AFC Playoff Seedings

Well I've spent enough time combing the schedules, and am ready to make some bold predictions. I know that a lot of people are going to disagree which is part of the fun. Conversation about our expectations for the Broncos, and other teams is how we pass the time away during these long off seasons. So without further adieu, I give you my predictions:

1. New England Patriots: 14-2

2. Jacksonville Jaguars: 13-3

3. San Diego Chargers: 12-4

4. Cleveland Browns: 9-7

5. Denver Broncos: 11-5

6. Indianapolis Colts: 10-6

These teams will be on the bubble through the end:

Houston Texans: 9-7

Pittsburgh Steelers: 8-8

I know that picking New England isn't the bold prediction, but who else from the East are you going to pick? The Pats are just about gift-wrapped 6 easy wins against their division, and play a soft schedule do to the NFL's system of scheduling. Also, the Seahawks proved that the team losing the Super Bowl doesn't have to fold the following season. If any team is capable of bucking the trend, it's the Patriots.

The Jags are usually an up and down team, so this pick is a little more bold, given they were up last year. But they are a pretty good team, and I think they are going to get out to a fast start. They are primed and ready to show everyone that there's more to the AFC South than the Colts.

The Chargers are a talented team, and I see nothing this off season that says this will change. Plus with this being the 2nd year under Turner's system, and some of their young players adjusting to his system, they should be good enough to take the West again.

The Browns have a tough schedule, as does the rest of the AFC North. But they have a great offense that is as good as any in their division, and arguable the best. I expect these teams to beat each other senseless, with the Browns narrowly edging the Steelers this time.

As for the Broncos, I've already posted my game by game predictions. 'Nuff said here. I certainly hope I'm right about this though, because I would love to see another Broncos-Browns playoff matchup. Now that was a rivalry there for a while, wasn't it?

Lastly, I've picked the Colts to finish a humble 10-6 by their standards. I don't have a lot to go off of here, other than they can't be on top forever, plus they are moving into a new out door stadium. Usually teams stumble a bit in a new stadium. Lastly I just think the Jags have an offense that can keep up, and a better defense than the Colts.

So there you have it. I welcome your comments, good, bad, and ugly.

IKF,

I agree with most of your predictions. The Pats are a lay down misere fo the East. Chargers should take the west but we may push them, as the Chargers always seem to give one away to an NFC team or to the Chiefs, so you never know how that will fall. I agree with the Jacksonville pick, although they always seem to drop one to the Texans, and the Colts could win the division on a bobble by the Jags. I think the Browns may take the North. My biggest worry about the Browns is Derek Anderson. i have said it before and I will say it again. He was not good in his last couple of games, and i think the scouting on by other teams could find him out, and he MAY struggle.

I think the one wild card could be the Bills. They have a REALLY EASY schedule too, and could take 4 games from their own division and could end up 10-6 or 11-5. They are improving for sure.

Nice thread man...lets get the discussion flying

I say our Division comes down to the last game of the year.

Which of course we win...

I think San Diego has what it takes to get into the playoffs but once there, that's another story. The Chargers seem to have the Colts figured out lately, and my prediction has them playing each other in San Diego for Wild Card Weekend. Let's say the Chargers pull that one out. That puts them on the road @ Jacksonville, where I would say that they'd be beat senseless by a better and more physical team. But I'm getting ahead of myself. I don't like to make predictions for the playoffs until after the pre-season.

I think Jacksonville has what it takes to be the top seed in the AFC. The only big hole they have is WR but that running game is fantastic. Not to mention that defense.

Broncos will be a wildcard team at best this year. I think we are one year away from exploding and becoming a dominate team again.

The Bills will be up there, they has a poor start last season but pulled it up, i think thier goina be a wildcard team