AFC 2008 Preview/Predictions

 

 

AFC North

 

Steelers- After going 10-6 last year and enjoying a very productive draft, Pittsburg is set to capture the division again. The only question that remains is how far can they go in the playoffs and are they ready to challenge the Patriots? Projected: 12-4, Division winner

 

Bengals- The Bengals were a disappointing 7-9 last season after a rash of injuries and an early season skid from which they never recovered. This years cats may be a whole different breed. After what looks like a great draft and smart free agency moves, the Bengals appear to have patched some of their most glaring holes on defense except for their corners. Projected: 9-7 with an outside shot at a wildcard spot.

 

Browns- Cleveland turned in a respectable 10-6 record last year and a Kellum Winslow finally came into his own. The Browns will find it very difficult to do as well this year. Their draft was awful with their first pick in the fourth round. Their defense is injury prone and gives up too many big plays. Projection: 6-10

 

Ravens- Baltimore fell to 5-11 last year. Their once vaunted defense has aged and become vulnerable to big plays and their offense is simply terrible- 22 in the league total offense, 24th in pass offense and 27th in the red zone. Despite a respectable draft, this is a rebuilding year for the Ravens. Projected: 4-12

 

 

 

 

AFC East

 

New England- The Patriots were a perfect 16-0 in the regular season last year. Their loss in the Super Bowl was one of the biggest upsets in the since a brash Joe Namath guaranteed a victory against the Colts in SB III. The Pats had in all last season: #1 total offense, #1 passing offense, #1 scoring offense, #4 Total defense, #4 points allowed and a +16 turnover differential. They show no glaring weaknesses on either side of the ball or special teams. They have been very active in free agency losing LB Junior Seau, two corners and a safety but picking up three corners and a linebacker and adding considerable talent via the draft. I don't expect the Patriots to be perfect in 2008 but the smart money says that barring a meltdown of epic proportions, they'll win their division and will go the distance in the playoffs. Projection: 14-2, division winner, home field in the playoffs.

 

 

Bills- The Bills appear to be making slow progress after a 7-9 performance last year. Total Offense was 30th and total defense was 31st so the only way to go is up. With a solid nuclues built on the draft, some good free agent pickup and a solid draft, this may be the year Buffalo returns to respectability. Projection: 8-8

 

 

Jets- The Jets were 4-12 and simply wretched in 2007. Their offense ranked 26 in the league and 31st in red zone percentage. They were 18th in total defense and 25th against the pass. They will be hard pressed to be worse than they were last year but don't expect them to be much better. Projection: 6-10

 

 

Dolphins- After a 1-15 record last year, one has to wonder what Parcells was smoking when he agreed to take over the train wreak. This team is horrible: owning the bottom of every major statistical category. Even a good draft and smart free agency moves won't move the fish out of the cellar anytime soon. Projection: 3-13

 

 

AFC West

 

Chargers- The Chargers are a very talented football team that finished last year 11-5, won two playoff games and lost to the Patriots in the title game. Philip Rivers will be in his third year as a starter and should be peaking after a finishing the last half of the regular season 7-1. LaDainian Tomlinson is in his prime and barring injuries should contend for another rushing title. The defense needs to improve its middle of the pack performance (14th total defense, 16th rush defense, 14th pass defense) for the Chargers to take it to the next level. All indications are that the Chargers are ready for a breakout performance. Projection: 13-3, division winner

 

 

Broncos- It looks like the Broncos have finally settled on a quarterback just in time for the rest of the teams low ebb. Once enjoying an embarrassment of wealth at running back and wide receiver, Shanahah finds the cupboard is bare except for some free agents and promising rookies. The once proud Orange Crush is a mere shadow of its former self. The Bronco's defense was 19th overall in the league but a dismal 30th against the run. All the signs point to a difficult year in the mile-high city unless Shanahan can reach into this years rookies and pull out a few all Pro Bowlers. Projection: 7-9

 

 

Chiefs- Last years 4-12 Chiefs will have to try very hard to get any worse than they were last season. They were 31st in total offense and 28th in rushing defense. The one positive was that they were 5th against the pass but who needed to throw against them? The bright side is that there were four solid free agent pickups and a very solid draft in which they had 6 picks in the first three rounds and 12 picks over all.

 

 

Raiders- Another 4-12 team, the Raiders have been celler-dwellers years and will probably remain there as long as Davis is in charge. It looks like the game has passed Mr. "just win baby" by. 25th in total offense, 31st in rush defense: this team is in need of a serious overhaul and with no clue in how to stop the bleeding. There's just too much gone wrong here for Al Davis to write a few checks and make it all better. Projection: 2-14

 

 

AFC South

 

Colts- 13-3 last year and barely missing a shot at a second super bowl, no one in the AFC South can touch the Colts. A few years ago playing the Colts was like a track meet: if you could out score them, you could win. Last years Colts had the leagues #3 total defense team and #1 in scoring defense. The Colts are formidable presence and one that will have to be dealt with on the road to the superbowl. Projection: 14-2, division winner

 

 

Jaguars- Last year the Jags had to be the most under-rated team in the league. The played consistently tough football and racked up an 11-5 record. The Jags may be the most balanced team in the league. In 2007 they ranked 7th in the league in total offense: #2 rushing and #17 passing. They ranked 12th in the league on defense: 11th against the rush and 15th against the pass. Sure- its easy to overlook a good team in the shadow of Peyton Manning's Colts but the Jags need to improve their middle of the pack defense to push the Colts come playoff time. Projection: 12-4, wildcard

 

 

Texans- The perennially horrible Texans improved to 8-8 last season. The Texans are still not a good, balanced football team- their defense was a woeful 24th in the league but their offense was 14th and their special teams performed very well. They are much better than they were a few years ago when David Carr was running for his life. They've still got a long way to go before they can push their division rivals. Projection: 9-7

 

 

Titans- In 2007 the Titans improved to 10-6 and earned a wildcard slot thanks to the play of rookie QB Vince Young. Probably their most improved aspect of their team was the defense which was 5th in total defense (5th against the run and 10th against the pass). This year will tell whether this improvement was simply a weak schedule or are the Titans are for real. This year they'll play a playoff teams schedule and we'll see. Projection: 8-8

 

 

 

 

 

NFC Preview

 

 

NFC North

 

Vikings- If Adrian Peterson stays healthy and the Vikes get some consistency at QB, this is their year. Injuries could do them in but the rest of the division is in transition and it is theirs if they want it bad enough. Projection: 11-5, division winner

 

 

Bears- This is the year when Rex Grossman finally collapses and all the angry Bears on defense can't put things back together again. Projection: 7-9

 

 

Packers- Farve is finally gone and so is the magic. Look for Aaron Rodgers to struggle as he finds out how impossible it is to follow a legend. A good but not great defense can not carry the team. Projection: 6-10

 

 

Lions- Coming off their best season since 2000 with a record of 7-9 you might expect improvement but their defense was 32nd in the league last year. The Lions went looking for defensive help in the draft and free agency but don't look for much improvement for another year of so. Projection: 6-10

 

 

 

NFC East

 

 

Cowboys- The Cowboys are loaded this year and it will be hard to keep them from winning the division. Last year their offense ranked #3 in the league and their defense was #9. They have no glaring weaknesses and have added a solid rookie running back- Felix Jones, an all-pro linebacker via free agency- Zach Thomas and depth in the secondary. This just might be their year. Projection: 13-3, division winner, home field advantage in the playoffs

 

 

Giants- Mannings heroics in the playoffs aside, the Giants were a very average team last year. Their offense was 16rd in the league and their defense was 7th and gave up too many big plays. Yeah sure- they'll win 10 games on the strength of Mannings arm but their defense is not getting any younger and their schedule will be brutal. Projection: 10-6 wildcard

 

 

Redskins- Would someone please take the Redskins away from meddling owner Daniel Snyder? Hiring Jim Zorn as head coach was risky but the former run and gun QB of the Seahawks might know a thing or two about moving the ball- something that hasn't happened consistently in Washington in some time. Call it another rebuilding year and if Snyder is patient, it looks like the Redskins are on the right track. Projection: 7-9

 

 

Eagles- How does a team with the NFL's 6 ranked offense and 10th ranked defense go 8-8? Turnovers, inconsistent play and a rooster that is too old and too young in too many key areas. As McNabb goes, so go the Eagles and he is yet to look like he did before the devastating 2006 knee injury. The Eagles allowed 37 sacks last year which is far too many for a QB with a gimpy knee. Projection: 6-10

 

 

 

NFC West

 

Seahawks- Mike Holmgren's 'Hawks have been the most consistent team in the NFC West for several years including a superbowl appearence a couple of years ago. At 10-6 last year the Hawks simply looked a little above average. Their offense ranked 9th in the league (20th rushing, 8th passing) and a defense ranked 15th (12 vs. rush, 19 vs pass). They need to play better defense if they want to return to those later playoff games and they addressed those needs in the draft. They also picked up some running backs via free agency to give Shawn Alexander some help. Projection: 11-5, division winner

 

 

Cardinals- All of the elements are in place for the Cardinals to have a breakout year- a soft schedule, years of experienced, high round draft picks, a young, talented QB and a draft/free agency moves that address key areas. Arizona fans have good reason to be excited because a wild card slot is definitely in range for the Red Birds. Projection: 9-7

 

 

49ers- The 49ers are a work in progress and much of that progress rests on the shoulders of Alex Smith. The 1st pick of the 2005 has a lot of pressure on him this year to lead the once proud 49ers back to respectability. That may be too much to ask for a team that had the NFL's 32nd ranked offense and the 25th ranked offense. Expect the 'Niners to improve incrementally from last year but a return of glory days to 'Frisco are still years away. Projection: 7-9

 

 

Rams- The greatest show on turf days are long gone from St Louis and they won't be returning anytime soon. Last years the Rams were awful in every stat that mattered: 21th total defense, 24 total offense and losing 27 interceptions. They looked and played like a 3-13 team and won't be much better in 2008. They had a good draft and picked up a few interesting free agents and look to improve slowly over the next two seasons. Projection: 5-11

 

 

 

NFC South

 

Saints- The Saints spent their off season on defense, defense and more defense. Ranking #26 in defense last year, they needed to desperately. The Saints picked two solid linebackers (Vilma and Morgan) and helped their secondary via free agency, picked up Jeremy Shockley from the Giants and spent their first six draft picks on defense including the monstrous DT Sedrick Ellis of USC. The Saints WILL be better of defense and their 4th ranked offense returns healthy and ready to score. Projection: 12-4, division winner

 

 

Buccaneers- After going 9-7 last year it looks like the Bucs are ready to play at the next level but wait: the QB is 38 year old Jeff Garcia? 36 year old Joey Galloway is his favorite target? Nothing is wrong with the league's #2 defense but can the when you look at their rooster, the Bucs are getting pretty old in key areas. Don't expect either Garcia or Galloway to go 16 games. Projection 10-6, wildcard

 

 

Panthers- Last year the Panthers fell to 7-9 and don't look to get any better before some people in skill positions get some experience. The offense fell to #29th in the league while their once fierce defense was a mediocre #16. Can Delhomme return from major shoulder surgery? That's a key otherwise the Panthers drop like a rock. Projection: 5-11

 

 

Falcons- The Vick-less Falcons were simply wretched last year with the 23rd ranked offense and the 29th ranked defense. While drafting Matt Ryan was the right move for the future, the Falcons will suffer through another season or two of rebuilding. Projection: 4-12

 

 

 

Superbowl XLIII The Patriots defeat the Cowboys 28-24 on a last minute Brady drive.