That's an interesting way of looking at it, and would certainly love for this to be the case.

However, even if the Colts and Ravens are on the slide, they've still got a good track record in recent years of being very stable playoff contenders, and that's hard to unseat...

KC are also interesting, and their game against us could be pivotal.


I am with you on the Jets though; unbelievably lucky last year.

 

I think we certainly have the overall talent on the defensive side, provided there's not a major slip in year two of Nolan's defense. Defensively, I think we're a playoff team.

We have some pieces on offense like Brandon Marshall, Davone Bess, Anthony Fasano, and Jake Long, but I think there's still way to many question marks. How will Chad Henne really be? Is our running game going to hold up with Reggie Bush (missed 16 games the past 3 seasons, for the record, that's way more than Ahmad Bradshaw and many were concerned with his injuries), a rookie, and Lex Hilliard? Is that same running game going to hold up behind an offensive line with a rookie center, a player learning a new position (Carey), and someone coming off injury and an awful 2010 (Colombo)? Will Brian Daboll get Wildcat Fever and kill off drives/Chad Henne's rythm? Will the new offense even work?

I'll reserve judgement until I've seen a few regular season games, so I won't make a prediction now, but I think Kansas City, Indianapolis, and Baltimore all have better offenses, at present, than the Dolphins do.

 

The steelers have a tendancy to follow great years with sub par 8-8 or 9-7 years. I think its a big possibility they miss the playoffs.

 

I expect either Baltimore or Indy to slide, but probably not both. I see Houston + one of them making the playoffs. I don't believe the hype with SD's defense, but their offense can still carry them to the playoffs.
even though the patsies were 14-2 last year, I don't see their transition to a 4-3 going very well. I can see them sliding down to a paltry 11-12 wins this season.
Even though I bet money on the dolphins because the odds were so good, I can see us finishing 7th in the AFC.

 

Peyton Manning alone makes that Colts offense more potent than ours. I think Joe Flacco and Ray Rice proved they were pretty good to us last year. Jamaal Charles is one of the most explosive players in the league, and they have Dwayne Bowe and Steve Breaston out wide. I think they're right up there as well. Matt Cassel had a pretty darn good year last year. Again, it goes back to the common denominator - the QB. You can't honestly say Chad Henne is better than any of those three - he's yet to prove it at all.

 

I'll bet on SD underachieving and missing the playoffs.

 

The AFC will not have much turnover as far as playoff teams are concerned. Patriots, Steelers and Ravens, Colts, and Chargers are all pretty much locks to make it this year. Then you have the Jets, Chiefs, and Texans. After that would be your Dolphins, Jaguars, etc.

I'll take any bet with a poster who thinks Indy's not making the playoffs. The AFC South is chock fulla mediocre-to-****ty defenses, and two of those teams have very underwhelming QBs as well (Titans and Jaguars). Both the Texans and Colts will go 5-1 in that division, imho.

Miami needs a plethora of injuries to befall many of the AFC contenders for them to have a chance.

These are things we know.

 

My 2011 Playoffs (New Teams BOLD):

AFC EAST: New England
AFC SOUTH: Indy
AFC WEST: San Diego
AFC NORTH: Pittsburgh
AFC WILD1: Tennessee
AFC WILD2: NY jets

NFC EAST: Dallas
NFC SOUTH: New Orleans
NFC WEST: 49ers
NFC NORTH: Green Bay
NFC WILD1: Tampa Bay
NFC WILD2: Philly

 

AFC:

EAST: Miami
WEST: San Diego
SOUTH: Houston
NORTH: Pittsburgh
WC: New England
WC: Baltimore

NFC:
EAST: Philadelphia
WEST: San Francisco
SOUTH: New Orleans
NORTH: Green Bay
WC: Tampa Bay
WC: Detroit

Make it 6 new teams that weren't in the playoffs last year's.

 

We also know Buffalo is going to be last in the division.

 

1. I think Matt Hasslebeck is going to really give them a lift. I also think Munchak is going to inspire the team to over-achieve.
2. I don't want to give the jets a playoff spot.

 

This rant is the first thing that came to mind when I read this post...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aYKIcnj1MJY

Thanks for the fond memories...a classic.

Wait, I thought the Chargers were locks to make the playoffs last year...hmm.

 

Good for you, Johnny...here's a cookie

 

The Chargers had arguably the strangest season we've ever seen. They finished 1st in offense and defense, yet missed the playoffs because they lost 4-5 games on special teams mistakes.

They're still stacked, and now that they don't have to play the Ravens, Steelers, or Colts--I think they'll finish no worse than 11-5. No way in hell they have 2 awkward seasons like that in a row.

 

AFC East: Patriots
North: Ravens
South: Colts
West: Chargers
WC: Chiefs - I think they'll be better than last year.
WC: Dolphins, Jets, or Jaguars. I don't know, don't trust the Texans defense. I don't really trust our offense, but I'll give the benefit of the doubt. Fins, Jaguars, and Texans do have a good shot to unseat the Jets, Chiefs or Steelers/Ravens.
It's hard to think the Jaguars or Texans will take out the Colts for the division, but it's possible. Jaguars need an improved offense from 2010, Texans would need an improved defense. I think 9-7 could get at least one playoff spot.
I only see the Raiders, Broncos and Bengals being "pushovers". Raiders could win 7 or 8 again though, so I think the standings will be closer and more muddled this year like 2002 and 2009 when a lot of teams still had a chance in weeks 16 and 17.

NFC East: Eagles
North: Packers
South: Saints
West: Rams
WC: Falcons - I could see the Falcons and Saints both having 12-4 seasons. NFC South is the toughest to call for first place.
WC: Lions

 

Both the Steelers and ravens are getting in easily. both may win 12 games. Have you seen their schedules?

Not only do both get to beat up on the Ohio Sisters of the Poor 4 times, but they play the NFC West out of conference. so both play in a poor division and play the worst out of conference division. I presume that's about 8 wins a piece right there between them, assuming they split with each other both get to 9 wins easily.

 

.......but losing the familiarity of Heap & Mason. And it's uncertain how their defense will be affected by losing Gregg.

 

My darkhorse playoff team is the Buffalo Bills, they added talent, and love or hate Wanny, he can run a defense.

 

I think the AFC is wide open this year, I think its the NFC that is top heavy. JMO.

 

Landry is gone at FS. McGahee has been replaced by Ricky. Who's playing corner? And how long are Reed and Lewis going to remain top tier players?

 

I can't see us making the playoffs honestly. I don't think we can win the wild card with teams like Houston/Indy, Baltimore/Pitt, and the Jests in the AFC. Who knows though, hopefully I am wrong.

 

We've got a better chance than we did in 2008, or any time since 2003 IMO.

 

It's definitely possible but I still don't see us being a top 5 AFC team. Maybe things will fall our way though... would be nice to see a winning team again.

 

Were you able to hold back the laughter while posting that?

 

Because I believe our offense will be much improved due to the combination of much better play from Henne...and Brian Daboll's OC role....

Im picking us to win the division. I believe we have a better defense then the Jets...(although that could be parsing hairs...they have a good D.)

 

Ah Pads, your love for Football from Canada has blinded you yet... :shifty:

 

yeah hers my list in order of seeding

North - Ravens 12+ wins
West - Chargers 12+ wins
South - Colts 10-11 wins
East - Dolphins 10-11 wins

WC - Patriots 10-11 wins
WC - Chiefs 9-10 wins

1. Steelers wont make the playoffs SB runner ups have not made the playoffs in recent history sea has been the one diffrence and hey went 9-7 making the wildcard plus ravens will be the real deal this year.

2. Chargers will be back last year was off and they got better everywhere

3. Colts yeah their the colts no explanation needed

4. Fins will beat the jets twice and spit with the pats giving them tie breakers have them winning 9 games then atleast 4 in the division. only problems i see are pats twice jets twice chargers and the eagles but im going with 10 11 wins

5. Pats will still be good but not dominant losing the division to us after we stomp the jets in wk 17

6. Chiefs they will show their here but chargers are still the class of the division


1. East/South - Eagles/Falcons 12+ wins
2. South/East - Falcons/Eagles 12+ wins
3. North - Bears 10-11 wins
4. West - Rams 8-9 wins

WC - Lions/Buccaneers/Saints - 10-11 wins
WC - Buccaneers/Saints/Lions 10-11 wins

1/2. Eagles/Falcons these teams will be the kings of the crap NFC the 1 and 2 seed will prob come down to conference record between the two i believe Eagles will get the 1 but falcons can easily steal it.

3. Bears got better than the Packers just with the addition of Williams they will win the division again no prob

4. Seattle look like their going to run away with this division but i think Bradford is going to show that this is the Rams division now and forever


WC. this ones tricky because i would put the Packers here and i very well think they will be in the playoffs this year(they been to 5 SBs winning 4 and have been to 2 in a row the previous 2 times could happen this year again) but with the lockout, them not practicing during said lockout, and the fact that i think the lions are going to be this years 08 Dolphins i have them missing out. this spot could also go to the Lions or Saints

WC. Buccaneers would win the division but the falcons are in said division so yeah no chance all they have to do is beat the Saints and their in but same goes for the Saints


SB - Ravens vs Eagles

As much as i want the fins to be there and believe they will be(they will atleast get to the second round) this is the matchup i see

 

I won't make predictions until I see a few preseason games, but I do believe that the Ravens are a weaker team than they were last year and I'd be concerned about Manning's injury if I were a Colt's fan. The Steelers have the SB hangover thing working against them and the Jets were incredibly lucky last year in terms of T.O.s. Likewise, I feel the Chargers and Dolphins were incredibly unlucky. I haven't seen enough to make a reasonable guess, but I wouldn't say any AFC team is a lock.