Denver and NE played pansy schedules last year, a guaranteed 10 wins easy. Cincy has beaten 1 playoff team (Was) in the past 2 years (not incl 2012 week 17 when Bal. rested the starters).

Yes, they are more likely to make the playoffs based on their easier divisions. But once they get there, that doesn’t make them more likely to win out. NE has downgraded their receiving corp, and barely improved their defense. Denver has gained some small pieces, but lost Dumervil. Champ and Peyton are a year older. They beat up on easy competition in their 10 game winning streak, and both SD and KC should be improved. Baltimore would have finished 1 game behind them if they had played their starters in week 17. As it was, their backups almost beat Cincy’s starters.

And why is everyone so fast to annoint Cincy as the best team in the AFCN? They are a good RB and improved secondary away from being a legit playoff contender. Although they had the best defense in the division statistically last year, remember how many player games the Ravens lost last year in the regular season. There may have been a changing of the guard in Baltimore, with alot of changes on defense, but they still have 4 players on defense who are better than any Bengal’s defender not named Geno Atkins: Suggs, Ngata, Webb and Dumervil. And their offense has more weapons. Even if you think Flacco and Dalton are equal, outside of AJ Green> Torrey Smith, the Ravens win all the matchups. Rice >BJGE, Pierce > ?, Pitta > Gresham, and Jacoby> Cincy WR #2.