2009-10 AFC Preview

AFC EAST:

The AFC East looks to be weaker this year, despite being home to one of the Super Bowl favorites in New England. A far more challenging schedule includes the AFC South and NFC South, which will be far more challenging than the AFC West and NFC West were last season. Unless someone surprises, the Patriots will be the only team in the division to finish the year above .500.

New England Patriots:
Predicted '09 finish: 13-3
Key Addition: A Healthy Tom Brady
As long as Brady stays healthy, the Pats will win a lot of games. The defense is not good enough for the Pats to go undeafeated again, but they will easily win a weak AFC East and should contend for a Lombardi Trophy.

Buffalo Bills:
Predicted '09 Finish: 7-9
Key Addition: T.O.
I want to say that I think the Bills will make the playoffs, but it would be a lie. They are likely to start out slow, thanks to the recent firing of offensive coordinator Turk Schonert, and I'm not sure they'll get much better as the year goes on. Lynch is serving a suspension to start the season, so the Bills are left with Fred Jackson, who has admitted that his wrist/thumb injury will nag him all year, and may create a few extra fumbles. I have no idea what the Bills were thinking in cutting proven RB Dominic Rhodes, but they obviously have the utmost confidence in Jackson, who did show some promise last year. I have never had much faith in Trent Edwards, and feel that Jauron has stuck his neck out on the line by sticking with him this year. In other words, look for both Jauron and Edwards to be headed out of Buffalo before next season if things don't go smoothly. The defense will be solid again, but will they score any points?

Miami Dolphins:
Predicited '09 Finish: 7-9
Key Addition: Jason Taylor
Many analysts think the Dolphins will be "for real" again, but my guess is that NFL defenses will be ready for the wildcat this time around, and without much of a "passing" variant to offer from it, the Dolphins' wildcat will be tamed. Of course, Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams are still talented backs, and will have solid seasons on the ground, but with Ted Ginn Jr. as one of Pennington's only reliable options through the air, the Fins passing game may be a bit too one-dimensional to succeed. Jason Taylor leads a solid defense, but if the Fins keep him at linebacker the adjustment may hurt his effectiveness.

New York Jets:
Predicted '09 Finish: 6-10
Key Addition: Mark Sanchez
So what happens when you ask a rookie quarterback to lead a team with no receivers under the direction of a first-year defensive-genius head coach? Well, we're going to find out, but I don't think it will be pretty. Sanchez may be great, but will anyone come down with the football? Will anyone get open to begin with? Can the personnel that the Jets have run the defense that Rex Ryan is used to? There are just too many questions to predict that '09 will be anything but a disappointment to Jets fans.


AFC NORTH:

Boasting last year's AFC Champions and runners-up, the North is bound to be solid again in 2009. The addition of the AFC West to the schedule will provide a few extra wins, although games against the NFC North will be a challenge. At the very least, fans should be excited to see some great defensive battles when AFC and NFC North teams collide. There haven't been many changes, which usually leads to the status quo being upheld. In this case, that means very good Steelers and Ravens squads, and a tough year for fans in Ohio.

Pittsburgh Steelers:
Predicted '09 Finish: 12-4
Key Addition: A healthy backfield
I'm not sure anyone doubts that the Steelers can be great again, but they play the games for a reason. Pittsburgh overcame backfield injuries last year, but should Roethlisberger or a few key linemen go down, it could be a different story. If everyone stays healthy, however, Steelers fans will be waving their towels well into January.

Baltimore Ravens:
Predicted '09 Finish: 10-6
Key Addition: Domonique Foxworth
As if the Ravens' secondary wasn't scary enough, they get speedster Foxworth from the Falcons, who should be a nice compliment at CB working in front of Ed Reed. Bart Scott is gone, but the heart of the D has always been Ray Lewis, who is still around. Now that Flacco has some experience and confidence, he should be even better, but no matter how good Flacco is, the Ravens are still a defensive football team, and need to be if they're going to win games. Will the defense hold up? Ray Lewis is getting old, and Ed Reed will be playing through a nagging injury. If both perform to their full potential, the Ravens will be playoff-bound again in '09.

Cincinnati Bengals:
Predicted '09 Finish: 7-9
Key Addition: Laveranues Coles
The addition of Coles is a positive, but the best he can do is fill the gap left by the departure of Hoosh. Chad Ochocinco needs to have a big year, and cannot become a distraction, which we all know will be tough for him. Other than possibly having a better passing year, I'm not sure the Bengals will be much different. I don't think Cedric Benson can shoulder the load of being a primary back, and though he is a grinder, he isn't enough of a big gain threat to keep defenses from keying on Coles and 85. The defense is okay at best, and will struggle every now and then, making this an inconsistent team, and a tough one to predict week in and week out.

Cleveland Browns:
Predicted '09 Finish: 6-10
Key Addition: Entire Staff, starting with Eric Mangini.
I'd love to say that Mangini will instantly turn the Browns into a winner, but he's not the one on the field executing plays. The Browns lack experience and depth at wide receiver, and Jamal Lewis' is over 30 and without a proven backup. The defense will stop the run, which in that division is crucial, but I'm not sure the offense can put up enough points for it to matter.


AFC SOUTH:

The South was a great division last year, and should be solid again. Matchups against the easier AFC East and NFC West will boost records, and the Titans and Colts should both make the playoffs once again. What they do when they get there, however, will be another story.

Indianapolis Colts:
Predicted '09 Finish: 12-4
Key Addition: Healthy Manning in Preseason
With Manning healthy and able to take his reps in the preseason, the Colts should be consistently good all year long. The health of Bob Sanders is a huge question mark, though, as the D plays much better with him in the lineup. If he starts the majority of Indy's games, they'll do just fine. Offensively, the Colts need someone to step up as a third receiver, though the rest of the unit is solid and will put up good numbers. Much like the Pats and Steelers, if everyone stays healthy, the Colts will be in the championship picture.

Tennessee Titans:
Predicted '09 Finish: 11-5
Key Addition: Nate Washington
Tennessee looks to improve its passing game in '09 knowing full well that its dual running attack is going to put up big numbers once again. Washington will be a key part of that improvement once he gets healthy, though I worry that Kerry Collins may be due for a down year. Even without Haynesworth the defense is potent and deep, and I expect the Titans to be well within the playoff picture.

Houston Texans:
Predicted '09 Finish: 7-9
Key Addition: None
With no real big changes, the Texans promise to be much the same team they were last year, albeit more experienced and more confident. Andre Johnson is the only real threat at wide receiver, though he is a big one, and I'm not sure Slaton is quite ready to be the workhorse that Houston needs at running back. The defense keeps getting better with experience, but I think it'll be a couple more years before the Texans have a shot at the playoffs.

Jacksonville Jaguars:
Predicted '09 Finish: 7-9
Key Addition: Torry Holt
It is time to find out if last season was a fluke, or if the Jags really are that bad. Can Jones-Drew shoulder primary back responsibilities? Will the defense crumble? Can Garrard perform consistently? Too many questions abound to think that this Jaguars team is playoff-ready, but I certainly think they will improve from '08.


AFC WEST:

The West was weak last year, and will be even weaker. It is unlikely that anyone will challenge the Chargers for the division, though the Raiders may have the best shot. All of these teams must struggle through the NFC East and AFC North, too, which is not going to be pretty.

San Diego Chargers:
Predicted '09 Finish: 11-5
Key Addition: Healthy Shawne Merriman (maybe...)
The San Diego Chargers have been a preseason Super Bowl contender for the past 3 seasons, yet have always managed to blow it. Last season it was due to inconsistent play from LT and health trouble for Merriman. This year, the offense seems to have fallen into place, but Merriman is in trouble with the law, perhaps jeopardizing the Chargers' championship hopes. He says it is a misunderstanding, which if true, should mean he won't miss any time. If there is truth to the accusation, however, Goodell will not hesitate to levee a large suspension. Merriman should know better; Nothing good can come of dating a woman with the last name "Tequila".

Kansas City Chiefs:
Predicted '09 Finish: 5-11
Key addition: Matt Cassel
Cassel was good in New England, surrounded by talent. We'll see how good he is now, surrounded by inexperience and inconsistency. Because of the coaching and management changes I am predicting 5 wins, though this is a team that could easily win only 2 or 3 games. Mike Vrabel brings solid veteran leadership to the defense, but Larry Johnson must play like a veteran superstar or it will be another long year in Kansas City.

Oakland Raiders:
Predicted '09 Finish: 5-11
Key Addition: Darriius Heyward-Bey
The Raiders were a bad team with an unproven coach last season. The only thing anyone has heard about them this season has had nothing to do with football; that Coach Tom Cable was accused of assaulting one of his own assistant coaches. Not a good omen. Al Davis is past his prime, and I fear that he is running the team into the ground. Heyward-Bey could be a big acquisition, but he lacks experience. And who knows how likely he is to even get the ball based on Jamarcus Russell's inconsistent play. McFadden could have a breakout year, though, so I would imagine the Raiders will win a few games they aren't expected to.

Denver Broncos:
Predicted '09 Finish: 4-12
Key Addition: Kyle Orton?
The Broncos downgraded at quarterback and pissed off their most talented player, WR Brandon Marshall. Even if they don't trade him, he isn't buying into the new philosphy, so if he plays, he'll have limited effectiveness. Their best defensive player Champ Bailey is getting old. This is going to be a long year in Denver.