NFL Preview #3 - AFC South and West

AFC South
1. Indianapolis Colts (11-5; playoffs) - Once the cabal of talented receivers, the Colts have raped that roster. I don't think they even have a dependable four-wide system. Their top three are good, though, and seem capable of lasting the entire sixteen-week season. It does shrink the offensive playbook a bit, though. But with Peyton Manning at quarterback, you can be sure that he'll do everything he can to move the ball. The defense still has some holes, but overall the team seems healthy and strong. [tiebreak due to record against conference opponents]

2. Tennessee Titans (11-5; playoffs) - This team might have the best offense in the division, surpassing Indianapolis. They still have Vince Young on the depth chart, but with Patrick Ramsey there, they have a capable backup to Kerry Collins. They have a tough defense, too. When this division was created, it was "Indy and the others". That is definitely no longer true.

3. Jacksonville Jaguars (9-7) - The defense is good, but the offense lacks talented depth in key places. Their strength remains their running game, supported by a strong line. Both lines (offensive and defensive) are strong. The team will be competitive, but won't quite make the playoffs.

4. Houston Texans (4-12) - Former Bear Rex Grossman is on the roster, but he's the third string QB, which tells you how good he really is. Matt Schaub showed he could lead this team, and he has decent players around him. Decent, but not great. This team doesn't have the same caliber as the rest of the division, especially on defense. The Texans will again fail to achieve a winning season.


AFC West
1. San Diego Chargers (11-5; playoffs) - The banner headline on this team remains the same: Strong and fast offense, decent defense with some question marks. This team remains competitive, but has a glass ceiling that they can't shatter. This team will be "good enough", but won't reach Championship caliber without some defensive playmakers.

2. Kansas City Chiefs (5-11) - Matt Cassel proved strong in New England last year, but he was in a great system surrounded by high-powered talent. Unfortunately he doesn't have quite the same level of talent, and this team's system is being altered by the new coaching staff. A team in transition is not a good fit for Cassel. He hasn't had that since high school. The defense is strong enough to keep the team in the game, and they may start showing sparks towards the second half of the season, but it'll be a long season for the Chiefs.

3. Denver Broncos (5-11) - With Kyle Orton's preseason difficulties, Chris Simms may get the starting job. Whoever gets it, it'll be a tough season. The QB is buffered by the traditional Broncos stable of runners. Knowshown Moreno has been added to a talented pool, making this a strong ground team. They have a good defense, which will keep the team in games and give the offense a fighting chance, but this is not a playoff-caliber team yet.

4. Oakland Raiders (4-12) - This is JaMarcus Russell's last chance to shine for the Raiders. His preseason has been rocky, so Jeff Garcia might step in to start. If Garcia goes down, though, Russell must be ready to step in, and step up. The team won't make it easy, with holes in various places on the defense and a thin bench on offense, this team will struggle to get out of the cellar of the division.