AFC Preview Continued

AFC South
Tennessee Titans - Big Fat Albert Haynesworth has left the Country capital of the world, and Kerry Collins is still under centre. While Titan fans rejoice the return of the run with second year back Chris Johnson looking ready to roll and LenDale White going sans Tequila through the off-season, this team is going to be a semblance of what you watched in 2008. Starting tonight in Pittsburgh, that image of Bulluck stomping the Towel is going to come back and haunt Tennessee. For those of you wondering if the Titans can hold off the Colts and trendy sleeper pick Houston, I've got one thing for you to think about. Mark my words, Vince Young will be your starting Quarterback come November. nuff said...Titanic Regression coming up. Sorry Nashville

Houston Texans - oh how Houston longs for a full season of Matt Schaub. With Kevin Walter, Andre Johnson, Owen Daniels and Steve Slaton manning the skill positions, this team looks sooooo good on paper. Schaub's on a balky ankle right out of the gates and Sexy Rex Grossman is not carrying this team to the promise land. Mario Williams is now looking like the best pick of the Reggie Bush - Vince Young draft and the Texans have an adequate if not above average defence for the first time since...well for the first time. Andre Johnson looms as the best wide out in football and if Schaub stays healthy (which is a massive if) this team's not only play off bound, but a contender. Larry Fitz got his dues last year. Andre Johnson becomes a household name in 2009.

Indianapolis Colts - the most prolific touch down tandem in league history is no more. Marvin Harrison has left the Colts and those with nostalgic memories of the Manning to Harrison connection should get used to watching Peyton throwing elsewhere - although Anthony Gonzalez, Reggie Wayne and Dallas Clark leave the Colts with plenty of Weapons. Donald Brown lands in the backfield with oft-injured Joseph Addai to provide the new NFL two headed monster running back tandem. Heading in, Colts look solid to climb back into the playoffs. Biggest question I have is when will start seeing the decline of Mr. Manning?

Jacksonville - Starting Quarterback David Garrard still has the venerable Matthew Berry in his corner...which is good because someone has to still like the move of naming him the franchise QB. Mighty mouse himself, MJD should provide enough attention in the backfield for Garrard to work in the Play Action. With Holt bring crisp patterns, soft hands, ample experience (and I highlight the word ample) we should see some aerial attack to support the ground game. The defence should return to playing tough, hard hitting football. How this team adapts to the 3-4 will tell the tale.

Division Winner - Colts (I just can not see Schaub putting up a full 16)
Wild Card - Texans

AFC West
San Diego - its do or die here in So Cal as LT is not getting any younger and Shawne Merriman is not getting any further away from a jail cell. With this team, and this division, Philip Rivers has to step up and lead them to the Super Bowl. The tools are definitely around him as he remains the lone QB from the 2004 Draft (well Roethlisberger, Manning, Rivers...lets leave out Losman as the only way he's getting there is with a scalper ticket). From Vincent Jackson to Gates to Chambers. Rivers has the bodies to throw too, a top ten all time Running Back (with Darren Sproles in the support role) and a solid D to make sure the ball is always in his hands. Look for Phillips and Merriman to chase everyone all over the field, LT to be enough of LT to make like easy for Rivers and Norv Turner to keep this team on track into January. Playoffs...well we'll see what happens

Kansas City - Welcome to the big time Matt Cassel, you replaced Brady last year and let the world know you are more than just a QB who has never started in the NFL or College. Big contract, and MCL issues later, here we are in week one. Cassel will struggle Chiefs fans, this team is not the New England Patriots and Matt Cassel could not beat out Matt Leinart in USC. Dwayne Bowe is worth watching, Larry Johnson is not. KC struggles to get to 6 wins and getting Thiggy with it becomes a rally cry in the mid west as Cassel does not finish the year.

Oakland - some how drafting the best running back and best quarter back in the draft in back to back years and picking what the Raider franchise consider the best wide out is not enough to get this team off the matt. Heyward-Bey, Darren McFadden and JaMarcus Russell all looked great in college...where they had a O-line to give them some time and the game moved at a slower pace. Black Hole will not be prime viewing locations again this year. Super Fan CC Sabathia, good thing you are going deep into the Post Season in the Bronx, because those cross country trips to see your Raiders are going to be painful

Denver Broncos - Brandon Marshall's on his way out - here's figuring Jay Cutler sent him this process documentation for working your way out of town. I'm not buying Kyle Orton as a number one QB. Denver's in love with Knowshon Moreno which is great because apart from Eddie Royal, the offense in Mile High is going to be flat. For you Bronco fans, especially those sporting barrels...it aint gonna be a fun year.

Division Winner - San Diego
Wild Card teams...keep dreaming