With the 2013 NFL season kicking off tonight (as soon as the threat of lightning passes) with a rematch of last year's AFC Divisional classic between Baltimore and Denver, let's have some fun and pick the six teams who will progress to the postseason from the conference...
AFC East
The Dolphins will be competitive and the Bills may be better than most expect. The Jets will continue to be a tough defensive team, but here is possibly less offensive talent on that roster this year than last year, and with diminished leadership in the locker room, I sense an epic implosion on the horizon. Despite all the offseason turmoil and the integration of new players on offense, the Patriots will continue to churn out 11 or 12 wins and win a sweat-free division title.
Winner: New England Patriots
Wildcard: none
AFC North
In many ways, it's business as usual in the AFC North - three viable playoff teams... and the Cleveland Browns. But there may be a changing of the guard happening. The Bengals are on the way up, the Steelers may be on the way down, and the Ravens are doing their best to retool to defend their Super Bowl Championship season. Quietly, Cincinnati has built one of the most talented rosters in the NFL. Don't expect them to be quiet on the field this season.
Winner: Cincinnati Bengals
Wildcard: Baltimore Ravens
AFC South
The conversation starts and stops with the Texans. Jacksonville continues to be a listless franchise, and nothing short of a move to London is likely to change that. Tennessee has some promise, but still has too many deficiencies to be competitive. Indianapolis was a great story for the league last year, and their future is bright with Andrew Luck, but I fear he still commits a lot of turnovers this year and the Colts' record will be a more true-to-form 6-10 or 7-9.
Winner: Houston Texans
Wildcard: none
AFC West
Denver figures to be the class of this division again this year, but may face a bit more opposition from Kansas City. While Andy Reid will continue to be a bad head coach - a poor game manager who abandons the run far too often - he can scheme a passing offense, and the Chiefs have enough talent on both sides of the ball to be in the playoff hunt. The Chargers will continue to be admirable on defense, but hiring an offensive coach who can't coach offense was not a step in the right direction for the franchise. And Oakland's only competition comes from Houston - the Astros - for who can be the worst franchise in professional sports this year.
Winner: Denver Broncos
Wildcard: Kansas City Chiefs
It feels lame to pick only one change in the playoff teams from last year, but it also feels right looking at the conference and who can be expected to win 9-10 games or more this year. I imagine this process will be much more difficult for the NFC - more on that to come later...
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