By Chris "Raiden" Grewe
Published: July 4, 2005 PrintEmail
AFC Preview Edition
By RaidenDAWG9, PSH Admin
Volume 2, Issue 4
Is the offseason over yet? Not quite you say? Alright, fine, I guess that makes it AFC Preview time then (if for nothing else than to beat...everybody else to press), so heeeeeeeere we go.
(I'll go by division, projected finishing order, and somewhere in there, a record projection)
AFC East
1. New England Patriots: Here's some words the rest of the AFC didn't want to hear: the Patriots got better. Well, this year, they won't, but that doesn't change my opinion of this team. Sure, they lost both coordinators, several key players (and by several I mean Tedy Bruschi and Joe Andruzzi, Ty Law can't be called key any more thanks to the job his replacements did), and didn't really add much aside from Duane Starks and Logan Mankins (Boston, say hello to your starting left guard for the next fourteen years). But here's my take: oh well.
Projected Record: 13-3
2. Buffalo Bills: J.P. Losman is actually an upgrade at QB (Dallas fans will love my NFC preview next week, in case you can't tell already) provided he doesn't make crucial mistakes at the worst possible time in a game. Willis "What You Talking 'Bout" McGahee will run for 1500 yards (I'm calling it right meow) behind a slightly downgraded o-line (would have ran for 1800 if it weren't for losing Jonas Jennings to San Fran).
Projected Record: 9-7 (2/7 losses coming to New England, 1/3 from...)
3. New York Jets: The return of Pennington's favorite weapons (Coles) can't help this team enough to fend off the surging Bills.
Projected Record: 8-8
4. Miami Dolphins: This is the place where I go "Please don't fire me boss" to Datruth. I like Miami's defense (honestly I do), buuut with their offense, they're destined for what I call "Washington Redskins circa 2004" syndrome, better known as top five D, bottom five O, no playoffs.
Projected Record: 5-11
[BREAK]
AFC North
1. Cincinnati Bengals: Better known as the this will get me rep pick, the Bengals shock the world this year by dropping the Bungles moniker (once they hit 9 wins and not a second sooner) and winning their division, making them the first Ohio team to win the AFC Central/North since the Cleveland Browns last did it in 1989 (call it the curse of the founder Paul Brown). Carson Palmer really started to break out in the last four games of last season, the coronation of Cincy's Franchise QB in my mind being the Ravens comeback win, and the offense can only get better with the return of a healthy Peter Warrick (granted, still destined for bust status as a former number four overall pick, but still a decent player), and their defense will take a step forward with Odell Thurman and David Pollack. Bottom line, this team is better.
Projected Record: 12-4
2. Pittsburgh Steelers: Can't possibly repeat their 15-1 season can they? I see the receivers taking a step back this year (although I like their new TE rookie Heath Miller from Virginia), and I don't think that the running game will be as effective with an entirely new starting right side of the offensive line. I see this team dropping some from last year, but still damn good.
Projected Record: 11-5
3. Baltimore Ravens: Two words: Kyle Boller. Four more words: Ray Lewis is old.
Projected Record: 7-9
4. Cleveland Browns: How dare ye accuse me of homerism. Alright, our season can be characterized as the following: 1. we suck again (Waterboy = Great Movie), 2. we'll be competitive. Bottomline, we're no pushover, but we aren't winning more than we lose.
Projected Record: 5-11
[BREAK]
AFC South
1. Jacksonville Jaguars: This one's for you Jay. Byron Leftwich will be a star by season's end, ditto second year receiver Reggie Williams. The defense is solid all the way around, and I think they may actually be able to contain the Colts now.
Projected Record: 12-4
2. Indianapolis Colts: It's kinda like Jim Mora's last season, except nobody will be doing the "Playoffs, you want to talk about playoffs?" bit at the end of the season, mainly because they'll be in them as the wildcard.
Projected Record: 11-5
3. Houston Texans: We'll call it Bengals syndrome: this is the year they make .500, next year they make it over the hump.
Projected Record: 8-8
4. Tennessee Titans: Competitive: you betcha, winning more than four games, no chance in hell.
Projected Record: 4-12
[BREAK]
AFC West
1. San Diego Chargers: This is by far the toughest division to call in my mind. San Diego gets the nod from me because of experience in winning a divison last year and the fact that they've improved their pass rush, one of their weaker points last year (at least, they've improved the number of ways they can rush the passer, last year, Steve Foley WAS their pass rush).
Projected Record: 10-6
2. Oakland Raiders: Randy Moss and Kerry Collins will get in the end zone a lot, but their defense will let the opponents do the same. Great individual players does not a great defense make, or so Norv Turner and Al Davis will have learned by midseason.
Projected Record: 8-8
3. Kansas City Chiefs: This pick will get me a lot of hate mail, moreso for who's not here. Sorry Dick Vermeil, your defense will have you crying more by midseason (still), although the future is bright with Derrick Johnson at LB, it's just not quite there yet. Also, when Fred Ex is one of your better receivers, you know you're in trouble on offense (sorry Trent Green and Priest Holmes, Tony G just isn't enough for you to make the playoffs).
Projected Record: 6-10
4. Denver Broncos: And let the hate mail begin Their Cleveland defensive line will fall apart by midseason in the mile high air. Trust me. Also, this is the year Jake Plummer is exposed as an average quarterback.
Projected Record: 6-10
[BREAK]
Playoff Predictions:
Wild Cards: Pittsburgh and Indy
AFC Championship Game: New England over Jacksonville
NFC Predictions coming next week. Let the ripping begin.
Raiden's Non-Football Thought of the Week
The Tribe will get a running feature next week. For now, they've climbed to within a game of the wild card (thank god) and could tie it up tonight with a win over Detroit and an Angels win.
Outside the Dawg Pound
Training camps open soon. Yay!
Kellnievel Winslow
Kellnievel began his rehab this past week. Hopefully after that's all taken care of, he can start working on his knee (ba dum dum).
(Ok, let that joke be stricken from the record)
Barks and Growls
Bark: Travis Hafner of the Indians. All Star snub, now hitting .313 and mashing the Indians into the playoff hunt.
Growl: Kellen Winslow (ok, it's a slow news week).
The Final Thought
This has been a rough week for all of us here at PSH. My good friend Jay Pond (better known as jagman28782 to all of us here) passed away on June 28. My sincerest condolences go out to his family. Rest in peace Jay, we miss you already.
Their Cleveland defensive line will fall apart by midseason in the mile high air. Trust me. Also, this is the year Jake Plummer is exposed as an average quarterback.