Football season is here! Start chilling the beer, get new batteries for the remote and cheer on the home team!

It’s always fun trying to predict who will be going to the playoffs and who will win the big game. Here is my best guess.

 

AFC EAST:

1. Miami Dolphins: The defense looks like the strength of the team, especially the defensive line. Ryan Tannehill has progressed nicely and they should have a balanced offense with a strong running game.

2. Buffalo Bills: The Bills have good weapons at wide receiver, Rex Ryan as head coach with a good defense will cause havoc for many teams. They will have to rely on a young QB.They should contend for a wild card spot.

3. New England Patriots: Tom Brady has had many distractions this off season and is now 38 years old. The offensive line has lost the starting center for at least 8 weeks and Braden LaFell is also injured. The defense has also lost Revis, Browner and Wilfork. Add the fact that the rest of the division is stronger and the Patriots might miss the playoffs.

4. New York Jets: The defense is the strength of the team. The QB position is weak with Geno Smith and Ryan Fitzpatrick. They should be the weakest team in a very strong division.

AFC North:

1. Baltimore Ravens: Baltimore is solid at quarterback with Joe Flacco. They have questions at running back. Baltimore is traditional solid at defense. They should contend for the division or a wild card spot.

2. Pittsburgh Steelers: They have a good leader with Big Ben, running back position is a strong with Bell, the offensive line should improve from last year. Pittsburgh problems are on defense. They are an old unit and shouldn’t be very good this season. I see a possible wildcard or division title.

3. Cincinnati Bengals: Andy Dalton hasn't progressed into an elite QB. He does fine during the regular season but hasn't come through in the playoffs. The are strong at wide receiver and running back. The defense is solid and they could still earn a playoff spot.

4. Cleveland Browns:  The Browns will be bad, the receivers that McCown or Johnny Manizel have to throw to aren’t very good. The strength of the team is the defense, especially their secondary. They are heading in the right direction but are a few years away from being a playoff contender.

AFC South:

1. Indianapolis Colts: The Colts have one of the leagues best, young QB’s with Andrew Luck. If they could only run the ball! They will win a lot of high scoring games.

2. Houston Texans: Houston showed improvement last year, and still have a lot of talent. They are weak on offense, Brian Hoyer and Ryan Mallett are at QB, Foster is often injured at running back and wide receiver group is weak. Defense should be the team’s strength with Watt and Wilfork on the line. I look for a bounce back season of .500 or maybe up to 10 wins.

3. Jacksonville Jaguars: Jacksonville is improving, they still need more weapons on offense and their defense is solid. They have a chance at a .500 season.

4. Tennessee Titans: They are a bad team. Marcus Mariotta will be a good quarterback. The weapons he has to throw to are average at best and the running game is also just so-so. The defense isn't any better. Could be one of the worst teams in the league this season.

AFC West:

1. San Diego Chargers: Phillip Rivers is a good quarterback, and he has a good core of receivers to throw to. The defense is strong. They should contend for the division or a wild card spot.

2. Peyton Manning is showing signs of slipping. He also lot some weapons to throw to. The defense is solid but not spectacular. They will still contend for the division but are nearing the end of dominating the division.

3. Kansas City Chiefs: They are solid but not flashy. Alex Smith is a solid QB, Jamaal Charles is one of the best running backs in the league. The receiving group is decent. The defense showed signs of slipping last year. They could still contend for a wild card playoff spot.

4. Oakland Raiders: They could turning the corner.   Derek Carr showed signs of being a good QB, the defense is decent and they have a diamond in the rough with rookie linebacker Khalil Mack. They are pieces that Raiders fans can root for, but the team is probably a year or two away from challenging for a playoff spot.

AFC Championship Game:Indianapolis and San Diego. Indianpolis wins and goes to the Super Bowl and plays Green Bay. Packers over Colts in the Super Bowl.


More From B98.5