan will be coaching for his job yet again, and 8-8 might not be enough this year.
3. Buffalo Bills: 6-10: The Bills dealt away a 2015 first round pick to move up this year and select dynamic Clemson WR Sammy Watkins, but is it enough to lift Buffalo over the proverbial hump and make the playoffs for the first time in the 21st century? Short answer: no. The Bills have plenty of weapons on offense, but EJ Manuel is another AFC quarterback whose improvement is needed for the team to improve. The defense will either be pretty good or average, but might end up being the latter, leading to another 6-10 record.
4. Miami Dolphins: 3-13: Miami's locker-room meltdown last year was just the beginning of the end of the current regime. Even though Richie Incognito and Jonathan Martin are gone, but the damage has been done in the public eye and the pressure will be on. The Dolphins will be among the worst teams in the NFL mainly because the chemistry of the team is explosive, and south Florida needs to prepare for a nuclear explosion.
AFC North:
1. Cincinnati Bengals: 12-4: The Bengals are perhaps the toughest team in the AFC. By toughest, I mean they have a hard-nosed defense and a strong philosophy of running the football. Oh yeah, they can also have a strong passing attack with weapons galore. What might hold back Cincinnati is whether or not quarterback Andy Dalton takes that next step. This team is the most talented team top to bottom, but now Dalton needs to take control of this team, because the clock is now officially ticking. Other than that, both coordinators from last season took head coach jobs elsewhere, so a little transition may be in order, but by no means would it hurt the Bengals' chances. Cincinnati is destined to go far in the playoffs, the jobs of head coach Marvin Lewis and Andy Dalton depend on that.
2. Baltimore Ravens*: 10-6: The Ravens followed up a Super Bowl victory by finishing a disappointing 8-8 and missing the playoffs. It won't be easy, but Baltimore will find their way back into the playoff race this year. It will take winning 17-10 games every week, however. The defense is stout and added on to the talent pool in the offseason, it is the offense that is a concern. The team added former Panthers star wideout Steve Smith, but it's hard to expect a lot from a 35 year old player. The offensive line is the weakest link on the team, and it has caused for some poor numbers in the rushing department. Quarterback Joe Flacco, wide receiver Torrey Smith will need to carry this offense. Nothing new for the Ravens though, they have always relied on their defense, as will be the case this season.
3. Pittsburgh Steelers: 7-9: How long can the Steelers put the weight of the team on Ben Roethlisberger's shoulders. Sure, he is a strong man, but he does need some more help than just Antonio Brown. The defense, despite the constant draft to replace players, is still aging and not to the "top five in every category" standard they are accustomed to. The cards are just not in the Steelers' favor this year of any improvement from the previous two seasons of 8-8 football.
4. Cleveland Browns: 4-12: Well, the Browns are over....again. This is like deja vu from last season. Out with Rob Chudzinski after one 4-12 season, in with Mike Pettine for what looks like could be another 4-12 season. Johnny Manziel has taken the league by storm without even taking a snap in the NFL. Fans will have to wait for the Johnny Football era to begin, as it is obvious the Browns plan to let Manziel sit for at least a good portion of the season behind Brian Hoyer. Do the Browns have talent? It would seem that way, but it is hard to believe in this team when the past six seasons have amassed a record of 27-69 and no season finishing with more than five wins.
AFC South:
1. Indianapolis Colts: 10-6: It has been made very clear that this is Andrew Luck's team, and as I said for most of the teams in the AFC North, Luck is going to have to carry this team again. The Colts want to play the old school style of football, as in running the football and playing defense, but neither are meeting requirements. The offensive is not a very strong unit for running the football, and they must block for Trent Richardson, who gained a 2.9 yard per carry average since his trade from Cleveland. The defense finished 20 in the NFL in total defense, and that includes a bad 26 ranking in run defense. Improvements must be made as a team, and same with Luck, who must cut down on mistakes as well. Luckily, the division is very weak, so the Colts will win their second consecutive division crown.
2. Houston Texans: 7-9: Boy, last season's meltdown in Houston escalated quickly. The Texans before last season were expected to make a run at the Super Bowl. What happened instead was a 2-14 disaster with all 14 losses happening consecutively to end the season. Is there room for a rebound? Well, the defense is very good, so it's possible. The quarterback situation, on the other hand, says otherwise. New head coach Bill O'Brien already named Ryan Fitzpatrick as the starting quarterback, and that is almost out of default with Case Keenum and Tom Savage being the guys behind him. Not many defensive coordinators in the league are losing sleep over facing them. The defense will keep this team in games, but the wins won't be there.
3. Tennessee Titans: 6-10: I don't know what to say about the Titans anymore. The past couple of seasons, I have said that the Titans have talent and that they may make the playoffs, only to have those words followed up with a 13-19 record over those seasons. So, while I acknowledge that this team does have talent, they will need to prove to me that can win before I say they make the playoffs again. Speaking of proving worth to me, quarterback Jake Locker is also on the clock with new head coach Ken Whisenhunt. Locker, as well as his all of his receivers, have a lot invested in them, so it is now time to play or go elsewhere. The pressure is on some players to perform, but for now, a six win prove it record is what they deserve.
4. Jacksonville Jaguars: 4-12: The Jaguars appear to be on the right track to getting back to respectability, but it is a long road ahead. The Jaguars drafted who they hope to be their franchise quarterback in Blake Bortles. It is uncertain if Bortles will start the season starting or sitting and learning behind Chad Henne, but it is very likely to be the latter. Head coach Gus Bradley brought in a pair of his former Seahawk defenders via free agency in Red Bryant and Chris Clemons, but this Jaguars defense will be no where near as dominant as the defense of the Super Bowl champion Seahawks. How will this season go in Jacksonville? Well, to put it lightly, more fans will be drawn to the speculation of whether the team will be moved to Los Angeles than the 2014 Jacksonville Jaguars.
AFC West:
1. Denver Broncos: 13-3: Does anyone know what hit the Broncos last February? Well, Denver does, and they were busy in the offseason to prevent what happened in the Super Bowl at the hand of the Seahawks from happening again. The Broncos focused on defense, signing three big name defensive free agents in defensive end DeMarcus Ware and defensive backs Aqib Talib and TJ Ward, and then used their first round pick on Ohio State cornerback Bradley Roby. The Broncos record setting offense was shut down by Seattle, but they might improve with all-pro left tackle Ryan Clady returning from injury and former right tackle Orlando Franklin being converted to left guard where he is better suited. As long as Peyton Manning is under center, the Broncos are contenders, and very well could find themselves back in the big game this year, but the window is closing fast and the pressure is on to win that big game.
2. Kansas City Chiefs*: 10-6: The Chiefs were a surprise to many around the league (well, except me since I picked them for the playoffs, but I am not going to brag). It may be difficult predicting a repeat in success, but this defense is excellent when healthy. They will have to win 17-16 games most times like last season, because the offense seems to still be pretty bland. Alex Smith played better at the end of the season and in the playoffs, but overall, he should not be the answer at quarterback. Jamaal Charles returns to be the leader of this offense (led the team in rushing and receiving in 2013). The schedule appears to be tougher than others, but Andy Reid will have this team ready to play.
3. San Diego Chargers: 9-7: San Diego was a nice surprise last season in the AFC, making the playoffs on the final day of the regular season. Like the Chiefs, the question is is whether the Chargers can also repeat their success. If Phillip Rivers can continue to build off of his good rebound season of last year, they can. The rest of the team is in wait and see mode though, and that is what prevents them from making the playoffs this season.
4. Oakland Raiders: 4-12: Like the Jaguars, the Raiders appear to be on the right track, but are a little farther ahead than the Jaguars. A great offseason that saw plenty of veterans sign thanks to a whopping $60 million in cap space along with a great draft that brought in a potential star linebacker and quarterback of the future. Now is the question of how all players will come together as a collective group. A lot of new players joining in at the same time may have growing pains that need to be adjusted to this season. Then there needs to be signs of improvement from all levels of this team. Add all the improvement and chemistry questions and throw in the fact that Matt Schaub will be the starting quarterback with a lesser talent pool than his former Texan team, and this season might prove to be another difficult one in Oakland.
*denotes Wild Card teams
Final AFC Standings:
1. Denver Broncos
2. Cincinnati Bengals
3. New England Patriots
4. Indianapolis Colts
5. Baltimore Ravens
6. Kansas City Chiefs
7. San Diego Chargers
8. New York Jets
9. Pittsburgh Steelers
10. Houston Texans
11. Tennessee Titans
12. Buffalo Bills
13. Oakland Raiders
14. Cleveland Browns
15. Jacksonville Jaguars
16. Miami Dolphins
