Quick Picks The AFC Preview

With the NFC out of the way, on with the show...And THE show is once again in the AFC. Consider this. In Super Bowl XL you had the #6 AFC seed taking on the #1 NFC seed. The #6 Steelers had to win 3 games on the road before coming into Detroit as THE FAVORITE. The #1 Seahawks won two home games and came in as THE UNDERDOG. The Steelers then went on to put up the biggest stink job by a Super Bowl winner of all time, with Little Ben Rothlesandwich producing the worst QB rating of any Super Bowl QB ever. And they still won 21-10.

"I put it to you, Greg - isn't the NFC an indictment of our entire American society?"

With that being said, here's a look at how the REAL NFL teams will finish after Week 17:

AFC EAST:

1. New England Patriots (13-3)
No Deion Branch? Who cares? Tom Brady lead the league in passing last year because the Pats couldn't run. This year they will run and the Defense is healthy and ready to go.

2. Miami Dolphins (9-7)
The Dolphins are like the Red Sox. They kick ass during the 1st half of the year and eat it during the home stretch. So the Phins won 6 in a row to end the year huh? Ask Doug Flutie how hard the Pats were trying in the Finale...

3. Buffalo Bills (5-11)
There was talk in the off-season that the team may move. Could this be another Cleveland Browns situation?

4. New Jersey Jets (4-12)
Here's what happens: The Jets sign Eric Mangini away from the Patriots even though he's only 12 years old. Mangini struggles to find his footing as a HEAD coach and is run out of town in 3 years. From there he joins on with another franchise as an assistant and then goes on to lead another team as head coach, this time leading them to success. Where have we seen that before?
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AFC NORTH:

1. Baltimore Ravens (11-5)
What's the one thing these Defensive animals haven't had since they moved here from Cleveland? A quality quarterback. Steve McNair gets the Comeback Player of the Year award and leads the Ravens to a division title.

2. Pittsburgh Steelers (9-7)
The Steelers are prime for a Super Bowl hangover and aren't a strong enough team mentally to survive being the target of the league.

3. Cincinnati Bengals (8-8)
Carson Palmer's come back is short lived after Kimo von Oelhoffen falls from the sky on top of the QB in the season opener.

4. Cleveland Browns (6-10)
Will all due respect to those who think Willie McGinest will turn the Browns into winners with his attitude. Last time UB checked Willie can't throw, kick or run the ball.

AFC SOUTH:
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1. Indianapolis Colts (10-6)
The Colts fall back a bit from their usual regular season dominance as the loss of "Edge" hurts more than they think. Also Adam Vinatieri misses his first potential game winning kick since 2000 in a story that is the lead on SportsCenter.

2. Jacksonville Jaguars (9-7)
Jack Del Rio is a good coach and Byron Leftwich and Fred Taylor are nice players, but these guys are not contenders. Plus the loss of "Mr. Jaguar" Jimmy Smith will hurt them.

3. Tennessee Titans (5-11) Vince Young has some serious promise to be a good NFL QB. But he's a rookie...Come on people...

4. Houston Texans (4-12)
A season full of "Why didn't you take Reggie Bush" is not fun for anyone.

AFC WEST:

1. Denver Broncos (12-4)
They return 19 of their 22 starters, but they will only go as far as Jake Plummer's mind will take them.

2. Kansas City Chiefs (11-5)
They have all the tools and a great home field advantage. This is the year they finally put it together. Even with Herm Edwards as the head coach. *Side note: Larry Johnson is NOT going to rush for 2K yards. He's note even gonna break 15-hundred. He snuck up on teams last year, not this year.*

3. San Diego Chargers (7-9)
It takes Phillip Rivers a little time to get his feet wet, but he turns it around by the end of the year.

4. Oakland Raiders (0-16)
Art Shell is not Lou Brown and the Oakland Raiders are not the Cleveland Indians. When you try to make Major League with a football team you get Necessary Roughness. In that movie they were 1-8-1. The Raiders don't do that well.