NFL AFC Conference Breakdown After 10 Weeks

by: Vernon Croy

The AFC has had a handful of very interesting story lines this season, including both surprisingly dominant teams and formerly dominant teams that have fallen back to the pack. It all has made for an extremely competitive conference. The playoff race both for the majority of the divisions and for the remaining wild card spots should come down to the last weeks of the season. Here are some of the teams to keep an eye on in the AFC for the rest of the 2008 season.

The first team that has to be mentioned is the Tennessee Titans of course. Sitting at 9-0, the Tennessee Titans have been playing phenomenal football. Their defense is physical and anchored by their front line, and the offense has multiple running threats. Against the Bears last week though they proved they could throw to win the game when the running game is shut down. The team already has their division and a first round bye in the playoffs all but locked up barring some kind of unforeseen collapse, and they should be favored against anybody remaining on their schedule.

Everybody thought that the New England Patriots were doomed when Tom Brady went down for a knee injury in the beginning of the season. And while these aren’t the same old Patriots, they have still rallied around and currently have a share of first place in the AFC East. The team has really shown that they are more than just Tom Brady, or spy cameras, for that matter, as they continue to be one of the top level teams in the conference.

These are two more surprise teams, particularly the Dolphins who are coming off a 1-15 campaign in 2007. But Brett Favre going to the Jets enabled them to snatch up Chad Pennington, a major upgrade at quarterback. Throw in some Wild Cat formation with Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams, and you have yourself a ball club! It looked like the Bills would be the best team in the division, a solid defense and an improving young quarterback leading the charge, but after losing three games in a row their status is uncertain.

The Pittsburgh Steelers have played in a lot of very tough games and they have won the majority of them. Sitting at 6-3 they are tied with the Baltimore Ravens in their division, as well as with the Jets and Patriots if you’re thinking ahead to the playoffs, when only two of those teams can win their division. Additionally, in the AFC East, the Buffalo Bills and the Miami Dolphins are both sitting at 5-4 and are very much in contention for both the division and the wild card spots.

There is a difference between the Ravens and the Steelers though despite their shared record. The Steelers have been getting extremely banged up as the season has progressed, with injuries across the board to Ben Roethlisberger, several of their running backs and other key players. Meanwhile, the Ravens are just getting rolling as Joe Flacco has been gaining confidence playing quarterback with the great Ravens defense supporting him.

AFC powerhouse Indianapolis Colts are not the team we are used to seeing. They are at 5-4, and can only hope for a wild card spot in an extremely crowded playoff picture. This is due to Peyton Manning’s off season surgery, Marvin Harrison recovering from injuries, a battered offensive line and a weak running game.

Another AFC force that has looked mortal or worse this season has been the San Diego Chargers. The team has come up just a bit short in the playoffs in the last several seasons. But they won’t get the chance this year unless at 4-5 they can overtake the 5-4 Denver Broncos in the extremely weak AFC West. The Chargers have also been victims to injuries, as Shawne Merriman was lost for the year with a knee problem.

The AFC has been shaken up a good deal. Injuries have fallen some of the traditional powers, while new teams have sprouted up to take control. It will be an extremely interesting and intense final half of the 2008 season in the AFC playoff hunt, that’s for sure.

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