We have now crossed over the First Quarter mark of the NFL season and it’s time to take a look at where the various teams around the AFC stand and what to expect moving forward. So many fans have a knee-jerk reaction after the first few games of the regular season, but it’s not how you start, but how you finish. Let’s take a look around the AFC as it stands this afternoon.
AFC East-
Buffalo Bills– (3-2) This is a solid team, who managed to defeat the Denver Broncos and the Atlanta Falcons but key offensive weapon TE Charles Clay could be out multiple weeks. While the upcoming schedule after the bye is not overly oppressive, they need to add some offensive spark.
New York Jets– (3-2) So much for all the talk about the Jets casting off deadwood as a means of tanking the season in 2017. Of course, there have not been impressive wins over powerhouse teams, but if this team was tanking the season, the plan wouldn’t have been to be 3-2 after Week 5.
New England Patriots– (3-2) All of the pundits calling for the demise of the Patriots this season, calm down. New England was not stellar on Thursday night playing against the second and third string defense of the Buccaneers. 6 starters of the Buccaneers defense were lost either before or during the game. It is a little concerning that the Tampa defense held the Patriots offense to under 20 points. What should be concerning however, is that the Patriots have the Falcons, Broncos and Raiders coming up in the next 5 weeks. The defense needs to tighten up.
Miami Dolphins– (2-2) I see the Miami Dolphins OL coach had to resign this morning after a video of him sorting a substance showed up on social media. To be honest, if you are going to watch the product that Miami is putting on the field currently, you need some sort of buzz. I really thought that the addition of Jay Cutler to the Adam Gase led Dolphins was going to be something that was going to put the Fins in play for a playoff spot. They have scored 22 points in the last three weeks. I understand they traveled to San Diego and then London before returning home, but come on. There is too much offensive talent at skill positions for this team to be averaging 7 points a game. Houston, with a rookie quarterback, lit the Tennessee defense up for over 50 points the week prior.
AFC North-
Pittsburgh Steelers– (3-2) It might be time for concern in Terrible Towel Country. Only one other time since Ben Roethlisberger has been under center for the Steelers have they lost by over 20 points at home. Big Ben voiced concerns this past offseason about retirement, so is his heart really in it this year? Sunday was his first career day with five interceptions, granted, three were tips, but he doesn’t look on his game.
Baltimore Ravens– (3-2) The Ravens defense looked like a phenom in pre-season. They allowed just 10 points in the first two weeks, but prior to Sunday’s game, gave up 70 total points in Weeks 3 and 4. Schedule isn’t getting easier unless this team figures out their offense and some sort of a running game.
Cincinnati Bengals– (2-3) This team has only scored over 30 points once this season, vs the Browns. Four of the next five games are on the road. Is this the year Marvin Lewis really needs to think about putting the house up for sale?
Cleveland Browns– (0-5) Two words Cleveland, Deshaun Watson.
AFC South-
Jacksonville Jaguars– (3-2) This team has been a bit of a surprise in the early going this season. They aggressively attacked the defensive side of the ball in the free agent market and then drafted the most productive rookie running back in the draft so far this season, LSU product Leonard Fournette. I’m looking at the next five games on this team’s schedule and they might very well be in the hunt for a playoff birth come December if the defense continues to play as they have to start the season. Many pundits wanted to kick QB Blake Bortles to the curb prior to the start of this season, but he is playing solid football with a strong running game this year.
Houston Texans– (2-3) My favorite quarterback coming out of the draft this year was Deshaun Watson. He played in a big time program, he played and won a National Championship game. Throw all the combine and Wonderlick tests out the window, if you can pass the eyeball test, and he does, forget the metrics. So the Browns get a defensive end that records what? 10 sacks? How many games does 10 sacks win? There will now be more pressure on Watson as the Texans have lost DE J.J. Watt for the season once again. That’s a shame for such a skilled player with such a big heart.
Tennessee Titans– (2-3) I really thought the Titans were going to be an 11-win team at the start of the season. QB Marcus Mariota has been dealing with a hamstring issue and backup Matt Cassel is simply ineffective. When you can’t throw the ball down the field or offer up the read option as Maroita does, that staunch running game they had last year just doesn’t produce.
Indianapolis Colts– (2-3) Well, it seems as if the Colts were not very forthcoming with the injury to Andrew Luck. Some reports I am reading suggest that Luck might be out for the entire regular season. Rookie RB Marlon Mack had a banner day on Sunday but this is starting to look like a team that will draft in the Top-10 in the 2018 NFL Draft.
AFC West-
Kansas City Chiefs– (5-0) Yes, every single sports website has the Kansas City Chiefs anointed as the best team in football. Yes, they are playing good football, but they do have some injury issues. They just allowed a rookie quarterback to throw 5 touchdowns, 4 in the 4th quarter last night. The Head Coach is Andy Reid, the lord of massive regular season records and playoff defeats. Long term Chiefs fans can have flashbacks to the days of Marty Schottenheimer.
Denver Broncos– (3-1) Coming off a bye week and playing some pretty stout defense. The next three weeks will define what happens to this team with 3 consecutive games on the road at Los Angeles, Kansas City and Philadelphia.
Oakland Raiders– (2-3) One of the trendy picks to be the Super Bowl darling of 2017. Hasn’t worked out that way so far. The wide receiver duos of Michael Crabtree and Amari Cooper haven’t produced this year while QB Derek Carr is dealing with a fractured back. The addition of veteran RB Marshawn Lynch has meant nothing to the offensive attack so far. Oakland won a number of games by one score last year and that can’t be counted on to be repeated annually.
Los Angeles Chargers– (1-4) I have a soft spot in my heart for the Chargers. I really have to feel for QB Philip Rivers. He’s been a very productive quarterback during his career, but the Chargers teams has suffered massive injuries to key positions over the last few years. No team has lost more games on the last drive of the game than the Chargers in the last few years. Maybe another 7 win season in the works.
