Most football fans and experts alike are predicting a two horse race for the AFC Championship in 2009 between the defending Super Bowl Champions, Pittsburgh Steelers and the New England Patriots. The odds makers agree making these two teams the definitive favorites to win the AFC this upcoming season. The interesting thing about this year’s odds is that the Super Bowl champs are being picked to finish second in the conference behind New England who has been listed as +350 favorites to appear in the Super Bowl. The Steelers are right behind them at +450. As for other challengers, the odds makers look for Indianapolis at +600 and the San Diego Chargers at +650 to be the best teams to challenge the top two AFC powerhouses.
The biggest question mark as to whether or not the New England Patriots can get back to another Super Bowl is age. The Pats are a veteran team who has lost some key players like Richard Seymour, Kevin Faulk, and Vince Wilfork. However, they have Tom Brady back and if he can stay healthy, there is no doubt this will be a team that goes deep into the playoffs. Brady has two great receivers in Randy Moss and Wes Welker but lacks a legitimate running game as Laurence Maroney has been injury plagued most of his career. They can score points in bunches and that will help an aging defense.
Pittsburgh returns almost everybody from a team that won it all in 2008. Cornerback Bryant McFadden and linebacker Larry Foote are the only starters missing making this year’s Steelers a very dangerous threat to repeat not only as conference champions but Super Bowl Champions. The defense who was number one against the pass and number two against the pass will be nasty once again. Big Ben is still very young and already has two Super Bowl rings. He has two great targets in Hines Ward and Santonio Holmes. The running game wasn’t very good last year but this was due mostly to injuries. A healthy Willie Parker and Rashard Mendenhall should boost the ground game if the offensive line can improve. The line was the only real weakness but experience as a group should lead to better blocking.
As long as Peyton Manning is at the helm for the Colts, they will always be a threat to win the conference. However, for this team to make a deep run into the playoffs they are going to have to stop the run and also establish a solid running game themselves. Joseph Addai needs to regain his form from a couple years ago in order to provide balance to the offense. Addai is very talented but he must step up his game. The other question mark is if Anthony Gonzalez can fill the shoes of Marvin Harrison. Gonzalez has all the tools of being a quality receiver in this league and will be counted on as Manning’s number two receiver. This is a very good team but they are not as complete as Pittsburgh or New England. I think they will have a good season but not good enough to make it to the Super Bowl.
Odds to win AFC Championship in 2009-2010 NFL Season:
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