Tennessee Titans – Fansmanship

Levine’s 2014 AFC Predictions

Matt Levine — Wed, 20 Aug 2014 17:40:49 +0000

Every season the AFC seems to be the favorite over the NFC to have the future Super Bowl Champion. In 2014, the pundits seem to be thinking the same way. With teams like the Broncos, Patriots, and Colts, the AFC will look to regain its dominance that the conference has held for so many years. Like their NFC counterparts, these teams are quietly good. Here is a breakdown of all 16 AFC teams and how the standings will look like when the season is all said and done:

Peyton Manning and the Broncos are the kings of the AFC, but will they make another appearance in the Super Bowl? By United States Marine Corps/Sgt. D.R. Cotton [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

AFC West:

Denver Broncos: As football fans, we can all hope that Peyton Manning and the Broncos put the beat down they received in the Super Bowl behind them and get back to playing Bronco football. Denver especially revamped their defense with additions of DeMarcus Ware and Aqib Talib. They lost Eric Decker and Knowshon Moreno but this gives Montee Ball time to shine. The Broncos will be strong contenders once again next year.

Record: 12-4, division winner

San Diego Chargers: After making some noise in the playoffs, the Chargers are primed to try and build on that success, but 2014 isn’t the year for them. The AFC is so strong and even with the addition of Brandon Flowers, which I really like, the Chargers will barely miss the playoffs. Keenan Allen is an absolute stud and will help the Chargers offense but their defense is still weak which will be their downfall.

Record: 8-8

Kansas City Chiefs: I really hope I am wrong about this one but I don’t see the Chiefs repeating their 2013 success. I still can’t get over the epic playoff fail where they blew a 28-point lead to the Colts. Personally, I love Jamaal Charles but aside from him who is going to score or be a real offensive weapon? Look for the Chiefs to take a step back in 2014.

Record: 7-9

Oakland Raiders: The Black Hole should get excited this season and it isn’t because of the playoffs. The Raiders have built a semi competitive team for the first time in what seems like forever. Additions of Matt Schaub, Justin Tuck, James Jones, LaMar Woodley, Maurice Jones-Drew, and Khalil Mack will make this team interesting. If they could only get another WR or two, this team could be a playoff team. Plus this may be one of their last years in Oakland, so their fans better appreciate this team before it’s gone.

Record: 6-10

AFC East:

New England Patriots: With Tom Brady and Bill Belichick, the Patriots will again be a top team in the AFC. I am just worried about their offense. They get Rob Gronkowski back, but they lost Legarrette Blount to Pittsburgh. Blount provided them will a large spark of offense. I’m sure they will find a way to do it yet again; I mean they are the Patriots after all right?

Record: 11-5, division winner

Miami Dolphins: After almost making the playoffs last season, I see the Dolphins being hungry for the taste of the postseason. They seem to have put the whole bullying situation last season behind them and will look to bring Miami back to the postseason. Adding Knowshon Moreno will give them some extra spark to their offensive attack. I look for the Dolphins to win a wild card spot in the playoffs this season.

Record: 9-7

New York Jets: J-E-T-S. JETS JETS JETS! After adding Eric Decker and Chris Johnson to their offense and adding rookie Calvin Pryor to a defense that puts out Sheldon Richardson, Muhammad Wilkerson and Calvin Pace, the Jets defense is in good shape. While they are close, I still think they are a year away from the playoffs.

Record: 8-8

Buffalo Bills: IF the Bills can stay healthy they could an annoying matchup for some teams. They are still a few years away from really contending. I love the drafting of wide receiver, Sammy Watkins for them and they still have CJ Spiller and Fred Jackson at running back. I look for them to win a few games they shouldn’t win but they will end up in the lower-middle of the AFC standings.

Record: 5-11

AFC North:

Cincinnati Bengals: I understand that Andy Dalton has struggled during the playoffs but during the regular season, he has been pretty good. What I don’t understand is why everyone is so down on the Bengals this season. They are coming off an 11-5 record with a division crown. They drafted Darqueze Dennard out of Michigan State whom will vastly help their secondary, which was the weakest part of their top 3 ranked defense. Losing Mike Zimmer will hurt but losing Jay Gruden, as the OC will help them. Hue Jackson taking over means a more balanced offense with smarter play calling so no more throwing the ball at the 1 yard line. A second straight division title is in store for Cincinnati.

Record: 10-6, division winner

Baltimore Ravens: After missing the playoffs in 2013, the Ravens spent the offseason making sure they get back in 2014. Adding Steve Smith and drafting CJ Mosley out of Alabama are moves that will help them do so. Look for Joe Flacco and the Ravens to return to the playoffs where they rightfully belong.

Record: 9-7

Cleveland Browns: Johnny Manziel will dominate the headlines for the Browns this season and for good reason. If the Browns are smart and start him over Brian Hoyer, the Browns might have a chance to contend. Their only problem is that they don’t really have any receivers since Josh Gordon is too busy smoking pot to play football. Their defense is stacked with Paul Kruger, Justin Gilbert, Donte Whitner, and Joe Haden. The Browns are a season and a wide receiver away from actually contending again.

Record: 7-9

Pittsburgh Steelers: After making a strong push for the playoffs last season, the Steelers fell short on a bad call by the referees. The Steelers are one of the best organizations in all of sports but that won’t help them in 2014. They are an older football team that will fail to make the playoffs again in 2014. They could surprise everyone and have a resurrection but I personally just don’t see it.

Record: 6-10

AFC South:

Indianapolis Colts: Too many times, people get caught up in what happens in the playoffs and they put players on pedestals because of it. I am a huge believer in Andrew Luck but the Chiefs lost the playoff game last season more than he brought his team back and won it. It was a 28-point comeback so that is a major failure by the Chiefs, but I am not trying to take anything away from Luck and the Colts. They benefit from being in the worst division in football and will again make the playoffs and look to build on their success again.

Record: 11-5

Tennessee Titans: It seems that each season the Titans have an average season yet don’t really do anything about it. They lost Chris Johnson and cornerback Alterraun Verner and Jake Locker has potential but has yet to do anything with that potential. The Titans will have another lackluster season and miss the playoffs again.

Record: 7-9

Houston Texans: Outside of their quarterback situation, which is extremely important, the Texans if they can stay healthy are just a piece or two away from making the playoffs again. Their defense is scary-good with Jadeveon Clowney and J.J. Watt on each side of the ball. They still have Andre Johnson and Arian Foster but both are just getting older so the Texans need to try and find a quarterback, and fast. Hopefully they can win some games this season and then try and fix the holes in the team during the next offseason.

Record: 6-10

Jacksonville Jaguars: This is a team that I really like in about two-three years. I hope Blake Bortles gets a chance this season as he has tremendous upside but for some reason, the Jaguars management doesn’t seem to want him to play in 2014. Marqise Lee was a great second round pickup for this team. The Jags will be back in the lottery of the draft but are only a few seasons away from making the playoffs if everything pans out.

Record: 5-11

Playoff Standings:

Denver Broncos
New England Patriots
Indianapolis Colts
Cincinnati Bengals
Baltimore Ravens (won tiebreaker with Dolphins)
Miami Dolphins

In contention: New York Jets, San Diego Chargers, and Kansas City Chiefs

Vince Young Leading a List of Top 5 Quarterbacks Available

Luke Johnson — Tue, 26 Jul 2011 23:10:31 +0000

90 seconds ago the NFL exchange of commodity became the next greatest thing behind the Howard Stern Summer Especial.

Jest aside: things be a shakin’ in the NFL landscape.

Fault line players like Donovan McNabb and Nnamdi Asomugha headline the extravaganza.

Unproven yet dangerous others: Braylon Edwards, Matt Hasselbeck, Santonio Holmes, Kevin Kolb, Sydney Rice, Cedric Benson and Ronnie Brown round out this off-seasons flea market.

Toss in Kevin Orton, who’s become a sudden trade bit available, or the enigma of Vince Young, and the quarterback position is stronger than ever. Here are the top five splashes at the quarterback position.

1: Vince Young, 28 Years Old, 6 Year Veteran

Vince has and always will be, minus Steve McNair, the best QB in Titans modern history. No matter what the media parlays him as, he is 30-17 and a two-time pro bowler as a starting QB.

Whatever happened to sitting a young man down and optioning his life with either depression meds, psychological help or group therapy?

For the Titans and a league that has never done well with players of mental disorder: players like Vince Young and the great Ricky Williams, act as uncontrollable factors in a league of mathematical X’s and O’s.

Winning though, is not mathematical. Winning is a matter of the heart, which Vince has plenty of. The mobile runner reminiscent of a less-armed Big Ben has the goods to excel for a playoff competitor.

Despite the doubters who have him landing with the Eagles as a backup to Mike Vick, yardbarker.com reported Young spent time in South Florida this off-season to “build his reputation so that the Fins could consider him when time comes for them to add a quarterback once the current lockout ends and the league year opens.”

Boy wouldn’t he look nice in a Dolphins uniform?

Predicted landing spots: Miami Dolphins, San Francisco 49ers, Seattle Seahawks, Philadelphia Eagles

2: Donovan McNabb, 34 Years Old, 12 Year Veteran

MJ in a Wizards uniform=Has been.

Rolling Stones still touring=Pathetic.

Donovan McNabb desiring to reset his hall of fame course=distinguished.

Normally a veteran trying to go on after leaving his first franchise love is one, blind, and two, insecure. But for the 12 year, 6 time pro bowler with 36,250 career yards it is needed.

McNabb has plenty left in the tank after unfairly put in the frying pan in Philadelphia and the garbage can in Washington.

The mobile QB who revolutionized the position is a lock first ballot hall of fame inductee. His career is 99% complete as he still seeks a Super Bowl ring.

According to Tim Cowlishaw of the Washington post the star QB has been “Shanahaned.” A man who is known for doing as HE pleases despite the players he tosses to the wayside, has routed McNabb into a Brett Favre-like unemployment.

Luckily for the superstar the riches of an upturned NFL economy are bustling.

Predicted landing spots: Miami Dolphins, Minnesota Vikings, San Francisco 49ers

3: Matt Hasselbeck, 36 Years Old, 13 Year Veteran

If Kolb is the spry unknown then Hasselbeck is the resurrected Lazarus.

A Lazarus who may not be removing grave clothes but a guy who is trying to shake off his awkward desirability after three injury plagued and erratic seasons in Seattle.

Unlike any QB available, Hasselbeck–whom is the leader for a Seahawks org that has been to one Super Bowl, six playoff appearances in his long tenure–is living on a 2010 playoffs that saw him and his upstart Hawks’ go into Marshawn Lynch “beas mo,” knocking off the Saints.

We can’t ignore his erratic nature the last three seasons: 34 TD/44 INT. He is also an elder sized 36, with maybe (a shy maybe) two or three seasons left in the tank.

But for a contender looking to build a run around a seasoned and successful vet, Hasselbeck is one of the best available. Yarkbarker.com has the veteran overwhelmingly landing in San Francisco.

Predicted landing spots: San Francisco 49ers, Tennessee Titans

4: Kyle Orton, 28 Years Old, 8 Year Veteran

Falling from grace for a knock- off of Tim Couch is hurtful and down right lewd for the 8 year veteran out of Purdue. Though he is not necessarily a free agent, I still had to include this highly undervalued talent.

Like one of Newton’s gravity tools, Orton’s fall, reminiscent to a lesser degree of McNabb, is becoming one of the hottest topics around the league.Coming off a blowup season throwing for 3,651 YDS and 20 TD’s the short throwing pocket artisan has been linked to the Dolphins among others.

According to Mike Klis of the Denver Post, the teams interested in Orton are “Minnesota, Tennessee and Arizona. Seattle, Washington, Cincinnati and Miami also could be possibilities.”

This is a scandalous beginning for John Fox (who has nothing to do with it..) in the never-ending swirl of Bronco football.

For a guy like Orton, who’s thrown 41 TD to 21 INT in two seasons with the Broncos, it is perplexing and unfounded.

Predicted landing stops: Minnesota Vikings (sign and trade for S. Rice), Seattle Seahawks, Washington Redskins and Miami Dolphins (sign and trade for R. Brown).

5: Kevin Kolb, 26 Years Old, 5 Year Veteran

No player has swept the NFL world like Kevin Kolb. And no player has blinded the NFL world quite like Kevin Kolb.

The four year veteran is the Ringo Starr of the quarterbacks available, yet heralded like a Sir’ Paul before he’s opened his lips.

Career numbers of 11 TD and 14 INT, stacked with 2,082 yards and a 73.2 career passer rating, is far from a franchise QB.

Pushed out by a resurgent Mike Vick, the 6’3″ slinger with an ineptitude for trying to seam passes where there is no opening, fell apart in a week 17 start against the Cowboys.

Throwing for 3 INT, Kolb looked more like a grade schooler tossing a Nerf football then the guy who pushed out future hall of famer Donovan McNabb.

Still living on his red hot 2 start effort in place of McNabb in 2009 (62-96, 741 yds) the 13.25 million dollar backup is an intriguing risk for a rebuilding team.

Predicted stops: San Francisco 49ers, Arizona Cardinals, Miami Dolphins