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Browns, Bills, Jags now a challenge to AFC elite
Posted: March 3, 2008
It's pretty clear that the AFC has been the NFL's superior conference over this decade, and there's a first tier of elite teams that stand out among the best: New England Patriots, Indianapolis Colts, Pittsburgh Steelers, San Diego Chargers. The first three in that group are responsible for five of the past seven Super Bowl victories, and San Diego has enjoyed some great regular-season success.
That foursome feels some heat from the quartet of AFC teams pushing to be included at a higher level. The Jacksonville Jaguars actually deserved Pittsburgh's place in the top four last season by virtue of a better record and two head-to-head wins.
Joining Jacksonville as a wild-card entrant was the Tennessee Titans, and the Cleveland Browns and Buffalo Bills weren't too far behind. Well, by looking at happened in a wild 72 hours of player movement over the weekend, those four teams aren't going to be punched around by the big boys anymore. The Jaguars, based on their fine finish to the season, already were gaining buzz as a sleeper Super Bowl contender for '08. But they weren't necessarily the biggest free-agent winners/gainers of the AFC's "second tier."....
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Buffalo Bills
Talk about Lake Erie effects. Buffalo already should feel good about the promise of its offense as quarterback Trent Edwards and running back Marshawn Lynch enter their second NFL seasons with promise. Just like Cleveland, the Bills needed to solidify their front seven. Stealing versatile outside linebacker Kawika Mitchell from the Giants was a good start, and then trading for Marcus Stroud fills a huge void at defensive tackle. With Mitchell and then second-year linebacker Paul Posluszny to fill holes and make plays behind Stroud, the Bills won't get gashed on the ground. If Dick Jauron is trying to re-create what he had in his best Chicago days -- a stout, playmaking defense to complement a strong running game -- he is on track.
Browns, Bills, Jags now a challenge to AFC elite
Posted: March 3, 2008
It's pretty clear that the AFC has been the NFL's superior conference over this decade, and there's a first tier of elite teams that stand out among the best: New England Patriots, Indianapolis Colts, Pittsburgh Steelers, San Diego Chargers. The first three in that group are responsible for five of the past seven Super Bowl victories, and San Diego has enjoyed some great regular-season success.
That foursome feels some heat from the quartet of AFC teams pushing to be included at a higher level. The Jacksonville Jaguars actually deserved Pittsburgh's place in the top four last season by virtue of a better record and two head-to-head wins.
Joining Jacksonville as a wild-card entrant was the Tennessee Titans, and the Cleveland Browns and Buffalo Bills weren't too far behind. Well, by looking at happened in a wild 72 hours of player movement over the weekend, those four teams aren't going to be punched around by the big boys anymore. The Jaguars, based on their fine finish to the season, already were gaining buzz as a sleeper Super Bowl contender for '08. But they weren't necessarily the biggest free-agent winners/gainers of the AFC's "second tier."....
...
Buffalo Bills
Talk about Lake Erie effects. Buffalo already should feel good about the promise of its offense as quarterback Trent Edwards and running back Marshawn Lynch enter their second NFL seasons with promise. Just like Cleveland, the Bills needed to solidify their front seven. Stealing versatile outside linebacker Kawika Mitchell from the Giants was a good start, and then trading for Marcus Stroud fills a huge void at defensive tackle. With Mitchell and then second-year linebacker Paul Posluszny to fill holes and make plays behind Stroud, the Bills won't get gashed on the ground. If Dick Jauron is trying to re-create what he had in his best Chicago days -- a stout, playmaking defense to complement a strong running game -- he is on track.
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