NFC West Preview

San Francisco 49ers TE Vernon Davis.

If there's a division in football that's easy to predict, it might be this one. The San Francisco 49ers were so far ahead of the Arizona Cardinals, Seattle Seahawks, and St. Louis Rams in the division last year that they were able to clinch the division in the first weekend of December. The offseason seems to indicate that the team atop the NFC West throne will not change anytime soon either. There is a lot of promise to look forward to however.

The Seahawks used their third round pick on QB Russell Wilson of Wisconsin, and head coach Pete Carroll has been so impressed with him, he named Wilson as the starter over QB Matt Flynn. Flynn signed a three-year deal worth around $25 million, based on two solid performances he had backing up QB Aaron Rodgers in Green Bay. In the 2010 season, when Rodgers was out with a concussion, Flynn lit up the New England Patriots defense in Foxboro, but still threw several interceptions. During the final game of the 2011 season, Flynn destroyed the Detroit Lions defense to the tune of 480 yards and six touchdowns.

Seattle Seahawks rookie QB Russell Wilson.

Outside of those two games, however, there isn't much justification for giving Flynn this much money. Carroll didn't worry one bit about inserting Flynn as the starter because of his contract. He held an open quarterback competition, along the way deciding QB Tarvaris Jackson wouldn't be their quarterback either. They traded him to the Buffalo Bills, and with Wilson as the starter, the Seahawks are looking for great things out of him early. Wilson can turn heads. Despite his lack of size, Wilson has the arm and the physical ability to absorb contact. If Wilson struggles early, look for Carroll to throw in Flynn right away.

The Arizona Cardinals have probably had the worst quarterback competition out of any team in the NFL. QB John Skelton and QB Kevin Kolb didn't do much at all to prove they should be the starter. However, Skelton did some solid things last season after Kolb got off to a lousy start. The Cardinals are also going through the same thing the Seahawks are going through. The Cardinals signed Kolb to a $65 million deal. This wasn't a bright move because Kolb didn't do much with the Philadelphia Eagles to prove he was worth that much. The Eagles did not look impressive in Kolb's starts, and when QB Michael Vick took over, the Eagles flourished.

Arizona Cardinals WR Larry Fitzgerald.

The Cardinals don't have much on defense, but they do have a potential playmaker with CB Patrick Peterson. Peterson has already shown he is dangerous with the ball in his hands on punt and kick returns. On offense, they drafted WR Michael Floyd of Notre Dame to line up opposite WR Larry Fitzgerald and take away a lot of the pressure. If Skelton struggles badly, the Cardinals have a major problem on their hands. They were one of the teams unable to bring QB Peyton Manning to the team, so they don't have any internal options if Skelton performs poorly.

Their is some promise for the Rams after last season's debacle. They hired Jeff Fisher to be their head coach. Fisher has been through down times during his years with the Houston Oilers/Tennessee Titans. He has been able to rebuild teams successfully in the past, so the Rams are hoping he can do the same there. Fisher does have a franchise quarterback in QB Sam Bradford, so that should help a great deal. Bradford had a solid rookie season as he led the Rams within one game of winning the NFC West in 2010. However, it came apart under offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels last season, and he was let go.

St. Louis Rams QB Sam Bradford.

If Bradford can get back to an offense where he can be an effective game manager, the Rams will definitely improve this year. A lot is riding on Bradford's health as well. He was injured and missed a good amount of games last season. The Rams picked up WR Steve Smith from the Philadelphia Eagles,  so they are hoping to pair him up with WR Danny Amendola to provide consistency. RB Steven Jackson, the veteran, will be called upon to eat up clock and help Bradford out. That may be a tall order at this point in his career, as he has battled injuries, but he is capable of doing so.

It's pretty simple. Unless the 49ers lose QB Alex Smith to injury and are forced to go with unseasoned QB Colin Kaepernick, the 49ers should win this division rather easily. They should expect better competition from the Seahawks. They field a solid defense as well, and if Wilson can be a solid game manager or even better, the Seahawks will definitely be one of the most improved teams in the NFL. The Cardinals should hope they don't regress from last season's mediocre year, and the Rams just want to improve. They have nowhere else to go but up.

Predictions

San Francisco 49ers 12-4
Seattle Seahawks 9-7
St. Louis Rams 6-10
Arizona Cardinals 5-11

NFC South Preview

New Orleans Saints QB Drew Brees.

There probably hasn't been a team in the NFL that has gone through such an awful offseason than the New Orleans Saints endured in NFL history. It could've been much worse if QB Drew Brees didn't get the contract extension he was seeking. However, the Saints now have something great to look forward to after satisfying Brees with a new deal. It will be pretty interesting to see how the Saints play this year without Sean Payton, their head coach. What if they win the Super Bowl without him? What would be the feeling about him then? This could get very tricky.

The Atlanta Falcons have a lot of offensive firepower, led by QB Matt Ryan. Their top two receiving weapons in WR Roddy White and WR Julio Jones are #1 options on most teams. WR Harry Douglas is another solid weapon who executes in the slot very well and has become a reliable option for Ryan. Combine those three with a Hall-of-Fame tight end in TE Tony Gonzalez, and this could potentially be the most explosive offense in the NFL. Why were they not able to break out offensively last season? There may be several reasons why the best has yet to come.

Atlanta Falcons WR Roddy White.

The Falcons play in a dome, so they should be able to spread out more and throw it all over the field. However, in the past, they have insisted on using the ground game heavily with RB Michael Turner. Turner isn't a game-breaker, and as long as the Falcons continue to hand the ball to him 25 to 30 times a game, their offense will not tap into their potential. It's time to break out Ryan, for him to have a career passing season. It's possible. The team just have to commit to it. Their defense looks solid on paper as well. Their two starting corners are CB Dunta Robinson and CB Asante Samuel, Pro Bowl caliber players and their two starting defensive ends are DE John Abraham and DE Ray Edwards, a solid tandem. The only question is how much will losing LB Curtis Lofton to the Saints in free agency and releasing LB Lofa Tatupu after being injured will hurt them at that position.

Carolina Panthers QB Cam Newton.

The Carolina Panthers are boasting a lot of confidence and swagger going into this season, and that is based upon QB Cam Newton's surprising success in his rookie season. Newton set records for the most rushing touchdowns for a quarterback, and he also started his career with two 400-yard passing games against the Arizona Cardinals and Green Bay Packers. However, their defense was awful, which was probably helped out by LB Jon Beason being injured. Now that he is healthy, in addition to drafting LB Luke Kuechly of Boston College, their defense will improve.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers had a lot of money to spend in free agency and they did just that. They acquired WR Vincent Jackson from the San Diego Chargers, OL Carl Nicks of the Saints, and CB Eric Wright of the Detroit Lions to big deals. Jackson's acquisition provides QB Josh Freeman with a receiving threat that can make him better. The Buccaneers surprised a lot of people by going 10-6 in the 2010 season, but that was due to a very easy schedule. Last season, with a tougher schedule, they failed miserably, as it appeared they had given up on head coach Raheem Morris. Morris was fired at the end of the season, resulting in the Buccaneers tabbing Greg Schiano of Rutgers to be head coach.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers WR Vincent
Jackson.

Even with the Saints losing two of their defensive players for a substantial amount of time due to suspension, along with their head coach and interim head coach, the Saints still have Brees. He is enough to run the ship and get the Saints to where they want to be. The competition could be interesting as the other three teams can pounce on all of the missing players and coaches. The Falcons are in the best position to seize this opportunity, but only if they throw the ball more. They need to keep defenses on their heals, and Turner, as durable and tough as he is, isn't scaring opponents.

Many people are expecting the Panthers to turn heads and make an improvement. However, that is contingent upon Newton improving as well, and he didn't necessarily show improvement this preseason. It is only preseason so there is a very good chance the Panthers did not reveal the full arsenal this preseason. We'll see what happens when they take the field for real. The Buccaneers should improve under Schiano because he will try to get the best out of all of his players. However, the connection between Freeman and Jackson may need some time to work, if it can work at all. Until then, the Buccaneers will struggle.

Predictions

Atlanta Falcons 11-5
New Orleans Saints 10-6
Carolina Panthers 8-8
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 5-11

NFC North Preview

Minnesota Vikings RB Adrian Peterson.

There was a golden opportunity to get to the Super Bowl on that January 2010 evening in the Louisiana Superdome. The Minnesota Vikings, instead of running the ball and giving K Ryan Longwell a 40+ yard field goal attempt, decided to throw the football. QB Brett Favre rolled to his right and the New Orleans Saints covered it up pretty well. Instead of running and getting his team a couple more yards, Favre decided to throw it across his body, and for the second time in his career, his last throw in an NFC Championship Game was intercepted. After his usual offseason drama, Favre decided to rejoin the Vikings, but the success he had in the 2009 season was gone. The Vikings have not been the same since that fateful throw in the Superdome.

The class of the NFC North now happens to be the other three teams, while the Vikings hope they can rebuild around QB Christian Ponder, their first round draft pick last season. RB Adrian Peterson tore his ACL in the second-to-last game against the Washington Redskins, but he is probable to start the season. They are going to need him because there isn't much else to look forward to. WR Percy Harvin was seeking a trade in the offseason, but did not get his wish. Will he be unsatisfied with his position that it becomes a distraction for the team? The last thing this struggling team needs is an unnecessary distraction, so if trading him will eliminate that distraction, that may be the route best served for the Vikings.

Green Bay Packers QB Aaron Rodgers.

The Green Bay Packers weren't only dominant within the division, but they steamrolled the rest of the NFL as well. However, the Packers were clearly disappointed by their home playoff loss in the divisional round to the eventual champion New York Giants. With all of their main components returning this season, the Packers may be able to duplicate their 15-1 record from a season ago. The health of QB Aaron Rodgers is key to the Packers success, especially after backup QB Matt Flynn signed a lucrative deal to be the starter for the Seattle Seahawks. The Packers are not quite thrilled with QB Graham Harrell being the backup, so Rodgers' concussion history should be a concern.

Chicago Bears WR Brandon Marshall.

It could be argued that if QB Jay Cutler didn't get injured in that home win against the San Diego Chargers in November last season, the Bears could've changed the landscape of the division and the playoffs. After the victory, the Bears improved to 7-3 when they learned Cutler broke his thumb on his throwing hand, ending his season. Backup QB Caleb Hanie, now with the Denver Broncos, relieved Cutler in the 2010 NFC Championship Game when Cutler was injured as well, and did a serviceable job. However, he was not able to win any game for the Bears until the final game of the season, when they were already eliminated from playoff contention. This year, the addition of WR Brandon Marshall has everyone in Chicago excited about a potential deep playoff run once again. The health of LB Brian Urlacher will be key as the Bears try to hold their ground defensively.

The Detroit Lions made the playoffs last season for the first time since 1999, and they were probably helped out by Cutler's injury. The Lions started off last season 5-0, after huge comebacks against the Vikings and the Dallas Cowboys in consecutive weeks. However, in a stretch where they had three consecutive home games, they only went 1-2. They were also 7-3 after 10 games, but they proceeded to lose their next two to the Packers and the Saints, putting their playoff hopes in a little bit of doubt. However, they finished off winning three of their last four to claim the final spot. The Lions do have a lot of question marks going into the season.

Detroit Lions WR Calvin Johnson.

The Lions did not necessarily stop the run very well, but they were effective in rushing the quarterback, led by DE Cliff Avril. CB Aaron Berry was expected to fill the role of starting corner opposite CB Chris Houston, but he was cut after being arrested twice in a month. Even if Berry would've been their starter, there would have been a lot of questions in that secondary. On offense, the Lions virtually had no running game due to the concussion issues of RB Jahvid Best and RB Mikel Leshoure's torn ACL in camp last season. Leshoure has to deal with his early suspension before he plays his first career game, but he should be able to help out their running game a bit. Even though QB Matthew Stafford threw for over 5,000 yards, with 36 touchdowns and 14 interceptions, he does have a gunslinger mentality that dug the Lions huge holes in several games. They may not be able to recover from that this time around.

There isn't any reason to suggest the Packers wouldn't be division champions. They strengthened their running game by signing RB Cedric Benson, which is a scary thought considering how potent their offense is. The Lions will be a huge question mark. Can they build upon the success they had last season? Or will their offseason behavioral issues bring them a step back? Simply put, the Vikings need a dramatic improvement from Ponder in year two in order to show any kind of improvement.

Predictions

Green Bay Packers 14-2
Chicago Bears 11-5
Detroit Lions 8-8
Minnesota Vikings 4-12

NFC East Preview

Washington Redskins first round pick QB Robert Griffin III.

Their is a lot of hope for the Washington Redskins after drafting QB Robert Griffin III of Baylor. The last time the Redskins could actually call a quarterback a franchise quarterback was in the 1970s and 1980s, when QB Joe Theismann was running the show. They did win two other Super Bowls with QB Doug Williams and QB Mark Rypien, but they quickly tailed off after winning their Super Bowls with Joe Gibbs. They drafted QB Heath Shuler with the third overall pick in the 1994 draft, but he turned out to be a bust. Redskins fans are hoping Griffin III doesn't turn out to be a bust.

The most daunting task for Griffin III, however, is living up to the other quarterbacks that are in the division. The Dallas Cowboys, Philadelphia Eagles and the defending champions New York Giants all have quarterbacks that are Pro Bowl capable players in QB Tony Romo, QB Michael Vick, and QB Eli Manning. Hopefully, Redskins fans won't be expecting Griffin III to be better than all three right away.

Two-time Super Bowl MVP New York Giants QB Eli
Manning.

While the Giants have been able to win their second Super Bowl in four years, the Giants continue to be disrespected with analysts as they predict the Cowboys or Eagles will win the division over the Giants. When  the Giants won the Super Bowl in 2007, most people predicted the Cowboys will get back on top of the NFC East, as they done in that 2007 season when they won the division with a 13-3 record. However, the Giants came out smoking teams, starting out 11-1 in their first 12 games before losing three of their last four and losing a home playoff game to the Eagles. The Giants have proven they can have some kind of success following a championship, so they'll be looking to do the same this season.

The Giants have lost a couple of pieces, losing RB Brandon Jacobs and WR Mario Manningham to the San Francisco 49ers. However, as long as the Giants have Manning at the helm, they are solid. On the defensive side of the ball, they still have their three dominant pass rushers in DE Jason Pierre-Paul, DE Justin Tuck, and DE Osi Umenyiora. Other than their pass rushing, they have a lot to work on with their defense. Their secondary gave up a lot of huge plays, and they lost CB Terrell Thomas to an ACL injury for the second consecutive summer. Whoever plays opposite CB Corey Webster will have their hands full, but they will need to produce in order to improve upon their 9-7 record.

Philadelphia Eagles WR Desean Jackson.

When QB Vince Young was signed to a one-year deal with the Eagles last offseason, he instantly referred to the team as the "Dream Team." That quickly turned out to not be the case, as the Eagles lost eight of their first 12 games before catching fire at the end and winning their last four. However, they fell very short of expectations and they look to change that this season. Most of their team remains intact, with the exception of losing CB Asante Samuel to the Atlanta Falcons via trade. The Eagles should be humbled by last season's failure and be ready to compete this upcoming season.

The Cowboys seem to go into every season with lofty expectations and I have not figured out why that seems to be the case. QB Tony Romo is definitely a solid quarterback, but outside of him and their offensive weapons, the Cowboys don't have a lot of hope. Their offensive line isn't particularly strong and their defense, despite their solid rankings, have not made stops when they need it most. They have reason to be excited, as their Achilles heal was their pass coverage. They traded up in the draft to take CB Morris Claiborne of LSU and they signed CB Brandon Carr from the Kansas City Chiefs to strengthen that part of their defense. With all of this being said, their season will depend on how they live up to expectations.

Dallas Cowboys QB Tony Romo.

While the Redskins do have Griffin III, they have more concerns than their quarterback situation. While they weren't terrible with their run defense and their defense overall, they were still in the bottom half of the league in yards allowed. The Redskins did get off to a solid start last season, including an impressive season-opening win against the eventual champion Giants. However, as coach Mike Shanahan pulled a quick trigger and replaced QB Rex Grossman with QB John Beck, the Redskins season started to fall apart. With the signing of WR Pierre Garcon and the connection Griffin III and Garcon have developed thus far in the preseason, there is reason to be hopeful.

The NFC East is always unpredictable because no matter how good or bad a team is, anyone can be beat by each other on any given Sunday. The Giants recognized that when they were swept by the last place Redskins. With the NFC East playing the AFC North and NFC South, all four teams have a very difficult schedule on their hands, especially the Giants, who will have to see the Green Bay Packers and San Francisco 49ers as well.

The Eagles should have a lot to prove as they head into the season. I have a feeling they will not disappoint this time around, but QB Michael Vick has to stay healthy in order for them to fulfill all they want this season. Sadly, if the Eagles don't perform well again this season, it will probably cost Andy Reid his job. Performing well for the Eagles this season most likely means winning the division and winning at least one playoff game. Expectations are high. We shall see who delivers.

Predictions

Philadelphia Eagles 11-5
New York Giants 11-5
Washington Redskins 8-8
Dallas Cowboys 6-10

AFC West Preview

Denver Broncos QB Peyton Manning.

The AFC West division was clearly the worst division in football, with all four teams finishing within a game of each other. The Denver Broncos won the division with an 8-8 record. The San Diego Chargers and the Oakland Raiders also finished the season with an 8-8 record, but lost out on the title on tiebreakers. The Broncos rode the heroics of fan favorite QB Tim Tebow after starting 1-4 under QB Kyle Orton. Tebow had memorable fourth-quarter performances in several wins, including in the AFC Wild Card matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

The Broncos now have QB Peyton Manning running the show, after winning the sweepstakes over the San Francisco 49ers, Arizona Cardinals and Tennessee Titans. The Broncos have now gone from a team without expectations last season to a team expected to compete for a championship. There is reason to believe that can happen. The Broncos were impressive defensively, especially when Tebow was very inept in most games during the first three quarters. However, S Brian Dawkins has retired, removing a veteran component that helped their defense emotionally. Dawkins only received limited snaps last season, so they will be able to recover in that aspect.

Oakland Raiders QB Carson Palmer.

A major adjustment is coming for the offensive players who played with Tebow last season. Guys like WR Eric Decker and WR Demaryius Thomas would go long stretches without getting any looks or catches. With Manning as the quarterback now, everyone is an option. Manning will scan through his options on every play if his first option isn't open or where he needs to be. The addition of veteran WR Brandon Stokley helps Manning out a lot. This is Stokley's second stint with the Broncos, but he was very valuable as the Indianapolis Colts' slot receiver when Manning was there. The running game which is held down by RB Willis McGahee and RB Knowshon Moreno should be solid like they were last season.

The Raiders decided it was worth the gamble to trade for QB Carson Palmer, who was retired. They gave up numerous high draft picks, in addition to re-working his contract in which he will be paid handsomely for the next couple of seasons. This occurred after incumbent starter QB Jason Campbell snapped his collarbone in Week 6 against the Cleveland Browns. After beating the Browns that week, the Raiders were 4-2. Palmer did not do well, especially after the Raiders threw him in right away, as he proceeded to throw three interceptions in his first game. Discipline is also an issue for this club, as they continue to lead the league in penalties every year.

San Diego Chargers QB Philip Rivers.

The Chargers were the favorites to win the division, but a subpar performance from QB Philip Rivers cost them. Rivers had 27 touchdowns, but was also intercepted a league-high 20 times. They started 4-1 before they went on a six-game losing streak that started with a loss at the New York Jets and included home losses to the Raiders and Broncos. The Chargers did have their chance at the end to still win the division. On Christmas Eve, they blew that chance by laying an egg in Detroit against the Detroit Lions. Now Rivers has to compete against Manning for the division crown at least for the near future.

The Kansas City Chiefs are the only team in the division to not finish 8-8, instead finishing 7-9. They dealt with injuries early and often. They lost RB Jamaal Charles in the second week of the season to a torn ACL, which made it a lot harder for QB Matt Cassel to be effective. Coming off of a 10-6 season and an AFC West crown, the Chiefs started their first two games of the season last year by losing to the Buffalo Bills at home 41-7, then losing to the Lions 48-3 the next week. While the Chiefs did bounce back by winning four straight after losing their first three, they followed that winning streak up by losing four straight.

Kansas City Chiefs RB Jamaal Charles.

This is another unpredictable division because there is a lot of potential for each team. The Raiders will need a solid performance from Palmer in order to have a shot at winning the division. If he doesn't, don't be surprised if new head coach Dennis Allen has a short leash and goes to QB Matt Leinart, or even QB Terrelle Pryor. A lot is riding on their receivers as well. Their top two receivers, WR Jacoby Ford and WR Darius Heyward-Bey, have not produced often to make defenses nervous. The Raiders drafted proficient WR Juron Criner of Arizona to help them in that department, and it seems as if they found something they like in undrafted speedy WR Rod Streater of the Temple Owls.

The Broncos are expected to compete for a lot more than a division title, but what happens if Manning's neck injury resurfaces at some point in the season? The Broncos will have to rely on QB Caleb Hanie, who has been in pressure situations before while with the Chicago Bears. If Manning gets injured again, that pretty much dashes all hope of a playoff appearance and a division title. The Chargers have been heavily dependent on Rivers to produce, and he let them down last season as he struggled to keep his turnovers down. Simply put, the Chargers will need the old Rivers if they want to win the division.

There are a lot of unknowns for the Chiefs. You would have to believe that Cassel will be on a short leash with head coach Romeo Crennel. They will need Charles to stay healthy for the majority of the season, if not all. S Eric Berry was also injured last season, so they will need him to stay healthy for their defense to thrive. They lost their best corner in CB Brandon Carr, but they picked up CB Stanford Routt from their division rivals in Oakland to play opposite CB Brandon Flowers. The Chiefs are capable of surprising a lot of people just as they did in 2010. Let's see what happens.

Predictions

Denver Broncos 11-5
San Diego Chargers 9-7
Kansas City Chiefs 7-9
Oakland Raiders 6-10

AFC South Preview

Indianapolis Colts rookie QB Andrew Luck

It can be argued that QB Peyton Manning should've gotten a considerable amount of MVP votes for the performance of the Indianapolis Colts last season. Manning never touched the field after attempting to rehab two offseason neck surgeries. In the 2010 season, the Colts won the division with a 10-6 record with Manning, a four-time NFL MVP. Last season without Manning, it all came apart when they lost their first 13 games before finishing 2-14. This resulted in the Colts receiving the #1 pick and selecting Stanford's QB Andrew Luck.

This division may be a tricky one because of all the uncertainties. The Houston Texans, last year's division champions, are the favorites to win again. However, they may have a couple of issues that may affect them during the season. The big question in Houston concerns QB Matt Schaub. Most experts feel the Texans need Schaub healthy for the season to compete for the division title and a potential Super Bowl berth. Schaub has struggled to play all 16 games in a season since the Texans acquired him in 2007.

Houston Texans RB Arian Foster

The Tennessee Titans have decided to go with QB Jake Locker over veteran QB Matt Hasselbeck. Hasselbeck led the Titans last season to a surprising 9-7 season, and could've made the playoffs with some help on the final day of the season. The Titans now want to go with who they hope to be their quarterback of the future in Locker. This can turn out to be a solid move, or the Titans will struggle as Locker adjusts to being a starter in the NFL.

The Jacksonville Jaguars struggled in a lot of areas last season en route to a 5-11 record. The Jaguars surprised most people by releasing QB David Garrard in camp, electing to go with QB Luke McCown as the starter. Jack Del Rio made the same move in 2007 when he decided to cut QB Byron Leftwich in favor of Garrard. This move worked out very well for the Jaguars, as Garrard led them to a 11-5 record and a playoff win at Pittsburgh. Last season, however, the move backfired as McCown was awful and was quickly benched in favor of QB Blaine Gabbert, who was their first-round pick.

Jacksonville Jaguars QB Blaine Gabbert

The Jaguars are hoping Oklahoma St.'s WR Justin Blackmon, their first-round pick in this year's draft, can be the target Gabbert can rely on for years to come. Blackmon has gone through off the field issues in the past, so his behavior is something the team will monitor. The Dallas Cowboys are going through the same with another Oklahoma St. wide receiver in WR Dez Bryant. If Gabbert can develop a connection with Blackmon, the Jaguars can surprise a lot of people this upcoming season.

The Colts are probably the one team that is very hard to predict. Luck has shown a lot of poise and has made very good decisions in the pocket so far. However, when the games count, how well will Luck perform under an enormous amount of pressure? The Colts have a new coaching regime with former Baltimore Ravens defensive coordinator Chuck Pagano as the new head coach, and former Pittsburgh Steelers offensive coordinator Bruce Arians as the new offensive coordinator. How well will the Colts play in their new 3-4 defensive scheme will be a big question, which for Colts fans, can be answered with a bang.

Tennessee Titans QB Jake Locker

If Schaub can stay healthy for the Texans, they should be able to win this division. However, it'll be interesting if the Titans, Jaguars and Colts can surprise and make a run for the playoffs. There are positives that each team can look to and build upon. Each team has young franchise quarterbacks where they can build off of for the next five to ten years. The Jaguars and Colts have new coaching regimes as well so it'll figure to be an interesting division race.

Predictions

Houston Texans 10-6
Indianapolis Colts 8-8
Jacksonville Jaguars 7-9
Tennessee Titans 5-11

AFC North Preview

Will there be a sophomore slump for QB Andy Dalton and
WR A.J. Green?

Going into the start of the 2011 season, some analysts had the Cincinnati Bengals as the worst team in the NFL. Low and behold, they would be one of three teams in the division to make the playoffs, a turnaround that couldn't have been predicted by a psychic. In the 2010 season, the Bengals disappointed many after coming off a division title and adding WR Terrell Owens that offseason. QB Carson Palmer seemed fed up with the Bengals inability to win games, even though he was the main reason why they weren't winning any. He abruptly retired, forcing the Bengals to draft QB Andy Dalton in the second round.

It remains to be seen what Dalton and WR A.J. Green, the Bengals first round pick last season, will do in their sophomore seasons. This much is clear however. The Bengals have pieces on their team they can build around. What they do this season will be interesting. While the success of the Bengals this upcoming season may be foggy, the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Baltimore Ravens are not just expected to contend for the division crown. They are expected to compete for championships.

Is LB Ray Lewis chances of winning another Super Bowl
gone?

The Ravens and Steelers both went 12-4 last season, and the Ravens won the division by virtue of sweeping the Steelers in the regular season. They did struggle in the divisional round against the Houston Texans, prompting some to question QB Joe Flacco's ability to take the team where it needs to go. However, he bounced back against a porous New England Patriots defense, and almost led the Ravens to a Super Bowl berth. Expectations are now high for Flacco. He has to win now.

The Steelers decided to change their offensive philosophy, letting offensive coordinator Bruce Arians walk and bringing in Todd Haley. It didn't appear as if QB Ben Roethlisberger was on board with the move. Slowly but surely, Arians was giving Roethlisberger freedom in the offense. Haley has a knack for being a hot head, and a clash between quarterback or coordinator may happen. Also, WR Mike Wallace's late arrival to the team will probably have the offense out of sync. That means more opportunities for WR Antonio Brown, who signed his surprising five-year extension earlier this month.

Will QB Brandon Weeden's age give him an
advantage in his rookie season?

Since the AFC North was formed in 2002, the Cleveland Browns have never won a division title. The last time they actually won a division title was 1989, when they won the AFC Central title. The Browns did make it to the postseason in the first year of the AFC North division, but lost a great battle against their rivals in Pittsburgh. They've only come close once since, when they went 10-6 in the 2007 season behind the surprising great performance from QB Derek Anderson. Now the Browns have benched a 25-year old quarterback with a couple years of experience in favor of a 28-year old rookie. We'll see how it works out.

There isn't much doubt about who will be competing for the division title. The Ravens and Steelers are clearly the two best teams in the division, but they both have their issues. The Steelers defense is aging, which could be a concern if they do not perform well. In the 2009 season, the season after winning the Super Bowl, their defense was not as solid as many people expected, and they missed the playoffs altogether. Also, how will Roethlisberger perform with Haley calling the shots for the offense? Does Haley put pride to the side and defer a little to the two-time Super Bowl champion? These are questions they will need to answer early.

Will QB Ben Roethlisberger and new offensive
coordinator Todd Haley get along?

The Ravens main components on defense are aging as well. They already lost LB Terrell Suggs for a significant portion of the season due to a torn Achilles tendon. S Ed Reed has expressed doubts about continuing his career in the past, so he may be slowed from the grind and toll his long NFL career has put on his body. LB Ray Lewis is entering his 17th season in the NFL, so the things he can bring to the table may be limited. Can the Ravens offense pick up the slack? RB Ray Rice is satisfied with his new deal, and Flacco is next for his extension. However, Flacco has to show the Ravens they don't only have to depend on defense to win football games.

The Bengals could be one of those teams who improve upon their 9-7 record last season, or bottom out, similar to what the Tampa Bay Buccaneers did last season. Their defense is solid, and adding veteran CB Terrence Newman can only be good for their young defense. Marvin Lewis has surpringly hung on to his job this long. The Bengals have only made the playoffs three times in his nine seasons as head coach. Naturally, he'll be on the hot seat this year, so unless injuries pile up during the season, expect the Bengals to be solid again.

The Browns are the team we don't know much about. They are now turning to QB Brandon Weeden, who they used their first round pick on. Weeden's age didn't scare away the Browns. The Browns have not gotten the production they expected from QB Colt McCoy, but if Weeden struggles, he can be right back in it with something to prove. Adding a running back in RB Trent Richardson can only help, as the Browns have not had a solid every down back in a while.

The Ravens should win the division because of their continuity on offense. Don't be surprised if the Steelers win the division however. Flacco has a lot to prove, and Roethlisberger is still a better quarterback at this point. Those two teams will be battling all year, while the Bengals and Browns will be looking to grow as a team.

Predictions

Baltimore Ravens 12-4
Pittsburgh Steelers 11-5
Cincinnati Bengals 7-9
Cleveland Browns 6-10