AFC Contenders & Pretenders

By Uzo Ometu
Associated Content

With less than half of the season left in the 2007-2008 NFL, this is the time of the year that teams need to start buckling down and start separating themselves from the competition. We'll start by focusing on the American Football Conference, the AFC.

Of course, there a such situations where that is already the case. For example, it's pretty much an accepted notion that the New England Patriots, Pittsburgh Steelers and Indianapolis Colts will be going to the playoffs this season. It's all widely accepted that the Dolphins and Raiders will not be headed to the NFL post season.

However, the teams in between have not been so easily categorized as potential post-season participants or early off-season goers. Thus, I give you the defining categorization of teams who actually have a shot at the playoffs and the ones that won't. This will change from week to week, just like everything else in the NFL, but I'll be sticking by analysis...for the time being!
Contenders

Tennessee Titans (6-3) - Vince Young had an inauspicious first half of the season, and yet the team is still 6-2 and in position for the playoffs. Young's leg injury is hurting his running ability, which is a big part of his game. However, I don't think he can play much worse than he has to this point in the season. Plus, all of the pieces around Vince look good. The running game has been efficient, and the defense has been superb.

Jacksonville Jaguars (6-3) - Coming from the same division as the Titans and the Colts, the Jaguars have been tested and they have faired fairly well against the competition. They have won their last 2 games despite not having Quarterback David Garrard, or any since of a passing game. I thought the defense would be hurt by the suspension of Defensive Tackle Marcus Stroud, but they immediately went out and held LenDale White to 12 yards rushing. Watch for the Jaguars to make a strong push once Garrard returns.

San Diego Chargers (5-4) - They barely made the list, but due to the stunning array of talent on their team, their potential for greatness outweighs their potential lack of execution. The game against the Colts was ugly; it portrayed a seemingly regressing Philip Rivers. However, the defense looked like it got its swagger back, and as long as the offense can refrain from making too many costly errors, the Chargers should win the AFC West.

Pretenders

Buffalo Bills (5-4) - I like the Bills. I love the way they play and the passion with which they do it. However, they are just too sloppy on offense and have given me little reason to believe that there is any chance of them getting any better. Marshawn Lynch will probably be hampered by an ankle injury for a few weeks, and he was the only thing the Bills had going for them. They have made a nice run, but their inability to score points when they really need them will hurt them in the long run and will render them with a quick trip to the off-season.

Denver Broncos (4-5) - They just are not that good. They have given up 75 more points than they have scored this season, and their defense cannot stop the run. Jay Cutler has looked like what he is, which is a second-year quarterback, and he only has 1 game under his belt where he has not thrown an interception. Then there are their corners that have not played up to their potential in the team's losses, and if that continues, there will be a lot more losses on their way.

Cleveland Browns (5-4) - The Browns are a great story and I hope I am wrong about them, but the fact remains that their defense is entirely to speculative, and the only teams they have beaten are ones with really crappy defenses or ones with really crappy offenses. They don't have the balance to match up with a balanced football team, and you can't make into the playoffs relying on another team being completely deficient on side of the ball. Their coaching is not too impeccable either when you take into account their 2^nd half falter to the Steelers in Week 10, where they only got 1 first down in the second half.