The future of the AFC

[Brees#1]

How much longer left can Manning and Brady play well enough to dominate this conference? Luck is on the way but he's looking like he has a coach holding him back with his rediculous playcalling. Until Luck has the control of that offense, he won't challenge the big two. But looking beyond this I'm not seeing anyone else elite enough to challenge. The AFC needs to start developing talent before Manning and Brady are done or this is going to be all Luck afterwards.

 

[Octoberfest23]

Let's break it down. 5 years from today who will be relevant in the afc? Obviously anything can happen but given what we know.. Andrew Luck, possibly EJ Manuel, possibly Tannehill, Flacco should be relevant, towards the end of his career, and that's about it!

 

[cdumler7]

Well there are so pretty good quarterback classes coming up so who knows how those will all play out. Throw in the Broncos and Patriots both have been grooming a young quarterback to step in eventually. We have no clue how those two guys will do.

Other guys I would add to the list is Roethlisberger and Rivers both have pretty decent bodies of work in their careers. Get some talent around those two and they could take off. You are right the quarterbacks in the AFC are lacking a little compared to the NFC but like I said in 5 years we will have a whole new group of quarterbacks that we have no clue how they will do. They could be the next big thing or they could be the next big flop. Also have no clue how the NFC quarterbacks or going to fair. Many of them depend on their legs to help open up the passing game. We have already seen with RGIII the risk of doing that.

 

[JDM]

After Brees and Rodgers, who does the NFC have that's head and shoulders above the AFC? Luck and griffin cancel out, then you have a lot of young guys who mostly won't pan out.

 

[ATL96Steeler]

I'm a little lost on your point here.

 

[ckhokie]

After Brees and Rodgers, who does the NFC have that's head and shoulders above the AFC? Luck and griffin cancel out, then you have a lot of young guys who mostly won't pan out.

I think that's very generous at this point. RGIII has been pretty pedestrian this year. I think the jury is still out on the future of RGIII and Kaep.

Take Brees and Rodgers out of the NFC and Peyton and Brady away from the AFC, and I'm not really sure you can claim one conference's QBs are that much better than the other.

 

[Am I Blue Through it All?]

How much longer left can Manning and Brady play well enough to dominate this conference? Luck is on the way but he's looking like he has a coach holding him back with his rediculous playcalling. Until Luck has the control of that offense, he won't challenge the big two. But looking beyond this I'm not seeing anyone else elite enough to challenge. The AFC needs to start developing talent before Manning and Brady are done or this is going to be all Luck afterwards.

I believe the Colts are at least two years away from being a serious contender with all the weak links on their roster. If I had my way, they would run the ball about three times out of four to preserve Luck's health. Until they repair that line and get someone besides Hilton to catch the ball, I will hold my breath a bit on every snap. He is a tough kid, but those hits will eventually take their toll.

 

[Brees#1]

I'm a little lost on your point here.

After Manning and Brady, what other QBs have what it takes to destroy opponents and even beat some big time contenders? I hate to say it, but Luck is gonna be the first one to benefit from the retirement of Manning, which may be after next year. Manziel and Shaw are the only qbs to me in college who play with a lot of pride and find ways to win. Yes, I said Shaw. The guy gets hurt a lot, but his determination is something to love. He never quits. But neither of them, especially with Manziel's rock star life, is going to have the experience to win that early. I'm a little worried about Dalton because I see your steelers making a comeback and taking the division. If that happens, Dalton is not on the same page as Luck. I mean QBs that have sb caliber winning ethics, only the colts have shown they can beat such teams so far to a certain extent. Idk if Brady can play until he's 40. So five years? No. Luck is gonna get Brady before then.

 

[Fountain City Blues]

When does Manning retire? This year? If he wins a ring? Two Years? Three Years? I can't wait...

 

[Wolvie]

When does Manning retire? This year? If he wins a ring? Two Years? Three Years? I can't wait...

From here on out, Manning will get worse and worse, and will be more and more expensive for the Broncos

 

[Money]

After Manning and Brady, what other QBs have what it takes to destroy opponents and even beat some big time contenders? I hate to say it, but Luck is gonna be the first one to benefit from the retirement of Manning, which may be after next year. Manziel and Shaw are the only qbs to me in college who play with a lot of pride and find ways to win. Yes, I said Shaw. The guy gets hurt a lot, but his determination is something to love. He never quits. But neither of them, especially with Manziel's rock star life, is going to have the experience to win that early. I'm a little worried about Dalton because I see your steelers making a comeback and taking the division. If that happens, Dalton is not on the same page as Luck. I mean QBs that have sb caliber winning ethics, only the colts have shown they can beat such teams so far to a certain extent. Idk if Brady can play until he's 40. So five years? No. Luck is gonna get Brady before then.

Well that makes your point a lot clearer.

 

[JDM]

I think that's very generous at this point. RGIII has been pretty pedestrian this year. I think the jury is still out on the future of RGIII and Kaep.

Take Brees and Rodgers out of the NFC and Peyton and Brady away from the AFC, and I'm not really sure you can claim one conference's QBs are that much better than the other.

RG3 has maybe three players on his offense that deserve to be on a roster at all. He's by far the best of the crop and the only reason he's a push with luck IMO is because there's a legitimate chance Shanahan gets him killed before he can take off all the way.

 

[RoboticDreams]

RG3 has maybe three players on his offense that deserve to be on a roster at all. He's by far the best of the crop and the only reason he's a push with luck IMO is because there's a legitimate chance Shanahan gets him killed before he can take off all the way.

Wrong. Your love affair with RGIII is amusing. He's not going to end up in Lucks league. It's not just his injuries that are taking a toll, it's his ineptitude at throwing accurate passes and going through his reads. The Redskins have catered to his strengths and that hasn't really faired well, in the long run.

 

[Brees#1]

Here's something. Some NFC teams have combated the qb problem by having a great defense and read option offense with a power running game. In the AFC only KC currently possesses this. The bills can have this if the defense becomes consistent. But to me it looks like the leftovers from the current era will reemerge and have a last shot at eliteness(San Diego). Clowney will likely be a viking or falcon so he won't be in the AFC unless the jags stupidly take him.

This is currently behind the big two in the AFC and the steelers and ravens(who without Ray are done being elite)
Indy-Andrew Luck
Cincinatti-strong defense and Andy Dalton
KC-Defense, JC, and Reid
After that its this
Texans-losing again because of the colts(lets face it, colts have made them shake and they won't recover with what they have they have the defense but need to trade Cushing and Foster may need replacing as teams have figured him out)
Chargers-Standing on the last legs with Rivers and Gates. They cannot compete with playoff teams and cannot win many road games. Rivers is not gonna stick with SD if they keep losing so he could end up being someone else's fortunes
Titans-team that seems to be going back and forth from 8-9 win seasons to 5-6 win ones. This year looks 8-9 based on the schedule. They only have a run game and one good corner thats it.
Jets-revamped offense but Geno is making mistakes and teams know to avoid Cromartie in the passing game. Need to get stout against the pass again. Their defense can bring them back.
Dolphins-Tannhille isnt the answer. Their pass defense has gotten better, but cannot stop the run now.
Bills-may have found an answer on offense with Manuel. Defense makes plays but they have been flat owned by Brady and the pats. Do they become serious when that problem is taken care of?
Browns-So they looked good earlier with Hoyer, problem is the browns didnt prepare him better on short rest which is why he isnt playing. Defense is good but run defense could get better, but losing the running game gambling on the qb play is gonna take years before they will become title contenders as long as they stick with what they have.
Raiders-This team can't get over the hump. They had two chances and lost both. Their defense against the run has finally improved but their pass offense is not. the QB has to be the answer.
Jaguars-Long ways away unfortunately.

Thats what the rest of the AFC consists of after the top four in the current era. I give chargers(with Rivers) and jets best shot of joining Luck when its all said and donw.