AFC Looking Wide Open

The late and former great NFL commissioner Pete Rozelle would love what he is seeing in the AFC standings as there are 11 teams with records that are over .500 and in bona fide playoff contention. This situation also makes for a serious NFL betting challenge for handicappers working to find an edge.

A great example of the up and down nature of the NFL is the Kansas City Chiefs as they lost their first 3 games in horrific fashion only to come right back and win their next four to gain a share of the lead in the AFC West with the Oakland Raiders and San Diego Chargers.

Speaking of surprises how about the AFC East leading Buffalo Bills who have emerged from near forgotten status and as a go against NFL betting commodity. Buffalo is 5-2 straight up and 4-2-1 against the spread and has the street cred of an upset win over division rival and the perennial power of the AFC East in the New England Patriots.

Speaking of New England, their defense has become a surprise but for all of the wrong reasons as the Patriots rank dead last in the NFL for total defense. This has put more of a burden on QB Tom Brady and although the Pats are 5-2 they are looking shaky after being dominated in a loss at Pittsburgh last week.

The Pittsburgh Steelers are not a surprise in leading the AFC North but the Cincinnati Bengals are with rookie QB Andy Dalton from TCU. The Bengals were written off for dead and a NFL betting longshot with the summer Super Bowl futures odds but that is no longer the case as their defense has combined with Dalton to forge a 5-2 record with 6 payouts in those 7 games.

San Diego is yet another negative surprise with a record of 4-3 straight up and 2-5 against the spread as the incompetence of head coach Norv Turner is being exposed for all to see once again. The Chargers botched a sure win on Monday Night Football at Kansas City and their sloppy undisciplined play is a direct reflection of Turner, who inherited a potential powerhouse in 2007 and is yet to bring it to life.

The New York Jets are also facing concerns after the Super bluster of head coach Rex Ryan as they are 4-3 but ranking 28th for rushing offense. That is a bad combination with the inconsistent QB Mark Sanchez and a defense that has slipped to 25th against the run.