Today is the AFC preview and tomorrow is the NFC preview
AFC Key stats:
-The top three defenses in the NFL are in AFC and all currently in the playoffs (Steelers, Texans, Ravens)
-4 of the top ten defenses in the NFL are in the AFC North (The only team that did not make the playoffs is Browns)
-Only 1 team in the top 5 offenses in the entire NFL is in the AFC (New England Patriots-number 1 seed)
-Tim Tebow averaged 10.5 completions/game
1. Baltimore Ravens- While the biggest question mark is how affective will Flacco be under the gun, he has proven in the past that, when called upon, he can lead the charge. He lead monumental comebacks against the Steelers and a historic comeback against the Cardinals, as they were down by 21 points. When called upon, he has the ability to take it to the next level, but ability does not always equal performance. Maybe while growing out the fu Manchu, he should let the unibrow go as well. That unibrow could be his version of Samson’s hair. They still have the most passionate defense in game lead by the game wreckers t-Sizzle, Ngata, Ray, and Reed. But another question will be can Mr. Lewis and the ball-hawker sustain a high level of Ball So Hard U? No one is going to question Ray Ray because, well, he will murder you.
2. New England Patriots - With pretty boy Brady at the helm, they are always in it, but they have had to overcome some shitty first-half performances. They have a defense that's as strong as Gary Busey is sane. No team has won a Superbowl with a defense ranked as low as theirs (31st). That said, do not forget about the smartest game planner in the NFL in Belichik. With his pawns in place: the Nephew of God Tom Brady, the porn star banging monster in Gronk, and his Minnie Me accomplice in Wes Welker, they can outduel any team in the game. This is like Ivan Drago standing next to Rocky Balboa. Awkward
3. Pittsburgh Steelers - They still have one of the top teams in the AFC, but they are limping to the finish line. At this point, they look like William Wallace. They are still pushing even though they're too injured to survive. The heart and soul of their team, Big Ben, will be playing the rest of a playoffs with a fucked up ankle and possibly some STD (He loves raping strange). That said, even at 20% the toughest player in the NFL can still pull off the unexpected. They will be without Mendenhall who will be out for the rest of the playoffs with a torn ACL, their Safety Ryan Clark who has a sickle-cell trait that's negatively affected by high altitudes (yea, I’m serious), and they might be without one of their lineman in Doug Legursky. Their offense has played like mud dipped in shit and their o-line is mediocre at best, but their defense (#1 in the NFL) is still looking strong and since they'll be 22 mil over the salary cap next year, they might lose key players in the off season and play this tournament like it’s their last. Luckily, they are playing against the worse team in the playoffs, the Denver Tebows.
4. Cincinnati Bengals- The biggest surprise of the NFL was able to get enough wins in the toughest division in football to get a seat at the table. If Cam Newton did not exist, Andy Dalton would receive rookie of the year. This ginger, whose hair matches their team color, will be a pain in the ass for the Ravens and Steelers for years. With what was arguably the most explosive receiving core in the league, Rookie pro-bowler AJ Green and the flipping Jerome Simpson, and veteran Cedric Benson running the ball, they have a chance, but it really is their defense that has allowed them to win games. Either way, they have a good shot at beating the spiraling Texans.
5. The Texans - have done what they were supposed to do over the last few years. They made it to the damn playoffs and while their Coach Gary Kubiak looks like a porn producer, his team has won with a plethora of huge injuries. One of the top three receivers in the game Andrew Johnson, aka Man Child, has been fighting injuries all season and has had his worst season yet. They lost their pro-bowl and best defensive player in Mario Williams early in the season. Most importantly, they lost not only a quality starter in Matt Schaub, but also the back-up in Mr. Hollywood Matt Leinart to season ending injuries. Remember when he was bff with Nick Lachey while attending USC? They have rookie T.J. Yates trying to pick off the big boys. Good luck with that. The upside is that they have Andrew Johnson playing this week, a solid TE in Owen Daniels, and the best running tandems in the game between the league leader last year Arian Foster and his back-up Ben Tate. Even without Mario Williams, they had the number two defenses in the game. This game will be close.
6. Denver Broncos - They're the bottom dwellers in not only the AFC, but all of the playoffs. They have essentially backed their way into the playoffs behind one of the worst offensive performances of the year in probably the ugliest game of the year. They lost this last weekend 3-7. Who does that? Also, even though there are still Tebow lovers, the man didn't beat a single playoff team during that run of his. In fact, he only played two teams that made it to the dance and lost by a combined score of 86-33. Granted their defense was bent over and taking in the ass those two games, he should get ejected for all of the losses that he is not FULLY responsible for since he gets credit for wins that he had nothing to do with. Tebow is a decent runner and with him and McGahee, they have a solid run game, but any time they are 3rd and long, look out for the punting unit or the best placekicker this season Matt Prater. One and done. Also, for being a man of God, Tebow is apparently ok with changing what the big guy gave you....
(Rundown of the NFC here)
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