The Pittsburgh Steelers fell one game short of making the AFC playoffs in 2018. Here is my ‘too early’ prediction for the AFC playoff teams in 2019.
I recently wrote an article on the top three reasons that led to the Steelers missing the playoffs in 2018. Pittsburgh shot themselves in the foot down the stretch and ended up falling less than a game out of first place behind the Baltimore Ravens.
Teams have changed a lot in just one offseason, and it still remains to be seen if the Steelers will be better or worse in 2019. Here are my ‘too early’ playoff predictions for each team in the AFC this year:
1. New England Patriots
This isn’t a very bold prediction here, but I have the Patriots retaining the number one seed in the AFC. They are rewarded with a first round bye for what seems like the 100th year in a row.
As long as Bill Belichick is in town and Tom Brady is slinging the ball, they are the favorites to win just about every year. The Steelers beat them last season, so at least we know they are not invincible.
2. Kansas City Chiefs
The Chiefs were the number one seed last season, but it’s going to be hard for them to maintain the same pace on offense with the suspended Tyreke Hill.
Patrick Mahomes may be the second coming of Aaron Rogers, and the Chiefs will be competitors for a long time because of him. However, the Chiefs have to prove that they can play some defense. I think they finish 2nd in the AFC this year.
3. Indianapolis Colts
The Colts continue to get better, and they were one of the best teams down the stretch last season. There offensive line has come together, and Andrew Luck is becoming the quarterback we all thought he would be out of Stanford.
Indianapolis will have to compete with the Houston Texans for this division, but I think they ultimately think they jump from the 6th seed to the 3rd seed this season.
4. Pittsburgh Steelers
Don’t count out the Pittsburgh Steelers just yet. Regardless of the loss of Mike Munchak, Antonio Brown, and Le’Veon Bell (who didn’t play last year anyway), the Steelers are still a team with a franchise quarterback, a great offensive line, and an improving defense.
The additions of players like Devin Bush and Steven Nelson should aid in the Steelers successes this season. They have a hard first-half schedule, but some easier games down the stretch.
5. Cleveland Browns (wild card)
Everybody is jumping on the Browns bandwagon after the offsesaon moves they have made this year. Cleveland landed Odell Beckham and Sheldon Richardson among others, and Baker Mayfield looks like a legitimate franchise quarterback.
The Browns will no doubt be improved, but they are severely lacking playoff experience and too much youth isn’t always a good thing. It will be a tight race in the AFC North, but I think Cleveland sits behind Pittsburgh for at least another year.
6. San Diego Chargers (wild card)
The Chargers aren’t a bad team by any stretch of the imagination. They still have a franchise quarterback and an offense that can put up points. Defensively they are one of the best in the game with a strong secondary and one of the best pass rush tandems.
However, they have pleasure of playing in the same division as the Chiefs, and are unlikely to beat them out for the number one seed. I have the Chargers fending off the Ravens and Texans to hold down the final seed in the AFC.
It’s far too early to tell if any of these predictions will come to fruition, but I don’t believe my predictions will be far off. The AFC North is likely the hardest division to predict a winner and there are three teams that have a legitimate chance at doing so. Ultimately, I think Pittsburgh will prevail.