Why not?
The AFC is weak. The best two teams are the Patriots and Texans. Think about it. The Jets are a .500 team with Mark Sanchez as their QB. You can throw out the Bills and Dolphins. The Texans are a Super Bowl team. You can throw out the Colts, Titans and Jaguars. The AFC West is beyond bad. The Ravens, Steelers and Bengals are playoff teams, but all have holes. Joe Flacco ***** himself in the playoffs. The Steelers are without Mendenhall for most of 2012. The Bengals are still coached by Marvin Lewis. You can throw out the Browns.
The Pats should be a #1 or #2 seed barring injury to Tom Brady.
Yes, the AFC is weak, nor am I saying that the Pats can't go back, I just don't think they are going to be that good next year.
Bills and Dolphins are going to be better this year. Bills had a lot of injuries in the second half of the season and why they fell off, I see them as a 10 win team. Dolphins, with Philbin there I think they will be better, 9-10 wins are possible for them, they have a good defense and their offense will be better. Jets...are a joke and may be a .500 team. I see the Pats as a 11-12 win team.
AFC South, be the Texans even if Peyton comes back to Indy. Jags might be better with a new owner and spending money, but don't see it being that much. Titans have only legit chance to upset the Texans for the division as the Colts will maybe be a .500 team.
my point about the Pats was that I just don't see them as the 2nd best in the NFL, let alone the AFC, I see the Ravens, Texans, Steelers all being better than the Pats. The AFC East will be a better and stronger division, though do see them winning it.