NFL 2010: AFC preview

College football has already started, so let's get right to this (so that I don't miss too much of the action!):

AFC East:
1.  New York Jets (13-3, 5-1 in division):  With Mark Brunell present to continue tutoring Mark Sanchez, the Jets offense will continue to improve.  The defense hasn't been as dominant in the preseason as Coach Rex Ryan would like, but it's still potent.  I'm not sure that this team will reach the Super Bowl this year, but the playoffs are a certainty.

2.  New England Patriots (9-7, 3-3; wildcard): There are some new faces on the team, but the key players are still there.  The defense lost some might, but the offense is still strong.  New punter Zoltan Mesko might inspire the offense to take more chances on fourth and short.  That might games a little more interesting.

3.  Miami Dolphins (8-8, 2-4):  I'll admit, the Dolphins have looked pretty good in preseason.  With Brandon Marshall, Davone Bess, and Brian Hartline, the passing game is solid, no matter which Chad is throwing the ball.  Former Wolverine Chad Henne assumes the starter's role, but Pennington is still waiting in the wings if he falters.  The passing game doesn't have to carry the whole load, as Ronnie Brown is more than capable of gaining yards.  The defense may have some holes, but the linebacking corps and secondary are secure, making this a dangerous team.

4.  Buffalo Bills (6-10, 1-5):  QB Trent Edwards leads a team that has seen players come and go, but former Badger Lee Evans still holds title over the wide receivers.  Steve Johnson assumes the Number Two role, and CJ Spiller takes over the primary running duties.  The defense looks secure, led by linebackers Reggie Torbor and Paul Posluszky.

AFC NORTH:
1.  Pittsburgh Steelers (13-3, 6-0; playoff bye):  Byron Leftwich's injury puts Charlie Batch in control of the offense until Big Ben's suspension is lifted.  That has some fans concerned, but a favorable schedule and strong defense should prevent the Steelers from losing much in that period.  It might inspire them to run a bit more than Roethlisberger does, which is highly possible with the Steelers' strong offensive line.

2.  Baltimore Ravens (10-6, 3-3; wildcard):  The offense has looked good in preseason, but there is some concern about the strength of the offensive line.  For a team that likes to run the ball, that's not a good sign.  Flacco has plenty of tools to catch the ball, and the runners are sturdy and capable of pushing forward, even if the line doesn't open large holes.  Still, the Ravens will likely to continue to lean on their defense.  Their best guys are getting older, though, so can they last the entire season?

3.  Cincinnati Bengals (8-8, 3-3):  People will think I'm underestimating Cincinnati, but I don't think the comraderie between TO and Ochocinco will last all season.  When it starts to collapse, those two egos will accelerate the problem quickly.  The Bengals will likely start strong, but they'll fade in the second half of the season.

4.  Cleveland Browns (3-13, 0-6):  Jake Delhomme takes over for Derek Anderson, but he has some raw receivers to work with.  It took Delhomme some time to groom his receivers in Carolina; it may take him longer here.  Since the defense has issues, too, the Browns have the potential to be the worst team in the league.

AFC SOUTH
1.  Indianapolis Colts (13-3, 6-0; playoff bye):  This team will continue to dominate this division.  In fact, it might be a down year for the other teams.

2.  Tennessee Titans (7-9, 3-3):  Vince Young seems firmly established as starter; it seems his emotional issues are gone.  He has a good slate of receivers to catch his passes, which helps his transition to a pocket passer.  With Chris Johnson, the best runner in the league, they don't need to rely on the passing game, either.  A weak slate of linebackers exposes a weakness in the defense, but this team can still win games.

3.  Houston Texans (5-11,2-4):  QB Matt Schaub has a couple of good targets, but the bench is weak, as is the offensive line.  The defense is definitely the strength of this team, but how far can they go with that?

4.  Jacksonville Jaguars (5-11, 1-5):  The Jags have a good running game and strong tight end, but there is a weak slate of receivers for QB David Garrard.  The defense is decent, but they're likely to tire, as they'll be on the field a long time with little rest.

AFC WEST
1.  San Diego Chargers (11-5, 5-1):  If Vincent Jackson doesn't sign, the passing game is definitely impacted.  They have other capable receivers, but he draws coverage.  The running game has issues, too, as they have only rookie Ryan Matthews to spell RB Darren Sproles.  With a thin bench on both sides of the ball, this team is susceptible to injuries, too.  I figure after this latest round of personnel cuts, there will be talented players eligible to sign if key players get injured.  Fortunately, they start with an easy schedule, so the likelihood of starting 6-0 with few key injuries exists.

2.  Oakland Raiders (6-10, 4-2):  The Raiders have definitely helped themselves more than their divisional opponents.  QB Jason Campbell doesn't have many experienced wide receivers, but tight end Zach Miller is always a threat.  A strong offensive line supports a great running game, and they have some good runners.  The defense has regained their swagger and strength, especially on the line.

3.  Denver Broncos (5-11, 3-3):  QB Kyle Orton has wide receivers Brandon Lloyd, Eddie Royal, and Jabar Gaffney, so the passing game will rule.  The offensive line is weak, so Orton will be running for his life.  The line also makes it hard for Knowshon Moreno, and his backup is injury-prone Correll Buckhalter.  The running game will suffer, letting opponents know to focus on Orton and his receievers.  The defensive backfield is good, but the line is weak, so opponents can run on the Broncos.

4.  Kansas City Chiefs (3-13, 0-6): QB Matt Cassell leads off a full slate of castoffs from other teams.  I'm not sure how it'll work, as so many come from different offensive schemes.  This team might take time to get going.  The running game has the best line-up, but I'm not sure the offensive line is strong enough to support them.  The defense is good, but a slow backfield makes them vulnerable to the big pass play.