AFC East

1. New England Patriots Record: 10-6            Playoff Seeding: Fourth

While Bill Belichick is a genius, it’s going to be hard getting that defense going. Losing Darrel Revis, Brandon Browner and others is detrimental to this ball club. We still have no idea who is going to run the ball with Lagarett Blount being suspended the first four games of the season. This division is catching up to Tom Brady and company, but it’ll take another year or so for the other teams to pass this dynasty.

2. Buffalo Bills Record: 10-6            Playoff Seeding: N/A

This team is on the rise. Everything they did in the offseason was for the good. RB Lesean MCcoy brings another dimension to this offense. A signing that wasn’t “broadcasted” was that of TE Charles Clay. His tenure in Miami the past few years were nothing but consistency. This year is going to be all on QB Tyrod Taylor. The fewer mistakes he makes, the more likely this team succeeds. The defense is going to be even better than last year. This team may shock some people and sneak into the playoffs this year.

 

3. Miami Dolphins Record: 8-8               Playoff Seeding: N/A

This could very well be the last season for Head Coach Joe Philbin on the Miami sideline. This team is stacked. Brining in Ndamokung Suh on Defense, and trading for Kenny Stills and drafting Devante Parker for the offense are all huge moves for this team. Like Buffalo, this year falls on the QB, Ryan Tannehill. He has weapons at his disposal, but will that offensive line hold up for him? We will see.

 

4. New York Jets Record: 8-8               Playoff Seeding: N/A

The Jets brought back two familiar faces this offseason in the secondary, Darrel Revis and Antonio Cromartie. That pair alone significantly makes this defense better. Add in that their new head coach, Todd Bowles, is a defensive mastermind, and you can see why things are looking up for the Jets. The offense is the question. Well really it’s just the QB position. New York traded for WR Brandon Marshall, and have young TE Jace Amaro ready to take on a bigger role for this team. With Geno Smith out for the first six weeks due to a broken Jaw, Ryan Fitzpatrick will lead this team on game day. Like Buffalo and Miami, the Jets will live and die by the arm of their QB.

 

AFC North

1. Pittsburgh Steelers Record: 11-5            Playoff Seeding: Second

For the greater part of their franchise, Pittsburgh has been known for their Defense. This year the powers have shifted. With the dynamic connection of Big Ben to Antonio Brown, and the electrifying running style of Le’Veon Bell, this offense will be hard to stop. Defensively, it could go either way. With the retirement of All-Pro S Troy Polamalu and LB Jason Worlids, this defense is going to look a lot different.

 

2. Cincinnati Bengals Record: 10-6            Playoff Seeding: Fourth

The Bengals used a few draft picks to sure up their offensive line. They also spent some money in free agency on their defensive line (DE Michael Johnson). This team is about the same from last year, but now RB Jeremy Hill has a year under his belt and is ready to light it up. That two headed monster in the backfield that also includes receiving threat Giovanni Bernard, can be lethal. If Andy Dalton plays like his contract suggests, Cincy could do more damage than people think.

 

3. Baltimore Ravens Record: 7-9               Playoff Seeding: N/A

The loss of Torrey Smith is going to be felt for this offense. Steve Smith is a year older and WR Breshad Perriman (2015 1^st round selection) seems to be a work in progress. Defensively, the Ravens traded Hiloti Ngata to Detroit that could spell problems for their rush defense. Look for Baltimore to take a few steps back this year.

 

4. Cleveland Browns Record: 3-13            Playoff Seeding: N/A

Cleveland, Cleveland, Cleveland! Where do we begin? Trying to help out a depleted WR corps this offseason, they went out and signed Dwayne Bowe. That won’t turn any heads. The running game is still non existent, and it looks like it will be another QB carousel this year. Defensively, the team has gotten better. The selection of Danny Shelton in the 2015 NFL Draft is going to pay off for the next ten years. Defense wins championships, but you have to have at least an average offense to win games. It’s going to be another long year for Cleveland fans.

 

AFC South

1. Indianapolis Colts Record: 12-4            Playoff Seeding: First

Andre Johnson and Frank Gore will make this team scarier than last year. Gore has hit the age where most RBs fall off, but for the 49ers in his career, he was nothing but consistent. As for Andre Johnson, this WR finally has an All-Pro QB throwing his way. The numbers Johnson put up with the likes of Matt Schaub and Ryan Fitzpatrick under Center were amazing. Just imagine what he can do with Andrew Luck.

 

2. Houston Texans Record: 8-8               Playoff Seeding: N/A

The Texans still have that ferocious Defense in place, but the offense is another story. Bringing in Brian Hoyer from Cleveland isn’t exactly the move to take this offense to the next level. With Arian Foster out for about a month, and losing WR Andre Johnson to division rival Indianapolis, Houston just doesn’t have the team to compete in the AFC.

 

3. Jacksonville Jaguars Record: 3-13            Playoff Seeding: N/A

With all the money in the world to spend during the offseason in Free Agency, Jacksonville barely landed anybody. Their prize possession was TE Julius Thomas, but he broke his finger in the first preseason game and will be out about six weeks. Dante Fowler, the third pick in the 2015 NFL Draft, tore his ACL in rookie minicamp. Jacksonville can’t catch a break and will be staring a top 5 draft selection in 2016 right in the face.

4. Tennessee Titans             Record: 3-13            Playoff Seeding: N/A

Tennessee drafted QB Marcus Mariota with the second pick in the 2015 NFL Draft. He is an instant upgrade over Zack Mettenberger. You need more than a QB in this league though. Bishop Sankey will be the focal point at RB this year after a mediocre rookie season. The signing of Brian Orakpo will help this defense a lot, only if he can stay healthy. Don’t expect any miraculous improvements this season.

 

 

AFC WEST

1. Denver Broncos Record: 11-5            Playoff Seeding: Third

More than likely, this will be Peyton Manning’s last hoorah. The gun slinger looked as if he lost some arm strength last December into the playoffs. Manning will need a o-line to block for him mightily this year, but it’s a few new faces in front of him. If the chemistry forms quickly, the Broncos will be fine, if not, the Broncos will be looking over their shoulders all year in the AFC West.

 

2. San Diego Chargers Record: 10-6            Playoff Seeding: Sixth

Finally, after months of speculation about Phillip Rivers being traded, the Chargers agree on a new contract for the NC State alum. The gritty Rivers has a new toy in the San Diego offense, Stevie Johnson. Though they will come up short dethroning Denver in the AFC West, San Diego will slide into the playoffs, and potentially do some damage.

 

3. Oakland Raiders Record: 6-10            Playoff Seeding: N/A

The record may not show it, but Oakland is much improved this year offensively and defensively. Drafting Amari Cooper in the 2015 NFL Draft is going to help the development of second year QB, Derek Carr. A healthy Latavius Murray is going to get the running game trucking. Defensively, Khalil Mack has a year under his belt in that scheme and will be even better this year. The Raiders will be in a lot of close games this year. Give this team another year or two together, and we may finally see this historic franchise end that horrible playoff drought.

 

4. Kansas City Chiefs Record: 5-11            Playoff Seeding: N/A

This will probably be the most surprising team to some this year, and not in a good way. Yes, they still have Jamaal Charles, but he can’t do it all. After going all year without throwing a TD to a WR, QB Alex Smith will be called upon to make things happen. I just don’t see him answering the call. Kansas City will be in the basement of this division.

AFC Playoffs

WildCard Round

6. San Diego Chargers over 3. Denver Broncos
7. New England Patriots over 5. Cincinnati Bengals

Divisonal Round

1. Indianapolis Colts over 6. San Diego Chargers
2. Pittsburgh Steelers over 4. New England Patriots

Championship Game

1. Indianapolis Colts over 2. Pittsburgh Steelers

Super Bowl 50

1. Green Bay Packers over 1. Indianapolis Colts