WHO IS GOING TO WIN THE AFC IF YOU HAD TO PREDICT RIGHT NOW?

[ProPlaya]

HERE IS AN INTERESTING QUESTION. WITH TEAMS LIKE MIA, KC, DEN, INDY LOOKING DOMINATE WHO IS GOING TO WIN THE AFC THIS YEAR? IF YOU HAD TO MAKE YOUR PREDICTION TODAY WHO WOULD IT BE? I WILL POST MY PICK AND SAY MIAMI DOLPHINS. BEATING A TUFF NY GIANTS TEAM IN THE MEADOWLANDS WITH EASE AND HITTING A VERY WEAK PART OF THEIR SCHEDULE I DO NOT THINK THEY WILL LOSE UNTIL THEY PLAY TENN IN TENN WEEK WHICH WOULD MAKE THEM 7-1 GOING INTO THAT GAME. AFTER THAT GAME THEY PLAY BALT AND WASH AT HOME AND DALLAS ON THE ROAD WHICH THEY COULD WIN ALL THREE MAKING THEIR POSSIBLE RECORD 10-2. THEY HAVE THE #1 D IN POINTS SCORED AGAINST IN THE AFC AND THEIR DEFENSE LOOKS LIKE A SUPERBOWL TEAM. I THINK THAT HOUSTON GAME WAS A BLESSING IN DISGUISE AND NOW THEY SEEM EXTREMELY FOCUSED EVERY WEEK. ANYWAYS THAT IS MY OPINION HERE ARE THE CURRENT ODDS:

Oakland Raiders +2500
New York Jets +15000
Pittsburgh Steelers +1000
Denver Broncos +500
Tennessee Titans +850
Miami Dolphins +450
Indianapolis Colts +450
New England Patriots +1200
Kansas City Chiefs +375
San Diego Chargers +100000
Buffalo Bills +1300
Baltimore Ravens +1000
Cleveland Browns +3000
Jacksonville Jaguars +20000
Houston Texans +15000
Cincinatti Bengals +40000

 

[mr.teaser]

Miami Dolphins

 

[thegodfather]

cleveland browns

 

[brutusthebuckeye+]

cleveland browns

 

[ProPlaya]

Godfather and Bru,

Do you like Cleveland because of the value?? 30-1 with a wide open division. Pitt not looking like the same dominate team of the past and Balt an average team? You think that Clev can turn it around with the way Couch looked? I agree with the value but do you think they could beat a team like Den, KC, Indy or MIA?

 

[Examiner]

Well I think this could be a very smart investment if you go about it the right way. The first thing you want to look at is a team that is not going to make the playoffs. You can eliminate the chargers, bengals, Jags, Texans, and Jets right away. I know it's early in the season and a lot can happen but if your going to place this bet now, this were how I would start. Now you have to look at teams that will make the playoffs, history says teams that start off 4-0/5-0 have a very great chance of making the playoffs so pencil in Colts, Chiefs, and the Broncos. Finally the third group you have to include is the wild card group, teams that have a shot to win a division or get in with the wildcard. This is the biggest list as it includes the Dolphins, Raiders, Ravens, Bills, Pats, Browns, Steelers and Titans. I included the dolphins in this group because historically the AFC East beat up on each other all the time.

Anyway out of this group I think we can firmly jab a fork in the steelers, browns and ravens who have a habit of beating each other up and only one of them, the division winner, will make the playoffs so I am not going to take a 1 in 3 shot of one of these teams making it to the playoffs never mind the AFC. I also think the Raiders are cooked because of the division they are in and the start the Broncos and chiefs are off to.

This is how I see the division’s winding up. KC and the Colts win the division and the North is won by wither of the dreaded three I mentioned above. The east will also be close with Miami, New England, and Buffalo fighting it out. Wild card should get at least Denver and titans with a look for the afc East for the third spot.

Now this is where it gets tricky because you want the hot team going into the playoffs which could be anybody and you would love to pack a team that has home field. The colts and chiefs would be tough at their places to try and win a ball game but defense wins playoffs so Miami could also have a case for this especially if they run the ball well with Rickey. Late in the season Dungy teams always find a way to lose and Rickey could be worn down for the fish. I think the choice is between these three as of right now with a dark horse in Buffalo or Tennessee.


eX

 

[ProPlaya]

Great insight Ex, if you had to choose one who would it be. I am going to follow ask this exact question in 4 weeks to see where peoples heads are at with the AFC.

 

[Geek]

I like the balance of the Colts. Always had a pretty good offense, now a defense?!?! Colts are a very strong team!

Value wise, the Patriots.

GL

Geek

 

[ProPlaya]

Hey Geek,

I think Indy does have a good team and home dome advantage for sure if they can sustain what they are doing. My only thing is they have not really faced a dominate defense just yet and tonight will be the real big challenge of their young season to see how they cope with a swarming defense like Tampa. I think NE has a chance, I just can't see them winning the AFC. I see value in Cleveland 30-1 that is big considering that division. Interesting how no one mentioned Denver or KC yet, or should I say Denver or Dante Hall. Without Hall KC would be 3-2 and no one would be talking superbowl with them. Once teams learn to punt out of bounds, they will beat KC. Green Bay does it this week and wins.

 

[theerodfather]

KANSAS CITY CHIEFS

THEERODFATHER OF SPORTS

 

[Examiner]

Thanks proplaye,

If I had to choose one right now I would list them in this order.

1) Colts
2) KC
3) Denver

Not sure if Plummer will be able to play well in a big game (playoffs) and they are banged up and that could cost them a player down the road. I like KC but like you mentioned with hall I am not sold on them yet, but arrowhead would be a tough place to play a playoff game. Colts get the nod right now for me. I don't understand the call for Cleveland as a darkhorse. Not a good road team (okay played well in Pittsburgh) and the are not playing well enough to get home field right now, not a bad team just thing there are better dark horses.

eX

 

[ProPlaya]

Interesting how the Colts came up twice. James out 2 games in a row, that may be costly late in December. Agree 100% with Jake, not sold on him yet. Looks great Monday night against Oakland but how good is Oakland? Against Detroit he looked average. Not sold on Denver's D and KC/Dante Hall can be beat, just don't kick inbounds. So far and I know it is early but Manning looks very average right now against Tampa's swarming D.

 

[BZ]

Tenn will win not only the division but also the super bowl IMO.

 

[ProPlaya]

Wow BZ,

That is a shocking pick. Why do you think that? They got handled by Indy 33-7 and lost to NE giving up a lead in the 2nd half. Great QB, average back and receivers and average D. Can't see it but would love to hear why you like them?

 

[nfny]

denver

 

[5teamparlay]

MIAMI

 

[mhk]

The winner of (game #2) between KC/Denver later this year will be your AFC SB rep, imo..

 

[ProPlaya]

Hey 5 Team I am with you. NFNY, Denver completely outplayed KC and lost cause of bad special teams coaching. Not sold on the Denver D and Jake will eventually get to his normal self throwing a million picks when he plays a good defense. Looked sub par to me against Detroit and if Portis gets more injured than he is, they will have no chance at all. Interesting thoughts.

 

[ProPlaya]

Well I must admit Indy 1st half looked extremly weak and then 2nd half looked like a Superbowl team. Can KC/Dante Hall remain lucky and win from Dante's punt returns or do teams smarten up and stop kicking to him? Will Denver remain healthy and will the Snake throw his picks come late in the season? Will Indy look like the 1st half against Tampa or 2nd? Will Miami fade in December playing NE, Buff on the road in some very cold weather and hosting Philly and NYJ with Pennington? What are your thoughts now?

 

[Oren1]

denver or KC