AFC Quarterly Report

The Cleveland Browns traded wide receiver Braylon Edwards to the New York Jets this week.

By James Sullivan

Chiefs Coalition Columnist

      We've reached the quarter pole in the the NFL season and while teams' fates aren't all determined, you can begin to identify the top teams and trends across the league.  Of course we know it will be a long and bumpy road for the Kansas City Chiefs again this season but there are several interesting plot lines and stories developing.  This column will feature a break down of every team from the AFC.

AFC WEST

Denver Broncos 4-0 

      The Broncos certainly made the most noise this past off-season.  First they fired long-time head coach Mike Shanahan.  He was replaced by the New England Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels.  The new and very young head coach named former 49ers head coach Mike Nolan as his defensive coordinator.  The fun was just getting started in Denver as quarterback Jay Cutler wasn't happy with the way he was treated by the new regime.  After weeks of drama, Cutler forced a trade to the Chicago Bears.  The Broncos received quarterback Kyle Orton and draft compensation in return for Cutler.  Wide receiver Brandon Marshall did his best Terrell Owens impersonation until the team suspended him.  Since his suspension Marshall has been on board with McDaniels and the new way of doing things in the Mile High city. The results speak for themselves with the Broncos leading the division with a 4-0 record.  Safety Brian Dawkins has been an vital addition to the Broncos defense.

San Diego Chargers 2-2  

     Nose tackle Jamal Williams is on the injured reserve with a triceps injury.  The Chargers signed former Chiefs defensive tackle, Alfonso Boone, to help shore up the position.  Good luck there, Bolts.  LaDainian Tomlinson continues to battle injuries but the Chargers offense remains one of the league's most potent.  Quarterback Philip Rivers leads the unit but he's without his primary foil in former Broncos quarterback Jay Cutler.  I can't see Orton, Oakland's JaMarcus Russell or Kansas City's Matt Cassel providing the type of rivalry that Cutler and Rivers shared.  The Chargers offense will keep them competitive but until the defense can start stopping teams they will most likely be a current day version of the 2005 Chiefs.

Oakland Raiders 1-3

     Third-year quarterback JaMarcus Russell might be the worst starter in recent league history but his talent, hefty contract and Al Davis will keep him on the field.    Russell played the most forgettable 57 minutes of football two weeks ago in Kansas City.   However, he was able to march the Raiders down the field to score the winning touchdown to beat the Chiefs, 13-10, for their only win thus far. Head coach Tom Cable maybe be charged with a crime any day now and it's not stealing his salary.  In the preseason, Cable reportedly punched and broke the jaw of one his assistant coaches.  Veteran corner back Nnamdi Asomugha will languish as the best player on a terrible team for the foreseeable future. 

Kansas City Chiefs 0-4

     Not much to add here.  The trials and tribulations of the worst team in the AFC continue on a weekly basis.  The schedule hasn't been easy but that's just an excuse.  The Chiefs lack of talent is glaring.  Rookie head coach Todd Haley's mistakes only magnify the Chiefs ineptitude.  Unless this team shows some dramatic improvement they will find it difficult to match last season's total of two wins.

AFC EAST

New York Jets 3-1

     The Jets chose the quarterback, Mark Sanchez, many wanted to see the Chiefs take before they traded for Cassel.  Sanchez finally looked like a rookie last week in the loss to New Orleans.  After three wins to open the season, including one against the New England Patriots, the Jets find themselves on top of the division.  New head coach Rex Ryan has the team all on the same page.  The Jets made a blockbuster trade with the Cleveland Browns this week.  The Jets got wide receiver Braylon Edwards and the Browns got two players and two conditional draft picks.  As Sanchez improves with all the young talent around him the Jets may be on the verge of becoming a power in the AFC.

New England Patriots 3-1

     Quarterback Tom Brady is back from his knee injury but many of the familiar faces of the Patriots Super Bowl championships have retired or moved on to different teams.  All of the new and young players on defense will have to step up their level of play if the Pats are to return to their fifth Super Bowl this decade.   As long as Brady is the quarterback and Bill Belichick the head coach, the Pats will be in the mix for a division title.  Running back Fred Taylor had surgery this week on his ankle and could miss the rest of the season.  It will be a major loss on offense for them if he can't return but their superior depth should help off set his absence.

Miami Dolphins 1-3

     The chances of the Phins repeating as division champs are slim to none and slim just left town.  Quarterback Chad Pennington injured his shoulder and is out for the season.  Second year man Chad Henne replaces Pennington.  The Dolphins also swung a trade with the Chiefs for Tyler Thigpen to help shore up the depth at the position.  Thigpen provided the Chiefs with a chance to win most weeks last season in his first significant action in the NFL.  That is of course something that is missing this season in Kansas City.  Wide receiver Ted Ginn Jr, continues to disappear in games only to reappear in time to drop the ball.  There is some hope that with Henne's arm strength he can tap into Ginn's superior speed.

Buffalo Bills 1-3

     The Bills along with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Chiefs all fired their offensive coordinators shortly before the start of the regular season.  Buffalo and Tampa replaced the departed offensive coordinator  with a new one.   Of course only the Chiefs did not, instead rookie head coach Todd Haley decided he could handle the job.  Yikes!  Buffalo added wide receiver Terrell Owens in the off season.  Double Yikes!  It's going to be another long season in Buffalo.

AFC NORTH

Baltimore Ravens 3-1

     After suffering their first loss of the season on Sunday in New England the Ravens host the upstart Cincinnati Bengals this week for an early season showdown for first place in the AFC North.  The defense is again very stout for the Ravens.  Linebacker Ray Lewis and safety Ed Reed are assembling Hall of Fame caliber careers.  The big news in Baltimore is that second-year quarterback Joe Flacco is the real deal.  Offensive coordinator Cam Cameron and consultant Al Saunders have taken  the reins off the young quarterback.  This is the most complete team the Ravens have had in their brief history so another trip deep into the post season is expected.

Cincinnati Bengals 3-1

     If not for a very fluke play in the final moments in their season opener against the Broncos, the Bengals could very well be 4-0.  Even so, this team is much improved with quarterback Carson Palmer's return to health.  He leads a balanced offensive attack that features running back Cedric Benson and wide receiver Chad Ochocinco.  Defensively, the team is beginning to finally reflect the type of play that put head coach Marvin Lewis on the map.  The Bengals along with the Broncos are the early season favorites for most improved teams in the AFC.

Pittsburgh Steelers 2-2

     Heavy is the head that wears the crown.  Even with two early season losses the defending Super Bowl champion Steelers won't go quietly.  Their patchy offensive line will again be the team's weakest unit.  If second year running back Rashard Mendenhall can emerge as a big-time threat the Steelers offense will have some balance.  Safety Troy Polamalu will return soon from the injury list.  Watch out for the Steelers down the stretch.

Cleveland Browns 0-4

     New head coach Eric Mangini is busy charging players with a absurd fines while the franchise continues to erode.  The Browns are one of the worst teams in the NFL and trading Braylon Edwards won't make them better.  Mangini has the quarterback carousel in full spin mode.  Brady Quinn started the season, he's been replaced by Derek Anderson who may soon be replaced by Brett Ratliff.  The Browns make a late season visit to Arrowhead to play the Chiefs in what may amount to the battle for the bottom of the AFC standings.

AFC SOUTH

Indianoplis Colts 4-0

    Future Hall of Famer Peyton Manning is as dominate as ever.  The Colts lost wide receiver Anthony Gonzalez, Marvin Harrision's replacement, in the first game of the season and the passing attack hasn't missed a beat.  Rookies Pierre Garcon and Austin Collie have stepped into to help fill the void.  Garcon gives Manning a true speed merchant on the outside while Collie is a sure-handed slot receiver in the mold of Wes Welker.  If the defense can stay healthy the Colts could be looking at another trip to the Super Bowl.  New head coach Jim Cadwell seems to possess the same even keel that his predecessor, Tony Dungy has.

Jacksonville Jaguars 2-2

    With several new faces along the offensive line, quarterback David Garrard is returning to his steady level of play.  Running back Maurice Jones-Drew may be in the running for MVP if he stays healthy.   Mike Sims-Walker gives Garrard his first legit receiving threat since Jimmy Smith left the building.  Even with head coach Jack Del Rio canceling Garrard's weekly radio show this team still will make some noise in the AFC this season.  If the defense can gel and step up their play the Jags may be the team nobody wants to play in the first round of the AFC playoffs.

Houston Texans 2-2

    Many observers including yours truly thought this might be the most talented offense in the league going into the season.  Running back Steve Slaton's play has regressed from his rookie breakout campaign and the offensive line's play is still too inconsistent.  The defense still lacks the depth of talent to help lift the team to a playoff type level.  Quarterback Matt Schuab needs to stay healthy and if he can the Texans will be in the fight for a wild card spot.  This division belongs to the Colts as long as #18 is taking the snaps under center.

Tennesse Titans 0-4

    Sure they lost Albert Haynesworth to a $100 million deal with the Washington Redskins but the teams most glaring loss may have been defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz to the Detroit Lions as their new head coach.  Schwartz was on top of my wish list for the Chiefs to replace Herm Edwards.  The Titans loss is the Lions' gain.  It is early, but the Titans are the leading candidate for the most disappointing team so far in the AFC.  Sure nobody expected a repeat of their 13-3 record from last season but come on, this is turning into a grease fire in Tennessee.

yahoosports.com contributed to this story and the photo is courtesy of AP