The Midwest is expected to produce two of the top teams in the AFC this season, according to NFL Futures odds available at betED.com.
The Indianapolis Colts and the Kansas City Chiefs will join the New England Patriots atop their respective divisions, according to betED.com.
The Colts are -385 to win the AFC South, the Chiefs are +155 to take the AFC West and the Patriots are -165 to come out on top of the AFC East.
Led by MVP quarterback Peyton Manning, the Colts will employ a ?running-back-by-committee? strategy after losing RB Edgerrin James, who left for Arizona for monetary reasons. Trying to replace James' 1,506 rushing yards and 337 receiving yards will be Dominic Rhodes in the starting RB position, with James Mungro and first-round draft pick Joseph Addai backing him up.
While they lost James, the Colts did boost their offense during the off-season with the pick-up of K Adam Vinatieri from the New England Patriots.
Indianapolis was the best team in the NFL during the regular season, starting 13-0 and finishing with a 14-2 record before being upset by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the divisional round of the playoffs. Head Coach Tony Dungy, going into his fifth season in Indianapolis, will be under pressure to win it all this season.
As mentioned, New England enters training camp without kicker Vinatieri, who made 19 game-winning field goals during his 10-season stay with the Patriots. Four came in the postseason, including two in Super Bowls.
New England signed veteran K Martin Gramatica and drafted Memphis' Stephen Gostkowski, but might miss Vinatieri more than they realize. Still, any team with Tom Brady at QB isn?t suffering offensively. Brady threw for a league-high 4,110 yards last season and will get help in the running game this season from first-round draft pick Laurence Maroney.
In Kansas City, Dick Vermeil retired after the Chiefs finished 10-6 but failed to reach the playoffs. Herman Edwards left the New York Jets to take over for his mentor. Edwards led the Jets to three playoff appearances in five seasons.
The former NFL defensive back has put an emphasis on upgrading the Chiefs' 25th-ranked defense. Kansas City is likely to play more conservatively on offense, centering it around running back Larry Johnson. Trent Green passed for 4,014 yards last season in earning Pro Bowl honors.
The Indianapolis Colts and the Kansas City Chiefs will join the New England Patriots atop their respective divisions, according to betED.com.
The Colts are -385 to win the AFC South, the Chiefs are +155 to take the AFC West and the Patriots are -165 to come out on top of the AFC East.
Led by MVP quarterback Peyton Manning, the Colts will employ a ?running-back-by-committee? strategy after losing RB Edgerrin James, who left for Arizona for monetary reasons. Trying to replace James' 1,506 rushing yards and 337 receiving yards will be Dominic Rhodes in the starting RB position, with James Mungro and first-round draft pick Joseph Addai backing him up.
While they lost James, the Colts did boost their offense during the off-season with the pick-up of K Adam Vinatieri from the New England Patriots.
Indianapolis was the best team in the NFL during the regular season, starting 13-0 and finishing with a 14-2 record before being upset by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the divisional round of the playoffs. Head Coach Tony Dungy, going into his fifth season in Indianapolis, will be under pressure to win it all this season.
As mentioned, New England enters training camp without kicker Vinatieri, who made 19 game-winning field goals during his 10-season stay with the Patriots. Four came in the postseason, including two in Super Bowls.
New England signed veteran K Martin Gramatica and drafted Memphis' Stephen Gostkowski, but might miss Vinatieri more than they realize. Still, any team with Tom Brady at QB isn?t suffering offensively. Brady threw for a league-high 4,110 yards last season and will get help in the running game this season from first-round draft pick Laurence Maroney.
In Kansas City, Dick Vermeil retired after the Chiefs finished 10-6 but failed to reach the playoffs. Herman Edwards left the New York Jets to take over for his mentor. Edwards led the Jets to three playoff appearances in five seasons.
The former NFL defensive back has put an emphasis on upgrading the Chiefs' 25th-ranked defense. Kansas City is likely to play more conservatively on offense, centering it around running back Larry Johnson. Trent Green passed for 4,014 yards last season in earning Pro Bowl honors.
