AFC Preview

AFC East
1. Patriots - Bill Belichick still has some magic in that old silk hat...Brady and Moss will connect for 17 TDs...
2. Dolphins* - I like the pick up of Karlos Dansby for the defense...Henne is ready to show this is his team...
3. Jets - the Jets are everyone's S-E-X-Y pick...Jets will have a winning mark but will stub their toe against some lesser opponents which will cost them in the end...
4. Bills - Buffalo needs to get a true quarterback if they are going to compete in this division...

AFC North
1. Steelers - the defense will get them through an ugly season...the big concern is the lack of depth behind Mendenhall...just when people think the Steelers are over-the-hill, they always rise to the occassion
2. Ravens - much like the Steelers, just when people think their better days are behind them, Ray Lewis and company seem to get better...
3. Bengals - I love rookie tight end Jermaine Gresham...he will get all the fruits from the double teams on TO and Chad...
4. Browns - Cleveland will make strides this year, but they are still a ways away...

AFC South
1. Colts - until someone in this division can stand up and punch this team in the mouth, I have to go with Peyton Manning...note to Jim Caldwell, if you make it to 13-0 this year, be a man and go for the perfect season...

2. Titans* - this is a mentally tough team because of their head coach...

3. Texans - Houston is on the brink of making the playoffs...Arian Foster is the name people will know by the end of the year...
4. Jaguars - Jack Del Rio will be the first coach canned...

AFC West

1. Chargers - I love the drafting of Ryan Matthews...now they have fresh young legs to go with Philip Rivers arm...

2. Raiders - don't laugh!!!...the Raiders will make noise this year - and in a positive way...Rolando McClain (photo) will be AFC Defensive Rookie of the Year...

3. Broncos - this is not a bad team, but this is not a good team...

4. Chiefs - Charlie Weiss and Romeo Crennel will not make a difference...

* Denotes wild card team

Thoughts on the AFC
First Down - last season the Dolphins took a step back after making the playoffs in 2008...however, Chad Henne is solidly in charge at quarterback...also, head coach Tony Sparano dropped some major weight...

Second Down - how much gas is left in the tank for Ray Lewis?...whether you love him or hate him, the guy is a freak of nature...somehow he keeps on performing at a high level...

Third Down - Matt Cassell is the new Scott Mitchell...back in the mid-1990s, Mitchell replaced Dan Marino after Marino suffered an Achilles injury...Mitchell performed very well then received a big contract from the Detroit Lions where he then tanked it...

Fourth Down - AFC Championship Game - Patriots over Chargers...this is New England's last hurrah...