AFC EAST

Patriots - 13-3 : Chances are Bill Belichick may view last season's undefeated talk as a distraction. Defense is aging a bit. Pre-season 0-4 record means nothing. This is still the team to beat.
Jets - 10-6 : Two years ago this was a 10 win team. Improved offensive line will be key to improved running and QB play. Favre must limit interceptions and Coles needs to be the player he's capable of being. If Thomas Jones doesn't turn it on, Leon Washington will need to step it up. If the running game stalls...so does Favre.
Bills - 7-9 : Conservative game plan needs an upgrade. Edwards should improve offense if he plays full season. Lee Evans needs more looks and catches. Defense is average at best.
Dolphins - 4-12 : Should show improvement. Pennington is best option...for now. Williams and Brown form a solid RB tandem. Ginn Jr. should give Miami big plays. Will Henne become the starter after a slow start?

AFC NORTH

Browns - 9-7 : Offense still potent, but will Anderson have same success as last year? Is he recovered from the concussion? He has weapons all over the field if healthy and not seeing double. Defense must improve to take pressure off offense. Defense should be better, but not necessarily good.
Steelers - 9-7 : Not sold on this offensive game plan. Steelers shying away from run game as its main focus. Can Big Ben carry offense on his shoulders? Hines Ward is aging, but still capable. Defense may be key for this team to win.
Ravens - 6-10 : If Flacco starts at QB, the future is bright...but the present may be ugly. None of the QBs are going to tear it up, at least not this year. Running game is solid, but defenses will key on that. Ravens defense is old and gets burned more often than not.
Bengals - 6-10 : Can't see how team will rspond to lame duck coach who's decisions are overturned by owners. Chad Johnson has a screw loose, and the "Hous-man" is banged up. They won't have Rudi Johnson to blame any more. Defense is still a sad sack of players.

AFC SOUTH

Jaguars - 12-4 : Improving offense with Garrard. Defense lost a player or two, but still solid. They won't win by big margins, or win pretty, but they'll win.
Colts - 12-4 : Will Manning start out slow following injury? Running game still explosive with Addai. Harrison should return to form following down year. Defense needs to play adequate, and offense should do the rest, though a slow start could be in order. Dungy will have them ready for the playoffs.
Texans - 8-8 : Team is improving. Schaub could have a big year as he continues to progress. Defense is solid with Super Mario justifying his number one pick. This team could surprise and rack up the upset wins.
Titans - 7-9 : Once stout defense fell apart last season near season's end. Will that linger into this year? Vince Young just isn't coming along as well as he should. Who are his go-to receivers? They released Williams to make matters worse. The others receivers can catch the ball, but none are play-makers. Lendale White and Brown can be very good or very bad. Both have injury issues.

AFC WEST

Chargers - 13-3 : Solid all-around with or without Merriman. Vincent Jackson's emergence could make this offense unbeatable. Defense still stout. What else can be said?
Broncos - 7-9 : Difficult to feel good about this team. Schedule looks brutal. Brandon Marshall only reliable weapon for Cutler. Selvin Young doesn't do it for me. Defense is below average and capable of stinkers.
Chiefs - 6-10 : Croyle is problem number one. Outside of Bowe and Gonzales, there's no one who can pick him up. Offense should still be okay with LJ looking good, albeit behind suspect offensive line. Defense is below average, which will be the cause of many losses. Chiefs QBs aren't good enough to bring team back from deficits. Coach is below average too, which never helps.
Raiders - 5-11 : Should show signs of life. Improvement is slow, but getting there. Young players could energize this offense, led by McFarren...but it won't overcome play by average defense. Young offense also prone to mistakes.

NFC EAST

Giants - 11-5 : Manning should be on high from Super Bowl victory. Confidence at an all time high. Offense isn't the issue. Loss of two key defensive players is the key. Even with loss, offense and defense good enough for a 10 win season. Caughlin's transformation into a nice guy has been remarkable and has yielded impressive results. More can be expected.
Cowboys - 11-5 : More talent than Giants but Romo is capable of stinkers. Will team filled with bad boys behave? Marion Barber should have MVP type season and help open up passing game. Defense is good enough to win a championship.
Redskins - 9-7 : Will Campbell adjust to yet another new offense? Is he completely healthy? Team is good, but plays in tough division. Campbell is the key, and it may be too much pressure on him. The running game is solid. Defense could be better. Nonetheless, the Skins should have a decent year, though games against division foes will be tough.
Eagles - 9-7 : Solid all around, but play in the wrong division. Offense and defense should be good, but good may not be enough in the NFC East. McNabb and Westbrook will keep team in most games, as will defense.

NFC NORTH

Vikings - 11-5 : Excellent everywhere but at QB. No wonder they wanted Favre...they could have won 12 or 13 with him at the helm. Defense is top rated. Running game is solid. Passing attack could be what holds team down. Berrian can't do it alone.
Bears - 8-8 : Orton not as bad as people suggest. Defense is aging, but not bad by any means. Running game is question turning to a rookie to lead the offense. Receivers won't help Orton much, so he'll need to be perfect...which won't happen. Long threat Berrian is gone.
Packers - 7-9 : Aaron Rodgers...not seeing it. How many interceptions will it take for fans to wish for Favre back? Defense will need to carry this team. Ryan Grant won't surprise teams this year, and was slow to camp and was injured. Slow start will doom this team.
Lions - 5-11 : Who knows what to think about this team? Offense should do well...defense, not so well. Will Martz banishment be good or bad for this team?
NFC SOUTH

Buccaneers - 9-7 : Offense is decent led by Garcia and Graham. Receivers are aging. Defense is good, but not great as many suggest. Gruden conservative game plan on offense could spell trouble if defense has bad games. Nonetheless, in a weak division, they should battle the Saints for the division title.
Saints - 9-7 : Still most talented of NFC South teams. Offense was hit or miss last season, but should be better. Will Shockey be a big part of the offense? Running game is adequate, but Bush and McAllister won't run over foes. This team is good, but not great, and defense is still an issue.
Panthers - 4-12 : Fox should have been fired. His game plans leave much to be desired. Delhomme is fading. Defense is getting worse by the season. Steve Smith starts the season suspended. It will be another wasted season in Carolina.
Falcons - 3-13 : Michael Turner should be fun to watch. And that's about it for the rebuilding Falcons.

NFC WEST

Seahawks - 11-5 : Not that they are all that good, but you have to figure they're good for six wins within the division. How will the revamped running game perform? Offense is adequate. Defense will win games for this team. They should be solid overall.
Cardinals - 8-8 : How will the QB situation turn out? Can Warner remain healthy? Boldin is unhappy with his contract. Running game is very ordinary. Defense is above average, which will help.
Rams - 5-11 : This team just isn't very good. Bulger and Holt are getting older, and Bulger seems to be on the downside of his career. Bruce is gone. Steven Jackson was late to camp and is an injury risk. Defense will be the demise of this team. Even if the offense performs well, the defense should give points right back to opposing teams.
49ers - 3-13 : There's Frank Gore...and then there's everyone else. Winning three games may be a stretch. This is a bad football team.



Court Adjourned!