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

NFC Preview Part 2

NFC South

The Atlanta Falcons surprised many last year by claiming a wild card spot despite going with a rookie quarterback. What seemed like a re-building year became a success for Atlanta as Matt Ryan won the rookie of the year and Michael Turner was second in the league in rushing yards. There are concerns about Turner's workload, but the guy is a bruiser who is built to handle a busy schedule. With the addition of Tony Gonzalez from Kansas City to compliment Roddy White, the Falcons' offence looks lethal. If they can improve on defence from a year ago, a deep playoff run could be forthcoming.

The Carolina Panthers ran rampid over the competition last year. DeAngelo Williams ran for over 1500 yards and Jonathan Stewart neared 1,000 in a backup role. The Panthers Super Bowl push was derailed by Jake Delhomme's infamous stinker at home against the Cardinals in the divisional round of the playoffs. Delhomme needs to be better so there is balance in the Panthers offence. If teams have to worry about Steve Smith (which they should be), then they cannot stuff the box against the run. There are concerns about Stewart; however, as he has spent more time in the press box than on the field during training camp.

The New Orleans Saints have told the same story for a few years now. They can put points on the board, but they cannot stop anybody. Drew Brees threw for over 5,000 yards last year and he does not plan to slow down. With Marques Colston healthy again, the Saints offensive arsenal is fully stocked. Colston is joined by Lance Moore, Devery Henderson, Reggie Bush (basically a wideout), and balanced by Pierre Thomas. Thomas excelled during the second half last season and figures to be the feature back. That should help keep Bush healthy and enable him to be involved in the gimmick plays that he is most successful with. Heck, if Jeremy Shockey can find a brief moment of sanity, he becomes yet another weapon for Brees. But, the question remains, can they stop anybody.

The Tampa Bay Bucs chocked away a playoff spot last year and proceeded to blow up their team beginning with coach, Jon Gruden. This team could be the worst in the league this season. They don't have a wide receiver worth mentioning, their quarterback options are Byron Leftwich and Luke McCown, and they have three running backs who appear good enough to be backups. Derrick Ward seems to be their best option, as Earnest Graham stinks, and Cadillac Williams hasn't had knee surgery in at least four weeks, making him overdue. The Bucs have historically sported an intimidating defence, but they are ageing and figure to be on the field 40 minutes a game. Good luck.

Falcons take the division, Panthers win the wildcard, and the Bucs struggle to winfour games. What's that? I forgot to mention the addition of Kellen Winslow.....oh. Bucs struggle to win five games.

NFC West

The defending NFC Super Bowl representatives, the Arizona Cardinals, are brining back the core of last year's team, minus Edgerrin James. Chris "beanie" Wells was drafted to take over the running back duties, though he'll likely share carries with Tim Hightower. Considering the Cardinals run the ball about four times a game, that figures to be about two carries each. Arizona's success depends on keeping Kurt Warner healthy and Anquan Boldin happy. Both are big ifs, but I think the latter is more likely and less important than the former. Warner isn't likely to last 16 games, and the Cards will struggle to last 17.

Seattle welcomes Matt Hasselback back fron an injury plagued 2008. They desperately need him to bounce back because Julius Jones is their starting running back. Blech! The Seahawks brought in TJ Houshmandzadeh to become the #1 receiver Hasselback has never had. What Seattle may miss most; however, is coach Mike Holmgrem. Last year may have been one of his best coaching years ever, as he coaxed maximum effort from his players week in and week out despite it being a lost season. His big shoes will not be easy to fill.

San Francisco drill sergeant Mike Singletary has the opportunity to coach the 49ers for his first full season. Remember when he kicked Vernon Davis off the field and sent him to the locker room? Classic. I'm sure Michael Crabtree will receive the same treatment. I personally will be glued to the tv during Niner games to see if Singletary will pull his pants down on the sidelines this year instead of in the locker room. Still, the Niners have a quarterback who will not make a lot of mistakes, their running back, Frank Gore, is a stud, their defence is tough, and they have some talent in the pass catching positions. They may surprise this year.

The St Louis Rams will not be surprising anyone. The greatest show on turf has become a big fat turd over the past few years. Marc Bulger has met every ounce of turf face first in the Edward Jones dome, and losing Orlando Pace won't help. Steven Jackson is awesome when he is on the field, which is great for about nine games. What about the other seven. Tory Holt jumped shipped to Jacksonville, and his heir apparent, Donnie Avery, is banged up. Don't worry though, because the Rams' defence is pitiful. It should be another long season it St Louis.

My upset special of the NFC will be the West division champion. I'm picking the 49ers, mainly because Mike Singletary is so entertaining.

AFC Preview

Labour Day weekend, crisp fall mornings and evenings and Football waiting just around the corner. Throw in some October baseball a few mere weeks from now and I have to ask, what could be better? If you are starting a season, what better place to start than a grudge match between the Titans and Steelers. Pittsburgh starts its title defence Thursday night and the Terrible Towels will be out in style. We'll get to the Steelers in a second though, lets start with:

AFC East
Exit uber back-up Matt Cassell, re-enter Golden Boy Super Star Tom Brady. Knee seems fine through the pre-season and the Pats are ready to return to their rightful spot a top this weak division. Sorry Jets fans, Bills fans and fans of the fish, the East could be one of the worst divisions in Football, AGAIN. Belichick will have this machine rolling as Moss and Welker are joined by 37 year old Joey Galloway. Expect Brady to throw and throw and throw, although the running up the score on the way to 50 Passing Touch Down days are behind them. I'm under the assumption that they've learned a valuable lesson about Karma from the NFL gods on the turf in Glendale.

The Jets were very busy in the off season, bringing in a new coach, QB and soon to be starting Running Back. Rex Ryan will instill a defence first mentality as the kids (Mark Sanchez and Shonn Greene) figure out the offence. Thomas Jones returns for what I'm expecting to be his last season in New Jersey. This team has too many holes to patch and too little experience.

Marshawn Lynch is sitting out a few which should give TO enough time to connect with Trent Edwards. Considering the shift to the hurry up offence Owens and Evans should enough balls thrown there way to keep them happy. Many expect Trent Edwards to come of age this season. While I'm in that group, I do not expect it to make that much of an addition in the standings. Put this team some where in the middle of the pack, they're just is not enough here to keep them into it.

Miami shocked the NFL last year with its quick turn around and Wild Cat formation. Bill Parcell's rebuilt a basement dwelling team in less than a year and Chad Pennington showed he still has something left...that was last year. This year the Fins will need more tricks, some favorable match ups and a whole lot of luck. Will Ted Ginn Jr appear? I'm betting against it.

Divisional Winner - New England
Wild Card participants...beyond spectators...zero

AFC North
Pittsburgh returns as the defending Super Bowl champion for the sixth time in their history, and second for young Ben Roethlisberger. Some off season news appears behind the young QB as he lines up again with Fast Willie and every one's favourite Hines Ward. Santonio Holmes, Limas Sweed and Mendenhall lie in waiting. The defence as always will be tough again. You've seen Pittsburgh play now for what seems like decades...tough Steeler football will be in fashion again this winter.

Baltimore is looking to build upon Joe Flacco's sensational rookie season and continue to support this kid with a three headed running game. The O-line has been upgraded and the D will continue to play smash-mouth in-your-face defence. Expect the Steeler-Ravens home and home to be amoung the two most violent games of the year. Winner takes the division, loser settles for a wild card spot. My money is on Flacco being the real deal, while the Ravens still have not added any top tier receiving talent, they will still be able to move the ball through the air when required.

Cincinnati is hoping that the old 2007 magic of Palmer to Johnson (now Ocho Cinco) comes back in spades. Housh has departed for greener pastures (Emerald state and all) but Laveranues Coles should fill in. If this team keeps themselves out of the spot light (aka Jail) they could, just might, no...they're a bottom tier team again with some highlight reel moments. The Lineman, Backers and Secondary are just too ordinary and Cedric Benson...really.

Cleveland enters with a new coach and a continuing quarterback controversy. Yeah Mangini, not naming your starter is so sneaky and the Vikings are never going to be able to react to your evil genius. Dude, its the NFL and while I absolute LOVE Notre Dame QB Brady Quinn (because of what he did for the Irish, not the state of Ohio), you are picking between one year wonder Derek Anderson and I have not been able to live up to the hype, Brady Quinn. Vikings come out big on the 13th and with no other option than dumping it to king of the drops Braylon Edwards, the good times just continue to roll.

Division Winner - Baltimore
Wild Card - Pittsburgh