AFC North
Cincinnati Bengals
Predicted Record: 11-5
Final Record: 4-12
Another first to worst team? How does that happen? Honestly, the Bengals were a mystery to me this season. They were actually getting players back from injury and they put up a worse record. Part of it can be blamed on Carson Palmer, but this is a team that at times looked like they just did not want to win.
Cleveland Browns
Predicted Record: 5-11
Final Record: 5-11
Hey, right on the money, what do I win? Of course, I did predict they'd finish last and not third, and I'm sure the games I thought they'd win did not coincide with the games they did win, but hey how often does someone hit a number dead on like that? Things are looking good for Cleveland if they can keep up the forward momentum.
Baltimore Ravens
Predicted Record: 13-3
Final Record: 12-4
I was damn close with a lot of these AFC North teams. What surprised me about this season wasn't necessarily anything the Ravens did, it was what the Steelers did. The Ravens' season played out just about exactly as I envisioned.
Pittsburgh Steelers
Predicted Record: 7-9
Final Record: 12-4
I didn't think the Steelers had improved that much from last season, I was wrong. I was surprised that they went 3-1 in the games that Ben was absent, and after that I was even more surprised that a team that went 3-1 during that stretch actually lost some of the games they did once they got their starting QB back. Pittsburgh was an enigma to me this season.
AFC East
Buffalo Bills
Predicted Record: 0-16
Final Record: 4-12
I will admit this was a bold prediction from the start, but for a while it looked like it just might come true. The Bills actually surprised me a bit by playing all their games hard and winning against some teams I thought would steamroll them, notably Detroit. They still have a huge lack of talent, though, and they need an impressive offseason to keep pace in a competitive division.
Miami Dolphins
Predicted Record: 8-8
Final Record: 7-9
Actually not too shabby here. I think I actually had higher expectations for the team going in as far as how competitive they'd play, but their schedule was killer.
New York Jets
Predicted Record: 14-2
Final Record: 11-5
I think I both underestimated New England and overestimated the Jets. The Jets had the superior team on paper going in, it goes to show big names don't always translate into the best team on the field. They have some major questions on offense going forward, and getting a big receiver would definitely be a boon.
New England Patriots
Predicted Record: 12-4
Final Record: 14-2
Again, early in the season it looked like I might be right. The Pats turned their up and down season around extremely fast, though, and emerged as one of the favorites headed into the postseason. Their success can probably be attributed in part to the contributions of their rookies. Say what you want about Belichick, he's doing something right.
AFC South
Tennessee Titans
Predicted Record: 7-9
Final Record: 6-10
I think most people saw this coming. Tennessee's defense has dropped off considerably from three years ago and their offense simply can't keep up. They have some work to do on both sides of the ball.
Houston Texans
Predicted Record: 10-4
Final Record: 6-10
The Texans looked impressive going into the season and through the first few weeks. What a major disappointment the season turned out to be, however, after they beat the Colts on opening day. Injuries were a factor, but you cannot let your defense drop off that much because of one player going down. They have a lot to prove after this past season.
Jacksonville Jaguars
Predicted Record: 5-11
Final Record: 8-8
This team was a surprise. I knew they had talent between David Garrard and Maurice Jones-Drew, but what surprised me was how the other players helped them succeed. Their receiving corps especially didn't look like anything special going in, but proved to be a fairly strong spot. Their defense also looked a little thin, and while they do still have problems they kept the team in a lot of games. The biggest surprise, at the end of the season, was that they had the Colts dead to rights and simply let the division crown slip away.
Indianapolis Colts
Predicted Record: 10-6
Final Record: 10-6
Right on the money again. I think what this season proved is that Peyton Manning is human after all, especially when he has inexperienced receivers on the field. It also proved that the run game is still vital even with an elite QB on the field, even more so. Indy's opponents ran the ball to keep Peyton off the field and Indy could not run the ball when their opponents locked down the passing game. This is a passing league? Please.
AFC West
Denver Broncos
Predicted Record: 4-12
Final Record: 4-12
I should find some way to make money off of this. I thought from the start that McDaniels was going about running this team all wrong. I'll give him credit, I think the amazing stats that Orton put up were due in part to him, quarterbacks just have huge stats with McDaniels' system. Still, he wasn't ready to run a team, and his failures running the ball and on defense show that. Again, passing league?
Oakland Raiders
Predicted Record: 9-7
Final Record: 8-8
The Raiders were hard to get a handle on this season. Some games they would come out and amaze me, then next week they'd put up a stinker, then the next they'd pull off an upset. Still, this season was an improvement and the firing of Tom Cable is just another indicator of Al Davis' inability to run a team.
San Diego Chargers
Predicted Record: 10-6
Final Record: 9-7
Given the way they got manhandled by their division opponents this season, I'm surprised the Chargers won as many games as they did. There's no reason they shouldn't have taken the division, they have the talent. Frankly, I think Turner should be gone after how this season played out, but at the very least he should be in a hotseat position this upcoming year.
Kansas City Chiefs
Predicted Record: 4-12
Final Record: 10-6
Now I will grant that I was way off on the record here, but I was about the only person talking up the Chiefs in the offseason. I was saying how good their defense looked, how they had an amazing running game. The things that surprised me, first off how well their areas of weakness played, notably receivers. Like Jacksonville, what appeared to be a weak spot going in turned out to be an area of strength with Dwayne Bowe having an amazing season. Two, how much their division rivals fell off. I knew the Broncos were on a downslide, but I thought the Chargers would at least hold on to their division crown another season. I can't take this as a complete told-you-so, but it's close enough for me.
