Follow up to yesterdays “NFC Division Leaders: Contender or Pretender?“

AFC East – New York Jets (3-0)
Rex Ryan has really given this team a new look. The Jets defense has held opponents to only 33 points this year, most notably holding Tom Brady and the Patriots offense to only nine points. Linebacker David Harris has come up big, leading the team in sacks (2) and total tackles (21).

Mark Sanchez is winning games by working within the scheme of the offense and with ball security, the Jets are plus-3 in turnover margin through three games. His touchdown scramble against Tennessee showed his dedication to winning, but also a reckless abandon of concern for his health. Leon Washington and Thomas Jones are giving the Jets a good ground game to keep pressure off Sanchez.

If the Jets continue receiving the kind of defensive contribution that they have thus far then they’re looking at a division title. However, you can never count out the Patriots, who have seemingly struggled but managed to start 2-1, if they can fix their offensive issues. Contender

AFC North – Baltimore Ravens (3-0)
The Baltimore Ravens are arguably the hottest team in the AFC right now, and possibly the NFL. Joe Flacco is already having a great second season, completing 65.4 percent of his passes with six touchdowns. Flacco’s 101.4 qb rating ranks fifth in the league. Ray Rice and Willis McGahee are each averaging over five yards-per-carry, with McGahee contributing five rushing touchdowns.

The Ravens defense has been stellar, as has come to be expected. Ray Lewis led by example in Week 2 with his big stop against San Diego’s Darren Sproles. Baltimore is two games ahead of Pittsburgh for the AFC North division lead, if they can hold on and win the division then they’re favorites to win the AFC Championship. Contender

AFC South – Indianapolis Colts (3-0)
Peyton Manning is Peyton Manning, as long as he is under center the Colts will be the best team in the AFC South. Manning has thrown for almost 1,000 yards and seven touchdowns while throwing only two interceptions in 96 attempts. Running back Donald Brown has had an impressive rookie season backing up Joe Addai so far.

If biggest benefit for the Colts is that with Jacksonville, Houston and Tennessee all struggling there is little competition for the division crown. Indianapolis has thus far won more games than the rest of the AFC South combined. Contender

AFC West – Denver Broncos (3-0)
The Broncos still have a lot to prove. Their defense has been incredible, only allowing 16 total points to opponents through Week 3. However, two of those games were against Cleveland and Oakland. They’ve got a very tough 5-game-stretch with games vs Dallas, vs New England, at San Diego, at Baltimore and finally vs Pittsburgh. Their season rests almost directly on how they perform for the next five games.

The good news is that Correll Buckhalter and Knowshon Moreno are getting it done in the rushing game, averaging 4.7 yards-per-carry. Kyle Orton hasn’t put up spectacular numbers, but has yet to commit a turnover. I’m reserving judgement until Week 9. For now, Pretender

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