What Team Will Be the 2006 AFC Champions in the NFL?

The 2006 NFL season is drawing to a close. Only two more weeks remain in the regular season - weeks that contain crucial games for many teams whose playoff hopes are all but dead. Sports writers are buzzing about potential playoff match-ups, but which teams really have what it takes to get all the way to Miami for a shot at the title of Super Bowl champs in February?

Any given Sunday. You've heard the adage before, and you'll hear it again now. You can analyze all the statistics, power rankings, and expert opinions in the world, but to be a winning team in the National Football League, the most important characteristic of a team has to be its consistency. A team must be able to reproduce high-level performances week in and week out, whether they are at home or on the road. The NFL playoffs are about sudden death. A team is given one chance to prove themselves. If they fail, see you next season. Consistency means making big plays when they are needed while also preventing your opponent from doing the same on a regular basis. So, the 2006 NFL Super Bowl champions are going to be a consistent team, this much we know. What teams out there have already proven they are able to match this profile?

New England Patriots: Every year, the Patriots seem to be ignored by everyone as they march persistently towards the playoffs. The team itself is not very explosive and their roster is virtually devoid of any players that are considered to be big-time playmakers, but nonetheless, the Patriots find ways to get it done every year. The key to their success is the consistent play of the team as a whole. Tom Brady is a big reason why this team is able to win so often. He is smart, accurate, and makes very few mistakes. He has numerous Super Bowl victories under his belt and even more playoff experience. Combine his consistent play with a reliable group of above-average teammates and you have the Patriots in a nutshell.

The only losses the Patriots sustained this year were to two competitive rivals: The Colts and the Jets. Neither of these teams are easy to beat, and when you consider the fact that they lost by only 7 points to the Colts and 3 to the Jets, you understand that they still manage to keep it close. However, there is a major blemish on the Patriots record this season: their 21-0 blowout loss at Miami. This is precisely the type of inconsistency that warrants the phrase "any given Sunday." To respond to this loss, the Patriots followed up with an impressive 40-7 win over the Texans at home to clinch their division. Let's consider the Miami loss to be a fluke for now, and see if they can make their way back to the city for a shot at a Super Bowl victory.

Baltimore Ravens: The Ravens are one of the better examples of a consistent team. All you have to do is look at their record against a stellar AFC conference: 8-2. Their 3 total season losses came in close games to difficult teams, as is the case with the Patriots. The fact that the Ravens are playing so well against the AFC is evidence of their ability to match up against powerful teams and find ways to win. With the second ranked defense in the league, the Ravens have a very good chance at overcoming the wide range of powerfully offensive opponents that are widespread throughout both conferences. Steve McNair isn't the best QB out there, but he's a veteran who knows how to lead a team. Being able to rely on a dominating defense led by Ray Lewis, the Ravens will not be an easy win for any team in the playoffs.

Indianapolis Colts: They have one of the most powerful offenses in the league, led by the most accurate and intelligent quarterback in the game today. However, they are nowhere close to being considered a consistent team. Two weeks ago, they Colts defense allowed over 200 rushing yards against the Jaguars. Although they were able to find ways to stop the high-powered Cincinnati offense the following week, the defense did not look healthy. At one point Cato June wrapped up Cincinatti running back Rudi Johnson in what looked to be an easy tackle. Johnson kept his legs driving forward and powered through June and another Colts defender to pick up 20 yards. These types of missed tackles are all it takes to lose a game. If you cannot finish your tackles and wrap up a runner, you allow your opponent to score quickly, easily, and repeatedly. The Colts' last-place rush defense is the reason they will choke again in the playoffs this year.

San Diego Chargers: Look no further than the 2006 Charger team for the definition of "consistent." The Chargers are the team to beat right now and in my opinion, the number one contender for the Super Bowl in the AFC this year. Running back and soon-to-be-named MVP LaDanian Tomlinson is simply spectacular. There are no words to describe the things that he has done for his team this year. Against the Chiefs last week, Tomlinson broke three NFL records on a single touchdown play in which he casually strolled untouched into the end zone.

The fact that teams are fully aware of Tomlinson's playmaking ability and still cannot find ways to stop him is a testament to this young man's extraordinary talent. Tomlinson recently broke a 23-year old record for consecutive multiple-touchdown games with 8. If that is not a measure of consistency, I do not know what else is. The fact that Tomlinson could probably carry his team to the playoffs single-handedly is pretty scary. Even scarier is the fact that the team is stacked with playmakers other than LaDanian. They are sending the most players among any team to the Pro Bowl this year, and look to be a sure-fire bet for a Super Bowl appearance.

These four teams look to be top contenders in the AFC for a shot at a Super Bowl victory. Remember, come playoff time, the key thing to keep in mind is consistency of play. As of right now, the Chargers seem to be setting the standard in this arena. They will be extremely difficult to beat in the playoffs due to the immense amount of talent and the natural chemistry of the team.