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Divisional Halfway-AFC

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We’re already through 8 regular weeks of NFL seasonal play, and there are some challengers and losers in the bunch of 32. Let’s take a look at the Divisional Halfway AFC standings when it comes to the teams, as we break down each division for some insight.

AFC East

At the start of the season, the power-packed East looked sure to send at least 2 teams through to the playoffs, off the back of Aaron Rodgers, or head of Tua. With November now here, it’s possible that the Buffalo Bills will have this sucker wrapped up by Thanksgiving.

The Jets are a mess, and with only 3 wins going into November, it’s highly unlikely they go anywhere unless the run the table.

Tua and the Dolphins are also lost in the fog, as another series of concussions should be paramount in his future thinking. As a result coach Mike McDaniel also looks lost, and even Tyreek Hill is apologising to NFL Fantasy owners. Is this the end of the Miami run before a rebuild?

As for the Patriots, NFL fans around the world are enjoying this after too many TB12 seasons. Drake Make might be the future, if he doesn’t get killed by a weak O-line first.

AFC North

The Steelers? For real? This isn’t a April Fool’s joke?
Nope, coach Tomlin shows that coaching is what makes teams, as he rides his D and ageing QB’s to the top tier of this division. While many pundits claim it won’t last long, they still find ways to win, when others are taking L’s.

The dark horse Ravens were thought to be running away with this division, given the MVP calibre play of Jackson and Henry, but there are still some cracks. Those cracks would be in their secondary, which has been allowing points in, and games lost. Still gotta beat the Chiefs at the end of the day.

Cincinnati is in trouble, real trouble. No matter what Burrow does, that D is pouring in points every week. Even with such a stellar squad, the Bengals are struggling to get wins over even the weakest teams. Perhaps it’s time for a coaching change?

Oh Cleveland you filthy beast, what’s going on? Jameis has probably played his last football, and even Johnny Manziel is looking good right now. It looks like another rebuild decade for the Brownies, as fans must be at the end of their tether.

AFC South

The dirty south looks like it’s running through Houston again, but there are big sized Texas problems. After a Week 9 TNF loss to the Jets, CJ Stroud even admitted that there is a problem in Houston. Too many injuries to rely on Mixon’s legs, and CJ seems to have taken a step back.

Stepping back even further has been Colts QB Anthony Richardson, who has made a shocking regression from last season, and his quotes about being ‘tired’, are sure to inflame fans, and anyone over 30. Indy might be 4-4 now, but how long can they rely on Old Joe Flacco?

Jacksonville must be thanking their lucky stars that Tennessee is in their division, because otherwise they would be in dead last place. When owner Khan declared that ‘winning is the only option’, he must have had some crumbs in his moustache, because winning looks far away. Coach Doug better bring his rosary beads every week, because he’s got some praying to do.

As for the Titans, they well and truly suck. The Nashville fire sale has begun, with Hopkins gone, and Will Levis looking CFL bound next year. There’s always changing their name back to the Oilers?

AFC West

Kansas City is 7-0, and it doesn’t look likely that anyone will beat them. Mahomes is playing well enough, but it’s the coaching, the D and Taylor. No, you’re crying.

Denver didn’t look like they were off to a good start in 2024, but coach Payton has gotten the Broncos and Bo Nix humming. It helps to have a shut-down safety like Surtain, and who knows how far this team could go?

LA Chargers are also playing smart, and slow football. With a 4-3 record heading into week 9, the Bolts are looking to keep pace with KC, and slot themselves into the postseason off their solid D.

Tom Brady might part own the Raiders now, but everyone else has been owning them too. Like many things in Vegas, it might be time to implode the old, and rebuild the new, or did they do that already? Do it again.

So congrats to the Buffalo Bills, Kansas City Chiefs, and Baltimore Ravens, one of you will be representing the AFC come February.

 

AFC-Division Preview

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Everybody is an NFL pundit, so why not listen to the blathering on of some NFL experts?
Wade McElwain and Ryan Cull are ready with their divisional picks to make your life either easier, or more complicated.
Those are the kind of choices you get in a Covid world.

When it comes to NFL picks, Wade & Ryan are quite good at picking NFL winners. Wade was able to hit a whopping 64% correct against the spread in 2019, putting him right up there with Vegas Tipsters.
Ryan was able to hit 56%, which is better than grandma or an octopus can pick. So you’re in good hands.

So who do the boys like for this season? Let’s find out. Or you can listen to the latest podcast where they explain it all.

AFC East

Ryan is a Buffalo Bills fan, so expect a bit of a bias in his picks. He believes that the Bills will finally see their year, outperforming the New England Patriots and taking the division title with an 11-5 record. He has the Pats slightly behind at 9-7, with the lowly Jets and Dolphins finishing up at 6-10.
Wade also likes the Bills, but not so much. This is a tough division, which means that they will probably beat the crap out of each other to .500 records. He has the Bills at a respectable 9-7, with Bill Belichick’s coaching nipping on the heels of the Bills at 8-8. As for the other dumpster fires, the Dolphins will either start strong or finish strong, but they will deffo suck in the middle. Adam Gase will do what he does, and turn Jets fans a fiery red.

AFC North

Can the Baltimore Ravens repeat their Lamar-a-rific performance like they did last year? Ryan says yes, Wade says no. Ryan likes the Ravens have what it takes to take the division, pipping the Browns with the Steelers trailing in third. The Bengals of course are his fourth place,  as are most peoples’.
Wade is hot on Pittsburgh this season as the drama is behind them, and Tomlin is focused on a title run. Their D is incredible and their offence is finally healthy enough to challenge. Wade has Baltimore trailing with a respectable 11-5 record. He isn’t as bullish on the Browns however, as the high profile players will once again implode with a 6-10 season. He too thinks that the Bengals will stink worse than 2020, if that’s at all possible.

AFC South

The Titans rose as giants in their division last year, but will the brilliance of Bill O’Brien save the Texans? Not according to the boys. Ryan likes the pep of Phillip Rivers to take the Colts and their wicked O-line to a 10-6 record and the division title. He has both the Titans &  Texans slightly behind, with the Jaguars playing so bad, they should just be called ‘Florida’.
Wade on the other hand sees ties in the future, in fact a 3 way tie. He has the Titans, Colts and Texans all chunking out 9-7 records with the Jaguars getting shot in the jungle with a lowly 1-15 record.
The south will definitely not rise again.

AFC West

Damn this is one tough division. Not only do you have the Super Bowl champions looking to repeat, but a few other plucky teams who are ready to challenge.
Ryan is all aboard the Chiefs wagon, looking at them to win a whopping 14 games, and smoking the opposition. He has the Broncos in 2nd, Raiders in 3rd, and has the Chargers limping in at 4th place.
Wade is not as convinced on the Chiefs, as many teams experience a Super Bowl hangover, especially young teams with not enough focus. He still has them to win the division, but with only 10 wins, and 1 more than the Broncos. He also thinks that the Chargers will be a surprise this year, as the heat is off, Rivers is gone, and a whole new dynamic enters the locker room. If any team tests positive for Covid, Wade thinks it will be the Raiders, as you can catch anything in Vegas.

Who do you like? Who do you have to win it all?

Get in touch, follow us, and make sure you come to one of our events once this season gets kicking.

AFC East Prediction

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Can we really choose anyone else in this division other than the New England Patriots?
How did they get even stronger this year when Tom Brady is at least 109 years old!
Wade & Ryan both take a stab at how they think this division will end up, and it’s pretty predictable.
UNLESS Tom Brady is somehow mangled on the field this season, the Patriots should comfortably cruise on through unscathed to the post-season.
Wade sees the Patriots going all the way to the big game, while Ryan thinks that they will have some problems in the AFC battle in January.

Buffalo present an interesting dilemma, as they have a huge talent of running backs to choose from, as well as a plucky running QB in Josh Allen.
Will their defense be able to stifle the opposition again this year? Have they strengthened their line by shovelling snow in the offseason?
Buffalo could well be a 500 team again this year, causing problems and turmoil to all teams in this division.

The New York Jets are interesting as you have a team whose coach has essentially run rough-shot over the whole team. He is not a huge fan of Le’veon Bell, so it will be interesting to see how they respond to him.
Will their QB-Sam Darnold continue to impress with his play, or will he switch back to erratic?
There is a ton of pressure on the Jets to succeed this year, sadly it doesn’t see like Wade or Ryan think that will happen.

Lastly the lowly Dolphins of Miami, where the hurricanes seem to intensify every year.
The fact that Ryan Fitzpatrick was able to secure the starting job says a lot about how this team will progress.
Miami traditionally starts off modestly ok, then quickly turns as Florida can turn into ‘Florida Man’…
(Have you tried Googling that followed by your birthday?)

Suffice to say, this is another Patriots year.
Even without Gronk.