AFC South

2009 Regular Season Standings:

Indianapolis Colts: 14-2
Houston Texans: 9-7
Tennessee Titans: 8-8
Jacksonville Jaguars: 7-9

Jacksonville Jaguars: The Jaguars have been trying for years to beef up their Defensive front. In this past Draft, they had the surprise pick at #10 in Tyson Alualu from California. Jacksonville is going to need an immediate impact from the Defensive End that had 17 sacks in college. The addition of Kirk Morrison from Oakland via trade should be a solid addition to the Linebackers. The problems in Jacksonville will be their inability to score. Maurice Jones-Drew will not be able to do it alone. David Garrard is going to need more out of the receivers, period. Mike Sims-Walker, who was great at home last year, needs to continue to grow and especially stay injury free. Jacksonville still needs too many pieces, going 4-12.

Tennessee Titans: Jeff Fisher still has one of the best backs in the NFL, in Chris Johnson. Even though Johnson has set self goals of breaking 2000 yards, yet again; Vince Young, Kenny Britt, and the rest of the Titans’ Passing attack need to improve for that to happen. Defensively the Titans got a gift in Derrick Morgan, the Defensive End out of Georgia Tech, at #16 in the first round. He should definitely help but the Defense Front will still remain weak. The Secondary should help to keep Tennessee in games. Second year cornerback Jason McCourty of Rutgers will be one to watch in this group. Tennessee has a tough schedule that will rely on Vince to win games, rebuilding continues as the Titans fall off, finishing 6-10.

Indianapolis Colts: This has been Peyton Manning’s Conference for years and the Colts want to reward him for that. He might have the deepest receiving corps in the NFL. Reggie Wayne and Dallas Clark will truly benefit from the growth of the younger receivers. Donald Brown in his second year, could have a breakout year as well. Age and injures have been the Colt’s Achilles heel. Youth was addressed in the past on the Offensive side, this year the Colts took that to their Defense. Dwight Freeney now can mentor #31 overall pick, Jerry Hughes. Pat Angerer, the linebacker out of Iowa and Kevin Thomas cornerback from Southern Cal will need to adjust quickly. Even with a healthy Bob Sanders, the Colts will lose some of last years success, winding up 10-6.

Houston Texans: Coming off their first winning season in Texans history, Houston is looking to take the next step. Mario Williams and Eugene Wilson anchor this developing Defense which will be without last years’ Defensive ROY, Brian Cushing, for the first four games due to suspension. Brice McCain or 1st round pick Kareem Jackson will need to help fill the void in the Secondary left by the departure of Dunta Robinson to the Falcons. Offensively, the best receiver in the NFL, Andre Johnson, will need a healthy Owen Daniels to continue his huge production. Watch for Ben Tate, 2nd Round Pick, to be Steve Slaton’s change of pace back if not the lead man. Matt Schaub and the Texans complete that next step. The weaker tail end of their schedule has the Texans Playoff bound at 11-5.

2010 Regular Season Standings:

Houston Texans: 11-5
Indianapolis Colts: 10-6
Tennessee Titans: 6-10
Jacksonville Jaguars: 4-12

AFC North

2009 Regular Season Standings:

Cincinnati Bengals: 10-6
Baltimore Ravens: 9-7
Pittsburgh Steelers: 9-7
Cleveland Browns: 5-11

Cincinnati Bengals: Marvin Lewis has finally given Carson Palmer everything he should need. Terrell Owens, Antonio Bryant, Jermaine Gresham (1st Round Pick, TE), Jordan Shipley, and Dezmon Briscoe all to compliment Chad Ochocinco and Cedric Benson. Sounds like Cincinnati is out to have back to back winning seasons. That is if they can all find their roles, gel, and Benson isn’t suspended. Defense will be stout again. Keith Rivers and Rey Maualuga need help from the D-Line to be more effective linebackers. Leon Hall and Johnathan Joseph lead the excellent Secondary, but the middle of their schedule kills their chances, 8-8.

Baltimore Ravens: In this year’s draft the Ravens filled needs at Linebacker with Sergio Kindle. Terrence Cody to sure up the Defensive front, Ed Dickson to upgrade Todd Heap. They nabbed Anquan Boldin formerly of the Arizona Cardinals, giving Joe Flacco another proven play-maker. Problem with Baltimore now is their Secondary. Ed Reed, Lardarius Webb, and Fabian Washington are all coming back from injures, and the Ravens depth is just not their. Terrell Suggs promises to be better than his off year last year, so we’ll see. Even with Ray Rice improving, Baltimore can only claw it’s way to 8-8.

Pittsburgh Steelers: What do Antwaan Randle El, James Farrior, and Bryant McFadden have in common? They are all back in Pittsburgh for another go round. The Steelers drafted Ben Roethlisberger his Center of the future, Maurkice Pouncey, but Big Ben won’t be there for his first four games at least. Mike Wallace has to now take over a primary role at receiver for the jettisoned Santonio Holmes. Rashard Mendenhall will have to carry the Steelers often throughout this season, and that might be to much. The addition of Jason Worilds to the Defensive front could be a plus, and the Linebacking core are better than solid. Pittsburgh’s biggest problem will be their Secondary with their best addition being McFadden. Troy Polamalu could return as healthy as ever yet the Steelers will be over matched in a pass happy league. They take their bumps at 7-9.

Cleveland Browns: The Cleveland Browns enter this year under the new watchful eye of Mike Holmgren. Holmgren decided to keep Eric Mangini but overhauled the quarterback position adding Jake Delhomme, Seneca Wallace, and Colt McCoy(3rd Round Pick). Holmgren stressed that the Quarterback was the most important part, so Mangini heard: Stop the Quarterback. The Browns traded for Sheldon Brown, to help under-rated Eric Wright. They also drafted three more improvements for the Secondary including #7 pick Joe Haden. Defensively the Browns are deepest at Linebacker, grabbing Free Agent Scott Fujita from the Champion, Saints. Cleveland has a solid Offensive Line anchored by Joe Thomas. Jerome Harrison was a beast at the end of last year, but the Browns got him help in Montario Hardesty. That will be the biggest battle in camp with six backs all looking for touches. Jake Delhomme will rebound from last year and improves Cleveland’s Air Assault. Unknown, under estimated, and fueled off the high of winning the last four last year, the Browns surprise finishing 9-7.

2010 Regular Season Standings:

Cleveland Browns: 9-7
Baltimore Ravens: 8-8
Cincinnati Bengals: 8-8
Pittsburgh Steelers: 7-9

NFC East

2009 Regular Season Standings:

Dallas Cowboys: 11-5
Philadelphia Eagles: 11-5
New York Giants: 8-8
Washington Redskins: 4-12

Washington Redskins: Daniel Snyder changed coaches, quarterbacks, and his defensive scheme (4-3 to 3-4) all this off-season; Will it work? The move by new coach Mike Shanahan, to obtain Donovan McNabb from Philadelphia, was genius. Chris Cooley and Santana Moss should be solid pieces for Donovan to start with, although someone else is going to need to step to make those two successful. Offensive line was a problem last year but the Skins used their few picks in this years draft to try to cement that. Trent Williams and Eric Cook will add a much needed youth and hopefully some stability. The stall of once greats in the backfield is the most interesting factor this season. Clinton Portis was awesome before with Coach Shanahan, so I expect him to the guy but camp will tell. Defensively if Albert Haynesworth can adjust to the 3-4 Defense without much more of a stink, then Washington could have an above average D. Secondary is my question with the Skins; Carlos Rodgers and DeAngelo Hall will not be enough. The shake-up works though, the Redskins finish improved to 9-7.

New York Giants: In New York they could have one of the best group of receivers, especially if Hakeem Nicks can contribute even more in his second year. The addition of Antrel Rolle from the Arizona Cardinals should solidify an already talented secondary. Will the addition of Jason Pierre-Paul be enough to help energize that Defensive line, and maybe wake Osi Umenyiora again? Chris Snee and the rest of the Offensive line should have a good year; Just what Brandon Jacobs might need to get back to form. Any problems there then Eli Manning might be handing of to Danny Ware, the 4th year man from Georgia. Both Lines are key this year for the Giants, who slide slightly to 7-9. Tom Coughlin will probably have to leave as well.

Dallas Cowboys: The Super Bowl is in Dallas this year. Jerry Jones expects nothing less than an appearance in it and the Cowboys maybe ready to give him that. The addition of Dez Bryant should give Miles Austin a running mate, and improve the Jason Witten option for Tony Romo. Doug Free will be the one to watch on the Offensive line, replacing Flozell Adams at Left Tackle. The Trio of backs should keep Dallas very balanced throughout the year. Defensively, the Cowboys weakness might lie in the hands of their Safeties. I expect another big year from DeMarcus Ware, and Sean Lee might even pan out better than the Bobby Carpenter experiment. Mike Hamlin and the rest of the Secondary succeed, the Cowboys at 11-5 are play-off bound.

Philadelphia Eagles: Something very different this year in Bethlehem for Andy Reid. A new core led by Kevin Kolb and LeSean McCoy. The youth movement in Philly is in full swing. Kolb’s been given a team with many weapons, Jeremy Maclin, Brent Celek, and DeSean Jackson to name a few. If Mike Bell can be the complementary back to McCoy, Kolb should find it easier to adjust to his new role. Secondary should get a boost from Nate Allen’s addition. Defensive line seems to be the Eagles biggest problem, so Brandon Graham (13th overall draft pick) might find it harder to adjust. I’ve been told sometimes you need to take a step back to move forward. Hopefully that’s the case in Philly, who wind up at 7-9.

2010 Regular Season Standings:

Dallas Cowboys: 11-5
Washington Redskins: 9-7
Philadelphia Eagles: 7-9
New York Giants: 7-9