Why Every Division in the AFC Is Still Up for Grabs

This is about the time of year that everyone likes to make their predictions on who's gonna win what division and how the playoff race will wind up and all of that.

Many analysts will say they're absolutely certain about one team, and they have it wrapped up, without a doubt.

That's just plain wrong, as far as I'm concerned.

Up to this point in the season, every single division is up for grabs.

I'm not saying every team has a shot, but there is at least one other team in each division that is suiting up to make a run at the top team.

Here's a breakdown of each division, in their present order, and why I feel each team has a chance to win that division, or why they're are most likely out of it.

AFC East

1. Buffalo Bills

Why they have a shot:

• The Buffalo Bills are a very talented team in all the areas that seem to matter most. Now, we could get into a whole argument that every position holds equal importance, and I would tend to agree. But, in the widely-recognized areas, they're pretty stout.
• They've got a franchise quarterback in Trent Edwards. He's coming along very nicely, quite possibly a steal from the second round.
• Marshawn Lynch is one of the best young running backs in the league. He also may be the most heavily underrated. He ranks at the top with the likes of L.T., Westbrook, and Peterson.

• Jason Peters is a brick wall to go along with a much-improved, tough offensive line.
• Marcus Stroud is a beast in the middle of an underrated defensive line.

Why they could blow it:

• While they are talented, they are also very young. There are not many players on this team with playoff experience and this is a franchise that has not been familiar with winning as of late. I'm still not convinced they can rise to the occasion when it matters most, simply because they do not have the experience to do so.
• Trent Edwards is currently hampered with a concussion and J.P. Losman has proven he's a backup. That's it.
• The secondary can be taken advantage of, as proven by the Cardinals offense a couple of weeks ago.

• Lee Evans is a very good receiver. Unfortunately, the talent drops off considerably after him. They need better play from their tight ends.

2. New England Patriots

Why they have a shot:

• Bill Belichick. Love him, hate him, he's still one of the best football minds of our time and he can make this team legit once again.
• Randy Moss and Wes Welker can still spread out a defense to make room for the running game, or catch some balls, obviously.
  
• Laurence Maroney is an underrated talent in the backfield. He can make plays with the best of 'em.

Why they could blow it:

• Matt Cassel is not being the leader this organization was hoping he could be. He really has let them down in all aspects of his game.
• Laurence Maroney needs to stay healthy. Sammy Morris can do some good things but with a young, inexperienced quarterback, they need a running game.
• The entire defense has been exposed on national television. Ouch. Phillip Rivers had a field day with that defense. Along with Vincent Jackson, Malcolm Floyd, L.T., and Sproles.

3. New York Jets

Why they have a shot:

• Brett Favre is getting into the swing of things and is really starting to pick up this offensive scheme. He's making the reads, getting through all the way to his check-down if necessary, and is starting to look like he's having fun again.
• Thomas Jones is playing like a man possessed. Think he wants this team to win?
• The line is doing a good job of protecting Favre, and it's giving him time to do what he does best. Win.
• The run defense is greatly improved. The Kris Jenkins deal may have been the best of the offseason.

Why they could blow it:

• They have to play the likes of the Patriots and Bill twice a year. They also have to deal with an up-and-coming team in the Dolphins who are playing surprisingly good football at the moment.
• While the run defense is doing well, the pass defense is suffering. Even in Brett Favre's six-touchdown game, the defense still allowed Kurt Warner to throw for over 400 yards and two touchdowns. Not good.

4. Miami Dolphins

Why they have a shot:

• "The Miami Wildcats"... eh. Okay, so maybe that doesn't really have a ring to it, but it's working out for them so well it's something to consider.
• Ronnie Brown, Ricky Williams, and Chad Pennington look to be back to old form. They're producing and doing everything they can to help this team win. Plus, and this cannot be overlooked, they're finally having fun again.

Why they could blow it:

• This division is tough this year. Tony Sparano has already doubled the win total from the Cam Cameron regime, but they're still a little bit away from having all the pieces in place to make a run.
• More specifically, the defense is not holding up the way the offense is. 29 points to the Houston Texans and a last second quarterback draw from Matt Schaub to win? They've got to play better than that.
• As well as their offense is working right now, gimmicks only work for so long in the NFL.

How I See This Shaping Up

1. Buffalo Bills (11-5)
2. New England Patriots (10-6)
3. New York Jets (9-7)
4. Miami Dolphins (6-10)

AFC North

1. Pittsburgh Steelers

Why they have a shot:

• Mewelde Moore has filled in admirably in the absence of Willie Parker and first-round pick Rashard Mendenhall.
  
• Hines Ward is still playing up to expectations, along with the rest of the receivers and Heath Miller.
• The defense has proven stout. Playing well enough to give the offense an opportunity to win.

Why they could blow it:

• Roethlisberger is getting sacked almost every seven times he drops back to pass. Even a quarterback as good as Big Ben can't win a game on his back.
• The offensive line is suffering greatly. They seem to lack continuity and are playing like five individuals rather than a whole unit.
• The running game, while getting the job done, is not good enough to take them deep into the playoffs. With the way Roethlisberger is being hit, they will need to lean on a running game that is just not there.

2. Baltimore Ravens

Why they have a shot:

• The defense has been very good all year. If we consider Indianapolis an aberration and nothing more than a coming-out party for Peyton and company, the defense has been stout and kept the offense in the thick of things.
• Joe Flacco is showing flashes of promise that he'll turn into a good quarterback for this team.
• Ray Rice is a good young talent and paired with Willis McGahee this could evolve into a very dominant rushing attack.

Why they could blow it:

• While Flacco has shown flashes that he could eventually be a top-flight quarterback, he has done nothing to help the team so far this season.
• McGahee and Rice has been subpar this year, especially McGahee, who has been dinged up all year long.
• A rookie coach who has never been more than a Special-Teams Coordinator may not know how to respond when the train goes lopsided off the track.

3. Cleveland Browns

Why they have a shot:

• Derek Anderson looks like he may be worth his fat contract. After a beating of the Giants defense he looks to be in his '07 form.
• Jamal Lewis is still running on all cylinders, long after everyone said his engine was out of gas. Run, Jamal, Run.
• The defense showed they can put a stop to the offense that won the Super Bowl just a year ago.

Why they could blow it:

• The defense had one good game so far this year. Granted, it came against the world champions, but it's still one game. They need to prove consistent to be taken seriously.
• Derek Anderson played well Monday night, but it still not may be enough to save him from Brady Quinn if he doesn't produce in the games to come.
• Starting over with Brady Quinn (if it comes to that) would mean a rebuilding in Cleveland, time Romeo Crennell does not have.

4. Cincinnati Bengals

Why they have a shot:

• Regardless of how they're playing at the moment, they still have Carson Palmer, T.J. Houshmandzadeh, and Chad Johnson. All Pro-Bowl caliber players.
• Their defense is playing better week by week.
• Chris Perry is a young and talented running back with his best games ahead of him.

Why they could blow it:

• Carson Palmer, T.J. Houshmandzadeh, and Chad Johnson are playing like rookie pedestrians. Too many egos to keep happy.
• In what appeared to be a salary-cap move, the Bengals cut a very good left tackle in Willie Anderson and are now left with no one to cover Palmer's blind side (or Fitzpatrick since Palmer can't stay healthy).
• The defense is still a long ways away from scaring anybody.

How I See This Shaping Up

1. Pittsburgh Steelers (10-6)
2. Cleveland Browns (9-7)
3. Baltimore Ravens (8-8)
4. Cincinnati Bengals (3-13)

AFC South

1. Tennessee Titans

Why they have a shot:

• The defense is outstanding. No one can seem to find out a way to gain anything on this unit. They are stout and they are impressive.
• Kerry Collins has proven, as he did with the Giants in 2000, that he can lead a team to the Super Bowl.
• LenDale White and rookie Chris Johnson are a dynamic one-two punch and are proving difficult for defensive coordinators.

Why they could blow it:

• Kerry Collins is old. He doesn't have the mobility he once had, nor the arm strength. His short-comings may prove to be the team's short-comings in the long run.
• The wide receivers have come under a lot of scrutiny for their lack of big-play ability, and rightfully so. Can you name one wide receiver on that team (if you live outside of Tennessee)? I'll wait...

2. Indianapolis Colts

Why they have a shot:

• They're the Colts. They have Peyton Manning, Reggie Wayne, Dallas Clark, Marvin Harrison, Bob Sanders, Dwight Freeney, and the list goes on and on.
• Manning looks like he's finally recovered from his offseason surgeries. He should be back to his old form in no time.
• Marvin Harrison may not have lost as much as everyone said.

Why they could blow it:

• The defense is not playing well, and they are missing their leader in Bob Sanders. He is too oft-injured. While he's a good player, he can't contribute on the sidelines.
• Joseph Addai has been a big let-down so far this year. He's not running well, which may be a symptom of two rookie guards. He also needs to be more of a contributor in the passing game.
• They're having trouble running the Tampa Two ever since they allowed Cato June to leave via free agency. I'm sure that's a move they're regretting.

3. Jacksonville Jaguars

Why they have a shot:

• They have the best running back one-two in the league. That takes pressure off of David Garrard, who can make plays off the play-action.
• Garrard is limiting the mistakes he was making at the beginning of the year, which means the defense is playing with a much longer field.
• John Henderson is playing just as well without his partner in crime, Marcus Stroud, as he did when he was there. That spells good things for the Jaguars down the line.

Why they could blow it:

• The line has been decimated by injuries. The success of this team is on the shoulders of the replacements along the line. No pressure, guys.
• The wide receivers are still not playing well enough. They are playing better but it's still not good enough. Also, they could be without one of them (Matt Jones) soon, if the drug charges go through.
• The secondary needs to eliminate the big play. They're being taken advantage of.

4. Houston Texans

Why they have a shot:

• The Texans finally played up to their potential against Miami and came out with a close one. Granted, they almost lost. But, there's no column for "Almost Loss"
• Andre Johnson and Matt Schaub had their chemistry back, that should progress throughout the season.
• Steve Slaton is a pleasant surprise and is showing to be a steal from the fourth round out of West Virginia.

Why they could blow it:

• They have shown why they can blow it. Poor offense + poor defense = poor outcome.
• The defense is being destroyed by every offense they face. They need to get that in order if they hope to go anywhere.
• They have to play the Titans, Colts, and Jaguars twice a year. Damn.

How I See This Shaping Up

1. Indianapolis Colts (11-5)
2. Tennessee Titans (11-5)
3. Jacksonville Jaguars (9-7)
4. Houston Texans (7-9)

AFC West

1. Denver Broncos

Why they have a shot:

• Jay Cutler is in the middle of his breakout season. Coincidentally, the same year Brandon Marshall is having his. There may be some correlation in that.
• Eddie Royal is a young, rising talent. His best games are ahead of him.
• Selvin Young and Michael Pittman are manning the running game very nicely.

Why they could blow it:

• The defense is not very good. Simple as that.
• Too many injuries to the likes of Selvin Young, Eddie Royal, and Tony Scheffler are stifling this offense and could spell trouble in the future for this organization.
• They won't have Ed Hochulli calling every game.

2. San Diego Chargers

Why they have a shot:

• Phillip Rivers is playing extremely well and is on point with all of his receivers.
  
• L.T. and Darren Sproles are playing well together, providing two good options out of the backfield. Especially good news at a time when L.T. is not 100 percent.
• Every man in the front three of that defensive front could be earning a free trip to Hawaii in February.

Why they could blow it:

• Two gut-wrenching losses to start the year have set them back. They seem to be responding well, but that's to be seen.
• L.T. is not 100 percent, however, he is still playing well enough with Darren Sproles. But, if he gets worse they could be in trouble.
• The defense needs to stop the big play. They tend to disappear at important points in the game.

3. Oakland Raiders

Why they have a shot:

• They have three good running backs in supporting cast for JaMarcus Russel, who appears to be developing.

Why they could blow it:

• Al Davis. This organization will go nowhere until he steps down or sells the franchise.
• They have no consistency at head coach. Without a figure head with some authority, the players have no structure and cannot be expected to win regularly.
• JaMarcus Russel is not progressing quickly enough. He needs to speed up the process in order for them have any hope.

4. Kansas City Chiefs

Why they have a shot:

• Larry Johnson is still a top running back. He has all the skills necessary, he just is missing the supporting cast.
• Dwayne Bowe is a rising talent who will have a lot of success in this league.

Why they could blow it:

• No real quarterback is a huge deal for any time. They have tried three with no success.
• The offensive line is below par for an NFL team. L.J. cannot do anything without any blocking. The game is won in the trenches, so far, the Chiefs have not even dug theirs yet.

How I See This Shaping Up

1. San Diego Chargers (12-4)
2. Denver Broncos (10-6)
3. Oakland Raiders (4-12)
4. Kansas City Chiefs (2-14)

Check in for "Why Every Division in the NFC is Still Up For Grabs!"