Amid all these NFL predictions flooding the web this week there are few certainties. But if recent history is any indication, we know for sure that at least one of this year's division winners will be a team that finished in last place a year ago. At least one team has turned the trick every year since the NFL went to the current eight-division format -- 10 teams total in six seasons. The Dolphins did it last year, the Buccaneers the year before, and the Eagles and Saints the year before that.
The reasons for this phenomenon are obvious -- overall parity, four-team divisions, a scheduling system that (basically) makes life easier for the teams at the bottom and tougher for the teams at the top. The only question as the 2009 season dawns is which of last year's last-place finishers will be among this year's division winners. We ranked all eight of them in order of their chances to continue the trend:
It's July, the slowest month of the year for the NFL, and it's driving you nuts. You need a fix. A hit. Anything NFL to pull you through the dog days. FanHouse is here to help with an in-depth look at each division that should have you plenty prepared for training camp. We're calling it the Summer Scramble, and today we look at the AFC South's looming position battles.
The Jacksonville Jaguars showcased their new uniforms live (via the interwebz!) Wednesday. And it would appear, fashion aside, that Wayne Weaver and the powers-that-be in north Florida are highly interested in appealing to a fanbase that is logically disappointed by the team's performance last year. Weaver spoke of finding an "identity" with these uniforms, and based on the write-up from Vic Ketchman, Sr. News Editor at Jaguars.com, several of the changes in store for the new uniforms were based on fan reaction.
The Falcons had no strongside linebacker after Michael Boley opted to sign with the Giants. They had no weakside linebacker after letting Keith Brooking go. Atlanta's breathing a little easier now, though, because, according to NFL.com, it has picked up Mike Peterson, a guy that can fill in at either spot.
Peterson spent the last six years in Jacksonville, though he was banged up in 2006-07 -- playing in just 15 total games -- and served a one-game suspension last season before pulled from the starting defense. Despite all that turmoil last season, he made 84 tackles. From 2002-05, Peterson never missed a game, playing three seasons with the Jags and one with Indianapolis, averaging 123 tackles per year.
You would think this game is the kind the NFL wants. Two teams fighting for one of the last playoff spots available, playing in one of the great venues in all of sports. Two teams with well-respected head coaches. Two teams that, at one point in the season, many thought would make some noise in the playoffs.
It almost seems like the NFL is giving the Chiefs and Jaguars a bit of a short shrift, doesn't it? There isn't much hoopla surrounding this game, but it should be a really good one. Neither team is going to let up, both teams will be scoreboard-watching, and both teams will be playing with a sense of desperation.
When the Chiefs run the ball
We have all heard it. Larry Johnson is about to set the attempts record for running backs, and no, he is not terribly happy about it. Nonetheless, he will have to do it if the Chiefs are going to score some points. The problem is that it will not be easy. The Jaguars boast one of the finest defensive lines in the league, and the defense goes as the line goes. I am not going to mince words-- the Jaguars' defensive tackles are awesome. They make me jealous. If the Chiefs' defensive tackles could make half the impact that Marcus Stroud and John Henderson make, the Chiefs' defense could be a top 10 defense.
Thus, we have the makings of a terrific matchup. The strength of the Chiefs' offensive line is up the middle. The strength of the Jaguars' defensive line is up the middle. This will be a battle of 300-pound titans, and Johnson will have to win a couple of those battles for the Chiefs to have a chance.
The Chiefs were enjoying their Christmas. Everything from the entire weekend rolled their way. They went from facing impossible odds to making the playoffs to facing half-impossible odds. That is, until about 10 minutes before Christmas was over when the Chiefs found out that the Jets' victory over the Dolphins once again downgraded the Chiefs' playoff chances to "impossible."
This is the second year in a row where schedule strength has single-handedly handed a playoff berth to a playoff team. I'm in no position to complain. The Chiefs lost too many games that they should have won. Then again, the Chiefs also won a bunch of games against intensely competitive teams. Among their major accomplishments, the Chiefs were only one of two teams to beat the Chargers. But it aggravates me that the Jets will walk into the playoffs having only beaten one team over .500--I'm sorry, I know that the answer is actually "two," but can you really count a Kerry Collins led team as a real victory? I think even USC would have won that game.
Yes, it's that time of year - time for snow, time for the holidays, time for family, and most importantly, time to discuss Broncos playoff implications. Well, that and Jay Cutler's performance against Arizona is the subject of the latest Broncos AOL FanHouse podcast.
But the real news around Denver is SNOW, and lots of it (according to Sam's calculations, about a billion inches). Yes, that picture you see above is of my porch, ...or at least, of the mounds of snow covering my porch. Note that the snow inside the porch is almost up over the porch wall, which is in turn covered by a plainly visible, two-foot or so wall of snow. Also take a look at the roof, which has its own massive drift of snow - oh, and to top all of this off, it's still coming down!
But anyhow, thanks to the wonderful technological achievement that is the internet, we've been able to bring you this podcast without roughing the elements. So enjoy, and if you're in Denver tonight, stay inside and stay warm.
Yesterday, the Chiefs lost a game. A game they should have won, and a game that most Chiefs' fans knew they would win. The win would put the Chiefs in position for a showdown for the AFC West title, a position nobody thought they would be in as little as three weeks ago.
By Sunday night, you would have thought that the Chiefs were mathematically eliminated from the playoffs. Some fans thought the Chiefs should look toward the 2007 draft. Others completely eliminated the Chiefs from playoff contention, and if they did make it, gave them no chance to advance past the first round.
At this point, yes, the Chiefs probably are eliminated from the AFC West title. With two teams two games ahead, and seven games to go, a minor miracle would be needed to leapfrog ahead of both teams. But division winners are not given a golden path to the Super Bowl, and the Chiefs are still in a position to go where they have not been in two years-- the playoffs.
What we know is that Kansas City will probably need to win all of its home games. Those games at Arrowhead will not be easy (Oakland, Denver, Baltimore, and Jacksonville), but the Chiefs believe they can beat any team at home, and they can. If they win all four, then they need to win only one road game to be in a good position for the playoffs. That road game is Cleveland, a very winnable game. If they lose a home game, they need to make it up against either San Diego or Oakland. The game at Oakland is winnable; if the Chiefs end up needing to win at San Diego, then I will concede they are in a whole heap of trouble.
Tenacity and ferocious hitting? No doubt about it.
Perhaps the best defensive line and one of the top 5 defenses in the league? I'd have to say yes.
Class, dignity, and composure? Sorry.....not these guys.
The Jaguars invaded Indianapolis yesterday as the only real threat to the Colts continued domination of the AFC South and let's face it....Colts fans were downright nervous. Lose this game at home (with 4 critical players on the bench no less), and aspirations for home-field advantage throughout the playoffs turn into thoughts of perhaps being a wild-card team.
The Jags are a very, very good football team and the reality is, not far behind the Colts in overall talent. But do they really think that they can intimidate the Colts with all their rantings, ravings, and chest-pounding? This Colts team may not have a Super Bowl ring yet, but last time I checked they've thoroughly and totally dominated the AFC South since its inception and are not about to be intimidated by the juvenile antics of the Jacksonville Jaguars. The Jags clearly had the Colts on the ropes in the 1st half and not only could they not close the deal, two testosterone-induced personal foul penalties (a recurring theme for this self-proclaimed macho group) once again hurt them badly.
With the moral victory of a 7-7 tie at halftime, the Colts proceeded to do in the second half what they have done so often in recent years to the Jags - re-group and soundly put the threat to rest. The Colts proved once again that they are the more complete and, much more importantly, far more composed of the two teams. Their domination of the second half was every bit as convincing as the Jags domination of the 1st half, yet far more effective without all the self-inflicted missteps.
Oh yeah, and 2 more things. Mike Peterson....the Colts did not dis-respect you. You're a great player but the Colts COULD NOT AFFORD you! Please for the love of God get over it!! And to Byron Leftwich.....last year, when the Colts pounded you mercilessly, they were not trying to hurt you. They were trying to hit you very, very hard. It's called the NFL and it's what all the big boys do. As for real-life examples of dirty play and cheap shots.....watch your own team's game films. You'll see it clearly right before all those 15 yard Jaguar penalties.
One stat that really sticks out at me when I look back on the first 3 weeks of the season is the fact that neither Marvin Harrison or Reggie Wayne has a touchdown on the season.
Yes, you did read that right. Neither Harrison or Wayne has a single touchdown during the first three weeks of the season. Manning has been spreading the ball around a lot, but that stat still shocks me.
The run game isn't there either. So how is it possible for the Colts to be 3-0?
It's possible because the Colts are doing the little things right in crucial situations. Take the Jaguars game for example. The Colts were getting flat out dominated until they came up with a huge interception to keep the game at 7-0 Jags. And about 5 minutes later, Wilkins ran a punt back for a score. They were getting totally outplayed, but they came up huge in the unexpected situations. Those type of plays are huge momentum shifters.
The "great" teams just find a way. That great team showed up in the 2nd half against the Jaguars today. They are starting to appear...slowly but surely.
If the Colts can be 3-0 after this kind of start (by this kind, I mean "odd"), I'm anxiously awaiting what they can do when they are clicking on full cylinders. (Hopefully that comes during the playoffs)
Amid all these NFL predictions flooding the web this week there are few certainties. But if recent history is any indication, we know for sure that at least one of this year's division winners will be a team that finished in last place a year ago. At least one team has turned the trick every year since the NFL went to the current eight-division format -- 10 teams total in six seasons. The Dolphins did it last year, the Buccaneers the year before, and the Eagles and Saints the year before that.
The Falcons had no strongside linebacker after 
You would think this game is the kind the NFL wants. Two teams fighting for one of the last playoff spots available, playing in one of the great venues in all of sports. Two teams with well-respected head coaches. Two teams that, at one point in the season, many thought would make some noise in the playoffs.
Coal. Thanks a lot, Jets.
Yesterday, the Chiefs lost a game. A game they should have won, and a game that most Chiefs' fans knew they would win. The win would put the Chiefs in position for a showdown for the AFC West title, a position nobody thought they would be in as little as three weeks ago.
Size and Speed? Darn right. 
One stat that really sticks out at me when I look back on the first 3 weeks of the season is the fact that neither Marvin Harrison or Reggie Wayne has a touchdown on the season.
