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2009 AFC Preview
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Can the Broncos repeat as Super Bowl Champs,
or will there be a new AFC Champion?
AFC North
Cincinnati Bengals
Head Coach: Marvin Lewis
Starting QB: Carson Palmer
Starting HB: Rudi Johnson
Outlook: Having been on the wrong end of a three-way tie for the final two playoff spots, the Bengals had no major defections or additions to their squad, and will hope they can get over the Pittsburgh hump and take home an AFC North Title.
Prediction: 10-6
Cleveland Browns
Head Coach: Jason Garrett
Starting QB: Brady Quinn
Starting HB: Kevin Jones
Outlook: After struggling to a 7-9 mark in 2008, the Browns decided to let Romeo Crennel go, having never made the playoffs during his five years. Cleveland wasted no time in snatching up the hot coordinator as they brought in Jason Garrett to be their new Head Coach. Growing pains with a new coach & system combined with a lack of consistency in the running game will probably keep the Browns in the middle of the pack.
Prediction: 7-9
Baltimore Ravens
Head Coach: Dennis Green
Starting QB: Brian Brohm
Starting HB: Willis McGahee
Outlook: Continuing a youth movement/retooling, the Ravens surprised a lot of people with their 8-8 mark in 2008. Given another year, Brohm should only continue his development and if the Ravens get another strong defensive performance this season, they could sneak themselves into a Wild Card spot.
Prediction: 8-8
Pittsburgh Steelers
Head Coach: Mike Tomlin
Starting QB: Ben Roethlisberger
Starting HB: Willie Parker
Outlook: The Steelers will hope there is no lasting remnants of their home playoff loss/rout to the Colts last season as they enter 2009. The defense and offensive line might be aging and getting a bit slower, but the Steelers should have enough firepower left to make one more play at a deep playoff run.
Prediction: 9-7
AFC South
Indianapolis Colts
Head Coach: Tony Dungy
Starting QB: Peyton Manning
Starting HB: Joseph Addai
Outlook: Entering 2009 without the distinction of being defending AFC South Champs might be a different feeling for the Colts, but don't expect them to dwell on it. You can expect Manning and the troops to be at the top of their games once more, but will they have enough for a second Super Bowl trip in four years?
Prediction: 11-5
Las Vegas Outlaws
Head Coach: Jack Del Rio
Starting QB: David Garrard
Starting HB: Maurice Jones-Drew
Outlook: An injured (gee, what a surprise) Fred Taylor seemed to have put the team into a funk last season, and their 4-12 mark showed it. With a fresh new start and very strong fan base in Las Vegas, coupled with Del Rio's decision to make Jones-Drew the primary back and have Taylor come off the bench, the Outlaws will look to put the final season of the Jacksonville Jaguars far into the rear-view, and get back to a playoff berth in 2009.
Prediction: 8-8
Houston Texans
Head Coach: Gary Kubiak
Starting QB: Matt Schaub
Starting HB: Ronnie Brown
Outlook: 2008 was a landmark year for the Houston Texans. Finally breaking through and securing a winning record, the Texans went on to the 2nd best mark in the AFC, only to come up short in the AFC Championship Game against the Denver Broncos. There could be a letdown in the works for the Texans, as we'll get to see the true measure of Coach Kubiak's resolve.
Prediction: 9-7
Tennessee Titans
Head Coach: Jeff Fisher
Starting QB: Vince Young
Starting HB: LenDale White
Outlook: Could the Titans struggles from last season be soley attributed the downtrodden play of Vince Young? A more likely reason was the fact that he really had no play-makers in the passing game, a problem that was hopefully fixed with the drafting of the electrifying DeSean Jackson. It'll take a very strong season from Young and the offense if the Titans are to make any noise in the AFC South.
Prediction: 6-10
AFC East
Buffalo Bills
Head Coach: Dick Jauron
Starting QB: Trent Edwards
Starting HB: Marshawn Lynch
Outlook: The decision to stick with Edwards for one more season could either pay big dividends in Buffalo, or perhaps lead to Jauron's downfall. A defense that was very streaky last season will need to solidify itself to help keep the pressure of the young Edwards and the Bills offense if they want to hang with the big boys of New York and New England.
Prediction: 7-9
Toronto Breakers
Head Coach: Jim Mora, Jr.
Starting QB: Colt Brennan
Starting HB: Mike Hart
Outlook: Nobody really knows what to expect from the youngest team in NFL history. A lot of talent, but not a lot of experience might be too much to overcome in Toronto, and one bad patch of play could spell doom on the entire season.
Prediction: 5-11
New York Jets
Head Coach: Eric Mangini
Starting QB: Kellen Clemens or Chase Daniel
Starting HB: Darren McFadden
Outlook: Having marched to a 9-7 mark on the strength of a 4-1 stretch in the final five games of 2008, the Jets made a bold move by drafting Daniel in the 2nd Round of the Draft. Whether it's Clemens or Daniel leading the offense, one thing they'll need to do is keep the ball in the hands of the young superstar known as "Run DMC." The defense will hold up, but can the offense do there part?
Prediction: 9-7
New England Patriots
Head Coach: Marty Schottenheimer
Starting QB: Tom Brady
Starting HB: Laurence Maroney
Outlook: Having finally won a playoff game, Coach Schottenheimer didn't have much else to say when the Patriots were defeated by the Texans in the AFC Divisional round. It took the high-octane Patriots most of the season to get back to their pass-happy ways, and when they did, the victories started rolling in. Given another full season, Coach Schottenheimer could very well find himself on the sidelines in the Super Bowl this season.
Prediction: 12-4, AFC Champion
AFC West
Denver Broncos
Head Coach: Mike Shanahan
Starting QB: Jay Cutler
Starting HB: Travis Henry
Outlook: Shaking off a bad taste from 2007, the Broncos came out and ran right through the AFC to a 12-4 mark and a berth in the Super Bowl. Then the 35-7 rout of the Seattle Seahawks gave Denver their 3rd Lombardi Trophy in 12 seasons, and the Broncos should definitely find themselves on the short list of contenders in the AFC once again.
Prediction: 11-5
San Diego Chargers
Head Coach: Norv Turner
Starting QB: Philip Rivers
Starting HB: LaDainian Tomlinson
Outlook: The Chargers started off 2008 hot and ended up cooling off all the way to a 1st-round playoff exit. All the pieces are in place, and the improved play at middle linebacker they should see this season have left he Chargers as perhaps the sleeper pick to reach the Super Bowl.
Prediction: 11-5
Kansas City Chiefs
Head Coach: Herm Edwards
Starting QB: Derek Anderson
Starting HB: Larry Johnson
Outlook: With Derek Anderson proving that he was more than just a flash in the pan during his time in Cleveland, the Chiefs and their aging defense and offensive line were just overwhelmed in 2008, losing some games the offense clearly had won. Younger, faster and with more experience, the Chiefs might still be a year or two away, but they'll be an interesting team to watch.
Prediction: 4-12
Los Angeles Raiders
Head Coach: Lane Kiffin
Starting QB: JaMarcus Russell
Starting HB: DeMarco Murray
Outlook: Probably the surprise team of 2008, the Raiders leave Oakland for Los Angeles once again and have a shining light of optimism throughout the Franchise. Despite Russell still going through some growing pains, especially with the Raiders having been thin at WR, the Raiders brought in a rejuvenated Charles Rogers and drafted the explosive Murray from Oklahoma with the 2nd overall pick. The only questions remaining are whether the Raiders defense can perforom at a consistent level and will Russell's third year starting be his best yet?
Prediction: 6-10
More NFL Sports News at:
Sports Ticket Depot - NFL News
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