AFC Season Predictions: One Lead Bloggers Picks

I figured since the season starts tonight, It was a good idea to take stock of exactly where the NFL is this year and who wins each division in the eyes of this humble observer of football. So without further ado, here are my division-by-division picks for the 2010-2011 NFL Season

AFC South: Tennessee Titans: What you thought I would pick any differently? Yes I know the Colts are the better team talent wise, and the Texans are the “it” team to finally make it to the playoffs, but this works well for the Titans who like to be under the radar. Look for VY to have a solid, if unspectacular year, CJ2k to run like…well CJ2k and the defense to be much improved.

AFC East:: New England Patriots: Oh boy, Jets fans might come screaming at me for this one. Love ya Jets, but if Hard Knocks has taught me anything, it’s that Mark Sanchez isn’t there yet. Too many mistakes, an too much of a laid back attitude to win this tough division. Tom Brady’s back and ready to go, look for the Pats to resume their winning ways

AFC North: Baltimore Ravens: This one was by far the easiest pick for me out of the bunch. A team that was pretty good last year, and now you add in Anquan Boldin, Donte’ Stallworth, and now T.J. Houshmandzadeh to an already blossoming offense. The experts say the defense is the question mark here…yes read that again, the Ravens D, led by Ray Lewis are a question. The experts are over thinking this one completely.

AFC West: Oakland Raiders: Does it really matter who wins this division? It really is by far the worst division in football. That being said I am going way out on a limb here with my pick of the Raiders, but here is my thinking. The Chargers are the safe pick, and lets be frank here, no Vincent Jackson is a big problem for the Chargers. I think so at least. I’m also not as high on Ryan Matthews. The raiders have a stable coach and a half decent QB, and because of that, they will sneak by and win this god-awful division.

Wild Card Picks: Jets and Colts: Last years AFC Championship game participants make a return to the playoffs as wild card teams. I said the Jets weren’t good enough to beat the Pats for the division, not that they weren’t a playoff team. That D in NYC is a machine, and while it won’t be pretty, they will win some games 9-6 or something like that. As for the Colts…Peyton Manning that’s all anyone ever needs to know about them.

AFC Winner: Baltimore Ravens: An emerging offense led by Joe Flacco, a veteran yet not over the hill D, and a solid no nonsense coach all combine for the first Super Bowl Trip for the Ravens in 10 years.