NFL: AFC – The story so far

by UK American Sports Fans

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So we’re just over a third (for some) through the 2012 season, and it’s still not clear who the real contenders are.

The season just gets more unpredictable with every play of every game. Here I try and give a quick outline on each team as we move forward into the middle stretch of the season.

Houston and Baltimore head up the Conference on 5-1 records, the Texans suffered a beating by the hands of Aaron Rodgers’ 6 TD passes Sunday night, and will have to bounce back quick, the Ravens have to overcome the loss of team leader Ray Lewis who is out for the season with torn triceps.

Next are seven teams with an even 3-3 record, including all four from the East.

The Jets will be asking as much as the media are as to how they’ve come to this point with three wins. No questions asked in Denver though, as Peyton Manning finds his feet. Tom Brady got seriously shook up in Seattle and now has to battle mental demons, as well as the ones on the field. The Chargers proved in the second half of Monday night’s loss that they are proving to be the one predictable team in the NFL – with their inconsistent play. The Bills have somehow scrambled their way to a .500 mark without really showing a decent hand. Miami have already surpassed many expectations by winning three times, and the Bengals have also unimpressively got to an even record.

Where any of these teams go from here is anyones guess, although you would favour New England and Denver to rise from the pile.

In Pittsburgh they are blaming a long injury list for their 2-3 start, whereas in Indianapolis they are pointing at Andrew Luck as the success behind the same record.

Looking towards the lower end of the Conference, and it’s hard to see the Titans getting to an even record by the end of the year, currently at 2-4. Jacksonville are where most saw them, trailing in the South at 1-4, joined at that mark by Oakland, who promised so much but once again have failed to deliver; a heartbreaking last second loss to Atlanta this past weekend had encouraging signs though.

And finally, at 1-5, the Browns and Chiefs hold up the stack. This season looks beyond them both already and they might start sniffing around that number one draft pick spot soon.

As I said to begin with, this season has become anything but predictable, so the next time I write a similar piece, the table will no doubt have been turned completely on its head!