Crunked
10-30-2005, 10:59 AM
http://www.pigskinheaven.com/gallery/files/7/AFC_474794.gif
http://www.pigskinheaven.com/gallery/files/7/crunkedsez_818065.png
Well this weeks games mark the un-official half way point to the season, remember allowing for the bye week this is a 17 week season sport so 8 1/2 technically is the half way point. I thought now would be a good time to see who the contenders and pretenders are for those elusive playoff spots.
AFC EAST
This division is still wildly up in the air, with the Bruschi back on the Patriots radar, they seem to be the favorite for the division, or as I like to say, its for them to lose. The Jets pre-season hopefuls have had a devastating pattern of QB injuries and it would require an east coast miracle for them to get into the playoff action, but don't rule Herm out. The Bills have terminal run it up our gut-itis. Some of that injury is self inflicted when they let their perennial run stuffer go to the party barge in Minnesota via free agency, and it was only made worse with the loss of Takeo Spikes to injury. Don't look for that bleeding to stop this year Bills fans. The Saban-ites found out a smaller drug free Ricky is not as effective as a fat high one, but more importantly they found that Jason Taylor makes their defense work. Now to be fair they had some other injuries on D as well, but I must admit its a different defense without Jason. They are new and re-building and will play better at times than they actually are, that is a tribute to the players and the coaching, but they still need a few pieces to be scary.
Division winners: http://www.pigskinheaven.com/gallery/files/3/9/1/NE_902_thumb.gif (http://www.pigskinheaven.com/gallery/showimage.php?i=659&c=20)
Wild Card none
AFC NORTH
Well if we are talking dog fight, you came to the right place, everyone is in one except for the dawgs themselves. This division may be a war of attrition and if it is, then the early leader in battle is Pittsburgh. Other than dropping their (borrowing gators favorite joke, which btw isn't really funny to me but here goes) other than dropping their Rothlesberger with Hines temporarily the Steelers are as healthy as they could hope for at this point. The 2nd part of the dawg fight, and you know it takes two to tango, right? Well it does, the Bengals are a legit player for the division crown here. Their injuries haven't been as high profile as the Steelers but they have been just as costly as they now face the real possibility of having both starting safeties gone for the rest of the year. Williams could possibly return in time for the playoffs, I can tell you my wife recently had that same surgery and with agressive physical therapy she was back to normal in 7 weeks. Then 3 weeks later had to have surgery again to re-correct a problem that manifested due to the labrum tear, and is currently down again for 4 more weeks. While these aren't like a Carson Palmer, Chad "ego" Johnson type injury they are devastating due to the Bengals need to stop the run. They no longer have a safety on the field that could play the run as well as Williams can, and that is the Bengals achilles heel is teams that can run are going to be hard for them to beat. The Ravens have a top 5 defense again, not surprised are you? You shouldn't be, if they can scrape up any kind of offense anywhere just the tiniest bit, they will win some games. The season is still young, and if they find the magic bullet could win out at any point, I don't think they stand a hope in a very warm eternal rest stop of making the playoffs, but they can be the buzz kill for anyone fighting for the number 8 spot at the end of the year. The Browns are re-building, Edwards is looking better, Dilfer is looking worse, bring on Raidendawg9's Charlie Frye the young QB savior for the squad lets get this party started now.
Division Winner: http://www.pigskinheaven.com/gallery/files/3/9/1/PIT_969_thumb.gif (http://www.pigskinheaven.com/gallery/showimage.php?i=664&c=25)
Wild Card: http://www.pigskinheaven.com/gallery/files/3/9/1/CIN_2234_thumb.gif (http://www.pigskinheaven.com/gallery/showimage.php?i=663&c=24)
DROY: Odell Thurman LB
AFC SOUTH
Well at this point without being a homer I look for the Colts to keep the Jags at arms length and win this division outright. The Jags are for real and without giving away the ending , well they are serious playoff hopefuls and will beat the Colts in Jacksonville, and lets leave it at that. The Titans are suffering Pac-Man-ia a rookie infliction which should disappear towards the end of the season. The Texans felt having the defensive tackle snap the ball to Carr would save them cap space, in the shortest division review the Titans and Texans are non-issues for the playoffs.
Division Winner:http://www.pigskinheaven.com/gallery/files/7/indy_881309.gif (http://www.pigskinheaven.com/gallery/showimage.php?i=922&c=36)
Wild Card: http://www.pigskinheaven.com/gallery/files/3/9/1/JAX_596_thumb.gif (http://www.pigskinheaven.com/gallery/showimage.php?i=993&c=37)
AFC WEST
Ok now that I have the West'ers royally honked. Let me explain myself. Denver is the early leader of this division, but that doesn't mean they will finish on top. This division is a 3 man race for the playoffs and its anybodies game at this point. Why won't second get a wild card here? Well think about it, its a 3 team race and they each play each other twice so there won't be any sweeping of the other two done by anyone, in the second shortest division review KC, Denver, and San Diego are all legit contenders. The Raiders, not enough talent to compete for the title, sorry black hole-y-rollers. Denver has the advantage leading at this point, the Chargers are possibly the best 3-4 team of all time and KC still has a phenomenal offense and a good rookie defender in Johnson. If I had to pick now, and I do....I have to give the edge to the Broncos, followed closely by the Chargers, and KC, and then some breathing room and the Raiders.
Division Winners: http://www.pigskinheaven.com/gallery/files/3/9/1/DEN_462_thumb.gif (http://www.pigskinheaven.com/gallery/showimage.php?i=681&c=40)
Wild Card: none
http://www.pigskinheaven.com/gallery/files/7/crunkedsez_818065.png
Well this weeks games mark the un-official half way point to the season, remember allowing for the bye week this is a 17 week season sport so 8 1/2 technically is the half way point. I thought now would be a good time to see who the contenders and pretenders are for those elusive playoff spots.
AFC EAST
This division is still wildly up in the air, with the Bruschi back on the Patriots radar, they seem to be the favorite for the division, or as I like to say, its for them to lose. The Jets pre-season hopefuls have had a devastating pattern of QB injuries and it would require an east coast miracle for them to get into the playoff action, but don't rule Herm out. The Bills have terminal run it up our gut-itis. Some of that injury is self inflicted when they let their perennial run stuffer go to the party barge in Minnesota via free agency, and it was only made worse with the loss of Takeo Spikes to injury. Don't look for that bleeding to stop this year Bills fans. The Saban-ites found out a smaller drug free Ricky is not as effective as a fat high one, but more importantly they found that Jason Taylor makes their defense work. Now to be fair they had some other injuries on D as well, but I must admit its a different defense without Jason. They are new and re-building and will play better at times than they actually are, that is a tribute to the players and the coaching, but they still need a few pieces to be scary.
Division winners: http://www.pigskinheaven.com/gallery/files/3/9/1/NE_902_thumb.gif (http://www.pigskinheaven.com/gallery/showimage.php?i=659&c=20)
Wild Card none
AFC NORTH
Well if we are talking dog fight, you came to the right place, everyone is in one except for the dawgs themselves. This division may be a war of attrition and if it is, then the early leader in battle is Pittsburgh. Other than dropping their (borrowing gators favorite joke, which btw isn't really funny to me but here goes) other than dropping their Rothlesberger with Hines temporarily the Steelers are as healthy as they could hope for at this point. The 2nd part of the dawg fight, and you know it takes two to tango, right? Well it does, the Bengals are a legit player for the division crown here. Their injuries haven't been as high profile as the Steelers but they have been just as costly as they now face the real possibility of having both starting safeties gone for the rest of the year. Williams could possibly return in time for the playoffs, I can tell you my wife recently had that same surgery and with agressive physical therapy she was back to normal in 7 weeks. Then 3 weeks later had to have surgery again to re-correct a problem that manifested due to the labrum tear, and is currently down again for 4 more weeks. While these aren't like a Carson Palmer, Chad "ego" Johnson type injury they are devastating due to the Bengals need to stop the run. They no longer have a safety on the field that could play the run as well as Williams can, and that is the Bengals achilles heel is teams that can run are going to be hard for them to beat. The Ravens have a top 5 defense again, not surprised are you? You shouldn't be, if they can scrape up any kind of offense anywhere just the tiniest bit, they will win some games. The season is still young, and if they find the magic bullet could win out at any point, I don't think they stand a hope in a very warm eternal rest stop of making the playoffs, but they can be the buzz kill for anyone fighting for the number 8 spot at the end of the year. The Browns are re-building, Edwards is looking better, Dilfer is looking worse, bring on Raidendawg9's Charlie Frye the young QB savior for the squad lets get this party started now.
Division Winner: http://www.pigskinheaven.com/gallery/files/3/9/1/PIT_969_thumb.gif (http://www.pigskinheaven.com/gallery/showimage.php?i=664&c=25)
Wild Card: http://www.pigskinheaven.com/gallery/files/3/9/1/CIN_2234_thumb.gif (http://www.pigskinheaven.com/gallery/showimage.php?i=663&c=24)
DROY: Odell Thurman LB
AFC SOUTH
Well at this point without being a homer I look for the Colts to keep the Jags at arms length and win this division outright. The Jags are for real and without giving away the ending , well they are serious playoff hopefuls and will beat the Colts in Jacksonville, and lets leave it at that. The Titans are suffering Pac-Man-ia a rookie infliction which should disappear towards the end of the season. The Texans felt having the defensive tackle snap the ball to Carr would save them cap space, in the shortest division review the Titans and Texans are non-issues for the playoffs.
Division Winner:http://www.pigskinheaven.com/gallery/files/7/indy_881309.gif (http://www.pigskinheaven.com/gallery/showimage.php?i=922&c=36)
Wild Card: http://www.pigskinheaven.com/gallery/files/3/9/1/JAX_596_thumb.gif (http://www.pigskinheaven.com/gallery/showimage.php?i=993&c=37)
AFC WEST
Ok now that I have the West'ers royally honked. Let me explain myself. Denver is the early leader of this division, but that doesn't mean they will finish on top. This division is a 3 man race for the playoffs and its anybodies game at this point. Why won't second get a wild card here? Well think about it, its a 3 team race and they each play each other twice so there won't be any sweeping of the other two done by anyone, in the second shortest division review KC, Denver, and San Diego are all legit contenders. The Raiders, not enough talent to compete for the title, sorry black hole-y-rollers. Denver has the advantage leading at this point, the Chargers are possibly the best 3-4 team of all time and KC still has a phenomenal offense and a good rookie defender in Johnson. If I had to pick now, and I do....I have to give the edge to the Broncos, followed closely by the Chargers, and KC, and then some breathing room and the Raiders.
Division Winners: http://www.pigskinheaven.com/gallery/files/3/9/1/DEN_462_thumb.gif (http://www.pigskinheaven.com/gallery/showimage.php?i=681&c=40)
Wild Card: none