Can Brady stay healthy enough to propel the Pats into the Post-season?

I don’t know if you’ve all noticed, but the NFL season is just about upon us. It’s descending quicker than the housing market in central Florida. Alright, that metaphor might be a bit of a stretch, but it’s almost here. So that means it’s time for some vague and most likely incorrect assumptions about the upcoming season, but as an NFL fans, we’re all Monday Morning Quarterbacks. Without further fanfare, this week I’ll take a look at the AFC, starting with the AFC North.

AFC North

Cleveland Browns Last Season: 5-11 As a Browns fan myself I can say this, at least we’re not the Rams. Finishing with five wins last year was actually a plus for the Browns. Like I said, not the Rams. However, now that the Browns have cleared out Derek Andersen and Brady Quinn for now veteran Jake Delhomme – wait, did I type that right? The Browns dumped Brady Quinn, a young arm yet to prove himself to start Jake Delhomme, who is clearly on the tail end of his career. Not just content with the aging Delhomme (who has actually looked good in preseason) they also picked up Senaca Wallace to back him up. The only really good news is having Mike Holmgren in the front office. Perhaps the Browns will win six this year. I can say this for them, they have a hell of a receiver core. Predicted Finish: 6-10

Pittsburgh Steelers Last Season: 9-7 Strong defense has always been the crux of this team. This year, with Rothlesberger and Holmes out of the picture for a bit, the defense is going to have to work even harder to support Byron Leftwich & Charlie Batch. I don’t think a 9-7 finish is going to be hard to believe, but that’s going to depend on how they play within the division. The AFC North plays the NFC South this year in out of conference games, at least one against the hapless Buccaneers. Of course, the Browns play the Bucs too, who won’t seem as hapless. Predicted Finish: 9-7

Cincinatti Bengals Last Season: 10-6 Wait, the Bengals made the playoffs last year? I must have missed it. I was watching Ochocinco: The Ultimate Catch. Aside from Ochocinco, both Terrell Owens and Dhani Jones have television shows. Will this kind of selling out assist in a distraction from the field? Perhaps. The Bengals already wasted two million on T.O. The Bengals season will be decided in Week One when they face the Jets, who spanked them in their last two games of the season last year, including a playoff loss. There is too much indivdual ego on this team for them to succeed this year. Predicted Finish: 8-8

Baltimore Ravens Last Season: 9-7 A wild-card appearance last season was all the Ravens really could have hoped for. With young gunslinging Joe Flacco at the helm and a competent defense, the Ravens will pose a serious threat in the division and around the AFC in general. With the Steelers hurting, the Browns being well, the Browns, the Bengals are the only reason to take pause when predicting the Ravens will easily take this division. Even though Suggs is gearing up to be a high dollar bust, the addition of Boldin will bolster the long pass threat. Look for the Ravens to top the AFC North for the whole year. Predicted Finish: 12-4

AFC East

Miami Dolphins Last Season: 7-9 The Dolphins were the most exciting team to watch last year. The continuation of the wildcat, the dual running back power of Ricky Williams and Ronnie Brown, the explosiveness of Ted Ginn Jr. finally coming out of his shell made for a hell of a season. Sadly, it wasn’t enough for the Dolphins. This year, it’s going to be more than enough. Clearly the trick play stuff isn’t going to work as much anymore, but this is a team that looks like they are having fun. If the defense can hold when they get a lead, the Dolphins will see the playoffs this year. Predicted Finish: 10-6

New England Patriots Last Season: 10-6 Go ahead, name Tom Brady’s back-up. I bet you can’t. Looking at the depth chart it’s Brian Hoyer. He got some action last year in their 59-0 win over the Titans. While the Patriots made the playoffs, they weren’t convincing doing so. This year Bill Belichick will be running the team as head coach, the offense as offensive coordinator and the defense as defensive coordinator. Can you say power trip? With his Napoleanic behavior and resting the team and the season on the health of Tom Brady, the Patriots are setting themselves up for a possible let down. Predicted Finish: 7-9

New York Jets Last Season: 9-7 The move to bring in LaDainian Tomlinson could go one of two ways. He could completely explode on the scene in New York and propel the Jets through the season, or he could simply look tired and lost, a la Emmitt Smith in Arizona. Sadly, I predict the latter. Letting Thomas Jones go, who still has gas left in his tank, could come back to hurt the running game of the Jets. But their strength lies in a speedy and capable secondary. This is going to be another tough test for Mark Sanchez, who led his team to the playoffs lost year. I predict the same for this year. Predicted Finish: 10-6

Buffalo Bills Last Season: 6-10 The Bills have turned into the gray cloud that covers the city of Buffalo in the winter. Last year coach Dick Jauron seemed to give up sometime after halftime every game, and the team felt it. Perhaps with new coach Chan Gailey the Bills won’t actually look like losers as they lose. Trent Edwards is not the winning quarterback that the Bills need to succeed. Look for Ryan Fitzpatrick to step in probably before mid-season. The offense will rest on the back of downhill runners Fred Jackson & Marshawn Lynch, but the major questions will be with the offensive line – can they protect at all? Predicted Finish: 6-10

AFC South

Indianapolis Colts Last Season: 14-2 Really, what else needs to be said about this team? The only reason they missed the playoffs was taking it too easy the last two games and taking acceptable losses. It made Peyton and crew rusty. There was a lot of finger pointing after the playoff loss, let’s hope they are over that by the time the season starts. Peyton is just getting started in his hall of fame career as far as I’m concerned. I’m giving them one extra loss in the hopes that the Texans take one from them. Predicted Finish: 13-3

Houston Texans Last Season: 9-7 The Texans had the number one passing game last year. Did you hear that right? Not Manning and the Colts, not the Saints – the Texans. So what happened? How come they weren’t in the middle of the lunch room with the cool kids? It was two losses to the Colts. Just one win against their interdivisional rival could change the course of this teams season, this is that season for that to happen. It has to happen. The Texans will never reach the playoffs until they get Peyton’s monkey off their back. Predicted Finish: 10-6

Tennessee Titans Last Season: 8-8 Now that Vince Young has learned how to play football again (mostly mentally) and Chris Johnson has solidified his place as the premier running back in the league, the Titans are the team to beat in the AFC. Hell, the Titans will be the team to beat in all of the NFL. Coach Jeff Fisher, who has been around since the Oilers days, is consistent and passionate about his team and the game. This is why even at 8-8 last year, the Titans looked like winners. The only question this year is the defense, which seems to be a trend with a lot of AFC teams. If they come strong, the Titans finish strong. Predicted Finish: 12-4

Jacksonville Jaguars Last Season: 7-9 There is still a team in Jacksonville? Someone needs to tell the residents of the city. Failing to get a sell-out last year – at all – the Jaguars still had a winning home record. Too bad the rest of the games count. They just look like a tired team all around as the season progresses. They put up a fight against the Colts every time, but it’s never enough. Predicted Finish: 6-10

AFC West

Denver Broncos Last Season: 8-8 What the hell is going on in Denver? They ditched a perrenial winner in Mike Shanahan last year for newbie Josh McDaniels. His break even finish is nothing impressive. Jay Cutler, who wasn’t at all terrible was shown the door and now they are sitting with unproven Brady Quinn, injured Elvis Dumervil and most popular draft choice Tim Tebow. Thankfully, the system of producing amazing running backs is still in place, right? Wait, that was under Shanahan. Does McDaniels have the offensive fortitude to make this year any different than last? Will Tebow be the deciding factor? If he plays. This is a team that it’s easy to say, same as last year. Predicted Finish: 8-8

San Diego Chargers Last Season: 13-3 What happens to Philip Rivers and crew when the playoffs come around? Rivers has shades of greatness during the regular season, but fizzles in the post season. The Chargers seem to think they are untouchable going into the post season, but then lose any aggressiveness they might have had. This year you can probably expect more of the same, Norv Turner seems to be okay with that trend. Predicted Finish: 12-4

Kansas City Chiefs Last Season: 4-12 Only the Lions had a worse defense last year than the Chiefs. That’s not very inspirational. This year the team is stacked with brain power courtesy of the Patriots. Romeo Crennel, Charlie Weis and Scott Pioli are on the sidelines, shouting into the helmet of Matt Cassel, the impressive back-up to Tom Brady last year. Forget about the horrid defense for a second, what about the offense? What the hell, I’ll give them the benefit of the doubt and throw in one more win than last year. Predicted Finish: 5-11

Oakland Raiders Last Season: 5-11 What do you want me to say here? The Raiders are season after season of suck. They dumped JaMarcus Russell after he was tortured behind a crappy line. Now they brought in Jason Campbell to be tortured behind a crappy line. I think moving the Raiders to Los Angeles might be something the Raiders franchise might want to consider. Or switching to the Arena League. Predicted Finish: 4-12

So, if you missed it, my rundown for the playoffs:

AFC North: Ravens
AFC East: Jets
AFC West: Chargers
AFC South: Colts
Wild Cards: Titans, Dolphins

Thanks to C.C. and the Digital Dads for giving me a reason to watch NFL Tonight every night so I can write a weekly NFL column and stay tuned next week for my annual NFC Preview!