College Gameday's Glorious Return

Saturday September 5th was a day that college football fans all over the world had been anticipating for months since the 2009 BCS Championship game had concluded. Before going into the week, everyone had a clean slate and the possibilities were endless. As teams took the field, the first week displayed a few tough match-ups and had one upset too many as the rankings should be shifted around by a tad bit after Monday night.

You better believe it. They are all back for 2009!
Colt wants to join Sam and Tim. It might just happen.

The defending National Champion Gator squad was honored with the tough #1 preseason ranking and is well deserving of it as they display one of the best all around rosters in all of college football. A defense that is basically the same as last year's championship defense, if not better, and a heisman quarterback who is not only a leader but a guy that every collegiate team dreams of having. Maybe even Georgia and Florida State. The majority of the ESPN world is convinced that no other team is even close to chasing Florida to the title this year and despite their ignorant peanut sized brains, they may be correct. The rest of the group that complete the preseason top 5 consists of Texas, Oklahoma, USC, and Alabama respectively. They were about accurate when it came to putting Texas at number two because it seems like they will be the only team that can match with the loaded Gators if there is such a team.



















Brandon Spikes leads a notorious
Florida defense in a hunt for their
third National Championship in just
four years.

So let's get down to business.

Recap.

#1 Florida showed the nation that they are tough but generous as they struck terror into the eyes of Charleston Southern and rocked the world of the Buccaneers. With Tebow only seeing the field for the first half the Gators were able to rout the poor underdogs 62-3. It may not mean much being that the team they played was a nobody but the Gators should clear things up within a few weeks when they enter SEC play.

#2 Texas. Same dealio. The Longhorns defense doesn't even compare to the men of Florida but their offense sure stands out as Heisman candidate Colt McCoy may be the best all around quarterback in the nation this season. Did I just speak too boldly? The truth needs to be heard. The defense will have to progress over the season if they want any shot at Florida though.

UPSET ALERT
First of all, I'd like to say this wasn't really an upset. It was more of a unfortunate event. Can I say that? Last year's Heisman winner may have experienced a nightmare on Saturday night in the second quarter when he fell to the ground with a painful strike to his shoulder and was out for the rest of the game. The All-American heroically decided to come back for another season only to help his team win a championship but they might not even have a shot at it as they suffered an early loss. Falling 14-13 to #20 BYU, the Oklahoma offense was powerless without the presence of their leader behind center. The loss was a big blow to their chances of returning to the National Championship game but luckily for them, they are in the Big 12 and they aren't exactly out of it yet. Better now than later. Just ask Texas.

Without Max Hall, BYU can
forget all about a winning season.
He led an underdog team over a
hurt Sooners squad

#4 USC may be ranked a little higher than they deserve due to their freshman quarterback and losses on defense. Then again, we're talking about the Trojans. A team that features a new star(s) every season and just blows away teams by marginal efforts. That's exactly what USC did on opening day as they bullied their neighbors, San Jose State. The Trojans should be at the top of the rankings for a while. Terrelle Pryor would probably disagree with me? Maybe I'll disagree with me? What?

Looks like practice has payed off a little
earlier than expected. Freshman
Matt Barkley is USC's guy at quarterback.

#5 Alabama escaped a close one in Atlanta Georgia as they played on a neutral field against #7 Virginia Tech in the match-up of the week. The Tide just didn't look like the offense that they had last season and it seemed like Virginia Tech had the edge on them but defense proved once again, that they are the main reason for most football teams' success. Mark Ingram could be the most valuable equation to the Tide's success this season. Don't expect them to waste any time as they will develop their renovated offense in these next two weeks against low status schools before going into their own conference that everyone fears.














It was all defense inside the Georgia Dome on
Saturday night in a heated battle. It was a close
one until the fourth quarter began. It was all
Alabama for the win in the final 15 minutes.

"Series of Unfortunate Events"

Blount's "Classy" Move
LaGarrette Blount may have had the worst individual performance of all time in the entire college football history on opening night as the senior carried eight times for a total of NEGATIVE 5 yards and had two receptions for 13 yards. At least he didn't finish with negative total yards. He can always redeem himself next week. Wait, he can't because he couldn't accept the fact that he had a terrible performance and showed no class by sucker punching one of the Boise State players that was jawing him off. Okay, so you get the unnecessary trash talk to your face by a guy that isn't even that good so what's the point of hitting him? He's going to be working a cubicle in a few years while you're getting paid millions in the NFL. Or, you can hit him and then get suspended for your entire season and probably forget your chances of being drafted. That's the great decision that Blount went with.














Not the wisest move by the senior running back.
You bet he'll think twice before he throws another
punch. And you can be the Boise State fella will
reconsider trash talking in the face of a 6'1" 220
pounder that just endured 60 minutes of frustration.

Trinton's Biggest Test
As Georgia tried to rebound off a disappointing season last year, the offensive line was anchored by redshirt freshman tackle Trinton Sturdivant, a stud at the position that was unable to play last year due to a season ending injury to the knee. The offensive line was said to be one of the best in the nation entering this season but a few things had been altered as the future NFL pro fell to the groun after tweaking the same knee that kept him on the sidelines. After a painful misplacement of his footing, Sturdivant was given the terrible news that once again, he would be out for the season. Two years in a row, the Offensive tackle will not be able to help his program in an effort to be a top team in the SEC. It will take a lot of patience and a very positive attitude for Sturdivant to once again rehabilitate his knee and support his teammates from the sidelines. Get better soon, #77.

Trinton Sturdivant has always been a positive
presence in the locker room and on the field.
Bad things happen to good guys. Sometimes it
just isn't fair but you can bet that the tackle
will be back in action in 2010. The wait is worth it.

Oklahoma's Heisman Curse
Sam bradford made his return to Oklahoma in search for the one thing that his team greatly desired, a BCS Championship trophy. After high expectations in the preseason, young Bradford suffered an injury to his throwing shoulder. Oklahoma's offense not only has to deal with the absence of Jermaine Grisham, but a few weeks will be needed for Sam Bradford to rest before he can behind center for the Sooners. This isn't the first time Oklahoma has dealt with hurt heisman candidates. Jason White was a major injury prone before being selected as the Heisman winner a few years back and current Vikings running back Adrian Peterson suffered a serious injury to his collarbone after being runner up for the Heisman as a young underclassmen.



















Heisman winner Sam Bradford may have to wait
it out before they have any chance of making
another appearance to the BCS Championship Game.

Georgia-#24,7
The Bulldogs played their first game without the Knowshon Moreno, Matthew Stafford duo for the first time in two season and it wasn't a pretty one. After a successful opening drive, it seemed as if Joe Cox may have solved the questions and doubts about Georgia's chances this year in competing in the SEC but high hopes were quickly thrown down the drain as the offense looked pathetic throughout the rest of the road trip to Oklahoma State. Despite fantastic defense on one of the most dangerous offenses in the nation, the offense basically lost a game that seemed to be in the control of the Bulldogs. Offensive play calling is about 85% of the blame and we could spend the rest of the portions blaming Joe Cox and Carlton Thomas for their avoidable fumbles inside their own 25 yard line.

Maybe 1% of the blame could go to some of the worst calls made by the referees including a 2nd and 15 call where Rashad Jones' big hit after a dropped catch was called unnecessary roughness and gave Oklahoma State a first down in the red zone. Without being bias, that may have been one of the worst calls. The Cowboys came back the next drive on defense and did the exact same hits on Georgia plays and I sat speechless on the couch as I didn't see any yellow hit the field. Unacceptable.

One big thing that the Dogs will be working on throughout the week will be forcing turnovers. The defense had multiple chances of changing the possession to their favor but they just were not able to capitalize.

#7 and #24 are obviously no longer in Athens so Georgia fans need to get over it and look ahead as the team will need to develop over the season and try to win more than nine games this season in an effort to compete in their conference. Like Oklahoma, Georgia is in the same boat where they suffered a very early loss but took it outside of the conference so their is still plenty of football to be played, Georgia fans. One thing is for sure, let's just say if the Georgia offense doesn't pick themselves up from this past weekends pathetic display, we may have to relive last year's embarrassment in Jacksonville and their will be plenty of Gator chomps to go around.

Coach Mark Richt will have to spend this season finding the
best possible replacement for the golden arm that once graced
a red and black jersey. It may take a while.

Miami/Florida State Monday Night
The first week of the season officially concludes after the former Florida powerhouses face off in a rivalry that has been long existent. The only thing is, these two schools have been trying to pick up their program for the past half decade. Two schools that have displayed some of the best defense in all of football and heisman candidates as well as plenty of All Americans are going to face off tonight in a conference match-up with desires of being back on top of the BCS polls. It may seem like these two programs may never pick up what they used to do back in early 2000 and the last 90's but they are both very close. Just a little touch up here and there and a few big plays and we may see both these teams in the top 10 by the end of the season. Oh it is more likely than you think.


















For Miami this is the first of four tough games to open up the season as they follow up with #15 Georgia Tech, #7 Virginia Tech, and #3 Oklahoma. If the Canes can win even half of these match-ups, they will have a shot at reinforcing their school's name in the ACC.

Florida State has a little more expectation as they come into the season as the #18 program in the nation. They will have a lot to prove as they look to start the season off with a win. The Seminoles won't have as much pressure as Miami but they must get themselves organized soon before heading out west to challenge #20 BYU. Florida State is this year's favorite for the ACC Atlantic Division and the ACC championship is exactly where they expect to play in December.
























A preview of this year's ACC Championship game? GT fans and Va Tech fans might not like the sound of that but they better not overlook the Canes.

The defense with more turnovers wins this one.

These two rivals have plenty of tradition and they may
add one more to their list of classic match-ups
tonight on September 7th, 2009.

The aroma of college football has filled the atmosphere and I'm loving it. (Despite Georgia's 0-1 record)

-Jason C

The Mock: NFC West

This was the weakest division in the NFC last season but ironically, the NFC champions came out of here. The 9-7 Cardinals snuck themselves into the playoffs and marched onto take on the Pittsburgh Steelers only to lose in the final minutes of Super Bowl XLIII. There isn't much anticipation out of this division to be honest. In fact, every team has their own factor in being the dark horse of the NFC. The only question is, who's going to fulfill that role?

Arizona

Kurt Warner and Larry Fitzgerald hope to lead on their troops to the top of the NFC West for the second straight season but there are a few changes to a adjust to this year. The Cardinals have the right pieces in place to be contenders but they just aren't THAT good. Last year, a lot of teams overlooked them and the Cardinals capitalized. This year, you can bet that team's will be on their heels when preparing for upcoming match-ups with the defending NFC champs.

Chris "Beanie" Wells could be the next
big thing in Arizona. Or he could be the
next big bust. Let's hope it's the first
possibility for the sake of the sport.

Kurt Warner is the head honcho of this offense and will be the decision maker of whether this offense excels or fails. The veteran in #13 will command the offense with no huddle plays and audibles as he looks to his colossal receivers in Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin. Fitzgerald is the top receiver in the league right now and he will be a force once again with Warner if the two of them can stay healthy and in sync. The running game is a whole different story this year as they will depend on Tim Hightower and Chris "Beanie" Wells. Edge is no longer a part of this team and Hightower will get the go ahead start. Beanie will get his share of hand offs and will be very effective on this offense as long as he can keep his body injury free. We may see a turning point in the season if Beanie ends up stealing the starting job. When it comes down to it, this offense is a pass first offense and will be spending a lot of time through the air. The offensive line will have a lot of responsibilities under their belts as they try to keep their star players behind center from getting hurt. Should be a fun offense to watch.




















While all the attention is on Larry Fitzgerald,
what will Anquan do this season to let the
football nation know just how good he is?

This defense isn't going to be the reason that the Cardinals find themselves in the playoff race this year but they will have to do their part in order for this team to be successful. The front line isn't so hot and won't be giving opposing quarterbacks too much pressure. Karlos Dansby and Chike Okeafor will have a lot on their hands as their linebacker position will be challenged more than enough times. The linebackers won't get as much freedom as they would like because they will have to be on the edge while keeping an eye on the running game and the short range passing game of opposing offenses. The secondary isn't too shabby as it is loaded with talent. Roderick Hood, Adrian Wilson, Antrel Rolle, and D-R-C represent a very intimidating defense for passing games and they will make plays throughout the season. The run defense will be very weak and opposing teams will take a huge advantage on that vulnerable area.

D-R-C is the next big thing in cornerbacks
to play in the NFL. He has swagger that
you just can't go against. Any team would
love to have this guy on their roster.

The Cards got their advantages and have some flaws. This team will be in the NFC playoff conversations all throughout the season and will be in the playoff race until week 17. Arizona will face a fairly tough non divisional schedule and is definitely not going to go undefeated again St. Louis, San Francisco, and Seattle. Ten wins is very possible and the Cardinals are going to be very close to reaching that record as they repeat last year's regular season finish as they record nine wins.

San Francisco

The 49ers haven't been contenders since the Steve Young/Jeff Garcia and Jerry Rice/Terrell Owens combo. It's been a while. With a fresh new look and a different style coaching staff, the 49ers have prepared themselves to be in the playoff hunt once again. Could this be the season that San Francisco relives the glory days that they once used to have on a consistent basis. Eh, maybe a few more years will have to go by.

Shaun Hill isn't exactly the next Joe Montana and Josh Morgan isn't a reincarnation of Jerry Rice either. A guy that has never started at quarterback and a wide receiver that probably half the world's followers of the NFL doesn't even know about is not much to brag about. One upside that this offense has to show for is Frank Gore. The monster running back that once burst down the field in Miami for the Hurricanes has had success very early in his career and looks to continue with his dominance on the ground game. Joe Staley is a talent at the tackle position and Gore will likely follow behind his head man on the line when he looks for holes but other than this strong running game, their offense will have some rough times this season. Maybe Isaac Bruce will run routes and catch like he did back when he was in his 20's.














It's time for Josh Morgan to shine and get recognized.
Is Shaun Hill capable of exposing that?

So the offense isn't too hot, maybe the defense is really good. Think again. Isaac Sopoaga is a beast at the line and works alongside Manny Lawson who is on the opposite end of him on the line. So maybe they'll be a solid run defense and will apply some pressure to the quarterback. Takeo Spikes once ruled the league as one of the most feared linebackers. Nowadays, he just isn't the same after a grueling injury and it doesn't help that time isn't slowing down for him. They do have some future though as Patrick Willis will one day be a top linebacker in the league. He has a great attitude towards the game and will be a workhorse for this team. Don't let this guy out of your grasps, San Fran. Having Michael Smith and Nate Clements in their secondary should be a pretty good duo but this defense won't be getting too much attention this year. They will be giving up plenty of scoring opportunities.

Patrick Willis is a beast. Need I say anymore?

The 49ers are always looking to compete but it just it's just hard when you don't have the right guys. Their will be a day that San Francisco reaches the Super Bowl once again but I can't be too confident in saying that it will happen in the next decade. Then again, who would have thought Arizona would accomplish such feats. Four wins four the California Gold Miners.

Seattle

Matt's Hassel BACK and the Seahawks would love to be on top of the NFC like they were a few years back when they played in Super Bowl XL. They've got their man at quarterback but do they have the rest of the pieces to make something happen?

If Matt Hasselbeck can stay healthy, we might be seeing some fireworks in Seattle but you've got to believe that the departing of Shaun Alexander won't be an easy one to forget. Julius Jones is a good starting running back and having Edgerrin James as a backup is a blessing, but Julius just isn't a consistent back while Edge doesn't really have that "edge" anymore. They've got some bodies on the line with Sean Locklear and Rob Sims so Matt will be getting some protection but not all the time. One thing that should be on the rise for the Seahawks offense is the passing game. Not only is Matt looking for a healthy return, but he's got some new firepower to throw to. TJ Houshmanzedah is in town and Nate Burleson looks to be healthy this year. Add a Deion Branch in the slot and a fresh young talent in Deon Butler and you've got a group of excellent receivers. This could be the most high powered aerial attack in the league this year. Bold statement it is but I'm going with it.



















TJ "Who's Your Momma" has spent the majority
of his career as Chad Johnson's sidekick. It's time
for the prestigious receiver to find his own team.

The offense will score but can the defense hold up it's opponents. Patrick Kearney has a huge load to cover on the defensive line but he'll have some back up as Lofa Tatupu holds up the middle of the field. Aaron Curry should be an immediate upgrade to the lacking presence in the defense last season and Deon Grant will hold up a solid secondary with Ken Lucas. Okay, so this defense isn't too hot. They've got young guys and a few well known veterans, but what team doesn't. Enough of this considerate talk. This defense is going to hurt and opposing fans will enjoy watching their offenses flow against these guys.

Lofa isn't as soft as his name makes him sound.
The guy is a monster. The Hawaiian Ray Lewis?

The Seahawks may not have the defense to lead them to a Super Bowl but their offense may be enough to run away with the division. The tough non divisional schedule will make things tough for the Seahawks but expect them to stay above .500 with nine wins.

St. Louis

Before saying anything else, I'd like to announce that I have been a Rams fan since my days as a young elementary school student. Life's tough as a Rams fan as I've been mocked and become the laughing stock of sports bars. With that being said, I announce the Rams as the favorites for this year's NFC championship. Okay, let's get real. This team is coming off a 2-14 record after once being known as the "Greatest Show on Turf". Something needs to be done.

The Rams have always been a team that could never avoid injuries to star players. It's happened to Super Bowl MVP Kurt Warner, Madden 2003's cover guy, Marshall Faulk, 708 time pro bowler Orlando Pace, Marc Bulger, Steven Jackson, and the list goes on. If for once this team could keep their offense healthy, they may be able to make something happen. With the departure of Orlando Pace and Torry Holt, the Rams quickly worked to rebuild a butchered offense by drafting offensive tackle Jason Smith with the second overall pick of the 2009 NFL draft. Great move! A great complement to former first round pick, Alex Barron. This offensive line could be one of the best in the NFL... In three to five years. Marc Bulger is still struggling with his pinky and will need to take care of it in order to be affective this year. He will have little to work with as his receiving corp will operate as one of the youngest group of receivers ever. Laurent Robinson, Donnie Avery, Derek Stanley, Keenan Burton, etc. (Recognize any of those names?) We may see a young talent come out of nowhere but like the 49ers, this team will be a run first offense. Steven Jackson is top five back in the league and is a horse that will be hard to bring down.

A healthy Steven Jackson will mean a great ground game
for 2009. If he is to ever go down, this team will find themselves
with a giant goose egg in the wins column. Make sure to stretch Steve!

The defense has veterans and a lot of young talent. Sound familiar? I say this for any team that has an okay defense. Leonard Little will hold up this defensive line as the veteran has a few years left where he will be able to display a strong presence on the line. Adam Carriker and Chris Long are former first round picks by the Rams as well as Jason Smith and Alex Barron and these two defensive linemen could be a part of one of the best defensive lines... In three to five years. Looks like the Rams may be running the show in Super Bowl XLIX. James Laurinaitis finds himself on the starting lineup as an undersized linebacker but the former Buckeye star could become a good one if he can hold up his playing time and make good use of it. Watch out for this guy to be a big time Ram in the near future. Three to five years? I'm just saying. Will Witherspoon and Chris Draft are decent linebackers that were once good on one team but hasn't really done much since coming to St. Louis. Maybe they can pick it up soon. Tye Hill is a 5'9" corner and OJ Atogwe is a 5'11" Safety so this secondary is a little under matched against tight ends and guys like Randy Moss or Terrell Owens. Can't say three to five years for these guys. They will be decent starters and excellent back ups at the positions they are in but the Rams staff may need to look for new guys to place in their secondary.













James Laurinaitis was a notorious linebacker
at Ohio State and was known all throughout
the State of Ohio.

In the NFL, young James is just another
guy trying to earn a spot on the team.
He's done a good job so far.

My bias says this team will be great in 2014 but for now, there will be painful games to watch and some moments of greatness. I would like for the Rams to make the playoffs but they just aren't ready for one of those appearances yet. Eight wins would be a generous of me. 7-9 would be something to look forward to as a Rams fan.

Seahawks 9-7
Cardinals 9-7
Rams 7-9
49ers 4-12

This division isn't so intimidating but they will be battling it out throughout the season for the divisional championship spot. Oh yeah, even San Francisco. Don't expect another Super Bowl appearance for the NFC West this season. Tough but it's the truth. Suck it up NFC West fans.

Arizona Cardinals. '08-'09 NFC Champions

Seattle Seahawks. '05-'06 NFC Champions

St. Louis Rams Super Bowl XXXIV Champions
'01-'02 NFC Champions

For a divison that is considered the worst in the conference, they sure have made their share of appearances in the past decade.

-Jason C

The Mock: AFC South

The Colts ran the show in the AFC South in 2007 and it seemed like they were going to be the face of the South once again in 09. Tennessee had other plans in mind and they topped the powerhouse Colts with a 13-3 record as the Titans snagged home field advantage. It was almost as if Houston and Jacksonville had no shot whatsoever in making a run in this division. The Texans have continued to improve and may be a surprise team in the AFC. The Jaguars have made a couple changes and are looking to chase after the rest of the AFC. For now, it's going to a race between the Colts and the Titans in what may be a fight for first all the way to the Super Bowl.

Houston

The newest franchise in the league is about to enter their 8th franchise as they try to collect their first winning season in team history. The task at hand will be there for the taking but they will have to continue to improve their offense and even more so their defense in order to make anything happen.















The future of the Texans is now as Steve Slaton
takes on a huge role at the running back position.

The Texans have waited patiently and it is starting to look like it's going to pay off as the offense has been developed nicely with a group of young talent. It isn't the most sought out offense but with the presence of guys like Andre Johnson, Steve Slaton, Owen Daniels, and even MATT SCHAUB. Doesn't seem too appealing but the underdog offense knows how to produce. Matt Schaub has been around but hasn't really been a feared quarterback in the league but with receivers like Owen Daniels and Andre Johnson around him, Schaub has the tools to be a top passer in the league. Steve Slaton had some early exposure as a rookie last season and showed that he could hang with the big boys with instant impact. As he continues to develop, he will be a sturdy back for Schaub to work with. The offensive line hasn't really been the most reliable one but the Texans will shift things around and rotate their men as they figure out the perfect combination. The Texans offense will be good but don't expect some "greatest show on turf".

For a defense that gave up an average of nearly 25 points a game last season, they don't look too bad on paper. Amobi Okoye and Mario Williams stack up the front line with a giant presence as the 6'2" tackle stands next to the 6'6" giant at defensive end. Mario alone piled up 12 sacks last season and will be eager to up that stat by a few more this season. Xavier Adibi is one of Houston's favorite young prospects as the second year linebacker will get plenty of opportunities to make big plays this season with the starting weak side position. The starting group of linebackers is very young and could be a huge problem for them throughout the season as Cushing tries to adapt to the league. The oldest guy in this starting group is entering just his 4th season and will be the starting linebacker in the middle. The Texans will get some help from their secondary as they will be led by two solid safeties that have experienced enough in the league to lead a defense. Nick Ferguson and Eugene Wilson will do whatever they can to support a young defense but they can only do so much. This defense will learn through trial and error and will give up plenty of touchdowns this season.

Many said that Mario Williams was a bust but
that talk ended quickly as the young star racked up
12 sacks in a single season last year.

So the Texans might not be ready to step up to the post season level just yet. Give them two to three years and they may be a consistent playoff team. For now, the thought of another .500 season shouldn't seem too disappointing but one less win would. You can always cheer for the Cowboys.

Indianapolis

The Colts have been a powerhouse in the last decade and have won at least 12 games throughout the regular season in the last six seasons including a 14-2 2005 season and a Super Bowl Championship. They are still led by the same man, Peyton Manning and have a solid overall roster that many teams would kill to have. They've got veterans with tons of experience and younger guys that are developing and learning from those veterans. The former league MVP, Manning has just one Super Bowl ring to show for all the work he has done and would like a few more before he calls it quits.

The offense has been one of the best in the league for a while now and it all starts from the best part of the offensive line up. Pey... No, the offensive line. They've had lots of tough offensive lines as rotations got mixed around and new guys came as old guys left but you can never forget Jeff Saturday. The Pro Bowl center will make things happen for Peyton as he finds time for the precision passer. Dallas Clark plays the tight end position and does a fine job at it. Marvin Harrison couldn't stick around for a few more years but Reggie Wayne has done just as well and the new Anthony Gonzalez has been a humble addition. Joseph Addai quickly adapted to the league as he made an instant impact. He isn't exactly a top running back in the league right now but he is a good enough starting running back that can work alongside the future hall of famer, #18.

Peyton Manning won't be successful without
the presence of Jeff Saturday in the center position.

Dwight Freeney and Bob Sanders are the heart and soul of this defense as they control the line and the secondary. Freeney doesn't do it alone though as he has the presence of guys like Robert Mathis alongside him on the line and Gary Brackett in core of the linebackers as he looks to stay healthy this season. Bob Sanders is one of the hardest hitting, quickest cornerbacks to ever enter the NFL. He has plenty of company to help him also. Antoine Bethea continues to excel as Kelvin Hayden has recently broken out as an NFL player. If Marlin Jackson get be healthy and effective, he will just be another addition to a strong secondary.

Antoine Bethea is a beast of a presence in the
secondary and will be a huge part of this
defense once again.

This team doesn't stand out as extraordinary but they have the pieces that fit perfectly with each other. They've got chemistry and a good mix of everything. They don't have too much of one thing but they have just enough in every area that needs to be covered. It doesn't hurt to have a few future hall of famers either. This isn't the 2005 14-2 Colts or the 2006 Super Bowl Colts, but this is a playoff team. 12 wins will be the max. A disappointing season would be nine wins but this team will make the cut for any expectations as they knock down eleven wins as a wild card team in the playoffs.

Jacksonville

Last season got pretty ugly as the Jaguars sat at the bottom of the division with just five wins. They've got the players that can take a team all the way but they were missing a few factors. This off season, the gm went right to work as they took care of just that.

David Garrard isn't exactly the best starting quarterback but these guys believe in the man and they are convinced that Garrad is the answer to the playoffs for right now. So what did they do in order to help the quarterback succeed? They spent their first two draft picks on offensive linemen Eugene Monroe and Eben Britton as well as signing veteran Pro Bowl receiver Torry Holt. With the best route runner in the lineup and a deep offensive line ready to hit the trenches, we might see some fireworks in Jacksonville. Maurice Jones-Drew is a wrecking ball at the running back position and will take the Jaguars down the field as long as the passing game takes some attention off of him. Tra Thomas will need to stay healthy for this offensive line to be sturdy and Marcedes Lewis will have to come out of hiding and produce some numbers as well as successful blocking. I like this offense and no bias here, this could be the best offense in the division. Okay not first. The second best...

The presence of Tra Thomas for the Jaguars will
be more than enough and they should be an
improvement from last season.

Enough of the hype for the offense but the focus will be on the defense as I go straight to the reasons why this team is not ready to clinch a playoff spot. The defensive line is far from small as they stand at 6'5", 6'5", 6'6", and 6'7" but they have a lot to learn as the defense still needs to solidify their chemistry and presence. Once they figure out how to use that unbelievable amount of size to their advantage, this defense will have a strong backbone. Their starting crew of linebackers in the NFL is a very weak one as it is structured around Clint Ingram (former Oklahoma Star), Daryl Smith, and Justin Durant. They will have to bring out what they did in college and use it in the big league in order to sustain a solid linebacker front for Jacksonville. The secondary is going to be singly handled by Rashean Mathis as the corner will be on the opposite side of Brian Williams and the young safeties Sean Considine and Reggie Nelson. The defense will not be a strong point for this team and that will obviously be a huge issue for the team's hunt for a playoff spot.













Reggie Hayward is like a monsoon in the trenches. He will suck up everything that gets in between him and the opposing quarterback.

The Jaguars will cause some damage in the division and create issues for other teams at times but the record won't be as pretty as fans may want. The team will pull out even if they're lucky but I'll give them seven.

Tennessee



















Vince Young isn't a guy that is used to
sitting on the sidelines but he will have
to adjust as he will be the second guy
in the quarterback position. A time for
some reflection?

The team that thought they were going to go all the way had their dreams shattered by the Baltimore Ravens. The Titans were sent home packing and they had to watch the Pittsburgh Steelers hold up what could have belonged to them. This year, the Titans may be able to get farther than they had before. The Titans haven't been to the Super Bowl in almost a decade but the drought could end now.

LenDale White will have a breakout season
for the Titans and will be a huge reason
for why this offense will be better than last year.

Their was a lot of controversy with the offense last year as their man Vince Young had personal issues and the scoring didn't come by so easily. Much hasn't changed since the 08-09 campaign but the Titans will have to produce some offense this season if they want to find themselves in Miami for Super Bowl XLIV. The quarterback job will be given to Kerry Collins but Vince Young will see his share of snaps as he is the future of the Titans offense, not Collins. One thing to look forward to on the offense will be the running duo of Chris Johnson and LenDale White. They will need their center Kevin Mawae to get better or else the absence of the big guy will place a gigantic burden on the offensive line. Nate Washington is coming off a Super Bowl victory and is now going to be the go to receiver on a squad that despises his former team. He will have to be healthy and could look to have a breakout season. If not, don't be surprised to see Justin Gage step up and be a big time x factor for the team.

Jevon Kearse will manage a strong defensive line joined by Kyle Vanden Bosch and Tony Brown. Jovan Haye is the new guy from Tampa and will see plenty of time on the field and could instantly make this defensive line unbeatable. Keith Bullock and David Thornton are two linebackers that are very good at what they do and will support their fellow linebacker in the middle, Stephen Tulloch. Michael Griffin was the big time safety in the secondary that broke out last season and made a huge addition to this defense. Him and Nick Harper will stack up this secondary and Cortland Finnegan will be on the opposite side of Harper as he looks to top last seasons five interception count. Chris Hope is the last piece to this secondary and he'll be doing his share of helping this defense dominate opposing offenses.

Kylen Vanden Bosch and David Thornton will
be a wrecking crew as they play alongside one
of the league's top defensive lineups.

This team surprised everyone with 13 wins in the regular season. Opponents will be much more prepared before taking on the Titans this season and the road to the playoffs will not be easy with their division slowly getting better and better, not to mention that the Colts are in the same division. The Titans will will twelve games in the regular season at most and we will see a tie in the division as the Colts and the Titans both finish with a record of 11-5.

Colts 11-5
Titans 11-5
Texans 7-9
Jaguars 7-9

It may come down to a single field goal to
determine the winner of this tight division.

The division will be tough and the top two will be a close fight as the bottom two will be the same. Doesn't seem logical? Can't predict them all correct but you can assume that this is more than likely to happen. Indianapolis for the division!

-Jason C

The Mock: NFC South

A couple seasons back, even last season, Carolina might have been on the top of the preseason standings for the division. It's a new era in the NFC south and times have definitely changed. Matt Ryan is the future of young quarterbacks and is expected to lead a loaded Falcons lineup. The Buccaneers are just kind of in the middle of the mix as they are looking to make a run this season with a "below the radar" roster.



















Atlanta

The Falcons quickly prepared for the upcoming campaign as soon as they faced defeat to the Arizona Cardinals in the 2009 post season. The defeat was bitter and the taste wasn't expected to leave them until they could go beyond expectation for the next year. Tony Gonzalez was the solution to the mess as the veteran pro bowl tight end came to terms with the Falcons.
















Tony is the real deal. Mr. Ryan might have just
found a new favorite target. Sorry Roddy.

Matt Ryan is the golden boy that the Falcons snagged last season in the very early portion of the draft. The second year man played well above the rookie standard in his first season and will be considered a top quarterback this season. Not only does he have his two favorite targets returning in Roddy White and Michael Jenkins but he might have a new favorite receiver in tight end Tony Gonzalez who will not only pull down every pass but block with consistency and effectiveness. The Falcons display a strong offensive line that will protect the pocket and give time and space for the running backs to make their decisions and see the openings. Michael Turner was overshadowed by LaDanian Tomlinson throughout his early career but has finally found his home as he has exploded with the Falcons. Turner is an elite back and will amplify Matt Ryan's passing game and the entire offense overall. Jerious Norwood will always be included in the factor as the backup running back will relieve Turner at times and prevent any chance of wear and tear. With Todd McClure and Justin Blalock leading a sturdy offensive front, this team is built to be one of the most successful offenses in the NFL.

Michael Turner won't be alone as he
and Jerious Norwood will be the most
dynamic running duo in the league.

The Falcons have a young defense that could be one of the best defenses in the entire league withing two years of development. The scary thing is, even with the inexperience, this defense is dangerous with the likes of Jonathan Babineaux and veteran pro bowler, John Abraham. The defense brought in some help as Mike Peterson was brought in from Jacksonville. Jamaal Anderson (not the running back), Curtis Lofton, Stephen Nicholas, Brent Grimes, Thomas DeCoud, and Chris Houston are all starters that have less than three years of NFL experience and will all be a big part of this defense. Am I stating the obvious? Well they could be a big part in a negative way but this group of young men is bound to ignite this season. They may struggle for a little while on the way to the goal but this defense is built quite well. The older guys, Abraham and Peterson will lead the front seven while Erik Coleman protects the secondary. This defense could get very nasty. In a good way.

The Falcons have a strong outlook on this season and have the potential to win 14 games but who relies on potential? Potential leads people to fail and this team doesn't want to be in the same category. Troubles will come along the way and the overdose of inexperience will lead to a couple losses throughout the season. 11 wins will be a good season as the Falcons seek a division championship and a definite berth into the playoffs.

Carolina

Okay so the Panthers aren't so bad on paper. But have they ever looked bad on paper? There's been countless seasons where these Cats were preseason favorites to win it all. Can anyone tell me the last time that the Panthers won the Super Bowl without looking it up on Wikipedia or AskJeeves.com (Does that browser still exist?). You can stop looking now. As it stands, the CAROLINA PANTHERS have zero Super Bowl championships and one appearance in 2003 which I might like to say was one of the most exciting games. Regardless, they lost. Let's look into their history. For a team that is dubbed one of the best teams in the NFC in the past half decade, their regular season results sure don't defend a case. 2004: 7-9, 2005: 11-5, 2006: 8-8, 2007: 7-9, 2008: 12-4. So they didn't exactly fail expectations every season but during the seasons that they were expected to be the most successful were the worst seasons. So this year? No ones really talking about them. The attention is all on the Falcons in the south division and their roster doesn't look too bad on paper. So maybe my logic is all out of order and they will actually do well this season. Well, let's see.

While a lot of the focus will be on DeAngelo
Williams, Jonathon Stewart will do
some silent damage that will
slowly begin to rack up.

Jake Delhomme was a stud in 2003 as he led the less than famous Panthers all the way to the championship game. He had his moments and shined in his #17 uniform but as of late, the guy's just not the same. He doesn't have many excuses. Maybe his offensive line isn't as good as before but with a guy like Jordan Gross in front of him, he can't complain too much. His receiving corp? Muhsin Muhammad and Steve Smith are pretty good and Dwayne Jarrett isn't too shabby as a young receiver ready to shine. The running back duo with DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewarts is pretty steady and can do damage with versatility. So on paper, this offense is hot and if Jake Delhomme can produce like he used to, these guys could put some numbers on the board. What could possibly hold me back from stating the Panthers as a team to beat in the NFC?

Jon Beason is a force at linebacker
and he will make sure every
offensive player is aware of that.

Julius Peppers is a Panther for life for now and he is going to continue to lead this defense like Ray leads the Ravens. He's not alone as he stands on the front four with veteran Damione Lewis who has won a Super Bowl with the Rams. Young Thomas Davis and Jon Beason are linebackers that you don't want to go near as they are explosive and can hit you from all sides and make you want to stay on the ground. Nai'l Diggs, yeah he's part of that defense too. No need to go into description on the strong side linebacker. Chris Gamble will be a key component in a secondary that is in a structure process and doesn't have much of a reputation. So overall, we can give this defense a pretty solid rating.

The division is loaded with future star
talent and Dwayne Jarrett is one of them.

What's the problem? Bad coaching? Bad managing? Are they just prone to injuries? Are they hurt by turnovers? Yes? No? Maybe... There's really no way of expecting how the Panthers will do. You can give them a scrappy lineup and see them produce ten wins and crawl their way into the playoffs or you can give them a stacked roster that pulls out just six or seven wins. Or maybe it's the other way around. I'm sounding like a cuckoo right about now but that's my look on the Panthers. Maybe they finally win it all this year. The team will struggle and will win just one game above .500. Don't count on it but don't be surprised either.

New Orleans

This was America's team a few year's back as they gained the support of many outsiders during the time of Hurricane Katrina. The team showed unity and came together as the comeback story of the year as they made a run to the playoffs. These last two seasons just haven't been what they wanted. Finishing with 8-8 and 7-9 records in the past two seasons meant no playoffs and concerns arose as necessary changes were in discussion. The reality is, this team is pretty darn good. The division is just getting better. The NFC East? You heard about the NFC South? It's time to recognize the ugly truth.

Drew Brees is in the early MVP candidate running and he will need to stamp it early on as he looks for perfect aerial assault with guys like Devery Henderson, Marques Colston, Jeremy Shockey, and even Reggie Bush. Jonathan Stinchcomb will lead the offensive line as they look to protect their quarterback's "robot arm" and valuable presence in the offense. Drew Brees has a pretty talented running back to line up behind him as Reggie Bush is a man that can do things other athletes only dream of doing. The athletic and versatile Reggie Bush makes plays out of nothing. While he still is far from being considered a quality back like a Marshall Faulk or Terrell Davis, but if he can figure out all the kinks he will be right up there with the greats. Am I getting too ahead of myself. Yeah, but why not expect the unexpected?

Jonathan Stinchcomb will have plenty of the workload
on his shoulders as he is the center of Drew Brees' protection.

Charles Grant has been a Saint for a while and he now gets to team up with a more experienced Sedrick Ellis in their second year together. Jonathan Vilma will stand in the middle of the defense as the linebacker in the center. The big hitting monster will let his presence be known as he has some help from veteran Scott Fujita. Randall Gay and Darren Sharper strengthen a secondary that will now cause quarterbacks some issues when it comes to the air game. So this defense is looking to support an overall top team. It just seems like this division continues to offer up quality line ups.














Like Beason, Vilma is one of those special Miami bred
linebackers that turn out to be monsters on the field.

Like I said before, just because you look good on paper doesn't give you a ticket to the playoffs or a winning season. The division will be full of match-ups don't will be more than meaningful. Each divisional rivalry will affect the team's record by more than just one game. Make sense? The Saints will make a run for a wild card berth but it will not be easy. They will have to seek plenty of wins outside of their divisional games for some security. Nine wins will be their peak this season as they enter a very tough schedule. Eight wins will be the case as they fall shy of the playoffs.

Tampa Bay

The Buccaneers have their fair share of history as a former Super Bowl Champion team as well as having some of the most dominant defensive players including the likes of Derrick Brooks, Warren Sapp, John Lynch, and Rhonde Barber who is still standing strong for the Bucs. Now, the team is just trying to do whatever they can to make it out of a tough division that is continuously on the rise. The past three seasons haven't been impressive as the Bucs went 4-12, 9-7, and 9-7 respectively and made one playoff appearance. What's going to be their outcome this year? Seeing that this is the most unpredictable division, I'm going to have to go with the most logical choice. 16 win season with an early exit in the playoffs. Okay, let's look into the roster now.



















To think that Cadillac is the third running back
on any depth chart is unheard of. A healthy
Cadillac is a productive Cadillac. Take care
of yourself out there, Carnell.

The offense doesn't seem like much of a threat with doubts at the quarterback position and a weak offensive line. Antonio Bryant and Kellen Winslow are going to be McCown's favorite targets and if they can get a connection going on, we may see some sparks. One thing that is for sure is that they won't be lacking in the running game. Earnest Graham will see the majority of the hand offs but Derrick Ward and Cadillac Williams will be sure to come in and take some time off of Graham's hands. A healthy Cadillac could mean opportunities for the Bucs. In many different ways... Trade?

The Bucs have always counted on Rhonde Barber to be there
for them. A few more years until they'll have to move on
without the irreplaceable corner.

This isn't the same defense that once dominated even the greatest offenses and there may never be another Bucs defense that will be as good as the one that took them all the way to the hoisting of the Lombardi trophy. Instead this team will be led by veterans and surrounded by developing defenders that will all be apart of this sort of reconstructing process. Chris Hovan, Jermaine Phillips, Rhonde Barber, and Aqib Talib make this defense a decent one, but it won't be overwhelming for offenses. We will see multiple outings of 20-25+ point games.

The Buccaneers could be in for a huge reality check as they may face a bumpy road in their franchise. We could go as low as predicting this team to do as poorly as the Lions did last season. Too harsh? Maybe. Possible? Definitely. I have more respect for this Bucs team than what they look like. Five wins this season for a team that will have to look into future.

Falcons 11-5
Panthers 9-7
Saints 8-8
Buccaneers 5-11



















The teams will beat each other up in their own divisional match-ups and have to deal with facing tough non divisional opponents from the NFC East as well as the AFC East. The division is capable of bringing out three teams into the playoffs but this season looks to be a one team deal as the wear and tear will be in big effect throughout the season.

-Jason C

The Mock: AFC North

The Steelers will be the team to beat in the North division as the defending champions try to make another run to the super bowl. The Ravens asserted themselves as playoff contenders once again in 2008-'09 as they clinched a wild card berth and went deep into the post season until they fell to the division rivals. The rest of the group, Cincinnati and Cleveland, will need to straighten up their act if they want to make some noise in the North this season. After the two Ohio teams finished the season with four wins each, there wasn't much positive feedback in the cities with coaching as well as player satisfaction. This season will not be disappointing as rivalries will be heated up and pride will be on the line.

Brady will finally get the starting job that he
deserves after patiently waiting on
the sidelines. Show time!

Baltimore

The Ravens raised the bar last season as they went far beyond expectations. The season was cut one game short of what the city wanted come post season, and this year the team will aim even higher.

The offense has never really been a strong point for this "defense first" team, and they felt that much help was not needed as they only spent one of their top four draft picks on an offensive player. With their 23rd overall pick, the Ravens snagged a huge steal with offensive lineman Michael Oher from Ole Miss.











Joe will be the leader for the Ravens offense.
Can they finally pull off a strong offensive season
with the young second year quarterback?

Joe Flacco looks to be the guy that the team is going to trust with the starting quarterback job. The young man who saw plenty of time on the field as a starting quarterback during his rookie year will have more patience in the pocket as well as smarter decision making as he adjusts to the NFL format. With a year of experience, he has completely flushed himself of any jitters of being in the league and could be a standout quarterback this season. The only issue with the passing game will be the lack of talent in the receivers. Mark Clayton out of Oklahoma will have to step out of his role as a decent receiver and will need to play at the level he was at when he played for the Sooners. As for Derrick Mason, the veteran at 35 years just doesn't have the gas to support his quarterback and will not rack up the fantasy stats. With all due respect to Mason, expect him to perform at a minimal level. Flacco will need to take advantage of having a top tight end in his arsenal as Todd Heap will consume a huge portion of Flacco's pass attempts. If Todd can't catch his throws, then there will be a huge problem.

So the passing game might not be so great but the run package should be solid right? The name Willis McGahee might sound like a quality foundation for the Ravens ground game but these last few seasons have been somewhat of a bust for the former Hurricane. With a few incidents dealing with injuries, McGahee was bothered at times and was only able to record three games with 100+ rushing yards last season. He will need to stay healthy in order to be effective and will need to learn not to be selfish when it comes to sharing the carries. Ray Rice will have to be utilized right away as the second year running back has the potential to blossom into an elite running back very soon. Le'Ron McClain should not taken for granted as the young full back could be very essential to this offensive blocking game and short yardage game whether it's through the air or ground.

While a lot of the attention is on Willis McGahee
Ray Rice will work in his part of the rotation
as he makes a name for himself. Fantasy
owners, take him while you can.

Matt Birk leads the offensive line as he will nurture Michael Oher into being a top linemen right away. The offensive line will have to work hard in the trenches in order to give the young quarterback time and to protect #7 from getting hit from the blind spot and from being inflicted with any serious injury. It always starts with the offensive line and with guys like Willie Anderson and Birk, their will be holes and opportunities. Don't count out Todd Heap when it comes to the blocking game either. The Ravens are far from being a good offense but they will have the weapons to produce an offensive game throughout the season.

The notorious Ravens defense will be at it again as Ray Lewis leads a group of warriors into the battlefield through 16 games. If the offense can't score, the defense will make it possible for the team to still win.



















Ray Lewis doesn't let age catch up to him.
The national football icon continues to
rough up quarterbacks, running backs,
and receivers as he leads the best defense
through another season.

Trevor Pryce, Kelly Gregg, and Haloti Ngata bring a strong presence in the front line as they display one of the best defensive lines in the entire league. With a 3-4 base defense, the three of them will have to do a little more to keep the running game from crossing the line of scrimmage but they won't have too much trouble. Following right behind them will be Ray Lewis and Terrell Suggs who are going to be accompanied by a younger group of linebackers but it will still be one of the best linebacker groups in the NFL. Speed and blitz packages will be all over the opposing offenses as this may arguably be the best front seven in the entire league.

Only to add onto the fear of this unappealing defense, Ed Reed will be the guy to watch out for in a secondary that has guys like Fabian Washington and Dawan Landry. Other than Ed Reed, the other guys in the secondary don't stand out like the rest of the Ravens defense, but overall this defense will serve up the full package as they bring pressure from every position. Man to man and zone will both be equally effective as this defense is neither undersized nor slow.

A key factor to look out for as the team's Achilles is the kicking game as Steven Hauschka will get the start as the place kicker. The second year man has only kicked two attempts in his first season and was 50%.

This team will make a strong argument in the AFC north as they will try to beat the Steelers to the division title. Defense wins football games and the Ravens have a hell of a good. Just, the Steelers have a pretty darn good one as well. A strong effort will get them coasting through this year's schedule. They are hungry and have a huge desire to drop the Steelers from the top. 12-4

Cincinnati

Let's just not relive the Bengals ugly season last year and look ahead to what's in store for Cincinnati fans to look forward to. Carson Palmer is coming off an injury to kept him on the sidelines throughout most of the '08-'09 season but a healthier Carson should be something that the Bengals are going to look forward to. The team captain isn't exactly 100 percent just yet but he should be good to go once the regular season begins.

So in celebration of the return of Carson, the Bengals management office decided to bring some help. With the departure of TJ WhosYourMomma, Laveraneus Coles was highly sought out and things worked out for the best on both sides of the negotiation and a contract was signed, giving the Bengals another strong passing game to look forward to. Cedric Benson struggled early on last season but things started heading towards the positive direction near the end of the regular season as Benson finished the last two games with a total of 282 yards on the ground and one touchdown. The only issue, he had a fumble in each of those performances.

Andre Smith is a beast and will be in instant impact on the Bengals offensive line as he will be of big help to Carson's pocket presence. The rookie linemen will also strengthen the offensive line in the running game as the line will be capable of busting open some more holes for Benson. The return game might not be too shabby with Andre Caldwell back there. We may see a few possible returns for big time yards. It's very realistic.

Rey Maualuga will be part of the future plans
for the Bengals in an effort to develop a solid defense.

The defense? I don't want to bother wasting my time talking about a defense that gave up 20+ points in ten different occasions. Did I mention they gave up 30+ points in five of those outings? What did they do to fix this weakness? Apart from drafting Rey Maualuga and Michael Johnson, nothing really. Shouldn't be much different this season.


















Michael Johnson will join Rey
in an effort to help the Bengals
defense. The future is looking bright.
Hope these guys aren't convicts.

The Bengals didn't do much by bringing in Coles. I will go as far as saying that this team could be a 30+ offensive team but the defensive won't give them much room for error. If these guys are lucky, they may get seven wins. I'll say three. Don't agree? Too bad. This team just going to be terrible. Maybe I'm being harsh? Moving on.

Cleveland

The big question for Cleveland fans. Will Brady finally get the green light at quarterback? Looks like he's finally going to be a full time starter and there may be hope for this offense. Or maybe there's a reason Brady wasn't starting. I personally am looking forward to seeing this young man start. He is a monster at the position and will have some help to work with.

Off the field, the Browns had some personal problems as the Donte' Stallworth issue was being settled. Luckily for the Browns, Donte' isn't the thug that some thought he was and they will get to see him in the second half of the season. You can bet that Brady will be looking forward to the edition of the lanky explosive receiver to add on to the already talented Braylon Edwards. For now, Brady will have to do with what he has at the moment. That means Braylon will get his fair share of double teams and Jamal Lewis will need to pop out for short screen plays as well as mini in routes and a few cross routes here and there. Mike Furrey isn't too bad of a receiver either and the speedy guy will make the defender work for every stop. If this offense doesn't do well, it will either be due to injuries or the lack of production from Mr. Quinn.

The newest Brown, Eric Barton will have a lot
of responsibilities on his hands this season
as he works with a struggling defense.

To survive in this division, you need a good defense if not a top defense. The Browns are far from being a top defense in the league but they are close to being considered a solid defense. With the arrival of Eric Barton and the development of Kamerion Wimbley, they could form a solid base with the two linebackers. They have a group of veteran linemen including Shaun Rogers that isn't one of the strongest lines but a line that will hardly have any case of miscommunication. They won't give in so easily to strong offenses just because they aren't as talented. The Browns have one of the youngest secondaries but one that know how to force turnovers. This group of guys is a good sign for the Browns future but there will be plenty of lessons that will be learned the hard way this season.

Wins won't be easy to come by for this team, especially in their situation as an AFC North team. Brady will have his share of struggles and the defense will have to continue to grow together. If the defense can find a strong foundation early on and Brady can keep his composure as a leader, this team could see nine or ten wins. But then again, if I was six inches taller and 40 pounds stronger, I could be a top prospect for the NBA. Cleveland will struggle and endure some painful losses but they will gain from it. I was tempted to say two wins but realistically I'm going to say that they improve from last season's record and win six.

Pittsburgh

The team to beat opens up with a tough schedule as they face a non divisional opponent that handed them one of their four losses last season. (The ugliest loss of the four) They bring back their entire starting offense and most of their powerhouse defense and the team is ready to make a return to the Super Bowl. A win in week one would be big and will be a huge statement for the AFC running as the top team. Of course, the Steelers are on top as of now, but teams like Tennessee, Baltimore, and Indianapolis aren't too far behind.

Ben Roethlisberger is looking better than ever and is even doing pretty well in the acting business with commercials such as Dick's Sporting Goods ads and whatnot. The big #7 will be ready to work as soon as the first kickoff sets sail in week one. He will stand behind a powerful offensive line and have one of the best running backs by his side. Might I add that they have Hines Ward and Santonio Holmes (Two Super Bowl MVP receivers) including role playing receivers such as Shaun McDonald and Linas Sweed. The only thing that this team may lack on offense is big receivers but it hasn't stopped them from winning before.

Willie Colon will work with one of the
most potent offensive lines in an effort
to defend their Super Bowl title.

The Steelers are strong on defense and will bring a variety of defensive tactics using the versatile abilities of top defenders led by Troy Polamalu. The returning corps of defenders includes James Farrior, James Harrison, Troy Polamalu, DeShea Townsend, and Casey Hampton + more. There's no point of describing how good this defense is. They may not be all around as good as the Ravens defense but they are a close second.

The newest cover boy for Madden will be all over
the field as he continues to do work alongside
some of the best defenders in the league.

The overall talent that this team has to offer from both sides of the ball will be their biggest advantage. The Steelers beat the Ravens in the division by just one win and it was not easy. The same will be for this season and we will see some drama in the the AFC North. Oh believe it.

Pittsburgh is looking like they're going to have 12-14 wins this season and nothing short of it. The division is far from guaranteed but the Steelers will be looking hot as they get ready for another shot at taking down the Titans.

The Ravens are ready to throw
down with the Steelers as these
division rivals will put on a
show you won't want to miss.

Ravens 12-4
Steelers 12-4
Browns 6-10
Bengals 3-13

















The Steelers will have to do more than what they
did last year in order to stop the Ravens.

The Steelers are favored to win the division and have the best shot at coming close to 16 wins in the regular season. With the Ravens chasing them from right behind we could see a tie breaker finish in the regular season records. I like the Ravens in a tie breaker but if one team is to win the division by default of both wins, it's going to be the Steelers. Obvious? Not really. Maybe a little.


Am I not showing the Browns and the Bengals enough love? Their faults..

-Jason C