NFL – AFC

Thursday, September 7, is closing in fast and that is opening night for the 2017 NFL season. NBC will have the AFC matchup between the Kansas City Chiefs and the New England Patriots in Foxboro.

So it seems only appropriate to make my AFC predictions for this season. I will have my NFC forecast next week.

AFC West

1. Oakland Raiders – Tough start with three of first four games on the road. Derek Carr is, obviously, the key and the Raiders appear to be very solid. One should note that this may be the toughest all-around division in the AFC. There is no easy road for any team, but the Raiders appear to be strong enough to win the AFC West.
2. Kansas City Chiefs – Their non-divisional schedule includes the Giants, Cowboys, Texans, and Patriots on the road and their divisional schedule is exceptionally tough. They have plenty of offensive weapons and a strong defense. The Chiefs finish the season with three straight home games and that could help them win the division.
3. Denver Broncos – As Trevor Siemian goes, so go the Broncos. He was great early last season, not so great in the second half. They have seven away games in the final 11 weeks. That could be problematic.
4. Los Angeles Chargers – They’re out of San Diego, playing in the smallest stadium in the league (30,000), and the hardest team to figure. They are talented and could actually vie for the divisional title. This one is tough to call.

AFC South 

1. Tennessee Titans – The Titans haven’t been in the playoffs since 2008, but this should be their year. If they keep Marcus Mariota healthy and his broken leg is totally healed, the Titans could have an outstanding regular season.
2. Houston Texans – I’m betting on Bill O’Brien here, because the Texans certainly have their problems at quarterback – the quarterbacks have a total of two NFL starts. The Texans need to win early games on defense and hope they eventually have an offense.
3. Jacksonville Jaguars – This team is better and has the potential to be very good. Running game has been upgraded with Leonard Fournette and Tom Coughlin is in the front office. Can Blake Bortles have a good year at quarterback?
4. Indianapolis Colts – The Colts didn’t do much in the off season and were just mediocre last year. Andrew Luck is coming off shoulder surgery, the defense is poor, and the offensive line is porous.

AFC North

1. Pittsburgh Steelers – Their early schedule looks easy; their skill position players are as good as it gets and no one questions their defense. All of this is a formula for a great deal of success.
2. Baltimore Ravens – The ravens are desperate for a playoff berth – it’s been two straight years that they have not played in the post season. They shored up their defense, but did little to make the offense better. Ravens fans are desperate for a winner – so is Coach John Harbaugh.
3. Cincinnati Bengals – I never know what to do with the Bengals. They often do not play to their capability, but also seem better than their record. I picked them third – so be it.
4. Cleveland Browns – I always know where to pick the Browns. Dead last. Quarterback is an ongoing problem, but they are better on the offensive line and at receiver. Still last, however.

AFC East

1. New England Patriots – This is a lock! They have won 14 East titles in the last 15 years. The division is weak; the team is stronger with Gronkowski back and healthy; and Tom Brady is still playing. Oh, and there’s Bill Belichick. They may not lose at all.
2. Miami Dolphins – No Ryan Tannehill after he tore his ACL. Jay Cutler at QB and a new head coach in Adam Gase. This is a weak division (except for New England) so a playoff spot is not out of the question.
3. Buffalo Bills – Sean McDermott is at the helm of the Bills, so their defense should be strong. The offense will be run by Tyrod Taylor or Nathan Peterman or T.J. Yates (who?) and that is their biggest problem.
4. New York Jets – This team could be worse than Cleveland and will not make the playoffs for the seventh straight year. Their goal is a high draft choice in 2018.

ABOVE THE EARS (SOME MUSINGS) 

1. Former Penn State quarterback Christian Hackenberg got plenty of playing time for the Jets this past Saturday night against the Lions. The Jets offensive line was just awful: they gained three yards in the first quarter; had two first half first downs; Hackenberg was sacked twice and he was two for six throwing for 14 yards. As I said in the blog, this team may be worse than the Cleveland Browns.
2. When you realize that five Major League baseball teams have lost 70 or more games and five more are in the high 60s for losses, the Phillies don’t look like the absolute worst team anymore. Is that ANY consolation for Phillies fans?
3. Lafayette and Lehigh met with the media this week. Lehigh has been picked to win the Patriot League for the second straight year and Lafayette was picked to finish last. But the games are played on the field. RCN and LSN will once again pair up to bring you Lafayette football.
4.  Congratulations to the Martins Creek Creekers for winning the Blue Mountain League championship this past week. The best of five series against the Iron Financial Orioles went to the fifth game and the Creekers won their seventh title. They have been part of the League for 72 years.
5.  “Gary’s Guesses”, my weekly NFL predictions, will return for the opening week of the NFL. I have averaged around 62% correct over the years, so you decide whether you put any trust at all in the predictions. Don’t blame me.