Way to early AFC Play off picture

[thunderkyss]

I know it's way too early to predict right now, but just to get the conversation started which six teams do you feel are most likely to make the playoffs in 2017?

Don't worry about seeding. Which teams are likely to win their division & who are the two best non division winners?

New England (lock)
Pittsburgh
Houston
Oakland
Kansas City
Tennessee
In the hunt
Baltimore
San Diego


Remember the order i listed them is not related to seeding. I have the four division winners, two wildcards, & two in the hunt.

 

[Speedy]

Interesting that half the teams in the AFC have been to the playoffs 4 or more times in the last 7 years while the other half has 1 trip or fewer.

At least 4 AFC teams that made the playoffs the previous season has made it again the following season since 2011. Looking at it that way, the question for me is, out of NE, KC, Pit, Hou, Oak and Mia, which 4 repeat, which 2 are out and which 2 take over for the 2 that are out?

I think NE (of course), KC and Oakland have a good shot to be there again. Pittsburgh should still be in the mix. I don't really feel all that good about Houston repeating to be honest, or Miami.

If the Texans don't win the division it will probably be Tennessee that takes it there, and the other team I would have coming from the AFC north, either Cincy or Baltimore.

So I'll go with;
NE
KC
Pit
Ten
Oak
Bal

 

[JB]

Interesting that half the teams in the AFC have been to the playoffs 4 or more times in the last 7 years while the other half has 1 trip or fewer.

At least 4 AFC teams that made the playoffs the previous season has made it again the following season since 2011. Looking at it that way, the question for me is, out of NE, KC, Pit, Hou, Oak and Mia, which 4 repeat, which 2 are out and which 2 take over for the 2 that are out?

I think NE (of course), KC and Oakland have a good shot to be there again. Pittsburgh should still be in the mix. I don't really feel all that good about Houston repeating to be honest, or Miami.

If the Texans don't win the division it will probably be Tennessee that takes it there, and the other team I would have coming from the AFC north, either Cincy or Baltimore.

So I'll go with;
NE
KC
Pit
Ten
Oak
Bal

I like your reasoning

So I'll go with;

NE
OAK
PITT
HOU
TENN
CIN

 

[austins23]

I'll take a stab at this...

New England - EAST
I don't see any of the other 3 teams improving enough to beat the Brady's. And the Brady's added some good pieces in FA.

Pittsburg - NORTH
I don't think Baltimore will have enough offense (sound familiar?). I don't trust the Bengals and the Browns are the Browns.

Oakland - WEST
I may be in the minority here, but I think Oakland played above its head last year. I still think they win the division by default though. And last I checked Del Rio is still the HC. Color me unimpressed with him. Denver, meh, no QB. Kansas City takes a couple steps back. San Diego will probably be one of my WC teams. Dark horse team here. Rivers gets some help on offense...

Houston - SOUTH
I'm a homer. But I really think the Texans win this division with defense and competent QB play. I think the Titans will be the toughest team to overcome for the division. The Colts are a mess, and Luck may not ever be the same again with his shoulder problems. The Jags? Bortles.

I like San Diego, Baltimore and Tennessee and maybe Miami for the last two WC's.

 

[steelbtexan]

I'll take a stab at this...

New England - EAST
I don't see any of the other 3 teams improving enough to beat the Brady's. And the Brady's added some good pieces in FA.

Pittsburg - NORTH
I don't think Baltimore will have enough offense (sound familiar?). I don't trust the Bengals and the Browns are the Browns.

Oakland - WEST
I may be in the minority here, but I think Oakland played above its head last year. I still think they win the division by default though. And last I checked Del Rio is still the HC. Color me unimpressed with him. Denver, meh, no QB. Kansas City takes a couple steps back. San Diego will probably be one of my WC teams. Dark horse team here. Rivers gets some help on offense...

Houston - SOUTH
I'm a homer. But I really think the Texans win this division with defense and competent QB play. I think the Titans will be the toughest team to overcome for the division. The Colts are a mess, and Luck may not ever be the same again with his shoulder problems. The Jags? Bortles.

I like San Diego, Baltimore and Tennessee and maybe Miami for the last two WC's.

I think Kansas City is going to be much better than you think.

Cincy is going to be much improved and If LAC'OL has improved then they may be a sleeper.

 

[JB]

I think Kansas City is going to be much better than you think.

Cincy is going to be much improved and If LAC'OL has improved then they may be a sleeper.

I think KC takes a step back this year. Oakland will be tough and Chargers will battle. KC sits at home in Jan

 

[thunderkyss]

I like San Diego. They lost 9 of 11 games in the final minutes. Rhey are really, really close.

But I also respect Oakland & Kansas City. Neither team is as balanced as San Diego, but they appear to have it together more... it made sense when I said it in my head.

Baltimore... I don't know what's going on up there, but it seems like they've quietly slipped into nonrelevance.

I think Houston & Tennesee are going to have a very good year.

 

[Lucky]

I think Houston & Tennesee are going to have a very good year.

I know a lot of people are down on the AFC South. But, I think the division will be on the upswing this season. Mainly because of the Jags, who have amassed a ton of talent. I think every team plays .500 or above and is the 2nd best division in the conference behind the West.

 

[thunderkyss]

I know a lot of people are down on the AFC South. But, I think the division will be on the upswing this season. Mainly because of the Jags, who have amassed a ton of talent. I think every team plays .500 or above and is the 2nd best division in the conference behind the West.

I can see three teams over .500

But all four?

 

[IDEXAN]

I know a lot of people are down on the AFC South. But, I think the division will be on the upswing this season. Mainly because of the Jags, who have amassed a ton of talent. I think every team plays .500 or above and is the 2nd best division in the conference behind the West.

I second that, the AFC South is going to be tough this year and I'm afraid that it's just not going to be our year. Now maybe as we get into TC and progress thru the preseason games I might change my mind but right now we've got the biggest question marks at QB and pretty much everybody else in the division is settled there besides having improved their talent across the board, especially the Titans & Jags.

 

[Lucky]

I second that, the AFC South is going to be tough this year and I'm afraid that it's just not going to be our year. Now maybe as we get into TC and progress thru the preseason games I might change my mind but right now we've got the biggest question marks at QB and pretty much everybody else in the division is settled there besides having improved their talent across the board, especially the Titans & Jags.

It will be much tougher for the Texans. No doubt. However, I would still tab them as the favorites.

1. Experience - They've been there and done that. In a close game, that can make a difference.
2. Playmakers - Watt, Clowney, Hopkins, these guys are proven playmakers. There is much raw talent in the division. Not as proven as the Texans.
3. Coaching - I hear the laughter. I haven't been O'Brien's biggest cheerleader. But he has beaten the other coaches in the division. And he still has Crennel and Vrabel. Edge to the Texans.

I am probably one of Watson's biggest fans here. So that colors my opinion quite a bit. I just look at what the Texans have accomplished so far with what they've had at the QB position. A rookie Watson will be an upgrade by the 2nd half of the season, IMO. This is no longer a division of dogs, but it will be a dogfight (Sopwith Camel variety).