AFC Playoff Predictions

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.tnsports

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I'm going to start up writing an article on playoff predictions and predict the AFC playoff contenders. First off, you look at the reigning AFC Champions, the New England Patriots, who return with mostly the same team, but more importantly a couple of stud draft picks, along with the record breakers, Tom Brady and Randy Moss. I don't see Brady putting up 50+ TD passes again, but I do see him having another great year, and the same goes for Moss. Their defense is old but good, with their draftee Mayo brining in some youth and LB.

Now looking at the AFC championship losers, the San Diego Chargers, they're returning with the always phenomenal LaDainian Tomlinson, and their quarterback, Phillip Rivers, who showed some promise with veteran WR Chris Chambers, and emerging WR, Vincent Jackson. Their defense on the other hand is great as always. They have Merriman and Phillips playing good at LB, and Cromartie and Jammer in the secondary.

Now to the 3rd place team in the Colts. They're returning with their elite offense in Manning, Harrison, Wayne, Gonzalez and Addai. The defense for the team is sort of a question. They have Mathis and Freeney on the D-Line, but they're lacking at linebacker, with Brackett, Guzzman and Keiaho. Bethea and Sanders are their only real threats in the secondary, and was something they really needed to work on in the draft, but, failed.

Coming in fourth would be the Jacksonville Jaguars, who come in with Taylor and Jones-Drew in their explosive running game. Porter being out for 6 weeks is a huge blow, and they could very well start off bad. Garrard is a good QB, but takes too long to throw. Jaguar fans should hope he's fixed that. Their defense will be decent this year, while lacking in the linebacking core. Mathis and Nelson should prove to be good again this year.

In fifth would be the men behind the Steel Curtain, the Pittsburgh Steelers. Big Ben should be a good QB like normal, especially with the WRs they have in Ward, Washington, Holmes and their 2nd round draft pick, Sweed. I would be a bit worried about their running game with Willie Parker coming off an injury, and worse then anything, it's a knee injury, which is never good for running backs, and could end any chance of them being a top notch RB again.

With the last seed in the playoffs last year, we have the Tennessee Titans in 6th. With Young having a bad year last year, Titans fans were worried if he could live up to his expectations, and I am thinking this is the year he does, and if he doesn't, he needs the boot. They have what seems like an unlimited line of running backs this year, with White, Henry, Johnson, Ganther, Cuff and Little. White and Henry/Johnson will likely be the starters, but it's still a battle. The wide receiver situation is a mystery with Gage and Williams being the best ones last year. Fisher talks big about their fourth round draft pick Hawkins, so we'll see. They failed to lock up Haynesworth, which could be a good thing, to see if he plays as good. Kearse is a mystery for now, and we'll see how he does.

Now that we've went over the playoff teams in the AFC last year, we'll look at my predictions for playoff teams this year, and my records for them.

.:Wildcard Matchups:.
6th Seed Cleveland Browns vs 3rd Seed San Diego Chargers
5th Seed Tennessee Titans vs 4th Seed Pittsburgh Steelers

Browns vs Chargers
:Winner:
Browns

Titans vs Steelers
:Winner:
Titans

.:Divisonal Round Matchups:.
1st Seed New England Patriots vs 6th Seed Cleveland Browns
2nd Seed Indianapolis Colts vs 5th Seed Tennessee Titans

Patriots vs Browns
:Winner:
Patriots

Titans vs Colts
:Winner:
Colts

AFC Championship Game
1st Seed New England Patriots vs 2nd Seed Indianapolis Colts

Patrios vs Colts
:Winner:
Patriots

Superbowl
New England Patriots vs ?????

Expect the NFC's soon.
 

Agent Zero

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ok i really dont think the browns are going to beat the chargers and the titans are going to beat the steelers
 

bulls12

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ok i really dont think the browns are going to beat the chargers and the titans are going to beat the steelers
the Browns may not have much of a chance at beating the Chargers, but the Titans could probably beat the Steelers, unless Roethlisberger were healthy.
 

.GR

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1. Even without Parker the Steelers still have Mendenhall, Melvin Moore and Corey Davis(who is one of the coaching staffs favorite players and they beleive he will be a pro bowl RB someday.)
2. Frank, why wouldnt Big Ben be healthy. You cant predict a loss in the playoffs because you think a guy will get injured. LOL
 

Giantmetfan07

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Im gonna go ahead and just predict my standings in the entire league
AFC

East:
Pats - 14-2
Jets - 9-7
Bills - 7-9
Dolphins - 3-13

North:
Browns - 11-5
Bengals - 10-6
Steelers - 9-5
Ravens - 6-10

South:
Colts - 13-3
Jags - 12-6
Titans - 9-5
Texans - 4-12

West:
Chargers - 12-4
Chiefs - 6-10
Raiders - 5-11
Broncos - 5-11

NFC

East: i hate to order it this way but....
Cowboys - 12-4
Giants - 11-5
Eagles - 11-5
Redskins - 9-7

North:
Vikings - 11-5
Bears - 8-8
Packers - 7-9
Lions - 5-11

South:
Saints - 10-6
Panthers - 9-5
Bucs - 9-5
Falcons - 5-11

West:
Cardinals - 10-6
Seahawks - 9-7
49er's - 8-8
Rams - 6-10

Ill give ya my playoff predictions prob. tonight.
 

elcheato

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Whats so wrong about his AFC North predictions? I think he is dead on with #1 8)
 

VC15

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Steelers=Overrated

The Browns will finish first and the Steelers will be a game or two back.
 

Yankees2772

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Jets at 9-7 is wishful thinking... To me, they are a 7 win team at best.

I understand you're making 32 predictions, so I won't sit here and judge every one like some people are... But IDK if the Cardinals can win the division yet... On D they have Adrian Wilson, and that's pretty much it (yes I know their D-line is solid, but still...) and if you do not have a chosen QB, you can't make the playoffs.
 

JoshHoward5

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You really think that Vince Young should get the boot if he doesn't have a good stats year? This isn't fantasy football, it's about winning football games, and Vince is winning them games. He's the reason for the turn around the had over the last two years, because the guy knows how to win.
 

Giantmetfan07

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WOW LMAO!
what's so bad about that? The browns were a great team last year, it just took a little while to get off to a start. Im goin all the way with them this year (well, not really) Im seein them in either first or second.
ANd Honestly, for the NFC West, who is really a solid team there? Shaun Alexander is off the radar, Alex Smith got knocked around last year so we dont even know if he's a solid QB. You can't put any weight on Gore's shoulders because he'll drop it,
On 260 carries last year, the guy who I hope will have a good year, barely crossed 1100 and only got 5 TD's. YOu can't RELY on him in the red zone, so that's an issue. THen what do you do? Smith's best options are Isaac Bruce and Bryant Johnson. TE is good, I like Vernon Davis.
But if you can't score, you can't win. AT LEAST the Cardinals HAVE QB's to choose from and have good options to receive and have a solid running back. Im giving it to the Cardinals this year, I think their youth is finally gonna show some true talent this year.
 

Giantmetfan07

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Jets at 9-7 is wishful thinking... To me, they are a 7 win team at best.

I understand you're making 32 predictions, so I won't sit here and judge every one like some people are... But IDK if the Cardinals can win the division yet... On D they have Adrian Wilson, and that's pretty much it (yes I know their D-line is solid, but still...) and if you do not have a chosen QB, you can't make the playoffs.
lol funny because it's true. The idea raced through my mind but... im not sure. Maybe they'll do the smart thing and just stick with Kellen Clemens. if they give the ball to Pennington a lot ill quickly change that prediction.

I pretty much made that prediction off of two things
1. They have two great returners, which is going to really help put them in great position each drive, seeing as the oponent probably wont know which will receive the kick (hoping they use two guys to receive).
2. Clemens starts at least 12 games, Pennington out of the mix.
 

jarrod2323

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that's unless the rumors of the Jets pursuing Favre are true....
 

Giantmetfan07

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then ill bump them up to a 9 or 10. Favre's good, and they got some talent at WR
 

.GR

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I was more shocked at Pittsburgh in third than anything ;)
 

JoshHoward5

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Yeah I really don't see Cincy do anything this year. They weren't that good last year, and now they have trouble coming in from the inside. If anyone in the AFC North can come back after a terrible year it would be the Ravens.
 

Giantmetfan07

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i personally believe that will be a tough division too. It was very hard to make a decision there thats why I put the 3 within 2 games, because I think all 3 are very tough and will be even matchups.
I personally think the Steelers are overrated, but thats just my opinion.
 

.GR

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Why are they overrated? Explain...
 

Giantmetfan07

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like i said i dont really have a reason I just personally, opinion wise think they are an overrated team. I think Roethlisberger is overrated, and I think Willie Parker is overrated. As I saw last year, he certainly isnt a red-zone threat which should worry any fan.

also the Jets did good in 06 and barely changed a thing, then they just got pounded on by everyone. SO who's to say that the Bengals can't do the opposite?
 

JoshHoward5

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like i said i dont really have a reason I just personally, opinion wise think they are an overrated team. I think Roethlisberger is overrated, and I think Willie Parker is overrated. As I saw last year, he certainly isnt a red-zone threat which should worry any fan.

also the Jets did good in 06 and barely changed a thing, then they just got pounded on by everyone. SO who's to say that the Bengals can't do the opposite?
They drafted Mendenhall for that. But I really think the Steelers will win the division. They only worry I have about them is there offensive line. They just lost Faneca who was the leader of that line, and isn't a hit any team would like to take. But for that they are solid everywhere.
 
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