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1.) Pittsburgh Steelers—A team that still manages to baffle the mind. This is an improved team from last year. An improved team from a team that won the Super Bowl? Is that possible? This Steelers team has 19 of the 22 starters on last year's Super Bowl returning.
Their concern is on Ben Roethlisberger's health. This is a Steelers defense that is one of the most feared in the league, but with an offense ranked at 26. Their offensive line is shaky at best.
If the Steelers can't get the combination of Mendenhall-Parker-Moore going, Roethlisberger is gonna have to use his arm to get him out of trouble. Then the pressure is on the defense, which is pretty much perfect. Defense wins championships as they say.
2.) New England Patriots—This was an 11-5 team last year, without it's key player. Could you imagine if the Colts finished 11-5 with Jim Sorgi as their quarterback; how many headlines we'd see. The facts are simple, Tom Brady is the man in charge in New England and it is simply possible for him to throw another 50 touchdowns this season.
However, this is a team with clear and obvious defensive flaws. A once solid defense, the Patriots were ranked 29th in yards allowed last season. This season they gave away their star defenseman Richard Seymour.
Can you imagine how bad this defense can be? As I said before. Defense wins Championships. But offense can easily win the AFC East Division Title.
3.) Indianapolis Colts—One fact. When Peyton Manning is healthy, the Colts score points. And lots of them. With the addition of rookie Donald Brown, he adds another threat in Manning's passing game.
Joseph Addai when healthy is a decent running back, but Donald Brown adds much needed depth and help to the Colts offensive game, which struggled in the first part of last season.
Some people believe the Colts have been ranked too high in a bunch of Power Rankings that I have read. But how can you argue with their success. They've made the playoffs seven straight seasons and have been to the playoffs in nine of the last 10 seasons, all at least 12 win seasons. Peyton Manning = Success.
4.) Minnesota Vikings—Vikings too high for you? I am not a Vikings fan but lets lay the facts straight first. They have the best running back in football with Adrian Peterson. They have the best statistical quarterback in NFL history with Brett Favre. There is absolute zero pressure on Brett Favre.
The Vikings made the playoffs last season, and let me tell you, it wasn't because Tavaris Jackson was an unbelievable quarterback. Favre just needs to understand his role on the team and not try to be the superstar. In games last season where Adrian Peterson ran for 100 or more yards the Vikings were 7-3.
In those games he averaged 25 runs a game. So in order to win, Peterson has to get around 25 rushes a game. In games where Brett Favre had 30 or less passing attempts the Jets were 5-1. He still throws a lot of interceptions, but he also throws a lot of touchdowns. He threw 22 and 22 last season. Expect his numbers to slide a little bit. I predict 18 and 17 this season. Unless his ego kicks in.
5.) Baltimore Ravens—The Baltimore Ravens football team is a team still improving. Joe Flacco is on the rise, and still not fully proven, it seems the Ravens are letting him fly. Flacco is looking to improve his touchdown/interception ratio as he threw 14 Touchdowns and 12 interceptions in 2008.
The signing of Matt Birk might help take some pressure off of Flacco, and help Ray Rice finally take the reigns as the running back in charge in Baltimore. Willis McGahee is a solid running back, but the Ravens are crazy not to let Ray Rice take control of the running game (in my opinion of course).
6.) Tennessee Titans—The loss of Albert Haynesworth is the biggest story on the Titans this year. He was a valuable asset to the Titans defense. It's hard to believe that this team is led by Kerry Collins.
Collins will most likely do what he did last year, throw few interceptions and hand the ball off to his running backs. You can't argue with that success. It worked, it was simple, and teams couldn't stop it.
What may be the matchup of the season in week six, the Tennessee Titans defense vs the New England Patriots offense, should be awesome to watch.
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