The AFC Sucks

[Balls&YourWord]

The AFC sucks.

Seriously, it's a bad conference this year. When a team led by 64 year old Kerry Collins is easily the best team in the conference, you've got some bad, inconsistent play going on.

I predicted before the year that that Colts were done and wouldn't make the playoffs. I'll probably end up being wrong, but so far they don't look anywhere near the team they've fielded the last few years. Marvin Harrison is through, their defense is horrible again, and they can't run the ball either. The Texans handed them that game on a silver platter, otherwise they got throttled by 'em. Their schedule is just as ridiculous as the Steelers schedule is as well.

The Pats will be okay, but I still can't take them as a serious threat right now. They'll feast off their schedule though, and that defense isn't what it used to be. How you can get throttled by Miami at home I'll never know, that was an eye opener. No one gets destroyed at home by a team that was 1-15 the year before and will be playing with a backup QB for the rest of the year and gets taken seriously, I don't care what their record ends up being.

The Chargers are coached by Norv Turner, end of story. Worst move in A.J. Smith's career.

The Bills look impressive on paper, but they just got destroyed by the Cardinals, and got outplayed by the Raiders at home in a game they should have lost. They're having problems running the ball this year, their defense still gets exposed by good offenses, and while Trent Edwards has improved, he's still got a long way to go to be considered anything more than a quality starter.

The Broncos were the flavor of the month, but they got beat by Kansas City 19-33. Kansas City. The same Kansas City that just went into Carolina and got molested on national television 36-0, where Larry Johnson ran for 2 friggin' yards. He ran for close to 200 against Denver the week before. When's the last time a team with no defense won a SB?

And then you've got the Titans. Granted, they have an outstanding defense. But c'mon, does anyone really believe in this team yet? Does anyone think if they were in the NFC East they wouldn't just be another run of the mill team? They got lucky against Baltimore (who outplayed them), and if Baltimore wasn't coming off a short week and a brutal Monday nighter, they would've lost. Arguably should have still lost if not for some questionable calls by the refs and some absolutely terrible decisions by Joe Flacco. As for Pittsburgh, we all know the problems with them. It's hard to take a team seriously that will probably give up 60 sacks this year.

Overall though, it's amazing how fast the AFC has gone from unquestionably the premiere conference in the NFL to crap.

[FistfullofRings]

How long have you been paying attention to the NFL?

Trent Dilfer has a Super Bowl ring,

Team A beats Team B who then beats Team C who then beats Team A. So Team A sucks, but wait, so does Team B... and so does Team C.

[steelberger1]

So you have every team in the NFL figured out by week 5? You should move to Vegas.

[CoolieMan]

Name a team in the NFC that is dominant? All teams have their flaws, those that find a way to overcome them...ike going on the road with your top 3 RBs out and beating a tough rival....will be there for the playoffs....

[Steelerman]

And then you've got the Titans. Granted, they have an outstanding defense. But c'mon, does anyone really believe in this team yet?

The Titans have a stout defense with a bruising running game. Sound familiar? A certain team has used that exact identity to great success over the years. Hmmmm.

[Steelr4evr]

...any given Sunday.

[Balls&YourWord]

So you're all denying that the AFC is down?

That's basically the point of my post. I think the AFC has taken a big step back this year. Look at the powerhouses the last few years... the Pats and Colts, who have been the flag bearers of the NFL the past half decade, are shells of their former selves. The Chargers finally look like the Norv Turner effect is taking hold. Before Sunday night most of us were ready to fire the offensive coordinator of the Steelers and throw aside the entire offensive line.

The conference is down.

And yeah, that's a good thing for the Steelers.

[Stryker]

I think you have a point. The NFC used to be the weaker conference, but so far the trend has shifted. Last year, other than NE and SD, the AFC would have had no shot against the NFC in the SB. This year the entire NFC East can smack down the AFC on any given Sunday. Cardinals are improved (thanks to Whiz), Chicago is the Tennessee of the NFC, and Min, GB, NO, and TB have shown as much promise as any elite AFC team. The pendulum is swinging back, but on SB Sunday, any team can win, and as weak as the AFC is this year, I hope we can take advantage of it to reach the SB!

[Balls&YourWord]

Name a team in the NFC that is dominant? All teams have their flaws, those that find a way to overcome them...ike going on the road with your top 3 RBs out and beating a tough rival....will be there for the playoffs....

That Giants team looks pretty unstoppable right now. So far they look better than the team that won the SB. And they might not even be the best team in their division.

I'm not disrespecting the Steelers... like I just said in the earlier post, this is actually a good thing for them. The road to the SB will be a lot easier than say going into New England to take on the team they had last year, or going into Indy to take on the team they had in '05 or '06. Granted, getting to the SB is never easy, but with the conference down it should be an easier road to manage.

[Balls&YourWord]

I think you have a point. The NFC used to be the weaker conference, but so far the trend has shifted. Last year, other than NE and SD, the AFC would have had no shot against the NFC in the SB. This year the entire NFC East can smack down the AFC on any given Sunday. Cardinals are improved (thanks to Whiz), Chicago is the Tennessee of the NFC, and Min, GB, NO, and TB have shown as much promise as any elite AFC team. The pendulum is swinging back, but on SB Sunday, any team can win, and as weak as the AFC is this year, I hope we can take advantage of it to reach the SB!

That's exactly what I'm saying really.

Whereas the last few years, ever since the Pats started making their dynasty run, it didn't matter who came out of the AFC, but whoever did they were going to be a 7 point favorite against whoever came out of the NFC. Because the AFC was viewed as by far the tougher conference. I don't think that's going to be the case this year, if anything it could be the exact opposite.

[BillvinCowbert]

That Giants team looks pretty unstoppable right now. So far they look better than the team that won the SB. And they might not even be the best team in their division.
Unless they are playing Cinci at home...

But I agree, the AFC is wide open. Last year, NE was clearly the cream of the crop. Right now, the top two AFC teams are Tennessee and Buffalo and both have major flaws. Tennesse has NO passing offense at all. I don't know that much about Buffalo... which AZ stomped them, JP Losman played virtually the entire game, so I'll give them a mulligan.

[Buff]

The NFC North is solid, but not as strong as the NFC West. Take out the NFC East and the rest of the conference sucks.

Give the Titties some credit. Their running game is one of the best and they've been building that defense for the past few years. The AFC South is still a bitch, even with the Colts struggling.

[Balls&YourWord]

Unless they are playing Cinci at home...

But I agree, the AFC is wide open. Last year, NE was clearly the cream of the crop. Right now, the top two AFC teams are Tennessee and Buffalo and both have major flaws. Tennesse has NO passing offense at all. I don't know that much about Buffalo... which AZ stomped them, JP Losman played virtually the entire game, so I'll give them a mulligan.

I didn't watch that game, but I can't give Buffalo a mulligan for giving up over 40 points to the Cards. Even if JP Losman looked like Tom Brady out there, I don't think it would have mattered (and Losman looked alright anyways).

And Lynch has been relatively quiet this year, his YPC has been fairly down so far this season.

But yeah, overall parity is huge this year. There isn't going to be a team this year like the '07 Pats or '05 Colts IMO, and certainly not in the AFC.

[CoolieMan]

the giants have played Washington, St. Louis, Cincy, and Seattle.....not realy a tough test...and cincy took them to overtime.

[Balls&YourWord]

The NFC North is solid, but not as strong as the NFC West. Take out the NFC East and the rest of the conference sucks.

Give the Titties some credit. Their running game is one of the best and they've been building that defense for the past few years. The AFC South is still a bitch, even with the Colts struggling.

Yeah, I have to give them credit, especially since they are winning the games the same way a certain Pennsylvania team used to be famous for, hehe. I just still can't get over the fact that Kerry Collins is quarterbacking a potential playoff team in 2008, hehe.

[Coryea]

I wouldn't say the Titans are easily the best team. They beat the Jags, Ravens, Texans(3 teams we beat), the 0-5 Bengals, and the Vikings in a game where Tenn has under 200 yards passing and 75 yards rushing, the Vikings gained 335 yards in that game, but turned it over 4 times. So I wouldn't say they are easily the best team.

The Giants have beaten Washington in game one(the Redskins are definitely a different team now), the Rams, Bengals, Seahawks, not exactly a killer schedule either. The Bengals were right there to the end with them in NY.

[Vader]

IMHO the Giants are the best team in the NFL. Good defense, experienced QB with a very strong running game and WRs. They have a good chance of winning it all again this year.

[Balls&YourWord]

the giants have played Washington, St. Louis, Cincy, and Seattle.....not realy a tough test...and cincy took them to overtime.

Fair enough, but they are the defending SB champs. And they have started out this season 4-0. And I really do think they look even better this year. Eli looks like he's carried over his good play from the postseason to this year, and they're incredibly deep on both sides of the ball.

But yeah, overall parity reigns. I just think the balance of power has shifted a good deal to the NFC this year, and all the early results so far this year seem to indicate that.

It's still early though, so all this can naturally change hehe. But as it stands now, that's the way I feel. :)

[THE flafan]

That's exactly what I'm saying really.

Whereas the last few years, ever since the Pats started making their dynasty run, it didn't matter who came out of the AFC, but whoever did they were going to be a 7 point favorite against whoever came out of the NFC. Because the AFC was viewed as by far the tougher conference. I don't think that's going to be the case this year, if anything it could be the exact opposite.

Funny how these things swing back and forth....

"NFC teams won sixteen of the twenty Super Bowls in the 1980s and 1990s, including thirteen in a row from 1984 to 1996.

"In Super Bowl XXXII, quarterback John Elway led the Denver Broncos to an upset victory over the defending champion Packers, snapping the NFC's 13-game winning streak, and beginning a streak in which the AFC would win eight of the next ten Super Bowls. The Broncos would go on to win Super Bowl XXXIII the next year, over the Atlanta Falcons, in Elway's final game before retiring. After an NFC win by the St. Louis Rams in Super Bowl XXXIV that made it appear the league had entered a period of parity between the conferences, the AFC continued its winning ways, with wins by the Baltimore Ravens and New England Patriots."

Pats vs. Rams Super Bowl, the Rams were big favorites as I recall. Last year, of course, the NFC team was the big underdog.

[Gonzopenguin]

I think you have a point. The NFC used to be the weaker conference, but so far the trend has shifted. Last year, other than NE and SD, the AFC would have had no shot against the NFC in the SB. This year the entire NFC East can smack down the AFC on any given Sunday. Cardinals are improved (thanks to Whiz), Chicago is the Tennessee of the NFC, and Min, GB, NO, and TB have shown as much promise as any elite AFC team. The pendulum is swinging back, but on SB Sunday, any team can win, and as weak as the AFC is this year, I hope we can take advantage of it to reach the SB!

Don't overlook Carolina. They are stronger than NO and TB (strong run and good defense). They also emulate traditional Steeler ball.

[bearcatsno69]

So what is considered dominant? 16-0 in the regular season?

[Jer]

Did you not see the AFC's worst team (Bungles) damn near pull out a win against Dallas? The whole league is wide open right now. There isn't one dominant team, and I like it that way. But, back to your point, The AFC doesn't SUCK as you kindly put it...however, it does seem to be weaker than the NFC this year. But, I guess we'll see in February.

[Hines57]

The Giants look like they are the team to beat. We're still only 5 games into the season. Still a long ways to go

[Ski_Alta]

the damn league wanted parity..
now we have parity
personally i think parity sucks...but that's just me.

[CoSteelrgrl]

Buffalo got thrashed because Edwards got concussed and was out the remainder of the game. He's a better QB than Losman.
Miami may finally be coming together as a team. Tuna is playing a big part in that.

Only a matter of time before Turner would screw up the Chargers.

Dallas almost got caught with their pants around their ankles by the 2nd worst team in the league.

As long as Al Davis is alive and running things, the Raiders will not win another championship.

The Niners still have a loooong way to go before they reach their former glory.

I think the AFC is still the tougher conference.

[Balls&YourWord]

The Giants look like they are the team to beat. We're still only 5 games into the season. Still a long ways to go

Of course. Threads like this could look pretty bad in hindsight, but you've got to call it as you see it at the time. Right now, I think the NFC has overtaken the AFC. At the end of the day, could I be wrong? Sure, wouldn't surprise me at all. But I think the powers of the AFC have fallen a bit by the wayside whereas the NFC has strengthened, and everything I've seen so far, especially in the head to head matchups which the AFC looks like it's going to lose for the first time in quite some time, seems to support that.

[Steel Conviction]

Its funny, but the best teams don't start being identifiable until week 11+. Why? Because normally its the team that enters the playoff on the UPSWING that makes the most noise in the playoffs, often playing above their "talent level". Meanwhile, there are other teams that have better or equivalent records but they blew their load earlier in the season. Although its cliche to say, it's all about when you peak.

[Sluzilla]

the NFC is 10 and 8 against the AFC this year...pretty close so far...

[markymarc]

No question the AFC is still wide open. The NFC has gotten closer to the AFC, but I still believe the AFC is the stronger conference. And IMHO no way do the Giants and Titans continue this kind of play all season.

[Balls&YourWord]

So yeah, about all that...

I don't know anymore, the NFL has gotten just as bad as college, I don't know what the hell of it means anymore.

All I do know, regardless of how this game ends up, is that the league is wide open right now.

[Rambo steel]

So yeah, about all that...

I don't know anymore, the NFL has gotten just as bad as college, I don't know what the hell of it means anymore.

All I do know, regardless of how this game ends up, is that the league is wide open right now.

There is no team this year that stands out. I mean this whole decade you just knew the Pats and Colts were gonna be the teams to beat every year. This year there is no clear cut favorite. I love it. I think we have a good shot this year to do it, where in years past we wouldn't have had a chance against the pats or colts with this line

[shufan.tsz]

There is no team this year that stands out. I mean this whole decade you just knew the Pats and Colts were gonna be the teams to beat every year. This year there is no clear cut favorite. I love it. I think we have a good shot this year to do it, where in years past we wouldn't have had a chance against the pats or colts with this line

I agree. If there is any year that any team has a shot at the Super Bowl, this is the year. If our offensive line can even play slightly improved, which I think it can with Stapleton in now, I believe we have a very good chance to go all the way. There isn't a team out there right now that this Steelers team can't beat with this defense, Roethlisberger at the helm, and Parker healthy.

[blitz]

it will still come down to colts,chargers,steelers,jags.

[Rambo steel]

There isn't a team out there right now that this Steelers team can't beat with this defense, Roethlisberger at the helm, and Parker healthy.

That's what I'm saying. Although it is arguable, I say that there hasn't been a better defense this year. They have really stopped drives when they've had to. They kept us in the game at Philly. I'm excited to start into the "meat" of the schedule, see what we've got

[Steeltime]

If our offensive line can even play slightly improved, which I think it can with Stapleton in now, I believe we have a very good chance to go all the way. There isn't a team out there right now that this Steelers team can't beat with this defense, Roethlisberger at the helm, and Parker healthy.

Good point. The Steelers D is playing very well this season. With better depth at ILB (Timmons), the play of Woodley and Harrison on the outside, the development of McFadden, and Troy's good health, this squad is damn tough.