Lots of folks want to write off the Steelers just because Big Ben will be missing the first four weeks, but they won't be facing many Super Bowl contenders and remain the only real alternative to Indianapolis to represent the AFC in the Super Bowl.
Two wacky receivers in Cincinnati does not add up to any major success stories -just more fodder for the tabloids. Side bets on Carson Palmer having Owens murdered, anyone? This pariah is on the downside of his career and needs to shut up and play. Some cancers just resist all forms of treatment, and Owens is the NFL's tumor.
New England will be a hurdle for everyone if Brady stays out of a body cast, but the team around him that was a dynasty is now either retired or in the broadcast booth.
San Diego finally turned the page with some huge roster moves but their coach has a legendary track record for failure.
Denver's new phenom at QB will love the thin air in Colorado, but Tim Tebow is not John Elway and Kyle Orton is the worst QB in NFL history.
AFC North: Pittsburgh Steelers - Mendelhall takes the heat off of a thin set of receivers.
Cincinnati Bengals - A .500 record gets you second in this division.
Baltimore Ravens - Joe Flacco is improving and Ray Lewis isn't in prison.
Cleveland Browns - Jake Delhomme is really in the doghouse now.
AFC Â鶹´«Ã½AV: Indianapolis Colts - Manning will get them close if they find a running game.
Jacksonville Jaguars - Garrard still has a lot to prove after eight full NFL seasons.
Tennessee Titans - Vince Young has finally come of age so look for eight or nine wins.
Houston Texans - Andre Johnson might be among the finest wideouts period, but it isn't enough.
AFC East: New England Patriots - The offensive line better be good or it's over.
Miami Dolphins - Ricky Williams has given up smoking dope, again, and should help.
New York Jets - Terrific young QB in Sanchez and a geezer at running back in LT.
Buffalo Bills - When a tough schedule meets a thin roster you can expect disaster.
AFC West: San Diego Chargers - New RB for Rivers in a weak division. Twelve wins will do it.
Oakland Raiders - A new attitude, new quarterbacks and maybe seven or eight victories.
Denver Broncos - Orton is so bad that Tebow should play immediately.
Kansas City Chiefs - The Roughriders could beat the Chiefs with me at QB.?
Lots of player movement in the off-season does not necessarily make for improved play especially when most of these chaps are nearing the end of their careers. Ladanian Tomlinson and Brian Westbrook might both be headed to the Hall of Fame, but not for the stats they will provide this season.
The same old faces should square off in the playoffs and the same old Pro-Line picks will keep me in expensive Japanese sports cars.
As usual, the entire angle at predicting divisional races is based on who gets carried off on stretchers and when a franchise player ends up on crutches for the year then I get to re-do my picks. That's the rules folks - I don't just make them up as I go along.
One fear I have is the hype over the Raiders is misguided and the terminal doom that has plagued them since Kenny Stabler retired will haunt them for another season. Another concern is whether Roethlisberger will keep dating teenagers and if the resurgent career of Ricky Williams is derailed by the new crops they're growing near Chilliwack.
All that really worries me is that when I get bored of my Yankees winning another pennant I might be soaked in gin by noon to prepare myself for nine hours of NFL coverage.
Even with their superior visual graphics and the God-like presence of Chris Berman, even I can't stay focused for nine hours. I usually end up watching his now infamous Fastest 3 Minutes in Football and then go cash in on my gambling "hobby."
Go Steelers.
