Smashmouth Football League Articles

AFC East

1. New York Jets
2. New England Patriots
3. Miami Dolphins
4. Buffalo Bills

Analysis: The AFC East is quietly the toughest division in the SFL and likely will be a knockout fight year in and year out as long as the four GMs there maintain their teams. This year, I'm giving the New York Jets the upper hand. Their schedule is slightly easier than their team deserves and with the additions to the roster this offseason, it's quickly looking like a Kevin Mullendore-style team. Behind them we have to put the New England Patriots, who will look to avenge an yearly bow-out in last year's playoffs. The Miami Dolphins come in third. New GM Daren Roberts has made some good moves, but he's not a miracle worker. As for the Buffalo Bills, I love the moves rookie GM Brandon Lindgren made, but the team is too young to compete at this point.

AFC North

1. Baltimore Ravens
2. Pittsburgh Steelers
3. Cleveland Browns
4. Cincinnati Bengals

Analysis: The big question is whether or not the Baltimore Ravens are the team we saw in the 2002 regular season (consistent, but with holes) -- or the team we saw in the 2002 postseason (surprisingly dominant). I'm not 100% sold on them, but when I look at the teams in this division, it makes the most sense to pick them. Second place likely lands with the Pittsburgh Steelers whom have plenty of talent and should be able to content on a weak schedule. At the bottom, I don't think the Cleveland Browns are quite there yet, nor are the Cincinnati Bengals going to fare well with Jon Kitna at quarterback.

AFC South

1. Indianapolis Colts
2. Tennessee Titans
3. Houston Texans
4. Jacksonville Jaguars

Analysis: I mean, this is a no-brainer, the Indianapolis Colts will coast to the division title. They have the offense, they have the defense and they have the gameplan. If they have a contender, it will be the Tennessee Titans, who needed a year of growth and should be ready to push for a playoff spot. GM Wade Pearce input an impressive offseason for the Houston Texans, but a playoff berth would be a lot for the second-year franchise. Lastly, we have the Jacksonville Jaguars, who added a lot of good talent for the future, but lack the offensive leader to win.

AFC West

1. Denver Broncos
2. Kansas City Chiefs
3. Oakland Raiders
4. San Diego Chargers

Analysis: I criticized some of their moves this offseason, but I think that the Denver Broncos will run away with this division. They've got a good quarterback, solid players on both side of the ball, and a division that is hurting all around them. The Kansas City Chiefs made the bold move for Michael Vick, and while I think if anyone could make Vick successful, it's GM Tim Miller, I don't see it happening. The Oakland Raiders did their best to combat an aging roster retiring on them, but it's doubtful it's enough to get them back to the playoffs. Lastly, we have the San Diego Chargers who went "all in" last year and came up short. And let's be real, it wouldn't be preseason predictions if I didn't pick GM Anthony Cepparulo last and made him mad about it.

AFC Playoff Seedings

1. Indianapolis Colts
2. New York Jets
3. Denver Broncos
4. Baltimore Ravens
5. Kansas City Chiefs
6. Pittsburgh Steelers