Raider Nation Reigns

The Oakland Raiders have emerged, narrowly, as the pre-season favorite to be the USAFL Champs for the 2011 season. Mike Chase has been Coach/General Manager for the Raiders since the league inception but has led the team to the playoffs once: a wild card loss to the Jets in 2008. That was also the only year Oakland won more than 50% of its games and the only year it has had double digit wins, going 10-6. Raider Nation exists in a tough division usually dominated by San Diego and Denver who went 13-3 and 14-2 last year, respectively. The road to the division crown and, ultimately, the Super Bowl will be via the two OAK-SD contests.

 

Results based on 20 simulated seasons using the official schedule.

 

NFC East

1. Pittsburgh (11-5) Has won division 4 out of 6 seasons

2. Washington (10-6) Great chance taking division back-to-back

3. New York Giants (9-7) In the mix. 

3. Cleveland (9-7) Browns could make things interesting in division this season.

5. Dallas (7-9) Second year in a row finishing below 50%

6. Philadelphia (4-12) Long playoff drought for the Eagles.

 

NFC Central

1. Detroit (11-5) Lions spring out of years of mediocrity?

2. Green Bay (9-7) Defending SB Champs have gone 28-4 over past two seasons.

3. Baltimore (8-8) George Watt brings the Colts back.

4. Chicago (7-9) Two seasons in a row to miss the playoffs?

5. San Francisco (6-10) Frank Aluzzi took a 1-15 team to 13-3 in two years.

6. Minnesota (4-12) 12-4 -> 7-9 -> 4-12. Vikes Yikes!

 

AFC East

1. Carolina (11-5) Less competitive inter-division this season.

2. New York Jets (9-7) 4x the wins of last season but playoff slot will be tough to get.

3. Boston (7-9) Too bad. Last season went 11-5 and playoffs for best season ever.

3. Atlanta (7-9) Perennial playoff team not looking that great.

5. Buffalo (4-12) Bob Durfee's second season with franchise. Can he turn this team around?

6. Miami (3-13) Odd. Team has some talent, hard to believe only 3 wins.

 

AFC Central

1. Oakland (13-3) Weeks 2 and 14 vs SD baby!

2. San Diego (12-4) Defense! Stomp, stomp! Defense! Stomp, stomp!

3. Denver (10-6) Crushed by OAK in week 1, squeaks by OAK in week 16.

4. Houston (8-8) Tim Moore get Oiler well productive again.

5. Cincinnati (6-10) Richard Robb took them from 4-12 to 9-7 but this is a setback.

5. Kansas City (6-10) Far from playoffs but 6 wins are better than only 1 from last year.