Howdy,

Welcome to the second edition to Stu's Corner. Here are my predictions for how the next 7 weeks are going to pan out and who will be playing for the Lombardi from the AFC. NFC will be coming later this week along with my weekly picks.

AFC North: Baltimore Ravens

Lamar Jackson and the boys battled in Cleveland. Gritty win where Lamar most definitely did not resemble his MVP self. Two weeks in a row where he has not looked his best, but they will be hosting a playoff game come playoffs.

They play the Steelers twice, Patriots at home, Bengals twice, and Packers in Lambeau. Not an easy stretch, but they just have to beat out the Steelers. I think they split with Pittsburgh. That is just how those games go. They will beat the Bengals twice. That is also just how those games go even if Burrow comes back. It will be a thriller, but the Ravens always win those games. Just look at last year. I see them beating the Patriots at home, probably flexed to SNF. Packers game is a toss up. That should be enough to get the edge over Pittsburgh.

Speaking of Pittsburgh, that offense has not changed since Big Ben’s last year when they started 12-0. Worst 12-0 team of all time, but Big Ben set the playoff record in completions which was tied by Jacoby Brissett this week in a loss to the Niners. That defense is explosive, but they just will not be able to do enough to support that offense.

They handled the Bengals at home for a good win, but Rodgers goes down and it does not look like he will be able to play in his second home in Chicago next week. With Mason Rudolph, I am not sure if that will help their offense or not. I think it is a toss up next week in Chicago, giving the edge to the Bears. A home game and a couple games without trick plays from Ben Johnson makes me feel a little offensive outburst coming, and if the Steelers do not create turnovers, I do not think they will be able to hang with Caleb’s Cardiac Bears.

They also have a tough stretch coming up. At Chicago, host Buffalo, Ravens twice, Dolphins, at Detroit and at Browns. Another 9-8 year, maybe 10-7, but lose the tiebreaker with Baltimore.

I am not going to analyze the Bengals and Browns remaining schedules. The Bengals have the opportunity to play spoiler from here on out. I do not think it is smart to bring Burrow back while the other Flacco is serviceable, but the way TJ Watt stuffed him into the ground on Sunday may all but tie up his retirement after this season. I do not know if Mike Brown has the ability to sit Burrow. Knowing his history, I am sure he is livid about paying him all this money for almost two full games of play. Jamar spit on Jalen Ramsey. Too much spitting nowadays. What happened to the good ole days of chain snatching. Crabtree vs Talib was must watch TV.

The Browns are a circus. Follow all week for the QB middle school drama, but get unbelievable defense week in and week out. Feel bad for Myles, but he saw the money and knew what he was doing. Will join Joe Thomas in the HOF, but will have one playoff win compared to Joe’s zero. Lots of Joes to follow here.

So Stefanski was giving Shedeur zero reps in practice. That cannot be true. Every backup has to get at least 10 to 15 reps. If that is true, I am shocked. I always thought of Stefanski as a good coach. Maybe it was just Baker and Flacco that carried them to his two playoff appearances. Shedeur sat on the bench and did not shake hands after the game. Cannot be doing that. You were 4-16. Go say what is up to Lamar. Especially since you denied being drafted by them because you did not want to be the backup. I am sure Harbaugh would have gotten you some practice reps as backup quarterback.

AFC East: New England Patriots

You can say all you want about the Patriots being schedule merchants, but they are 9-2 and 5-0 on the road. Bills lost to them once already at home. I do not see them blowing the lead, especially since they play at Bengals, Giants, Bills, at Ravens, at Jets and Dolphins with a much needed bye week before round two against Buffalo in Foxborough. They will likely finish 13-4 unless the Bengals play spoiler this week.

Their defense is great, Drake Maye is at the top of the MVP conversation and Henderson has been unleashed. Only five years of a rebuild for the Patriots to be back at the top of the league. So annoying. But the team is talented and Vrabel can coach. Tennessee is so dumb and kicking themselves every day for kicking him out of that building.

The Buffalo Bills had an up and down game. Josh starts it off with a two handed chest pass you see at a 12U girls B League basketball tournament. Then he decides to have six total touchdowns, three in the air and three with his legs. They need to get Josh a trustworthy WR1. Keon was a healthy scratch because he was late to team meetings. Sounds like normal diva wide receiver behavior, but you have to earn that status on the field. Keon has not.

Bills have Texans on a short week, at Pittsburgh, Bengals, Patriots, at Cleveland, Philadelphia and Jets left. I see them dropping at least two of those games which will not get them above the Patriots in the division.

Dolphins picked up a win in Madrid. Hala Madrid. It was not the prettiest, but Devon Achane is on a tear. Hand up. I was selling all my Achane stock. Thought there was no chance he would stay healthy. He has proven me wrong tenfold and has been the catapult for the mini win streak they have going. They can keep it rolling by hosting New Orleans and then going on the road to the Meadowlands against the Jets. Six and seven could get them in a frisky spot heading into the last quarter of the season. But they will have to play the Bucs, Patriots, Bills and Bengals. Probably not enough. I doubt this will be enough for McDaniel to keep his job.

Jets. They are starting Tyrod Taylor from here on out. Justin Fields’ tenure is over. At least he got paid.

AFC West: Denver Broncos

Bo lievers were alive on Sunday afternoon. Denver took down Kansas City at home. That Denver defense is so good. They stifled Mahomes all day, forced bad turnovers and held the Chiefs to 19 points. Bo was not at his best, but he still matched Mahomes, if not outplayed him. Especially in the fourth quarter. He is clutch. Tim Tebow like but much better and with a higher ceiling.

That defense will win games in the playoffs, especially if the road runs through Mile High. They are at Washington, in Vegas, hosting the Packers, hosting Jaguars, in Kansas City and then hosting the Chargers to end the year. They are 9-2. I think they finish 12-5. I do not see them beating the Chiefs off four days rest on Christmas Day, and they will have the division locked up but lose one they should not. I think they have a let down game this week against the Commanders. And the Chargers will be playing for their playoff life in Week 18. So 12-5, second in the AFC behind New England.

Kansas City is not done. They are just off offensively, the same way they were two years ago before winning the Super Bowl. Mahomes has never lost a road playoff game and I would not want to see him in the playoffs. They need to get rolling soon or it might be too late.

They play the Colts, then go to Dallas on a short week, then Texans, Chargers, at Tennessee, Broncos on Christmas and finish in Vegas. They need to get to 10 wins to be safe, but that includes help from the Chargers and Jaguars. I cannot imagine a postseason without Mahomes. My brain is doing everything possible to find ways they get in. It will not be easy.

Harbaugh, Herbert and the Bolts just got their asses handed to them. The young kids would call it B2A which means Belt 2 Ass. They have already beaten the Chiefs so they control their own destiny over Mahomes. But the injuries are serious. The offensive line is decimated. Herbert took some monster hits that probably had Madison Beer realizing this is not what she signed up for when dating an NFL quarterback. He is one tough SOB because he keeps getting up and there is no end in sight.

They have Raiders (W), Eagles (L because Herbert gets killed), Chiefs (L because Chiefs momentum game), Cowboys (W but Cowboys added defensive help), Texans (L because Herbert gets decapitated), Broncos (W being generous since they will be desperate). That puts them at 10-7. I think they would have the tiebreaker against the Chiefs. Not 100 percent on that. Vibes call.

Raiders. Brock Bowers is very good, but is Jeanty. Not sure yet. Not much of an offensive line and they are never in the lead. Dak and George Pickens had a monster game. Pete Carroll seems like a one year rental. Not sure who they hire next.

AFC South: Indianapolis Colts

Colts have a chokehold on the division. Perfect time for the bye after JT’s monster performance in Munich and Daniel Jones not playing well the last two games. JT deserves to be in the MVP conversation. He is truly sensational. I love his touchdown celebration too. Something I would have rocked after a five yard out catch back in the day.

I think there are defenses that will be able to slow JT early and force Indiana Jones to make mistakes. They are not built to play from behind, especially not by two scores. I see them dropping at least a few in this final stretch but still squeaking out a division win.

They are in Kansas City, host the Texans, in Jacksonville, in Seattle, host the Niners, host Jacksonville and end in Houston. That is one of the hardest remaining schedules I have seen.

I think Kansas City beats them, they beat Houston, lose in Jacksonville since they do not play well in Florida, Seahawks win by two plus touchdowns, Niners is a toss up, beat Jacksonville at home and lose in Houston. So they finish 12-5 or 11-6 and win the South.

Jacksonville’s President of Ops said this past week against the Chargers was the biggest game in franchise history. A Week 11 noon game is not usually the biggest game in history since they played in the AFC Championship 11 years ago and should have won. Jack was not down. But the team took it to heart. They smoked the Chargers. Absolutely smoked them. I hope people were celebrating in the pool.

Offense did not look special. EtN is having a great bounce back year. That defense was dominant. Helps when the Chargers have matadores for linemen. They saw a whole bunch of red.

Remaining games. At Arizona (L because they do not travel west well and Jacoby is slinging it), at Tennessee (W), Colts (W), Jets (W), in Mile High (L), at Indy (L), Titans (W). That would be 10-7. They would also have a tiebreaker with Kansas City. I am talking myself into Mahomes golfing in January.

Davis Mills has done his job with two wins. Needed late heroics, but a win is a win. He is not bringing the offense down. It looks almost the same, if not better than when CJ was healthy. Tennessee played a great game against them this week. Texans have Bills, Colts twice, Chargers, Cardinals, Chiefs and Raiders. They are not winning five out of seven. No playoffs. They need offensive line help in the draft.

Tennessee played well on defense and Cam Ward had that one deep ball to help force OT. They do not have the personnel to compete. They need help and will get a top two pick next year.

Playoff Picture

  1. New England Patriots

  2. Denver Broncos vs 7. Kansas City Chiefs

  3. Indianapolis Colts vs 6. Los Angeles Chargers

  4. Baltimore Ravens vs 5. Buffalo Bills

  5. Jacksonville Jaguars. I cannot put them above Mahomes. Something has to happen.