AFC South Preview

The Sports Guys have been on a blogging hiatus for most of the summer. Nothing like NFL Camps starting to pull us back in. It’s time to predict the upcoming NFL season. Yesterday we covered the AFC North. Today we’ll look at the AFC South. This will complete our AFC preview, and we’ll cover the NFC next week.

AFC South

Division Winner: Indianapolis Colts

Division Cellar: Jacksonville Jaguars

Other Playoff Teams: None

1. Indianapolis Colts

2. Tennessee Titans

3. Houston Texans

4. Jacksonville Jaguars

Andrew – This is the worst division in the AFC as Indianapolis is the only good team. They’ll likely run away with it barring injury, and could have it clinched just after Thanksgiving. The other three teams are very tight however. All three have uneasy quarterback situations and have a lot of unknowns on offense. Defensively, all three could be solid though. Tough to predict spots 2-4.

Greg – The Colts will win this division again this year basically by default. Houston is the only team that has gotten significantly better, but they are still limited because Ryan Fitzpatrick can only take them so far.  The Texans should be good defensively, but the Colts offense and defense have taken a few steps forward. Barring catastrophic injuries, they should win their 3rd division title in a row.

Preseason Division Awards

Offensive MVP: Andrew Luck (Indianapolis) or Arian Foster (Houston) – Andrew is picking Andrew (Luck) this year because of the weapons he now has around him. The return of Wayne and Allen will help, and the additions of Nicks and Moncrief are big. Greg is banking on Foster returning to dominance under his new coach. The defense in Houston should be solid which will allow Houston to run a lot on offense.

Defensive MVP: J.J. Watt (Houston) – No question about this pick as he’s the best in the business. He could be even scarier this year with defenses now accounting for Clowney as well.

Rookies to Watch: Jadeveon Clowney (Houston), Marqise Lee (Jacksonville), Bishop Sankey (Tennessee), Donte Moncrief (Indianapolis)

Free Agents to Watch: Ryan Fitzpatrick (Houston), D’Qwell Jackson (Indianapolis), Toby Gerhart (Jacksonville), Shaun Phillips (Tennessee)

By: The Sports Guys

AFC North Preview

The Sports Guys have been on a blogging hiatus for most of the summer. Nothing like NFL Camps starting to pull us back in. It’s time to predict the upcoming NFL season. Yesterday we covered the AFC West. Today we’ll look at the AFC North. We will cover a different division each day this week and next.

AFC North

Division Winner: Baltimore Ravens (Andrew), Pittsburgh Steelers (Greg)

Division Cellar: Cleveland Browns (Andrew), Baltimore Ravens (Greg)

Other Playoff Teams: Cincinnati Bengals – Wildcard #2 (Andrew)

Andrew:                                            Greg:

1. Baltimore Ravens                       1. Pittsburgh Steelers

2. Cincinnati Bengals                      2. Cincinnati Bengals

3. Pittsburgh Steelers                     3. Cleveland Browns

4. Cleveland Browns                      4. Baltimore Ravens

Andrew – If the AFC West is the best division in the AFC, the North is the most balanced. This is the one division that I struggled picking a winner, but also picking the correct order of finish. The Ravens had a great offseason, which put them on top in my opinion, but the Bengals are still solid and the Steelers could return to form. The Browns also got a lot better, but the impending suspension of Josh Gordon will really hurt the offense.

Greg – This division reminds me of the NFC East from about five years ago.  All four teams are fairly solid, but none of them are really spectacular. They will beat up on each other, as they usually do, but the Steelers mix of young offensive and defensive talent will lead them back to the top of the division.

Preseason Division Awards

Offensive MVP: AJ Green (Cincinnati) or Le’Veon Bell (Pittsburgh) – Greg and Andrew are again in disagreement. Andrew thinks AJ Green is the best skill position player in this division easily. His production will get Cincy back into the playoffs. Greg thinks Bell will breakout as the workhorse in Pittsburgh. In fact, Greg thinks Bell will carry them to the division title.

Defensive MVP: Vontaze Burfict (Cincinnati) or Lardarius Webb (Baltimore) – In a division known or defense, there are a lot of intriguing options. Andrew likes Burfict, one of the league’s best tacklers. Greg likes Webb, who is one of the better cornerbacks in the league.

Rookies to Watch: Johnny Manziel (Cleveland), CJ Mosley (Baltimore), Ryan Shazier (Pittsburgh), Jeremy Hill (Cincinnati)

Free Agents to Watch: Steve Smith (Baltimore), Ben Tate (Cleveland), Miles Austin (Cleveland), LeGarrette Blount (Pittsburgh)

By: The Sports Guys

AFC West Preview

The Sports Guys have been on a blogging hiatus for most of the summer. Nothing like NFL Camps starting to pull us back in. It’s time to predict the upcoming NFL season. Yesterday we covered the AFC East. Today we’ll look at the AFC West. We will cover a different division each day this week and next.

AFC West

Division Winner: Denver Broncos

Division Cellar: Oakland Raiders

Other Playoff Teams: San Diego Chargers – Wildcard #1 (Greg and Andrew)

1. Denver Broncos

2. San Diego Chargers

3. Kansas City Chiefs

4. Oakland Raiders

Andrew – This is clearly the best division in the AFC, as they have the best team in the conference (Broncos), and two wildcard teams from last year (Chiefs and Chargers). Even the Raiders have a chance to be decent with some of their moves this offseason. Despite that, there is a definitive top team, and that team is led by Peyton Manning.

Greg - The Broncos have improved on offense, even with the loss of Eric Decker, and they should be better in Peyton Manning year #3. Every team improved with the exception of Kansas City who I think got a little worse with all of the players they lost. Oakland had an excellent draft, and has a chance to make the playoffs with a few wins over San Diego and Kansas City.

Preseason Division Awards

Offensive MVP: Peyton Manning (Denver) – This was the obvious answer, even though he won’t match last year’s totals.

Defensive MVP: Justin Houston (Kansas City) – Many good options, but Houston helps anchor the division’s best defensive unit.

Rookies to Watch: Khalil Mack (Oakland), Cody Latimer (Denver), De’Anthony Thomas (Kansas City), Jason Verrett (San Diego)

Free Agents to Watch: DeMarcus Ware (Denver), Maurice Jones-Drew (Oakland), Donald Brown (San Diego), Emmanuel Sanders (Denver)

By: The Sports Guys

AFC East Preview

The Sports Guys have been on a blogging hiatus for most of the summer. Nothing like NFL Camps starting to pull us back in. It’s time to predict the upcoming NFL season. Today, we’ll start with the AFC East, and we’ll cover a different division each day this week and next.

AFC East

Division Winner: New England Patriots

Division Cellar: Buffalo Bills

Other Playoff Teams: Miami Dolphins (Greg) – Wildcard #2

1. New England Patriots

2-3. Miami Dolphins (Greg 2, Andrew 3)

2-3. New York Jets (Andrew 2, Greg 3)

4. Buffalo Bills

Andrew – Like most divisions in the AFC, I see one team clearly above the rest – New England. Tom Brady should have more weapons this season and the defense seems loaded on paper. Miami was close last year to the playoffs, the Jets overachieved and are improving, and Buffalo could be drastically better. But it still won’t matter.

Greg - I struggled with this division more than others, because I think all four teams are actually fairly close in talent. New England will be better this year than last, but so will all the other teams, so I think their record could be actually worse this year than last year, even though they improved as a team overall.

Preseason Division Awards

Offensive MVP: Rob Gronkowski (New England) – Tom Brady will bounce back this season, but it will be because this guy gets healthy.

Defensive MVP: Sheldon Richardson (New York) – Lots of good options, but Sheldon was great at the end of last season, and he’ll dominate as a sophomore.

Rookies to Watch: Sammy Watkins (Buffalo), Jace Amaro (New York), Dominique Easley (New England), Ja’Wuan James (Miami)

Free Agents to Watch: Branden Albert (Miami), Eric Decker (New York), Darrelle Revis (New England, Brandon Spikes (Buffalo)

By: The Sports Guys