Way Too Early NFL Playoff Predictions – AFC - Noah Weber's Blog

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Way Too Early NFL Playoff Predictions – AFC Stuck

Posted on July 10, 2012 at 11:02 AM.

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(PHOTO Credit: http://susanshan.com/wp-content/uplo...ers-Ravens.jpg)

Although the start of the NFL season is still almost two months away, it’s never to early to speculate as to which teams will emerge as playoff participants in the year ahead. What follows is the first of a two-part look at which teams are likely to still be playing come Winter.

Let’s start with the AFC…

AFC East

New England Patriots

You can never bet against the Patriots when it comes to making the playoffs. New England focused heavily on defense in the draft this off-season, and reinforced their offense by re-signing Wes Welker for another year, and adding free agent wideouts Anthony Gonzales, Brandon Lloyd, Donte Stallworth, and Jabar Gaffney to the roster. With all of those targets to work with, Tom Brady should have no trouble leading the Pats back to the postseason.

AFC North

Baltimore Ravens

Although their star linebacker Terrell Suggs suffered a season-ending knee injury this off-season, the Ravens are well prepared to replace him with rookie Courtney Upshaw out of Alabama. With all of their other critical components remaining in place, the Ravens should be able to re-capture their intensity from last season, and survive a difficult division to claim a spot on post-season play.

AFC South

Houston Texans

Although not a team that NFL fans have gotten used to recognizing as a contender, the Houston Texans may have a better chance of making the playoffs then any other team. Part of that is because the AFC South is a struggling division, and the other part is that Houston has a powerful offense, a dynamic defense, and enough star power to lead to big victories throughout the year. Look for the Texans to claim the AFC South this season.

AFC West

Denver Broncos

Already a team that has flirted with post-season success in recent seasons, the Denver Broncos certainly helped their resume by adding one of the greatest QBs to ever play the game. Will Peyton be Peyton and lead the Broncos back to the promised land? Or will age and injuries hinder the veteran gunslinger, and leave the AFC West open for another team to steal? I’m banking on the former, but only time will tell.

AFC Wildcards

Pittsburgh Steelers

Once again, it is likely to be a toss up as to whether the Ravens or Steelers claim AFC North supremacy this season. Whichever squad claims the distinction of division winner, the other is likely to be first in on the wild card. My prediction is that the Ravens will win the division, but the Steelers will not be kept out of the playoffs completely.

San Diego Chargers

Because so much of the Broncos success relies on what Peyton will do after a year out of the office, it’s only fair to keep the possibility open of another team from the AFC West making some noise in the postseason. The Chargers regularly have one of the most potent offenses in the league, and a defense that is stout enough to win games. Let’s hope this is the year that San Diego puts their postseason struggles to rest, and the team finally establishes itself as a perennial contender.

That’s all for the AFC. Tune back tomorrow to see what I have in mind for the NFC.

Do you agree with my predictions? Which teams do YOU see making the playoffs next season?

Comments

# 1 chi_hawks @ Jul 10

I'd have to agree with these predictions. NE seems to be a lock as the jets, bills and dolphins will all be below 9 wins. Ravens/Steelers is a coin flip, one gets division, other gets wild card. Texans and Broncos are sound picks. The only wild card are the chiefs. They have a loaded offense that has teh potential of carrying a team to 10-12 wins if the defense shows up and the team stays healthy.

# 2 DU55 @ Jul 10

I think the Bengals will be one of the AFC wildcards. Nobody even thought they would win a game last year and they were a wildcard. Dalton and Green with a full off season are going to make believers of everybody. But keep not picking them, every season they re predicted to do well they flop, every year nobody expects much they excel.