those games earlier on and not wait till the 4th quarter to start playing. That being said the Colts play in a QB starved division at the moment that will allow them to walk to a division title and into the playoffs but not make any real championship runs just yet until they sure up a defense that overachieved at times and correct a running game that is non-existent.
(2) Tennessee Titans-The Titans have parted ways with longtime running back Chris Johnson and former backup QB- Ryan Fitzpatrick will now truly subscribe to the theory of,”In Jake we Trust” referring to starting QB- Jake Locker to bring the team back to prominence and to the playoffs but with limited weapons around him to make plays offensively and defense that will give their allbut it won’t be enough. PREDICTION: 9-7. This tea will fight every game to scratch out wins but it will be tough outside their division which should give them 4 wins between the Jaguars and the Texans but the other 5 outside the division will be a dogfight.
(3)
(4) Houston Texans- The Texans started last season as a favorite to represent the AFC in the Super Bowl and started the season 2-0 and then shockingly the wheels fell off the wagon and this team spiraled into oblivion and lost their last 14 games in a row and wound up with the 1st overall draft pick in this year’s draft and selected defensive end Jadaveon Clowney out of South Carolina as opposed to drafting a franchise QB in Blake Bortles. Houston traded away their starting quarterback in Matt Schaub after benching him
last season due to being ineffective and went with undrafted rookie QB-Case Keenum and looked good at times but was unable to rally the team to a winning record. Injuries to running back Adrian Foster, QB-Matt Schaub and losing their coach to a mild stroke on the sideline at the halftime of a game. The team will have a new leader at the helm in head coach Bill O’Brien who was with the Patriots as the QB/Offensive coordinator and then went on to coach at Penn State after the Joe Paterno scandal and revitalized the program and will attempt to do the same with the Texans. PREDICTION: 4-12. Simply put, wins will be tough to come by and starting journeyman QB-Ryan Fitzpatrick will prove to be a downfall in the long run.
AFC NORTH: Smock’s choice for Division Winner: Cincinnati Bengals
(1) Cincinnati Bengals- The Bengals made the playoff again last season and this time had a home playoff game only to lose once again in the playoffs this time at home to the San Diego Chargers. If this team is going to make that next jump and go out and be a champion they had got to learn how to win in the playoffs no matter who the opponent is. With a talented defense, solid coach in Marvin Lewis and talent on offense in WR-A.J. Green, QB-Andy Dalton who just received a big contract this season and running back Giovanni Bernard, the pieces are there for this team to get to a conference championship game and maybe even a Super Bowl but it all rides on Dalton making plays. PREDICTION: 12-4. This team is consistent during the regular season but must learn how to win during the playoff or the changes could begin and players will leave to go elsewhere seeking championship glory.
(2) Pittsburgh Steelers- The Steelers have been a picture of consistency over the past decade since QB- Ben Roethlisberger has become the starter in the 2004 season, dominating the division and being the bullies of the AFC North for 10 plus years, but it appears that age and free agency may taken a toll in the roster and finally depleted the roster and could spell the beginning of the end for this current run of the Steelers which include two Lombardi trophies. The question is simply this, Can this team muster up one more magical run or has father time finally caught up with them? PREDICTION: 9-7. The magic of Big Ben will keep this team in the playoff hunt for a while until late in the season and that is when the bully will now become the victim and suffer another season without a playoff appearance.
(3)
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