2011 AFC Conference Future Lines – Team by Team Analysis
All signs are starting to point to resolution on a new CBA (collective bargaining agreement) between the NFL owners and its players over the next week or so in order to avoid any disruption to the start of the 2011 season.
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Once the player lock-out is finally lifted, there will be 32 teams trying to quickly make up for lost time in their preparations for a run at Super Bowl XLVI.
Current Gambling Odds To Win 2011 AFC Conference From Bodog
Baltimore Ravens +650
The key to the Ravens getting back to the AFC title game hinges directly on their ability to wrestle the AFC North crown away from Pittsburgh. Baltimore will get a chance to make an early statement, as it hosts its division rival on opening day.
Buffalo Bills +5000
The Bills used this past April’s draft to try and improve a defense that was ranked 28th in points allowed by selecting three defensive backs, two linebackers, and two defensive linemen including DT Marcell Dareus from Alabama with the third overall pick.
Cincinnati Bengals +2500
Turmoil is once again the ‘soup de jour’ in Cincinnati as it is unclear who is staying and who is going from last year’s team. Without Carson Palmer at quarterback, should he decide to formally retire, this team could easily go back to being a three or four win ball club.
Cleveland Browns +3000
The Browns are one of those teams that appear to take two steps forward and one step back or sometimes one step forward and two steps back. On paper, they should be better this season than their 5-11 record in 2010, but there are no guarantees that will actually happen.
Denver Broncos +2500
John Fox teams with Bronco legend John Elway to try and resurrect this franchise from a 4-12 season in 2010, but it will take much more than a couple of seasoned football minds to turn things around. The quarterback situation remains unsettled as nobody seems ready to commit to Tim Tebow as the future face of this team.
Houston Texans +1600
Is this the season that the Texans finally put everything together and win the AFC South? This talent-laden teams has continually found ways to underperform especially with the season on the line. Another letdown this year could bring wholesale changes to this franchise.
Indianapolis Colts +750
While few people would argue that Peyton Manning is not one of the best quarterbacks to ever play the game, he is starting to age along with his team which could spell the beginning of the end to a magical run over the past 13 years.
Jacksonville Jaguars +2500
Last season’s 8-8 record preserved Jack Del Rio’s head coaching job, but other than a solid running game it is hard to see this team taking a step forward in 2011 with a defense that was ranked 28th overall and an offense that was ranked 27th in passing yards per game.
Kansas City Chiefs +1800
The Chiefs run to the top of the AFC West last season could mark a return to glory for what use to be a perennial AFC power. All the pieces are in place for this team to take the next step as their current odds could offer the best value of any team on the board.
Miami Dolphins +2500
This will be a key season for the development of Chad Henne at quarterback, if that is the direction that the Dolphins decide to go in. They no longer have the power running game to make up for his shortcomings throwing the ball, so it will be up to Henne to prove he can be a productive starter in this league. [soliloquy id=”82219″]
New England Patriots +300
Anytime you have a healthy Tom Brady behind center and a coaching genius like Bill Belichick on the sideline you have a chance to win it all, but the Patriots will still need to do something about a defense that was ranked 25th overall and 30th against the pass.
New York Jets +650
The Jets are coming off two straight losses in the AFC title game and hungry as ever to get back there a third time. If they falter again this season, it will be another case of Head Coach Rex Ryan writing checks that his team cannot cash.
Oakland Raiders +2000
The Raiders finally got off the schneid last season with an 8-8 record to avoid an eighth straight losing season, but it remains to be seen if new Head Coach Hue Jackson can overcome the setback of this offseason lockout to get his team in the black this season.
Pittsburgh Steelers +450
The Steelers are still loaded with talent on both sides of the ball, but history is against them as you have to go back all the way to 1994, when Buffalo lost its fourth straight Super Bowl before you find a team that was on the losing end of a NFL championship game and got back to the same point the following year.
San Diego Chargers +600
The Chargers could be ready for a return run at the AFC Championship after a down year in 2010, but there seems to be something missing on a team that was ranked near the top of the league in both offense and defense, but could only manage nine wins in the AFC West.
Tennessee Titans +2500
The Titans are another one of those teams with unresolved issues at the quarterback position especially with the recent retirement of Kerry Collins. Many are projecting that rookie QB Jake Locker will be the starter on opening day, but if that is the case then Tennessee is going to have to hope that RB Chris Johnson returns to his 2009 form.
The nfl lines makers have instilled last year’s AFC East champion New England Patriots as the odds-on-favorites to win it all again this season.
