Denver, I think that argument could have been made three weeks ago that they're a balanced and legit contender. But they've been exposed as a very soft, finesse, front-running team with a very bad offensive line and a quarterback who can't handle pressure or make sideline throws. That, and they're down to 1 legitimate receiver with J Thomas and Sanders injured, crap running backs (top two are injured0 and a crap placekicker. They have a solid defense, but their offense is prone to a lot of three-and-outs and turnovers with 1:30 drives. Had they been playing anyone other than the Raiders two weeks ago, they'd be sitting at 6-4 on a three game losing streak. I see them finishing 9-7 and not even making the playoffs (losses to MIA, KC, SD, CIN, wins against BUF and OAK).
Miami is a team that looks designed to win the playoffs, built around running and a great defense. But they may not make the playoffs.
CIN--like DET a team that doesn't win the games it should and needs to. Skeptical until they prove otherwise.
Home field in AFC will be KC and NE, the two most dominant home teams in the conference, which are both built around running and defense. If DEN can't be competitive on the road against St. Louis, no way it can beat those teams at home--the game at NE was not an anomaly but rather a pretty accurate reflection of the quality of the two teams. PIT could be scary and go on a road roll, but they're just as likely to lay an egg and miss the playoffs (whupped Indy but lost to the NYJ and almost lost to TEN).
New Orleans and Carolina are scary because of what they did last year, but they haven't shown much signs of life this year. The entire NFC south is a miserable group of underachievers.
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