2010 NFL Season Preview: AFC
AFC East
Buffalo Bills (6-10) As we all know, are still stuck in a never ending rebuilding phase. Their incoming draft class does look promising, but C.J. Spiller alone won't be able to revive a franchise plagued by a banged up QB and defensive inconsistencies.
Miami Dolphins (8-8) Miami will definitely benefit Brandon Marshall's on-field abilities and knack to rise to the occasion; no player more so than Chad Henne.It will be interesting to see how Coach Tony Sparano and co. utilize the wildcat this season and whether they'll get the edge they needed last year. With a tough schedule early on, the Dolphins will need a spark from their playmakers on both sides of the ball to keep up with the rest of the division.
New York Jets (9-7) So far, the Jets have been the Paris Hilton of the NFL preseason- they know how to make headlines, but what else do they bring to the table? They have made some nice offseason acquisitions, most notably Santonio Holmes, Jason Taylor, and Johnny Appleseed himself- Antonio Cromartie. But with OLB Calvin Pace out indefinitely and Revis Island still out of sight, last year's #1 ranked defense doesn't look quite as tough. Still, Jets fans shouldn't be too worried; they can still bank on having a hardnosed D and an O-line that should have their way with anyone they face. I'd be surprised if the Jets aren't a WildCard team when it's all said and done.
New England Patriots (10-6) The Pats are my pick to win the division. Wes Welker's speedy recovery will be huge for them. The signing of Algie Crumpler and the growth of Julian Edelman will complement Moss and Welker in the passing attack. The key is for them to use their speed on D effectively and create turnovers.
AFC North
Cleveland Browns (5-11) The Browns have gotten used to being the bottom-feeders of the AFC North- maybe the Cavs should follow suit. Last year's least-productive offense needs a serious jolt of energy. Hopefully Joshua Cribbs can continue to be a special teams sensation and Mohamed Massaquoi can bail out Jake Delhomme, who will undoubtedly struggle in this division. The Browns should look to last season's 4-0 ending for inspiration.
Cincinnati Bengals (8-8) Ochocinco and co. looked on the rise, but their late-season freefall into the playoffs worried me. The addition of TO and 1st round TE Jermaine Gresham will help Carson Palmer be better poised, but Cincy needs repeat performances from Cedric Benson and their defense in order to grind it out with the AFC North's top dogs.
Pittsburgh Steelers (10-6) Mike Tomlin's squad is my second AFC Wild Card pick (along with the Jets). The absence of Big Ben early on will help establish Rashard Mendenhall in the ground game. Look for Mike Wallace to emerge as their big-play WR, and Troy Polamalu (and his $1 million locks of fury) to lead his defense close to where they were for their Super Bowl run 2 years ago.
Baltimore Ravens (11-5) The Ravens will hail as this year's AFC North champs. Aside from their continuing struggles at secondary, the Ravens look to capitalize on Flacco's new target in Anquan Boldin, as well as Ray Rice's sheer dominance out of the backfield.
AFC South
Jacksonville Jaguars (7-9) Hands-down the streakiest division, the Jaguarsdon't seem like they've done enough in the offseason to improve on last year's record. Maurice Jones-Drew should keep them competitive, but their front 7 will have a tough time facing offenses led by Peyton Manning, Matt Schaub, and Vince Young in their inter-division match ups.
Tennessee Titans (8-8) The ultimate question: who shows up, the team that started 0-6 or the one that finished off the season 8-2. Chris Johnson and Vince Young may be the league's most dynamic one-two punch, but the defense needs to fill the void left by Keith Bulluck, Kyle Vanden Bosch, and let's face it- Albert Haynesworth.
Houston Texans (9-7) The Matt Schaub - Andre Johnson connection rivals the best in the NFL, and with Owen Daniels healthy, their aerial attack could be lethal. If their backfield can become a legitimate concern for the teams they face, they'll be able to steal a few games here and there.
Indianapolis Colts (12-4) Last year's Super Bowl loss could mean this AFC South powerhouse will play with a bit of a chip on their shoulder. Throw Peyton Manning on any team, and he'll win you 9 games at the very least. Then add arguably the deepest receiving corpse in the league, and they'll win you 12. If that defense can tighten up and Bob Sanders gets back to full-form, this group can be flirting with a repeat trip to the big game.
AFC West
Oakland Raiders (6-10) It looks like Jason Campbell is back on track after a preseason injury scare, which is good news for a team that hasn't had a formidable QB threat since the Rich Gannon era (remember that guy?). The Raiders are getting some nice pieces in place on both sides of the ball, but they're still a world away from getting to that next level of competitive play.
Kansas City Chiefs (6-10) A solid RB duo will definitely help Matt Cassel, as will his ex-Patriot buddies- Charlie Weis and Romeo Crennel. Dwayne Bowe will be a reliable target for Cassel, but a lot of questions still surround their slim O-line and ability to put pressure on defense.
Denver Broncos (8-8) With Indy, Tennessee, and Baltimore in Weeks 3, 4, and 5 in their schedule, don't expect them to start 6-0 like last season. And with Brandon Marshall out of the picture, Josh McDaniels will have to rely more on Knowshon Moreno than expected. Of crouse, we're all curious to see how the Tebow effect comes into play. This team will play teams tough but they'll fall slightly short of playoff contention.
San Diego Chargers (10-6) SD may appear to have lost its identity with LT's departure and Vincent Jackson's hiatus, but it will open the doors for Philip Rivers and rookie phenom Ryan Matthews. Expect San Diego's light schedule to propel them into the playoffs, but how far they play into January is another story altogether.
2010 NFL Season Preview: AFC
By: Asaf Winer
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