Who's Gotten Better, and Who's Gotten Worse? A Look at The 2009 NFL Season.

Now that the 2009 free agent period has slowed down, here is a look at the AFC. 

Which teams have gotten better, and which have gotten worse.

AFC North

Pittsburgh Steelers - 1st place, Super Bowl Champions

Pittsburgh has had it's normal free agency. Bryant McFadden left to Super Bowl loser Arizonza, and Nate Washington to the Tennessee Titans.

McFadden was pushed for his starting job by William Gay after injury forced him to miss four games. Washington was an excellent third receiver, but with Limas Sweed drafted in the second round last year, made Washington expendable.

Pittsburgh keeps the starting O-line from the Super Bowl intact, after re-signing LG Chris Kemoteau, who was approached from the Jets.

As always, the Steelers will re-load with the draft.

Baltimore Ravens - 2nd place, Wild card participant.

It started with defensive coordinator Rex Ryan flying the nest to join the New York Jets as head coach.

Ryan took OLB Bart Scott, and S Jim Leonhard with him, leaving a few big holes in the Ravens second rated defense.

Ray Lewis was brought back, but only after he had no interest from other teams.

Matt Birk signed as an UFA from the Minnesota Vikings, after Jason Brown bolted for the Rams. Birk is 33, while Brown is only 26.  This wont hurt the Ravens much this year, but will down the road.

Cincinnati Bengals - 3rd place

TJ Houshmandzadeh has been replaced by Laveraneus Coles. T Stacey Andrews joined his brother in Philadelphia. Cedric Benson returns to the team, after getting no great offers to leave.

Cincinnati is hoping that Carson Palmer can return to form after an elbow injury ruined his 2008 season.

Cleveland Browns - 4th place

Head Coach Romeo Crennel was ushered out the door after a year of promise turned into a nightmare.

The Browns were expected to compete for not only the AFC North crown, but for the Super Bowl as well.

Disgruntled TE Kellen Winslow was shipped to Tampa for a second round pick. Shaun Rogers, Braylon Edwards, and Derek Andersons future are all in question.

Eric Mangini better start getting these guys on the same page or Cleveland could be picking even higher next draft.

AFC South

Tennessee Titans - 1st place, Best regular season record AFC.

Tennessee lost the biggest free agent in Albert Haynesworth, who left for Washington and a 7 year $100 million contract.

Kerry Collins returns, but is getting up in age.  Will there be a QB controversy with Vince Young?  Only time will tell.

Nate Washington comes over from the Steelers, to add depth at the WR position, that is extremely thin.

Indianapolis Colts - 2nd place, Wild card participant

Having a slow start to the 2008 season due to surgery, Peyton Manning is going to start much faster this year.

Gone is Marvin Harrison, who has been Manning's favorite target over his career.  Harrison has slowed drastically, and needed to be gone.

Jacksonville Jaguars - 3rd place

Jack Del Rio is on the hot seat this year.  After a stellar 2007 season, in which Byron Leftwich was cut just prior to the start of the season, the Jags took a major step backwards.

Jacksonville has made no big moves to make the team better. 

Houston Texans - 4th place

Houston made a very strong push toward the end of the year.  Andre Johnson could the best receiver in the NFL.

Houston put the franchise tag on Dunta Robinson, which surprised no one but him.  Houston could push for a playoff spot this season, if Steve Slaton can continue to grow at running back

AFC East

Miami Dolphins - 1st place

Bill Parcells did an amazing job in his first season running the show in Miami. Miami went from the first pick in the draft to being division winner.

Chad Pennington returns for his second season, with a whole training camp.  Miami has had some turnover in the secondary, but returning Jeremiah Bell and bringing in former Raider Gabril Wilson.

Channing Crowder, suprisingly was resigned, so the defense should be just as strong.

New England Patriots - 2nd Place

What an offseason it has been!

Tom Brady is obviously healthy and ready to return to form with the trading of back up QB Matt Cassell.

I am very curious why the Pats traded Cassell AND Mike Vrabel for just the 34th pick in the draft.

The Pats have kept most of their other key players on the defensive side of the ball.  Shawn Springs has been brought in to help a very depleted secondary.

Will Rodney Harrison be able to return from an injured hip that many thought would end his career.

New York Jets - 3rd place

The Jets had the inside track to winning the division until a week 17 loss to the Miami Dolphins.

The Jets fired Eric Mangini and brought in defensive specialist Rex Ryan from the Baltimore Ravens.

Ryan has brought in Bart Scott and Jim Leonhard to help toughen a defense that was pretty tough to start.

The biggest question becomes who will be throwing the ball?  The total experience of the 3 QB's on the roster is a total of 8 starts.

Buffalo Bills - 4th place

Buffalo was very quiet this offseason until the signing of Terrell Owens.  This could be the death of Trent Edwards career.

TO could not live with Jeff Garcia in his prime, Donovan McNabb, OR Tony Romo.

I consider this subtraction by addition. This team has actually gotten worse, and it didn't even cost them $7 million.

They do not have a strong enough coach, QB or team to survive hurricane TO.

AFC West

San Diego Chargers - 1st place

San Diego won it's last four games to catch the Denver Broncos, and the division crown.

The Chargers obviously think highly of RB Darren Sproles due to them placing the franchise tag on him. That could be the death of the tenure of LT.

LT is a fantastic back, and without question a Hall of Fame candidate. His days in Blue and Gold are probably numbered.

Denver Broncos - 2nd Place

Denver has had an extremely busy off season.

It started with the firing of Mike Shannahan, and hiring of former Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels.

The Broncos have signed many second tier players such as Brian Dawkins and JJ Arrington among others.

The biggest move, however, was trying to trade Jay Cutler and acquire Matt Cassell from the Patriots.  The move backfired, and may have caused a riff in the organization that could send the team into a free fall.

Oakland Raiders - 3rd place

Al Davis started the offseason about two months before the regular season ended, by cutting DeAngelo Hall, just 8 games into the season.

Resigning star corner Nnamdi Asomugha, was a good start.  Keeping Tom Cable as coach may not be a good idea, but no one else would take the job.

The Raiders have been know as having a "Commitment to Excellence".  Now it is more like a commitment to insanity.

As long as owner Al Davis is calling the shots, this team will not make a serious run at another championship.

Kansas City Chiefs - 4th place

In my opinion, this is the most improved team so far this off season.  After years of people trying to lure Scott Pioli from the Patriots, the Chiefs were finally successful.

Pioli is determined to build this team like he did the Pats.  It started with trading a second round pick (34th overall), to the Patriots for Matt Cassell and Mike Vrabel. 

This added a leader on both sides of the ball. The Chiefs also hold the third pick in the draft, where a playmaker could be added.

Prediction

Top Seed:

Pittsburgh Steelers. Easier schedule than last year, most of the team returning.

Indianapolis Colts. With Albert Haynesworth now gone, a massive gap has opened in Tennessee. Peyton Manning will capitalize on that to once again take the division crown.

Division winners:

Denver Broncos.  Somehow Jay Cutler will get over being shopped.  With LT on his way out in San Diego, Denver pushes them off the mountain.

New England Patriots.  Miami beat New England by a tie-breaker last year.  Tom Brady is back and that will more than make up the difference.

Wild Card Teams:

Miami Dolphins.  Miami has made strides.  The O-line is getting better and they should be better in the second year under the Tuna.

Tennessee Titans.  Even with Haynesworth gone, there is still enough talent on this team to make a playoff run.

Most improved:

Kansas City Chiefs / Houston Texans.

Both teams are building for the future, it just wont be this year.

Worst off season:

Baltimore Ravens / Buffalo Bills

Even though Ray Lewis is back, he is on the decline.  Losing a total of five leaders of the D, (McCallister, Scott, Rolle, Leonhard and Rex Ryan along with losing C. Brown on the O-Line) this team is heading the wrong way.

Buffalo Bills by signing TO has set their team back three years.