Finsmob Unleashed

When looking at the AFC, there are quite a few question marks. There are 2 teams in my mind that are clearly at the top, that’s the AFC West Kansas City Chiefs and the AFC North Cincinnati Bengals. Both of these teams have been getting elite QB play from their starters. Mahomes is a proven winner, and although Burrow has played in almost half the amount of games Mahomes has, I think he’s on his way to being one as well. After those teams, I think it’s just a fight between everyone else.

I look at the Jaguars in the AFC South as a team on the rise. The Jags were a top 10 scoring team and just out of the top 10 in defense at #12. The Baltimore Ravens with a healthy Lamar Jackson will be a much more competitive team, and this organization is always is in the hunt, with an excellent, long tenured Head Coach in John Harbaugh. Our division rival NY Jets went for broke acquiring veteran QB Aaron Rodgers, and this year’s Hard Knocks participants have a “Super Bowl or Bust” mantra this year. The Chargers with strong armed QB Justin Herbert are always a dangerous offensive team with a healthy Austin Ekeler at RB. The Chargers defense took a step back last season, so they have work to do to be considered a SB contender. Our Dolphins of course made a lot of moves in the offseason and this past season as well, and are primed to be a contender as long as our QB is healthy.

The Denver Broncos are a team you have to expect to be a better team. Russell Wilson combined with new Head Coach Sean Payton sounds too good not to be. RB Javonte Williams turned out to be that nasty slasher RB we all expected but he went out early with a knee injury during game 4, so he should be ready to go. The Raiders let long time QB Derek Carr walk, and then picked up oft injured QB Jimmy Garoppolo. The Browns should have QB and massage girl nightmare DeShaun Watson playing a full season and they could be a tough team with a talented roster, led on defense by DE Myles Garrett and on offense by quality RB Nick Chubb. The Browns also added DT Dalvin Tomlinson from the Vikes.

The Tennessee Titans may be looking to make a QB change this season after drafting QB Will Levis. Our old friend Ryan Tannehill is getting a little long in the tooth and had a mediocre season last year playing in just 12 games. The Pittsburgh Steelers are banking on a big step up from their young QB Kenny Pickett. Pickett managed a winning record (7-5) despite throwing only 7 TD’s against 9 INT’s. The Steelers also picked up our former starting MLB Elandon Roberts as well as a few marginal pick ups as the Steelers notoriously don’t spend money in Free Agency. RB Najee Harris will look to have a bounce back season after a disappointing 2022 season. The Steelers last year sported a top 10 defense in points allowed (10th).

In the AFC East, the Bills could potentially take a step back, while our division rival Jets and our Dolphins move up. The Patriots were active in Free Agency, signing our own TE Mike Gesicki, WR Juju Smith-Schuster, S Jabril Peppers, T Riley Reiff and CB Jalen Mills. They also drafted one of the top DB’s in the ’23 NFL Draft, CB Christian Gonzalez. In fact, the Patriots first 3 picks were defense. The NY Jets added a trio of veteran WR’s in Free Agency to satisfy every whim that Aaron Rodgers requested, signing Allen Lazard, Mecole Hardman and Randall Cobb. The Jets also signed our last year’s punter, Thomas Morestead. I wouldn’t be surprised if 3 teams emerged as playoff teams from our own AFC East division, our Dolphins, the Bills and the Jets. Our division should be a tough one to win, you can’t count the Bills out with Josh Allen and the Jets should be considerably better on offense with Aaron Rodgers, and our defense should be much better with Vic Fangio and a healthier secondary, as well as growth from OLB Jaelan Phillips, a full season with Bradley Chubb, the addition of Jalen Ramsey, and the potential of our first draft pick CB Cam Smith, and the healthy return of S Brandon Jones.

The teams with a lot of work to do are the Indianapolis Colts, who drafted QB Anthony Richardson (RD1 Pick #4) and the Houston Texans, who also spent their 1st RD pick (#2) on a QB, C.J. Stroud. The Texans and Colts were at the bottom of the AFC at 3-13 and 4-12 respectively. Their rookie QB’s will have to shine bright to change the fortunes of both of those teams. I like the Bengals in the North, the Jaguars in the South, the Dolphins in the East, and the Chiefs in the West. I believe two of the three Wild Cards will be the Bills and Jets, with the Ravens taking the other WC spot. The Browns should be right there in the WC hunt and potentially more if everything goes right.

GO DOLPHINS!!!