2015 AFC Predictions

Part 1 of the predictions featured the NFC, so now let's turn our attention to the AFC....

AFC East 

1) Miami Dolphins:
What I Like: Isn't it about time the Dolphins break through and get to the playoffs? Every year it seems like this team is ready to take the next step, and every year they seem to fall short. You have to like the development of QB Ryan Tannehill at this stage of his career. They rid themselves of the Mike Wallace contract, and signed dependable Kenny Stills to go along with Jarvis Landry and draft pick DaVante Parker at WR to give Tannehill some weapons. They signed the underrated Jordan Cameron at TE, and they seemed to have fix their offensive line issues. They have a legit pass rusher in Cameron Wake, and they made the biggest splash in free agency by signing Ndamukong Suh. Think about the combination of Wake and Suh on third down. It could be scary. They get the weak AFC South in non-division games. They open at Washington, at Jacksonville and home to the Bills. That could give them a nice start. Plus, they finish with four out of their last five games of the year at home. This should be the year the Fish make it happen and get back into the playoffs for the first time since 2008.

What I Don't Like: Let's start with the fact that Joe Philbin in the head coach. I'm not sold on Philbin being a great head coach in this league, and you have to wonder if he can actually get this team over the top. You wonder about the Dolphins mentality because they have looked good on paper before in recent years, and until they finally do it, it could be a factor in their season. They are in a tough division in the competitive AFC East, and they still have to deal with the Patriots twice a year. Their schedule is a little tricky at times. They lose a home game in Miami to go play the Jets in London in Week 4. They have three straight road games (NE, Buffalo, and Philly) in Weeks 8-10. Their final six games are at the Jets, home vs. Baltimore and the Giants, at San Diego, and they finish with home games against Indy and New England. That won't be easy to navigate down the stretch.

Prediction: 10-6 and Winners of the AFC East

2) New England Patriots:
What I Like: They are the Patriots and they are coming off their 4th Super Bowl title in the last decade. They have Bill Belichick and Tom Brady, and that is worth 10 wins a year right off the bat. They fixed their offensive line issues last year, and with TE Rob Gronkowski healthy, this offense is lethal. With the Deflategate scandal hanging over their heads all offseason, they will use that as motivation. Belichick loves the role of being the "hated" team in the NFL, and he will use that to get his troops ready to roll every week. They have a three game home stand from Weeks 7-9 (Jets, Miami, and Washington), and until someone dethrones them, it is hard not to call them a favorite in the AFC.

What I Don't Like: It wasn't all parties and celebrations for the Super Bowl Champs this offseason. They dodged a bullet when Brady's suspension was overturned and he will not miss the first four games of the year. The team lost Darrelle Revis, Brandon Browner, and Vince Wilfork from their defense. The Revis departure could be a deathblow for them. They also don't get a lot of breaks in the schedule. They have to travel to Indy, Dallas and Denver. Their division is a lot tougher than recent years with the Dolphins, Jets, and Bills all significantly better, and they finish with their last two games on the road at the Jets and at Miami. Plus, they get the Steelers at home to start the season, and that will not be an easy opener. This could be the year the Patriots simply come up a little short in their own division.

Prediction: 10-6 and a Wild Card berth

3) New York Jets:
What I Like: One word: Defense. The Jets defense is legitimate and it could be one of the best units in all of football. They welcomed Darrelle Revis and Antonio Cromartie back to the secondary. They added CB Buster Skrine as a nickel corner, which should help their depth at that spot. They got DE Leonard Williams as a steal with the #6 pick of the draft. Williams will join a tremendous defensive line that features Muhammad Wilkerson. There is no reason to believe that the Jets defense won't dominate all year long. On offense, they added WR Brandon Marshall in a trade, and they drafted the speedy Devin Smith in the second round to go with Eric Decker and Jeremy Kerley. QB Geno Smith has plenty of weapons now in that offense. RB Zac Stacy gives the ground game a nice 1-2 punch with Chris Ivory. The hiring of Todd Bowles as head coach was highly regarded around the league. Bowles was considered one of the best head coaching candidates out there when the Jets brought him on board. They have to deal with back-to-back road games only once the whole season, and their Thursday night game is at home against the Bills in Week 10. The Jets could very easily go from a 4-12 team to a playoff team in one year.

What I Don't Like: As good of an offseason the Jets had their training camp was a disaster. First, Sheldon Richardson was suspended for the first four games of the season due to a substance abuse violation. Then, as camp opened it was revealed that Richardson was arrested again for driving 143 MPH with a loaded gun, marijuana, and a kid in his car. Rookie Devin Smith punctured a lung and missed all of the preseason. Dee Milner got hurt again and will miss time at the start of the season. In only Jets fashion, Geno Smith got into a locker room fight with LB IK Ekempali, who punched Smith and broke his jaw. Smith is going to miss the first quarter of the season at least. The Jets QB situation was the biggest red flag for me going into the season, and now they have no choice but to turn to Ryan Fitzpatrick. We know what Fitzpatrick is: He is a journeyman who can win a game or two for your team, but he is not the guy to get a team to the playoffs. The quarterback uncertainty is what will doom the Jets in 2015. Also, you always have to be a little nervous about a first-time head coach like Todd Bowles. I know he is highly regarded, but a lot of coaches are great coordinators and fail to become great head coaches. It is a lot different coaching one side of the ball, and then becoming the head man making all the key decisions on game day.

Prediction: 8-8 and 3rd place in the AFC East

4) Buffalo Bills:
What I Like: The addition of Rex Ryan as head coach is certainly a positive in my opinion. He brings a much needed jolt of energy and excitement that the franchise has lacked in a decade. Plus, you add Rex's expertise on defense to a unit that was one of the best in the NFL last year, and you have a potentially great situation. The Bills added three playmakers to their offense: Percy Harvin, LeSean McCoy, and Charles Clay. Add those guys with Sammy Watkins, and the Bills offense features some real home run hitters. Rex will get the most out of that defense, and look for a big year out of that front seven. Mario Williams should be licking his chops now that Rex is aboard. Four out of their first six games are at home, and they finish with back-to-back home games (Dallas and the Jets) to finish the season. The Bills will be competitive and dangerous all season long, and they have a chance to make the playoffs for the first time since 1999.

What I Don't Like: Like the Jets, the Bills have a lot of questions at QB. They are going with Tyrod Taylor to start the year. If he falters, then E.J. Manuel gets a shot. That isn't a good thing either way. You can't win without a QB, and the Bills have too big of a void in that area. Their schedule is very difficult at times. They open with the Colts and Patriots at home (Tom Brady will be suspended though) and travel to Miami in Week 3. They have to go on the road for five out of six games in Weeks 10-15. They have a three game road stretch in Weeks 10-12 (at Jets, at NE, and at KC), host Houston in Week 13, and head to Philly and Washington in Weeks 14 and 15. That will be very difficult for them to overcome. I think the Bills issues at QB will doom them in Rex's first season in upstate New York.

Prediction: 8-8 and last in the AFC East 

AFC NORTH
1) Pittsburgh Steelers: 
What I Like: The Steelers have an offense that is flat out explosive. Ben Roethlisberger is coming off one of his most productive seasons last year. They have one of the best receivers in the NFL in Antonio Brown, one of the best running backs in the NFL in Le'Veon Bell, and they have a young receiving corps that could blossom into one of the best in the league with Markus Wheaton and Martavis Bryant. They finally have an offensive line that is solid and legitimate, and they have a franchise QB who they can rely on. The Steelers will be able to move the ball and score points on any defense. Although they lost defensive mastermind Dick LeBeau, they replaced him with in-house coach Keith Butler. They are young on defense, but there front seven has a chance to get going this year. If they get Jarvis Jones going, and they get production out of first round pick Bud Dupree, then this defense will surprise people. They get a break in the schedule because they go to New England for the Thursday night opener, but the Pats will be without Tom Brady in that one. Also, they get San Fran at home, go to St. Louis, and host Baltimore in their first four games. They have a three game home stand in Weeks 8-10, and they host Denver and Indy in December. They went 11-5 last year and lost at home to the Ravens in the Wild Card round, but I think they can go even further this year.

What I Don't Like: What happens if the defense completely melts down without Dick Lebeau? What happens if the young guys on defense don't step up? If that happens, then the Steelers will struggle to make the playoffs. You always wonder about the health of Big Ben as well. You just pray he makes it through 16 games if you are a Steelers fan. Starting center Maurkice Pouncey injured his leg in preseason and there is no timetable for his return. Plus, the Steelers have to deal with the suspensions of Le'veon Bell and Martavis Bryant to start the season. That will not help them one bit. Their division is very tough as well. We know the history between the Steelers and the Ravens. The Bengals have been tough the last four years, and the even the Browns can give the Steelers some trouble. It is not an easy road by any stretch for the Steelers to navigate to the playoffs/

Prediction: 11-5 and winners of the AFC North

2) Baltimore Ravens:
What I Like: John Harbaugh proved once again that he is one of the best coaches in the NFL last year. He is a really good NFL head coach, and as long as he is manning the sidelines the Ravens will be okay. The same goes for Joe Flacco. He doesn't have the hype like some of the other big name QBs, but he is a very solid player, and he will keep the Ravens competitive no matter who is around him. They just seem to be a threat every year, no matter who comes and who goes. Their defense is young and athletic, and their front seven is very stout. Also, the secondary will be healthy again. Their schedule is ridiculously friendly. They get a stretch of games from Weeks 8-11 in which they have three home games (SD, Jax, and St. Louis) and a bye week. Then, they get a three game home stand in Weeks 14-16 (Seattle, KC, Pittsburgh) near the end of the season. Their only difficult road game that is out of the division is at Denver in Week 1. The Ravens are always in the playoff chase every year, and this year will be no different.

What I Don't Like: This team lost some really key players in the offseason. They lost Torrey Smith, Jacoby Jones, and Owen Daniels on offense. They also lost offensive coordinator Gary Kubiak to Denver. On defense, the Ravens traded Haloti Ngata to the Lions. Those are some big losses of guys who helped them win a Super Bowl in 2012. They are banning on rookie WR Breshad Perriman and rookie TE Maxx Williams to fill those voids. It will be very tough to expect that to happen so smoothly.  Their division is also very tough, and although they could be a good team, they could fall short of the playoffs.

Predicition: 8-8 and second place in the AFC North.

3) Cincinnati Bengals:
What I Like: The Bengals still have one of the most talented rosters in the AFC. A.J. Green, Mohamed Sanu, Marvin Jones, Jeremy Hill and Giovanni Bernard give Andy Dalton some weapons and some options, and their offensive line has been solid and dependable. Their defense is very solid and they added Michael Johnson back from Tampa Bay to provide more of a pass rush. There is talent all over the roster, and they have been to the playoffs four years in a row. They are bound to break through and go on a deep playoff run. Their schedule isn't too bad. They only have to go back-to-back road games once the entire year (Weeks 15 and 16 at SF and at Denver.) They should be a factor in the AFC North once again.

What I Don't Like: After four straight playoff appearances and no playoff wins to show for it, are we completely on board with Marvin Lewis? Are we sold on Andy Dalton leading the Bengals to where they want to go? I think the answer is easy on those two questions. The Bengals look like the classic team that has been given a chance to make a run the past few years, they didn't do it, and now their shot is gone. I think they are still behind the Ravens and Steelers in their division, and I think they will take a step back this year because their entire focus will be about winning a playoff game, and that pressure will sink their season. They look like one of the big underachievers of the 2015 NFL season.

Prediction: 6-10 and third place in the AFC North.

4) Cleveland Browns:
What I Like: The Browns might not be that far off after their 7-9 campaign in 2014. They added Dwayne Bowe and Brian Hartline to the offense to go with the combination of Isaiah Crowell and Terrence West at RB. They added Cameron Erving in the first round of the draft to help their offensive line, and they addressed their QB situation by adding Josh McCown in free agency. If Johnny Manziel is ready to play, and it looks like he won't be this year, then at least McCown can give them a veteran presence at the position. By adding DT Danny Shelton also in the first round of the draft, the Browns added to their strength: Defense. You knew Mike Pettine was going to put together a good defense, and he has himself a nice corps of young players to build that defense even more. They added Randy Starks and Tramon Williams to come in and play key roles as well. They have a three game home stand in Weeks 12-14 (Baltimore, Cincy, and SF) that could give them a spark near the end of the year. Maybe the Browns catch lightning in a bottle and are one of this year's sleeper teams and make a surprise playoff appearance.

What I Don't Like: They are the Browns for one. Also, they are still the weakest team in a division that features the Steelers, Ravens, and Bengals. Did the Browns really close the gap on those three teams? If the Browns were in another division, I would give them hope for 2015, but not in the AFC North. I know Josh McCown has had his moments, but he isn't the guy who is going to turn this franchise around and put it on his back and head to the playoffs. Plus, when you possible franchise saving QB spent part of his offseason in rehab like Johnny Manziel did, then I don't think that is a good sign. In addition to having to play the Ravens, Steelers, and Bengals six times, they have some really tough games out of division. At the Jets will not be easy in Week 1, and they have games at San Diego, against Denver, and at Seattle and at KC in Weeks 15 and 16. Count them up and that is 5 potential losses before you even start looking at the divisional games. I just think the Browns are headed for another down year, and the questions and the pressure will continue to mount on this organization.

Prediction: 5-11 and last in the AFC North. 

AFC SOUTH
1) Indianapolis Colts: 
What I Like: Just put the Colts and Andrew Luck in first place of this division for the next 10 years. It starts with Luck and ends with Luck. He is the next big thing in the NFL, and every year he is getting one step closer to the Super Bowl. Perhaps this is his year. The Colts haven't had a consistent running game, and this offseason they added Frank Gore. Also, they gave Luck another weapon in Andre Johnson to go along with the dynamic T.Y. Hilton, Dwayne Allen, Coby Fleener and Donte Moncrief. It doesn't actually matter because Luck will make all of them good players anyway. On defense, the key is that they got Trent Cole in free agency, and they will get Robert Mathis back from injury to help their pass rush. Their division is still very weak, they get New England and Denver at home this year, and their only brutal road game is at Pittsburgh. Add it all up and the Colts will head into the season as the favorite in the AFC, and they will probably end up with the #1 seed going into the playoffs.

What I Don't Like: Andre Johnson, Frank Gore, and Trent Cole have been great pros, but maybe there is too much tread on the tires for them. Perhaps they are past their prime, and those moves don't work out. On defense, their secondary is solid with Vontae Davis leading the way, but they are banking on Cole and Mathis to steady their pass rush. I'm not so sure that is going to work out in their favor. It seems like they forgot to worry about their defense. Also, are you the biggest Chuck Pagano fan? Is he that good of a coach? I'm not sure he is. They are going to playoffs, but perhaps they will be overlooking a lot of teams and not play as well as they possibly can during the regular season.

Prediction: 13-3 and winners of the AFC South

2) Houston Texans:
What I Like: This team should have been a playoff team last year. If they had any consistency at the QB position, they would have been in the playoffs. J.J. Watt is the best defensive player in the league. They added Vince Wilfork up front. They also revamped their secondary by adding Rahim Moore and Stevie Brown to the safety spot. If Jadeveon Clowney, who was the forgotten man last year, gives them any type of production this year, they this defense will wreak havoc on opposing offenses. I think Brian Hoyer, given the right circumstances, can do enough to get a team to win. He still has DeAndre Hopkins and his 76 catches and 1,210 yards from 2015. Their offense is probably a little underrated. Their division is weak with the exception of the Colts, and they get the NFC South out of conference. Is there any doubt that Bill O'Brien can coach his butt off too? This team should be battling for a playoff spot down to the last week once again.

What I Don't Like: As much as I think Brian Hoyer isn't terrible, he still is Brian Hoyer. If he falls apart, then the Texans turn to Ryan Mallet, who is still an unknown at this point in his career. The QB position is the one spot that is holding the Texans back at this point. They would be a surefire playoff team, and they would challenge the Colts in the division if they had a better or more settled triggerman. It looks like Arian Foster could be out for a long time due to a groin injury suffered in training camp. We all know how important he has been to the Texans when they have been successful. Also, they did lose some other key players in the offseason. Andre Johnson, Danieal Manning, Chris Myers, Brooks Reed, and D.J. Swearinger all left, and that could leave a void in the locker room and on the field. The second half of their schedule is pretty tough. Starting in Week 10, they have at Cincy, the Jets, New Orleans, at Buffalo, New England and at Indy in Week 15. That is tough stretch towards the end of the year.

Prediction: 7-9 and second place in the AFC South

3) Tennessee Titans:
What I Like: They made the move they had to make and they drafted Marcus Mariota #2 overall. We have seen some rookie QBs come in and have success, and I could see a similar situation like the one that Washington had with RG III in 2012. Maybe Mariota just uses his natural ability and finds ways to win. It will be interesting to see him progress this year, but I wouldn't be surprised to see him play well and win some games on his own. The Titans also added Dorial Green-Beckham in the second round of the draft. If this works out, then Mariota to Green-Beckham could be very exciting to watch. The rest of Mariota's weapons are pretty good with Kendall Wright, Delanie Walker, Harry Douglas and Bishop Sankey. Their biggest defensive addition was Brian Orakpo on the field and Dick Lebeau on the coaching staff. It will be interesting to see LeBeau get a hold of the Titans defense and try to instill his style and scheme. Their schedule is friendly in the sense that they have what is essentially a four game home stand. In Week 3, they host the Colts, then they have a bye in Week 4, and then they have three games at home in a row with Buffalo, Miami, and Atlanta coming to town. The Titans could be a very sneaky team this year-especially if Mariota is as good as advertised.

What I Don't Like: Anytime you start a rookie QB, you are taking the risk of having some trouble and some serious bumps in the road. Throw in the fact that Mariota might hold out, and that could be a recipe for disaster. Let's face it: This is a team in transition. They were 2-14 last year for a reason. They are rebuilding and they will go as far as Mariota takes them. They are still behind the Colts and Texans in their own division. Their last four games are very difficult: At Jets, at Patriots, home against Houston, and at Indy. They also open the season with two straight on the road. Also, how much do you trust head coach Ken Whisenhunt? It will be a rebuilding year for the Titans, and two years from now is when they can start thinking playoffs.

Prediction: 6-10 and third place in the AFC South

4) Jacksonville Jaguars:
What I Like: The Jags have put pieces in place to make young QB Blake Bortles successful in year two of his career. They added Stefan Wisniewski and Jermey Parnell to beef up the offensive line. They have a young group of receivers like Allen Robinson, Marqise Lee, and Allen Hurns to help him out in the passing game. They signed Bernard Pierce and drafted T.J. Yeldon to help in the running game. They have the "X Factor" in Denard Robinson, and they added one top free agents in the offseason in TE Julius Thomas. They are putting their chips to the center of the table and going all-in with Bortles and hoping that it pays off. Quietly, their front seven is very solid, and Sen'Derrick Marks is the anchor of that group. It is hard to see where the Jaguars are in terms of the pecking order of AFC playoff contenders, but the arrow is definitely pointing up.

What I Don't Like: Besides the fact that they are the Jaguars, this whole London thing is a disaster for them. Think about this: The Jaguars will play just one home game from September 27th to November 19th! That is astonishing. They have three straight road games from September 27th to October 11th, then they host Houston, and then they travel to London to take on the Bills on October 25th. After a bye on November 1st, they have two straight road games at the Jets and at Baltimore. That stretch of the season is going to kill the Jaguars season. Mark my words. That is what Jags owner Shad Khan gets for trying to "market" his franchise and sacrificing them to the London every year. Also, even if the Jags survive that stretch, they still are the Jaguars, and until they prove they can be together a successful season, everyone is going to consider them the NFL's red-headed step child. To add to their "Jagwads" label, they will miss TE Julius Thomas for at least the first month of the season due to finger surgery after an injury in the preseason.

Prediction: 5-11 and last place in the AFC South

AFC WEST
1) San Diego Chargers:
What I Like: The Chargers finished 9-7 last year, and they very easily could have been a playoff team, and as long as Phillip Rivers is their QB, then they will be in playoff contention. I was impressed by some of the moves they made this year. They added OG Orlando Franklin up front, they added Stevie Johnson and Jacoby Jones to go along with Keenan Allen, Malcolm Floyd, Antonio Gates (He will be suspended the first four games though), and Ladarius Green. They drafted a potential home-run hitter at running back with the selection of Melvin Gordon in the first round. Their defense seems like it is ready to really flourish with a lot of young and up and coming talent (Melvin Ingram, Corey Liuget, and Donald Butler). Here are their five games: Detroit, at Cincy, at Minnesota, Cleveland, and Pittsburgh. They should be 4-1 and off to a good start heading into Green Bay in Week 6. The Chargers were certainly not that far off last year, and they made enough moves to possibly win the AFC West for the first time since 2009.

What I Don't Like: There are three things that could derail the Chargers season that people probably won't give a lot of thought about. First, their schedule is very tricky at the end of the season. They have to play all three AFC West rivals on the road in the last four weeks (at KC in Week 14, at Oakland in Week 16, and at Denver in Week 17.) That is a very interesting and weird quirk, and we know how difficult playing in Arrowhead and in Mile High can be. Secondly, I am still not convinced that Mike McCoy is a good NFL head coach. When I watch the Chargers, he seems to make some very bizarre and strange decisions regarding timeouts, challenges, game management, and play-calling amongst others. I don't think you can trust Mike McCoy in a big game. Lastly, perhaps the possible move from San Diego to Los Angeles could put such a distraction on the Chargers during the season, that it actually implodes the entire 2015 campaign. I remember what happened to the Browns in 1995. Their season crumbled after it became public that the team was moving to Baltimore. I just wonder if the cloud of Los Angeles could have the same effect on the Chargers this year.

Prediction: 11-5 and Winners of the AFC West

2) Denver Broncos:
What I Like: Everyone is doubting Peyton Manning. Yes, I know he is 39 years old, and I know that a quad injury hijacked the end of his season last year, and ended up knocking Denver out of the playoffs as Manning limped off the field, but he is fully healed and motivated to prove people wrong. When you doubt Manning, and he has even more motivation to prove critics wrong, then he backs it up in a big way. I would expect Manning to play at a high level, put up big numbers, and have a very good season in Gary Kubiak's new offensive system. Although the Broncos lost Julius Thomas, there are still some really good playmakers on this offense: Demaryius Thomas, Emmanuel Sanders, and C.J. Anderson are all Pro Bowl caliber players. I loved the addition of TE Owen Daniels in free agency, and you know that Anderson, Ronnie Hillman, and Montee Ball will all get a chance to provided a three-headed monster at the running back spot in Kubiak's run scheme. The strength of the Broncos will actually be their defense. Von Miller and DeMarcus Ware return as bookend pass rushers, and Denver added pass-rush specialist Shane Ray in the first round of the draft after Ray fell down the draft board. Denver's defense also features two of the most versatile inside linebackers in Brandon Marshall and Danny Trevathan. Both guys can play every down. Their secondary is one of the best in the league. Chris Harris is one of the best cornerbacks in football, but no one talks about him. Aqib Talib is a very good corner on the other side, and T.J. Ward is beast on the back end. Bradley Roby was a very big part of the defense last year as a nickel corner in his rookie season. The schedule is helpful in the second half of the season because the Broncos finish with five home games in their last eight, and their last two games of the season are at home (Cincy and San Diego.) Denver also has the pleasure of hosting the Packers and Patriots this season in Weeks 8 and 12 respectively. I also love the fact that no one is giving Denver or Peyton Manning much of a chance this season in the AFC, and that is a dangerous thing to do.

What I Don't Like: I really don't like the Broncos offensive line situation. They lost LT Ryan Clady for the year to an ACL injury the first day of OTAs. Now, they are planning on starting rookie second round pick Ty Sambraillo at that spot. That is a very scary thing to think about with a rookie protecting Peyton Manning's blindside. Also, they lost Orlando Franklin and traded Manny Ramirez, so their only starter coming back from the end of last season will be RG Louis Vasquez. The question marks surrounding the offensive line are very scary heading into the season. I don't think the Broncos can just lose a weapon like Julius Thomas and not see any effect on the field. Say what you want about him, but Thomas was such a difference maker on third down and in the end zone. It will be very hard to replace him. The Broncos also lost some key locker room guys in free agency like Terrence Knighton, Rahim Moore, and Jacob Tamme. Their schedule overall is very difficult with games against Baltimore, at Pittsburgh, at Indy, the Patriots, Green Bay, at Detroit, and Cincy on the slate. It could be tough for Denver to post a 12 or 13 win season like they did the past three years.

Prediction: 9-7 and a Wild Card berth

3) Oakland Raiders:
What I Like: The Raiders have added some much needed talent to their roster, and it might finally pay off a little. They were 3-13 last year, and they started the year 0-10. They can only go up from that type of season. You have to be encouraged by what you saw out of Derek Carr last year. He looks like he has a chance to be pretty good. They gave him weapons with Amari Cooper in the draft, Michael Crabtree in free agency, and Latavius Murray in the run game. Also, they feature a defense with a star in the making in OLB Kahlil Mack. They also added pass rusher Mario Edwards in the second round of the draft. This team is on the rise, and they will be competitive week in and week out.

What I Don't Like: I'm not a fan of Jack Del Rio as a head coach. I know Raider fans think that he is going to bring much-needed fire and enthusiasm to the organization, but Del Rio really did nothing as the Jaguars head coach, and I'm just impressed by him to think that he can turn this franchise around. I think they are still behind the Broncos, Chiefs, and Chargers in this division. The schedule is very difficult at times too. They open at home their first two games but with Cincy and Baltimore. They play a four game stretch in Weeks 5-9 of Denver, BYE, at San Diego, Jets, at Pittsburgh. Their last four games are also very tough with at Denver, Green Bay, San Diego, and at Kansas City. They might show flashes of brilliance this season, but it looks like the Raiders are at least one year away from possibly contending for a playoff spot.

Prediction: 7-9 and third place in the AFC West

4) Kansas City Chiefs:
What I Like: KC finished 9-7 last year and just out of the playoffs, so they are not very far off from getting back into the postseason once again. You have the like the job that Andy Reid has done in his first two years in Kansas City going 20-12 in the process. Alex Smith is always steady and dependable, and the Chiefs have one of best backs in all of football with Jamaal Charles, and they have one of the best young TEs in Travis Kelce. Their pass rushing duo of Justin Houston and Tamba Hali is a deadly combination. Their schedule is friendly in certain areas. They host Denver on a Thursday Night game in Week 2, and they finish the season with three out of their last four at home (SD, Cleveland, and Oakland.) The Chiefs will certainly be a team that could be in the mix to make the playoffs for the second time in three years under Andy Reid.

What I Don't Like: Outside of Charles and Kelce, who scares you on the Chiefs? I know Jeremy Maclin can be dangerous, but is he that good? I didn't think so. Does Jason Avant scare you from a defensive perspective? Not really. Their offensive line is still a question mark, and their secondary still has some holes in it. I understand that Alex Smith is successful at what he does, but after a while it seems like there will be a time when the low-risk and low-reward style of play just gets shut down and becomes ineffective. I just don't see explosive pieces on this team to keep up with some of the teams they will face this year like Denver, San Diego, Green Bay, Pittsburgh, Cincy, and Detroit. It feels like a down year for the Chiefs, and a year riddled with unfulfilled expectations.

Prediction: 6-10 and last place in the AFC West.


Predictions Cheat Sheet
AFC East
1) Miami (10-6)
2) New England (10-6) Wild Card
3) NY Jets (8-8)
4) Buffalo (8-8)

AFC North
1) Pittsburgh (11-5)
2) Baltimore (9-7)
3) Cincy (6-10)
4) Cleveland (5-11)

AFC South
1) Indy (13-3)
2) Houston (8-8)
3) Tennessee (6-10)
4) Jacksonville (5-11)

AFC West
1) San Diego (11-5)
2) Denver (9-7) Wild Card
3) Oakland (7-9)
4) KC (6-10)

AFC Playoff Seeds and Predictions
1) Indy 
2) San Diego
3) Pittsburgh
4) Miami
5) New England
6) Denver

Wild Card Round
3-Pittsburgh over 6-Denver: It what might be Peyton Manning's last NFL game, he goes one and done once again as Big Ben and the Steelers get their first playoff win since 2010.

5-New England over 4-Miami: Miami might have won the AFC East, but the Patriots go on the road and topple the Dolphins in the first round of the playoffs.

Divisional Round
3-Pittsburgh over 2-San Diego: The Steelers go into San Diego and hand the Chargers another tough playoff exit.

1-Indianapolis over 5-New England: Andrew Luck and the Colts get revenge on the Patriots and finally knock off New England in their third consecutive meeting in the playoffs.

AFC Championship
3-Pittsburgh over 1-Indianapolis: Shades of the 2005 Divisional Playoffs as the Steelers go into Indy and upset the Colts and they advance to 9th Super Bowl appearance in team history.

SUPER BOWL 50:
Green Bay over Pittsburgh: In a classic matchup between two of the NFL's historic franchises, the Packers win Super Bowl 50 and capture their fifth Lombardi Trophy.