American Football Conference

One third of this years' NFL season is over, and already each division has asituation, a player or a change that has been a surprise. Before theseason starts, every team has a plan they believe in 100% will create constantfootball success. It is amazing that for the vast majority, it never worksout. Read the comments for the American Football Conference (AFC) and the NationalFootball Conference (NFC) with their Divisions:

AFC East

The Buffalo Bills are not a surprise to me at all. Their training camphad all kinds of side issues not related to football and consequently they nevergot it together offensively. With Miami, I think they still can win six or seven games because they're toogood on defense. Now that they're out of the playoffs they will play witha nothing to lose mentality and that's dangerous. The New England Patriots are the class of the NFL and will continue to be,but I also really like the New York Jets. Lost in the loss to the Patriotslast week was the fact that the Jets held New England to only 13 points, whichis a season low for the Patriots.

AFC North

I think Baltimore is a surprise because Brian Billick has yet to develop adominant quarterback. I would not be surprised as all to see AnthonyWright as the starter by Week 10. The Pittsburgh Steelers are starting to look like the obvious choice in thedivision. Ben Roethlisberger beats the Patriots, then he will beconsidered the next Terry Bradshaw. The biggest surprise has been TroyPolamalu at strong safety. For a team to win consistently their number onedraft picks must come through as soon as possible and Polamalu in his secondyear is doing just that. The Ohio teams - the Browns and Bengals - can go either way. ClevelandBrowns competed extremely well against Philadelphia and Cincinnati beat a Denver teamthat was going into the Monday Night as the number one ranked defense and thenumber four rated offence. Both Ohio teams should be confident in the lasttwo thirds of the season.

AFC South

This is my favorite division. I don't know how Jacksonville does it,but with four wins inside the last minute of a game, you have to ask whether thewins come from skill or luck. I understand the mentality of winning theclose games, but the Jags are the Carolina Panthers of 2003. Carolina wonseven games by three points or less last year. Another team on the rise are the HoustonTexans. Considering theiryouth at so many positions the Texans are going to be good for a long time. I expect the Colts to continue to win again starting this Sunday in KansasCity and would not be surprised if they won their next eight games. Tennessee is a mystery to me. Did the absence of Javon Kearse mean thatmuch to the pass rush? What about Eddie George to the team leadership?The Titans are a good team that are not playing up to their talent level, exceptfor the Green Bay game of course.

AFC West

The surprise in this division is the San Diego Chargers. Thedisappointments are Kansas City and Oakland. The known quantity is theDenver Broncos. I still think that Denver will win the division. The question iswhether or not the Chargers make the playoffs. They play the Chiefs onNovember 28 and the last game of the season, January 2. If San Diego cancontinue to improve in the next month, then both games can be competitive. Oakland reminds me a little of New Orleans, lots of talent everywhere butsomething is missing. Maybe the Raiders are missing a dominating runningback, like Ricky Williams. Then there is Denver. I'm am not a fan of any particular team, but I doenjoy watching the Broncos just a little more than anyone else. Rod Smithis the most undervalued receiver and in general, football player there is.

For Chris Schultz 10/28/2004