Previewing the AFC

Here's a quick look at the AFC teams as the NFL begins its 2010 season, in predicted order of finish:

AFC NORTH Baltimore RavensOne team looking up with good reason is Baltimore, which eliminated the Patriots - at New England, no less - in the playoffs last season. RB Ray Rice had a breakout season and QB Joe Flacco made great progress. Both should benefit from the addition of WR Anquan Boldin, the most dangerous receiver the Ravens have had in years, and slot man T.J Houshmandzadeh.This still will be a run-first team with Rice, Willis McGahee and Le'Ron McClain. But with Boldin, the ageless Derrick Mason, Houshmandzadeh, Donte' Stallworth (when he recovers from a broken left foot), and TE Todd Heap, Flacco has plenty to work with on offense.If the Ravens solve some issues in the secondary, which has been hit by injuries, they should be a Super Bowl contender. Their front seven is terrific, and great linebacker Ray Lewis isn't even their best player. DT Haloti Ngata is.Cincinnati BengalsBungles no longer, Cincinnati won the division last season, sweeping its six games within the AFC North with a strong running game and solid defense. But the team was too conservative with the ball and got ousted by the wild-card Jets in the playoff opener.Adding Terrell Owens will bring spice to the offense, not to mention to the locker room. If Carson Palmer gets protection and a tight end emerges - watch rookie Jermaine Gresham - Cincinnati should score more points and create some excitement. Of course, can T.O. and Chad Ochocinco shelve their egos and share the ball, particularly with RB Cedric Benson a focal point of the attack?The defense has several emerging players, led by DE Antwan Odom, who comes off an Achilles tendon injury that cut short a superb 2009, and cornerbacks Leon Hall and Johnathan Joseph. Still, Cincy might need another clean sweep of the division games to finish first.Pittsburgh SteelersIn going from Super Bowl champions to also-rans, albeit at 9-7, the Steelers lost their consistency on both sides of the ball. They won five straight, then lost five in a row before closing with three victories.They begin this season without QB Ben Roethlisberger, and his suspension could damage their chances of getting into the playoffs again. With Byron Leftwich injured, Dennis Dixon is the nominal starter. But he doesn't have the winning experience of a Roethlisberger. At least he has some nice helpers in WRs Hines Ward and Mike Wallace, TE Heath Miller, RB Rashard Mendenhall and the returning WR-KR Antwaan Randle El. Losing OT Willie Colon for the season hurts.Pittsburgh's meltdown in pass defense was directly attributable to the absence of S Troy Polamalu, one of the league's five most valuable players. He's healthy now and ready to rock opponents, with the help of fellow safety Ryan Clark and LBs LaMarr Woodley (13 1/2 sacks), James Harrison (10) and Lawrence Timmons (7).Cleveland BrownsOnce Mike Holmgren took charge of the sputtering Browns, things began looking up. The breakthrough might not come for another season - when, perhaps, Holmgren returns to coaching. For now, the team president is giving Eric Mangini one more chance.Cleveland won its last four games in 2009, although only Pittsburgh was a decent opponent. Still, the Browns were a mess in all areas but special teams, where All-Pro Joshua Cribbs is among the league's most dangerous performers.Jake Delhomme has replaced Derek Anderson and Brady Quinn at quarterback, trying to resurrect his career. He doesn't have much talent surrounding him, and the defense could be just as bad, although LB Scott Fujita must have seen something he likes - he left the Saints for Cleveland.AFC SOUTH Indianapolis ColtsHard to find much to fault here. Sure, they lost the Super Bowl, but the Colts were the NFL's elite team over the 17-week season. Had new coach Jim Caldwell - talk about successful transitions - not rested his regulars in the final 11/2 games, Indy might have gone into the playoffs undefeated.The Colts might challenge their 14-2 mark of a year ago if the offensive line comes together; right now, with center Jeff Saturday's status uncertain after right knee surgery, it's a question mark.Peyton Manning sets the pace for all quarterbacks. Make that all players. The NFL's only four-time MVP is a favorite for a fifth award, surrounded by the strongest cast on offense in the conference. That cast will be deeper with the return of WR Anthony Gonzalez from a knee injury, and with the further maturation of RB Donald Brown to complement Joseph Addai. The line allowed just 13 sacks in 2009, and Manning will weave his magic to WRs Reggie Wayne, Austin Collie and Pierre Garcon, and TE Dallas Clark.Nobody can expect the Colts to keep that pace on defense, but if they rank in the middle of the league overall and improve their 24th-rated run D, home-field advantage for the playoffs easily is within reach. Key defenders Dwight Freeney, Gary Brackett and Antoine Bethea must stay healthy and Brackett has a right hand injury.Tennessee TitansOne reason Jeff Fisher is the longest-tenured coach with the same team is he knows how to listen to the owner. And Bud Adams made a good call last season.The Titans plunged to 0-6 with Kerry Collins at quarterback, including a 59-0 annihilation at New England. Adams told Fisher he wanted him to bench Collins for Vince Young, and the Titans were among the league's best closers, going 8-2 the rest of the way and barely missing the playoffs. Young hardly was the main reason - that would be NFL Offensive Player of the Year Chris Johnson with his 2,006 yards rushing, 503 receiving and 16 TDs - but his maturity and playmaking abilities were critical.Can the Titans build on that surge? There's been transition on the offensive line and at linebacker, and the defense must improve against the pass, which means a stronger pass rush and stingier play in the secondary. Tennessee also lost some leaders in LB Keith Bulluck and C Kevin Mawae.Houston TexansFinally, a winning season for the Texans. In their ninth year of existence, the Texans won their last four games to wind up 9-7. Now, the folks in Houston are expecting at least a wild-card berth for the first time.With a passing offense that led the league, sparked by Matt Schaub's rise at quarterback and the superb pass catching of Andre Johnson and TE Owen Daniels until he tore up his right knee midway through the schedule, the Texans could contend. They need to sort out their injury-hit backfield and find a go-to runner, particularly if Steve Slaton keeps losing his grip on the ball. Arian Foster could be the guy.Houston has playmakers on defense in Mario Williams, DeMeco Ryans and Brian Cushing. But Cushing has a four-game suspension for violating the NFL's substance abuse policy, and top CB Dunta Robinson is now a Falcon.Jacksonville JaguarsA sellout in Jacksonville? Could happen for Game 1, but not because of anything the Jaguars are doing. Denver will be in town, and a certain backup quarterback named Tim Tebow has something of a following in northern Florida - all of Florida, for that matter.That might be the most interesting aspect of the entire season for the Jags. Coach Jack Del Rio almost certainly needs a bounce-back year to keep his job, but it's difficult to see more than eight victories on the schedule.RB Maurice Jones-Drew is an elite player. He's the only one on a roster that needs significant improvement on both lines and more consistency from QB David Garrard.AFC EAST New England PatriotsFew teams seem on the surface to have as many givens as the Patriots. We know Tom Brady is an all-world quarterback and winner; that Randy Moss is as dangerous as any receiver and Wes Welker as reliable as any; that the offensive line is a stone wall; that the defense will be stingy and make big plays; and that Bill Belichick is a coaching genius.Well, Brady didn't set the NFL afire last year in his comeback season - he missed all but the first half of the opener in 2008 with a knee injury. Moss has not gotten a contract extension. Welker comes off a severe knee injury himself, although his quick comeback has been impressive. Outstanding guard Logan Mankins wants out. The defense is being rebuilt before our eyes, with questionable leadership and depth. And Belichick hasn't won a championship in five years.But guess what? New England still should have enough to win a tight three-way division race, particularly if the running game is better. Brady easily could return to his previous stratospheric playing level, helped by Welker's stunning recovery. Jerod Mayo is an outstanding linebacker and Vince Wilfork is among the top nose tackles in the game. And PK Stephen Gostkowski has made Adam Vinatieri a long-ago memory.New York JetsThe Jets might fall shy of winning the division, but they won't be shy about anything else. Including telling you how good they are, particularly with the additions of RB LaDainian Tomlinson, LB Jason Taylor, WR Santonio Holmes (suspended for the first four games) and CB Antonio Cromartie.They will be good, probably enough so to make the playoffs as a wild card. Coach Rex Ryan's bragging about his defense is valid after it finished 2009 ranked atop the NFL, then added a couple of playmakers in Taylor and Cromartie - and finally got All-Pro CB Darrelle Revis to sign a new deal and report before the opening kickoff. Maybe the tone Ryan sets will offset the loss of leadership that went with the departures of RB Thomas Jones and guard Alan Faneca.Still, the Jets are relying on Mark Sanchez to take a huge step forward, and second-year quarterbacks often go in the opposite direction, so that is a dicey proposition. Special teams also took some hits, so New York perhaps should look out below, not up toward the Patriots.Miami DolphinsTwo years back, in the first season of the Bill Parcells regime, the Dolphins surged to the division crown. Last year, they flopped down the stretch and didn't make the postseason.One culprit was a lack of downfield passing, which Parcells seems to have solved by acquiring Brandon Marshall, a pass-catching machine who will be Chad Henne's favorite target. Henne, unlike predecessor Chad Pennington, has a strong arm to make the connections with Marshall that could define the offense. Of course, Henne is unproven compared to Pennington, and he'll lean on RBs Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams, something coach Tony Sparano, a former offensive line mentor, will make certain happens. LT Jake Long already is an All-Pro heading into his third season.The Dolphins swallowed hard and allowed rookies Sean Smith and Vontae Davis to start at cornerback in 2009. That trial by fire could pay off for Davis this year, but Smith lost his job to Jason Allen. New Miami coordinator Mike Nolan must find a pass rush after losing LBs Joey Porter and Jason Taylor, who combined for 16 sacks. Karlos Dansby is a fiery presence, but can he be in the QB's face as often as Miami needs?Buffalo BillsIt's been more than a decade since the Bills made the playoffs. That streak won't end this season. They simply are overmatched in this division.Chan Gailey, whose success as the Cowboys' coach tends to get overlooked, is an offensive mastermind. Buffalo was 30th on offense in '09 thanks to a porous line, inconsistent quarterbacking and unproductive wideouts. Gailey was hired to work some magic with QB Trent Edwards, who does have one solid target in Lee Evans. Edwards doesn't have Terrell Owens on hand anymore; you be the judge on that one.The Bills already have been ravaged by injuries in the preseason, and they weren't particularly deep beforehand. They will need superb special teams, something they usually have, and a much-improved run defense to manage even the six victories of last season.AFC WEST San Diego ChargersFew teams win 13 games and then have such an overhaul. The Chargers won't have LaDainian Tomlinson, Jamal Williams and Antonio Cromartie this season, and they are battling with holdouts WR Vincent Jackson and LT Marcus McNeill. They added five veterans who have started elsewhere in TE Randy McMichael, WR Josh Reed, CB Donald Strickland, OT Tra Thomas and CB Nathan Vasher, but Thomas retired last month.After ranking 31st, San Diego's running game now belongs to first-round draftee Ryan Mathews and spark plug Darren Sproles, who also excels on kick returns. QB Philip Rivers helped Pro Bowler Jackson emerge and has excellent targets in TE Antonio Gates and WR Malcom Floyd. Legedu Naanee could take advantage of any prolonged absence by Jackson.San Diego needs better health and more big plays on defense. Shawne Merriman was a prime victim of the uncapped season, which prevented him from becoming a free agent. He needs to play up to his nickname, "Lights Out."Kansas City ChiefsIn any other division, the Chargers would be vulnerable. Not here, where the Chiefs likely are the second-best team, yet might not reach .500.The second year of the Scott Pioli-Todd Haley regime already looks improved with Thomas Jones ready to combine with Jamaal Charles in a formidable running game. Charles had 1,120 yards rushing last year, nearly 300 less than Jones, who nevertheless was released by the Jets. If an uncertain offensive line jells at all, the Chiefs will chew up the yards, allowing QB Matt Cassel more options in the passing game. For now, only WR Dwayne Bowe scares anyone, and he's far too inconsistent.While KC should prosper running the ball, its defense must find a way to stop the run. It's time for Glenn Dorsey, Tamba Hali and several other younger defenders to step up. Top pick Eric Berry will boost the secondary; how much depends on if the Chiefs unleash any sort of pass rush. They had only 22 sacks in 2009 and yielded 45.Oakland RaidersThis could be the year that the Raiders finish the season with fewer than 10 losses, something they haven't managed in any season since winning the AFC title in 2002.Then again, coach Tom Cable could be gone by October if Oakland stumbles early. Such are the whims of owner Al Davis, who believes his squad finally has the talent to compete. Davis already is comparing new QB Jason Campbell to Jim Plunkett, who merely won two Super Bowls for the franchise - back when "Commitment to Excellence" hadn't disappeared down the Black Hole.Still, there are plenty of weaknesses, particularly the defense's inability to stop the run; mediocre special teams coverages despite an excellent punter and place-kicker; weak pass protection; and below average receivers. Oakland needs big production from CB Nnamdi Asomugha, DL Richard Seymour, TE Zach Miller, RBs Michael Bush and Darren McFadden, and Campbell.So maybe this isn't the year.Denver BroncosIt seems so long ago that the Broncos were 6-0, but it was only last October, when new coach Josh McDaniels got them off winging. Ever since, it's been a spiral in which they fell to 8-8, didn't make the playoffs, and now appear destined to keep plummeting in 2010.All-Pro Elvis Dumervil, the league's top sackmaster, signed a new contract, then tore his pectoral muscle and might miss the season. He simply is Denver's most important player, leaving the pass rush and entire defense in flux, relying on several newcomers (LB Akin Ayodele, DLs Justin Bannan, Jarvis Green and Jamal Williams). At least CB Champ Bailey and S Brian Dawkins still are on hand.Brandon Marshall is not. The cinch for 100 receptions a year now is a Dolphins wideout, placing an extra burden on WR Eddie Royal and RB Knowshon Moreno to boost the offense. The most interesting storyline in Denver figures to be how Tim Tebow is used.