NFL season 2011: AFC preview

The AFC has dominated gridiron proceedings over the last decade, bringing home no less than seven Super Bowls.

All the while decent, ten win type teams routinely missed out on post-season play purely because there weren’t enough spots to go around.

The power balance has somewhat shifted in recent years with the NFC bringing home the bacon the last two seasons running.

However, AFC standard bearers Pittsburgh and New England along with upstarts Baltimore and the New York Jets have re-booted their rosters, as too have perennial bridesmaids San Diego, giving the impression that the brief supremacy enjoyed by the NFC may already be under threat.

AFC NORTH

Pittsburgh and the Baltimore Ravens have comprehensively dominated this division in recent years sharing no less than eight of the past nine division titles. Meanwhile there’s little that minnows Cleveland and Cincinnati have done to suggest that ascendancy won’t continue.

The Pittsburgh Steelers are one of the most impressive franchises in all of US sports. They’ve an air-tight philosophy which preaches defence, a strong running game and consistent quarterback play by Ben Roethlisberger. In recent years such pillars have held the Steelers in good stead as they’ve contested three of the past six 6 Super Bowls, winning two along the way.

The Ravens, as always, will be right on Pittsburgh’s heels, and like Atlanta in the NFC, have drafted in some weapons on offence to compliment the extremely reliable arm of Joe Flacco. Last year the Ravens traded in former Arizona wide-out Anquain Boldin who contributed strongly to an improved passing game while this year they’ve added former Buffalo Bill Lee Evans who’ll provide a consistent down-field threat. To show how serious the Ravens were on offense they used two of the first four draft selections on receivers while also bringing in veteran running-back Ricky Williams to assist Ray Rice in the back field.

Where Cleveland and Cincinnati are concerned the only pertinent question is whether either of these franchises will be good enough to pull off any more than 6 wins- a feat the Browns have accomplished just once in their past eight seasons.

DIVISION TIP: Baltimore
WILD CARD CHANCE: Pittsburgh

AFC EAST

Like the North, the AFC’s East appears to be a match in two with New England and the New York Jets expected to tussle for the crown.

The Patriots and mastermind coach Bill Belichick have been as active as always in their efforts to improve their roster, recently adding resident NFL lunatic Chad ‘Ochocinco’ Johnson as well as the equally mentally unstable Albert Haynesworth.

The Jets have also been busy in the off-season, matching the Patriots where controversy is concerned by granting former Giant wide-receiver and recent convict Plaxico Buress a second chance. The Jets also bought in 37-year old Derrick Mason as another weapon for Mark Sanchez’ often-times wonky arm.

The Jets strength however remains its predatory defence and powerful running game which last season ranked as the second most prolific unit in the NFL behind Kansas City.

Although many feel the Patriots to be Super Bowl favourites the Jets are one team to have consistently troubled their bitter rivals in recent years, winning four of their encounters in recent years. In addition it’s the Jets who have contested the last two AFC championship games and not the Patriots who haven’t appeared in the AFC title game since their barnstorming 2007 season.

The Miami Dolphins are the clear third pick here and if not for residing in one of NFL’s most challenging divisions, they’d perhaps be considered a play-off chance. The Dolphins can boast a consistently good, play-off calibre defence though their offence is highly suspect. Quarterback Chad Henne was repeatedly booed by fans throughout training camp, though some relief arrived when former Heisman Trophy winner Reggie Bush was traded in to assist their struggling ground game.

The less said about the Buffalo Bills the better. A play-off drought now in its 12th year and a defence which last year gave up astonishing 2,700 yards on the ground says just about everything we need to know. Anything but a last place divisional finish would be a mighty surprise.

DIVISION TIP: New York Jets
WILD CARD CHANCE: New England

AFC SOUTH

Unlike the other seven divisions in the NFL, the AFC South has been about two names for the best part of the last twelve years; Peyton Manning and the Indianapolis Colts.

Play-offs in 11 of their past 12 seasons, eight divisional crowns and a Super Bowl to boot, the Colts have been the talking point where the South is concerned. And form a player perspective there’s few bigger names in the NFL than Peyton Manning who’s collected four league MVP awards while not missing a single game since being drafted in 1998.

The natural order of the division is however under threat largely because of degenerative neck problem Peyton Manning was recently been diagnosed with. It’s an injury which threatens to derail the Colts season and which is being treated so seriously the Colts recently coaxed veteran quarterback Kerry Collins out of retirement as insurance for Manning.

The Houston Texans are the popular pick to unseat the Colts should Manning not return.

To do so Houston simply must improve its porous defence which was positively scorched though the air last season, giving up more than 4,200 passing yards and 33 touchdowns.

To Houston’s credit they’ve reacted strongly by hiring Wade Phillips to run the defence with the former Cowboys head coach already promising to overhaul the Texans by implementing a 3-4 defensive scheme which should improve their pass defence, but which may mitigate the effectiveness and sack potential of Mario Williams.

The Tennessee Titans were once a worthy advisory of the Colts however the Nashville-based team are now in a period of significant transition having axed long-time head coach Jeff Fisher as well as trading out Vince Young to the Eagles.

Tennessee have bought in former Seattle quarterback Matt Hasslebeck to groom top pick, Jake Locker, however the Titan’s predominant strength remains its running game which is led by Chris Johnson who’s amassed an incredible 5,500 all purpose yards in his first three season of NFL football.

With some luck, coupled with a relatively easy schedule the Titans could surprise this season, though like Houston, must sharply improve its defence.

A dark cloud hangs over the small-market Jacksonville Jaguars who’ve failed in recent years to generate much local enthusiasm and which has continually seem them linked with a possible relocation to Los Angeles. In the meantime the Jaguars have struggled on the field winning just 20 games over the past three seasons, down from more than 30 over the three prior. A winning season would be considered something of a surprise in Jacksonville this year.

DIVISION PICK: Indianapolis
WILD CARD CHANCE: Houston

AFC WEST

In recent years this division has proven the most deceptive in the NFL with the San Diego Charges perpetual favourites but who’ve inevitably found themselves in trouble due to their habitually slow starts to seasons. Last year they were unable to make up for their 2-5 start and conceded their divisional crown to Kansas City for the first time since 2005.

This season the Charges are expected to reclaim their title and progress deep in the play-offs largely due to a more settled roster thanks to the full-time return of wide-out Vincent Jackson. The Charges have also been granted a much kinder schedule and are entitled to feel extremely comfortable in the hands of standout quarterback Philip Rivers. Last year the hyper-active front-man and MVP contender threw for more yards than any other player in the NFL and tossed more than 30 touchdowns for the second time in his career.

The Kansas City Chiefs turned a 4-12 season into a division title last year on the back of an inspired running game which was the NFL’s most durable and explosive. Meanwhile Matt Cassel threw just seven interceptions all season while making excellent use of the highly talented Dwayne Bowe who caught more than half of Cassel’s touchdown passes.

If the Charges once again fall asleep in the early weeks, expect the Chiefs to take advantage once again despite not playing consecutive years of post-season football since the mid 90s.

The Oakland Raiders were one of the most improved teams last season and like the Chiefs made strong strides largely on the back of a solid running game and limited turnovers from quarterback Jason Campbell. Oakland has made a change at coach, promoting former offensive coordinator Hue Jackson to take over from Tom Cable. They’ve an easy draw and would expect another strong season.

It’s been a sorry fall from grace for the Denver Broncos winning just 4 games last campaign and missing the play-offs for the fifth straight season.

The Broncos have installed former Carolina head honcho John Fox as head coach however he’s sure to find life tough in the Mile High city with innumerable holes which need plugging. Chief among his concerns will be resolving a comical quarterback situation which is currently being fought on three fronts.

On a more positive note the Broncos did land Texas A&M linebacker Von Miller with the number two pick in the draft, a player each and every ESPN expert have nominated as their probable defensive rookie of the year.

DIVISION PICK: San Diego
WILD CARD CHANCE: Kansas City

Predicted AFC seedings following the regular season: Baltimore, New York Jets, San Diego, Indianapolis, Pittsburgh, New England.

Conference Championship Game: Baltimore over New York.

Super Bowl prediction: In what promises to be yet another engrossing NFL season I’m going with a Philadelphia-Baltimore spectacular. At this early stage, and based on Philly’s extremely impressive signings, I’m going with the Eagles.