day is monkey crap! PREDICTION: 6-10. I think the Jets are tough on defense and an offense that needs big plays from newly acquired RB-Chris Johnson formerly of the Titans and newly added WR- Eric Decker via free agency but the additions won’t be enough to effect real change for now.
AFC WEST: Smock’s choice for Division Winner: Denver Broncos
(1)Denver Broncos- Simply put Peyton Manning would be enough to say about this team accept for one thing, there was a nationally televised castration that he and his teammates were a part of last season called the Super Bowland generally teams that lose the Super Bowl the year prior don’t make it back to avengethat defeat. However the Broncos have retooled on defense adding CB’s- AqibTalib and T.J. Ward in free agency and then going out to pick up All-Pro linebacker DeMarcus Ware from Dallas to shore up a defense that was torched last yearagainst Seattle.So with Peyton and the addition’s on defense is this enough for Peyton to potentially go out on top as a champion. I say NO but they will at least make it back to the playoffs. PREDICTION: 12-4. Weapons on offense and a defense that on paper should be tougher but a limited running game and QB who is a major blindside hit away from having a career ending injury.
(2)Kansas City Chiefs- The Chiefs under new leadership in QB-Alex Smith and head coach Andy Reidtook the team back to the playoffs for the first time in four seasons but blew a 28 point lead and lost in the wild card round against the Colts. If this team can get consistent play from their star WR- Dewayne Bowe who will miss the first game of the season due to a suspension and the running game can duplicate last season’s output and the defense can make critical stops they can make some noise this season. PREDICTION 10-6. The Chiefs ability to make big time offensive plays this year will determine their fate as a championship contender
(3)San Diego Chargers- The Chargers made a dramatic return to the playoffs last year by winning their last four games in a row and getting a little help from the Steelers knocking off the Ravens late in the season. The Chargers behind QB-Phillip Rivers, TE- Antonio Gates, rookie 1st round draft pick WR-Keenan Allen and a defense
that created turnovers made a solid playoff run to the divisional round last year before being beat by the Broncos. With Rivers playing at a high level and a defense that has the ability to get hot at times the Chargers are the bug in the room you can’t kill no matter how many times you step on them. PREDICTION: 10-6. I think the bolts will make some noise and be right there battling for a playoff spot in late December and just squeak in the playoffs.
(4)Oakland Raiders- The Silver and Black had a tough go of it last seasonwith a lack of offensive punch, a QB in Terelle Pryor that was thrown to the wolves with no type of offensive line protection and injuries to running back Darren McFadden again and this all adds up to a 4-12 season which has me in shock because I don’t know how they won 4 games! Thus the decision to trade for Houston QB- Matt Schaub, sign RB-Maurice Jones-and draft Fresno State QB-Derek Carrand the Raiders and some parts on defense in CB’s Terrell Brown and Carlos Rogers from the across the bay with the 49ers and they feel this will be enough for the Raiders to be a playoff contender again. PREDICTION: 5-11. Simply put just not enough! Unless Schaub can put last season’s terrible play behind him they will continue to struggle and now a QB controversy will dominate the locker room this season.
AFC SOUTH: Smock’s choice for Division Winner: Indianapolis Colts
(1) Indianapolis Colts- The Colts are a team that has a QB in Andrew Luck that may play like crap for 3 quarters of the game but if the defense can keep him close, his is money in the 4th quarter and will carve you up with his passing and scrambling abilities and a mentality that his team will never be out of a game, just ask the Kansas City Chiefsabout last year’s wild card playoff when they lost to Luck after having a 28 point lead. The Colts have added WR-Hakeem Nicks from the Giants in the offseasonand will attempt to make another run to the playoffs this year but is it enough? HMMMM….. No! PREDICTION: 11-5. Having a franchise QB is great in the crunch but you better start winning those games earlier on and not wait till the 4th quarter to start playing.