Brady’s boys will go deep again
AFC PREVIEW: New England looks unstoppable in conference with few real contenders
Let’s get it out of the way immediately: If there’s a team good enough to stop the Patriots from winning the AFC again, we don’t see it.
Of course there aren’t any locks in pro sports, especially in the NFL, where teams rise and fall annually. Well, except for New England, which appears even more stacked than last season, when it won everything.
At 40, Tom Brady might still be in his peak years. That’s a scary proposition for the rest of the league.
“I think it’s a lot easier now for me than it’s ever been,” Brady says of getting prepared for the season, which the Patriots kick off Sept. 7 by hosting Kansas City.
The AFC East race could be over by Halloween given the weaknesses of the opposition for Brady and company — even though Brady lost favourite receiver Julian Edelman to a torn-up knee.
At least the conference should feature some tight races in the other divisions, particularly the AFC West and South.
AFC East
Brady needed a deep threat, so the Patriots brought in Brandin Cooks. They lost rushing TD machine LeGarrette Blount, but are plenty deep there. Stud TE Rob Gronkowski is healthy again. The offensive line is among the best in football.
And now the defence has added key ingredients in cornerback Stephon Gilmore and linebacker David Harris.
The schedule isn’t daunting, particularly intradivision. Miami has had the worst pre-season imaginable with all its injuries. Buffalo can’t seem to figure out who is staying and who should go. The Jets are odds-on favourites to be the worst team in the NFL.
AFC South
Many observers believe you can put a blanket over Houston, Tennessee and Indianapolis because their talent bases are that close. We demur.
The Texans have a terrific defence that gets back the incomparable J.J. Watt and could be enough to overcome a mediocre offence. They are well coached and rarely beat themselves — until the playoffs, that is.
No team appears more ready to make the next big step in the AFC than the Titans. They are deep at running back, secure at quarterback and on the offensive line and have a developing D with playmakers such as Jurrell Casey and Brian Orakpo.
Indy is a far bigger question mark because of the uncertainty of Andrew Luck’s right shoulder. Just as uncertain is the O-line charged with protecting the franchise quarterback.
Jacksonville will be tougher with Tom Coughlin in the executive offices. Better? A bit.
AFC West
A three-team scramble is likely with only the Los Angeles Chargers unable to make a charge.
Oakland appeared headed for a showdown with New England last season until Derek Carr went down. Should he stay healthy, the Raiders are the favourites. They have difference makers throughout the offence and a line equal to the Patriots. Khalil Mack is by far their best defender and that unit must come through in a big way.
Kansas City will be stout on defence, somewhat dull, but effective enough on offence and well coached.
Denver is the wild card. Its defence could carry it far as it did in winning the Super Bowl two seasons back. There are standouts at receiver and a deep backfield, but the quarterbacking is precarious and the protection is problematic.
AFC North
Everything in this division depends on whether Baltimore rebounds from a mediocre season. If the Ravens don’t, the Steelers will romp.
Baltimore added talent in the secondary with safety Tony Jefferson, but needs a healthy Joe Flacco, a revitalized pass rush and pass protection.
Pittsburgh is the class of the North regardless. No offence is more dynamic and the defence has stoppers such as Bud Dupree and Ryan Shazier.
Cincinnati coach Marvin Lewis enters his 15th season in charge and needs a turnaround from 6-9-1, plus a post-season victory to secure his status.
Cleveland won’t go 1-15 again. But that doesn’t mean they won’t contend for the top overall draft selection.