NFL AFC Recap – Jets do it again while Pittsburgh Loses 2nd in a Row

For two teams in the AFC this past Sunday things couldn’t have been any different. Both weren’t living up to expectations, one in a positive way and one in a negative way.

The New York Jets weren’t supposed to be this good. Most football betting so-called experts, this one included, figured the Jets to be a pocket burner. Bet on the Jets and then by Week 3 there’d be a whole so big in your pocket, you wouldn’t have any money left to lose out of it.

Wrong again. Not only are the Jets undefeated straight-up but they are undefeated against the spread after taking down the Tennessee Titans this past Sunday. New York took a 14 to nothing lead, let the Titans get back into it, and then went on to beat Tennessee by a score of 24 to 17. Once again, rookie quarterback Mark Sanchez was sharp.

Things don’t get any easier for New York this week as they travel down the Mississippi themselves to New Orleans where the Saints will be waiting for them. Sanchez faces Drew Brees in that game after going toe to toe, and beating, Tom Brady in Week 2. What a way to start an NFL career!

On the negative side of expectations were the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday who, for some reason, couldn’t put the nail into the coffin and wound up losing to the Cincinnati Bengals on the road. Hey, losing to a rival on the road happens, but the Steel Men were coming off of a loss on the road to the Chicago Bears. Pittsburgh seemingly stopped the Bengals on their final game winning drive more than once, but allowed Cincy to stick around and stick around until Carson Palmer finally found Andre Caldwell in the end zone for a 23 to 20 victory. Now, the usually hapless Bungles are suddenly 2 and 1 in the AFC North while Pitt is 1 and 2. Pitt is also 0 and 3 ATS. So much for taking advantage of that easy schedule, Steelers!

Baltimore Reigns Supreme

They were playing the Cleveland Browns so you should get too excited, but Baltimore looked absolutely awesome. Because they beat the San Diego Chargers last week on the road straight up as underdogs, the Ravens had every right to pack it in and just beat the Browns by a field goal or touchdown. Instead, they manhandled the Browns, the worst team in the NFL right now, and coasted to a 34 to 3 win. The betting line was 13 ½ points. The Nevermores covered that easily and are now 3 and 0 against the spread. The main reason this team is so good is QB Joe Flacco. The man is awesome. He threw for over 300 yards again this past Sunday.

The Bolts Drown the Fish

San Diego needed a victory this past Sunday but so did Miami. It turns out that Chad Henne, that would be the Fins’ back-up QB, isn’t ready for primetime. The Bolts D took him to school in their 23 to 13 victory.

Miami looked terrible out there, never able to get anything going once Chad Pennington got hurt, while the Chargers got enough going to get themselves the victory. It’s a shame that Miami’s season is pretty much over considering their magical run to the playoffs in 2008. That’s the NFL for you. Things could be looking up for the Chargers but with the attitude they bring to the field, a lack of heart emanates from these guys every time I watch them. Unless they find that swagger that winning teams have, they will probably just continue to be a good team that underachieves.

Broncos Trample Raiders

Denver was only favored by a single point versus the Oakland Raiders this past Sunday. The lines makers got that one wrong as Denver jumped all over the Raiders, winning the game 23 to 3. The Broncos are a stout defensive team. That’s something nobody has been able to say in a while and their offense, led by two very, very good running backs in rookie Knowshon Moreno and former Eagle Correll Buckhalter, may not need Kyle Orten to be Jay Cutler.

Moreno had 90 yards and a touchdown and Buckhalter had 108 yards. That’s impressive. Denver is undefeated straight-up and 3 and 0 ATS. I just gotta say, “Sorry Josh McDaniels! I thought I was smarter than you too!” The Broncos are legit, my fellow gambling friends, and should win the AFC West this year.

Brady Gives Ryan a Lesson

Atlanta QB Matt Ryan should have been taking notes during the Falcons 26 to 10 loss to the New England Patriots on Sunday. Ryan and the Falcons were undefeated going into the game and the Patriots were coming off of a loss. That’s what great quarterbacks and good teams do off of a loss, regroup and win the next week. Brady and the Pats looked terrific out there while Atlanta and Ryan struggled. The Patriots easily covered the 4 ½ point wagering spread.

Colts and Jags Show Up

The Indianapolis Colts, as 3 point favorites on the road, routed the Arizona Cardinals 31 to 10 in Glendale on Sunday night proving that they are one of the top teams in the AFC in 2009. The Jacksonville Jaguars bounced back from an embarrassing loss to Arizona in Week 2 to beat the Houston Texans as 4 point road dogs 31 to 24.

That’s it for the AFC. We’ll go over the NFC games and the NFC/AFC inter-conference games that the NFC won, after tonight’s Carolina vs. Dallas showdown!