Pittsburgh Steelers are the most successful team in recent AFC history.
The Steelers have reached the AFC Championship game on 15 occasions, winning eight, though their last appearance was in 2010 and bookmakers make them only second favourites for the title this year behind New England Patriots.
The Patriots were beaten in last year’s AFC Championship game by eventual Super Bowl champions Denver Broncos but many pundits expect Bill Belichick’s team to go one better this year. However, it’s not ideal that QB Tom Brady will miss the first four matches on their schedule. Every results counts and it would not be ideal to be playing catch-up early on.
The Cincinnati Bengals are only a general 7/1 to win the AFC but they look to be starting the season in disarray. They’ve had to hurriedly find replacements for the injured Cedric Peerman and William Jackson. Both will miss at least the first half of the season and may have to write off the season as a whole.
The Broncos (10/1 with Betfred to win the AFC again) could be in an even worse state. Brock Osweiler covered for the legendary Peyton Manning at QB on several occasions last season and was expected to move up to top slot this year following the great man’s retirement. But Osweiler got a better offer in Houston and back-up Mark Sanchez has moved to Dallas meaning that 2015 draft pick Trevor Siemian will have the responsibility for making sure the league’s best defense isn’t wasted.
The Baltimore Ravens have taken a huge risk in cutting Justin Forsett from their roster as it leaves them with three inexperienced running backs who have only 12 NFL games between them. I can’t have the Kansas City Chiefs, either, as their final roster has more holes in it than a slab of Swiss cheese (not that I imagine there is much demand for Swiss cheese in Kansas).
Let’s take a punt on the INDIANAPOLIS COLTS at a tempting 14/1 with Stan James.
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Though Arthur Jones will be suspended for the first four games of the regular season, the Colts will have strong defense when he returns alongside Henry Anderson and Kendall Langford. Indianapolis disappointed last season but that was because highly-rated QB Andrew Luck was soldiering on with shoulder and kidney problems.
Luck can play a full part this season and drive the Colts to AFC glory with less pressure on him this time around.
AFC Championship Current Best Odds
New England (4/1), Pittsburgh (5/1), Cincinnati (7/1), Denver (10/1), Indianapolis and Kansas (14/1), Baltimore (16/1), Houston (20/1), Oakland (22/1), Jacksonville and New York Jets (25/1), Buffalo (30/1), Miami (33/1), San Diego (40/1), Tennessee (50/1), Cleveland (100/1)
