AFC East
This is probably one of the stonger divisions in football. All four teams could make a run at post-season play.
The big question in thie division is can Junior Seau really lead this Miami team to the promise land?
Are all the additions Buffalo made on the defensive side of the ball going to be enough to win more games in '03?
Do the Jets have enough left after the Redskins invaded to contend in '03?
Some feel New England is going to win this division and make another Super Bowl run. Not I.
1. Miami Dolphins ( 10-6 ):
Much like the Steelers, the Fins now realize that in today's game you can't rely exclusively on the running game to get to the Super Bowl. Jay Fielder should start the season as the Dolphins QB, but that could very easily be taken away by former Bronco Brian Griese. You would think Miami would make the change right away. If the Dolphins decided to go the route the Ravens did 3 years ago, then Fielder must be that ball control dont turn the ball over type of QB. Ravens are really the only team in the NFL to ever pull that off, and we all know that even with an aging Junior Seau this defense is not as good as the Ravens Super Bowl Champion defense was. The best route for Miami is to enter Griese into the offense and let Ricky be Ricky. Many think that unpolished Derrius Thompson is going to blossom into a great receiver in Miami, but once again I think that can only happen if they make that change at QB.
Key to their season - last 4 games - @ NE, Philly, @ Buffalo, NY Jets.
2. Buffalo Bills ( 9-7 ):
Buffalo went out and did what they needed to do this offseason signing guys like Takeo Spikes and Sam Adams on the defensive side of the ball. All this team needed most of the season last year was a little bit of defense and for Travis Henry to hold onto the ball better, especially in the second half of the season. The loss of Peerless Price is a key one indeed, and the big question in Buffalo is can Josh Reed fill his shoes? Reed isn't as quick or as precise a route-runner as Price but he has much more solid bulid and once he gets the ball, he moves like a running back. The biggest thing for Reed to do is get that great chemistry with Bledsoe that Drew and Price had last season. If that happens the Bills will be in business on the offensive side of the ball. Expect nothing from Willis McGahee this season, its Travis Henry's job and take away some fumbles last season there would be reason to think otherwise.
Key to their season - Defense staying healthy.
3. New England Patriots ( 9-7 ):
Sure Roosevelt Colvin makes them a little bit better but honestly whats this talk of this team being a Super Bowl contender? Sure, Tom Brady has great poise, leadership, and a Super Bowl ring. Not to mention how well he spreads the ball around and has the full confidence of his teammates but is whats around him enough? New England will be a good team, dont get me wrong, but there in a division in which 3-3 would be successfull. Rookie Daniel Graham should assisst Brady quiet well. Graham has skills worthy of comparsion to a young Shannon Sharpe. I think the downfall for this team will be the running game. Lets face it Antowain Smith is not great NFL running back. And as we all know you have to be able to run the ball in this league to win week-in week-out.
Key to their season - first 4 games - @ Buffalo, @ Philly, NY Jets, @ Washington.
4. New York Jets ( 8-8 ):
After Washinton invaded and took away key player after key player from New York, the question is can they rebound and can some of there guys become No. 1's? The biggest question is can Santana Moss become a number 1 receiver? Well, he better! Its now or never for Moss. His has much upside, which are that he can flat out fly and in the playoffs last year he was there best receiver. Oh yeah that Chad Pennington guy may help him a little too. Pennington is here for years to come. Pennington may be the best QB in the NFL for years to come. He is the smartest QB to come around in a very long time, not to mention he is accurate and reads defensives like no other. Expect big things out of Chad. Depth at running back with also help aid the Jets this year. Lamont Jordan and Curtis Martin could be a very nasty two-headed beast at the running back slot in New York. The Jets are going to have to run the ball well and pressure the quarterback well if they want to do any better than 8-8 this season.
Key to their season - opening night against Washington, how flat could this team fall if they go into Washington and get beat around by thier own guys?
AFC North
This division is not bad, nor is it very good. Questions that surface in the North are,
Can Baltimore play that ball control offense again with Jamal Lewis back in the line-up?
Is Carson Palmer really that good?
The Browns seem to be on the rise but can they keep it up with a tougher '03 scheldule?
Pittsburgh is the front runner but can Tommy Maddox do it for an entire season and is Amos Zereoue good enough to make a team a winner in the NFL?
1. Pittsburgh Steelers ( 9-7 ):
Well Pittsburgh did one thing right this off-season, they got rid of that bum Kordell Stewart. Now that he is gone they can focus on winning in Pittsburgh. If they ever thought they were gonna win with Stewart then they might as well close up shop. Although I dont buy Tommy Maddox just yet. As for the running back spot, your gonna hear a lot of noise about how Jerome Bettis is in the best shape of his career and is primed for a big year in 2003, don't buy it. His days are over and Famous Amos is the new guy in town. Zereoue is a shifty runner with slowly developing power which is what Pittsburgh has stated they want and like in a running back these days.
Key to their season - weeks 1 and 17. both against the Ravens. Telling tail sometimes the way a season starts and ends for teams.
2. Cleveland Browns ( 8-8 ):
Last season the Browns started with a helmet toss. They ended it with a collapse. The question is can that team we saw in the middle of the regular season show up again? There was a William Green emergence as a top power back, which was best shown by his 178 yard, 2 touchdown performance in week 17 against the Falcons. The biggest off-season move for the Browns was the addition of C Jeff Faine, who may hold that line down in Cleveland for years to come. Quarterback controsery swirls around in Cleveland these days. Tim Couch showed signs last year of being the quarterback the Browns have been waiting for, as soon as that occured around came Kelly Holcomb who seems to be riding the wings of the Browns fans these days. The biggest thing for the Browns to click this year is picking a QB and staying with him. Also Kevin Johnson returning to form. Johnson's numbers last season where down quiet a bit from a year ago when he caught for over 1050 yards and 9 scores.
Key to their season - settling the QB controversy.
3. Baltimore Ravens ( 8-8 ):
The Ravens entered the '02 season a much younger and cheaper team than the one that won them a championship. Although it was an overhaul in Baltimore these team is still based around ball control offense, great turnover ratio, and a solid defense this team is still not even close to as good as that one that pounded the Giants a few years ago. That being said, this is still a decent team. Jamal Lewis coming back is just huge for this offense, lets not take anything away from all-pro tight end Todd Heap thou. Takes a ton of pressure off of young QB Chris Redman. If Lewis can control the clock and Redman can throw few INT's this team can very well contend in the below average AFC North. The Ravens switched from a 4-3 to a 3-4 defense last season, mainly because they lacked the bulk and numbers along the defensive line. Although the players that jumped into this new scheme where very productive.
Key to their season - Jamal Lewis.
4. Cincinnati Bengals ( 4-12 ):
Wanna know how bad it was in Cincinnati last season? Well they lost a franchise high 14 games, an internet petition was started to demand Mike Brown give up control of the team which collected over 13,000 signatures, Livid over his team's play in the first half of a home game, then Bengals LB Takeo Spikes blasted his teammates for their lack of effort. The Bengals went on to allow a opening run back for a touchdown to start the 2nd half. Must I even mention that they gave up more points then any team in the league. Wait there is good in Cincinati, well one thing, Corey Dillon. Dillon is a class act and a very solid running back. The big question surfacing this team would be is Carson Palmer the answer? While Jon Kitna will start the season in Cincinnati the question would is how soon will Palmer see his playing days with Cincinnati? Marvin Lewis likely will run a Baltimore Ravens type offense which many think Jon Kitna is perfect for. The big question is can this defense allow him to do that, the answer to that is a strong no.
Key to their season - First 3 games - Denver, @ Oakland, Pittsbugh.
This is probably one of the stonger divisions in football. All four teams could make a run at post-season play.
The big question in thie division is can Junior Seau really lead this Miami team to the promise land?
Are all the additions Buffalo made on the defensive side of the ball going to be enough to win more games in '03?
Do the Jets have enough left after the Redskins invaded to contend in '03?
Some feel New England is going to win this division and make another Super Bowl run. Not I.
1. Miami Dolphins ( 10-6 ):
Much like the Steelers, the Fins now realize that in today's game you can't rely exclusively on the running game to get to the Super Bowl. Jay Fielder should start the season as the Dolphins QB, but that could very easily be taken away by former Bronco Brian Griese. You would think Miami would make the change right away. If the Dolphins decided to go the route the Ravens did 3 years ago, then Fielder must be that ball control dont turn the ball over type of QB. Ravens are really the only team in the NFL to ever pull that off, and we all know that even with an aging Junior Seau this defense is not as good as the Ravens Super Bowl Champion defense was. The best route for Miami is to enter Griese into the offense and let Ricky be Ricky. Many think that unpolished Derrius Thompson is going to blossom into a great receiver in Miami, but once again I think that can only happen if they make that change at QB.
Key to their season - last 4 games - @ NE, Philly, @ Buffalo, NY Jets.
2. Buffalo Bills ( 9-7 ):
Buffalo went out and did what they needed to do this offseason signing guys like Takeo Spikes and Sam Adams on the defensive side of the ball. All this team needed most of the season last year was a little bit of defense and for Travis Henry to hold onto the ball better, especially in the second half of the season. The loss of Peerless Price is a key one indeed, and the big question in Buffalo is can Josh Reed fill his shoes? Reed isn't as quick or as precise a route-runner as Price but he has much more solid bulid and once he gets the ball, he moves like a running back. The biggest thing for Reed to do is get that great chemistry with Bledsoe that Drew and Price had last season. If that happens the Bills will be in business on the offensive side of the ball. Expect nothing from Willis McGahee this season, its Travis Henry's job and take away some fumbles last season there would be reason to think otherwise.
Key to their season - Defense staying healthy.
3. New England Patriots ( 9-7 ):
Sure Roosevelt Colvin makes them a little bit better but honestly whats this talk of this team being a Super Bowl contender? Sure, Tom Brady has great poise, leadership, and a Super Bowl ring. Not to mention how well he spreads the ball around and has the full confidence of his teammates but is whats around him enough? New England will be a good team, dont get me wrong, but there in a division in which 3-3 would be successfull. Rookie Daniel Graham should assisst Brady quiet well. Graham has skills worthy of comparsion to a young Shannon Sharpe. I think the downfall for this team will be the running game. Lets face it Antowain Smith is not great NFL running back. And as we all know you have to be able to run the ball in this league to win week-in week-out.
Key to their season - first 4 games - @ Buffalo, @ Philly, NY Jets, @ Washington.
4. New York Jets ( 8-8 ):
After Washinton invaded and took away key player after key player from New York, the question is can they rebound and can some of there guys become No. 1's? The biggest question is can Santana Moss become a number 1 receiver? Well, he better! Its now or never for Moss. His has much upside, which are that he can flat out fly and in the playoffs last year he was there best receiver. Oh yeah that Chad Pennington guy may help him a little too. Pennington is here for years to come. Pennington may be the best QB in the NFL for years to come. He is the smartest QB to come around in a very long time, not to mention he is accurate and reads defensives like no other. Expect big things out of Chad. Depth at running back with also help aid the Jets this year. Lamont Jordan and Curtis Martin could be a very nasty two-headed beast at the running back slot in New York. The Jets are going to have to run the ball well and pressure the quarterback well if they want to do any better than 8-8 this season.
Key to their season - opening night against Washington, how flat could this team fall if they go into Washington and get beat around by thier own guys?
AFC North
This division is not bad, nor is it very good. Questions that surface in the North are,
Can Baltimore play that ball control offense again with Jamal Lewis back in the line-up?
Is Carson Palmer really that good?
The Browns seem to be on the rise but can they keep it up with a tougher '03 scheldule?
Pittsburgh is the front runner but can Tommy Maddox do it for an entire season and is Amos Zereoue good enough to make a team a winner in the NFL?
1. Pittsburgh Steelers ( 9-7 ):
Well Pittsburgh did one thing right this off-season, they got rid of that bum Kordell Stewart. Now that he is gone they can focus on winning in Pittsburgh. If they ever thought they were gonna win with Stewart then they might as well close up shop. Although I dont buy Tommy Maddox just yet. As for the running back spot, your gonna hear a lot of noise about how Jerome Bettis is in the best shape of his career and is primed for a big year in 2003, don't buy it. His days are over and Famous Amos is the new guy in town. Zereoue is a shifty runner with slowly developing power which is what Pittsburgh has stated they want and like in a running back these days.
Key to their season - weeks 1 and 17. both against the Ravens. Telling tail sometimes the way a season starts and ends for teams.
2. Cleveland Browns ( 8-8 ):
Last season the Browns started with a helmet toss. They ended it with a collapse. The question is can that team we saw in the middle of the regular season show up again? There was a William Green emergence as a top power back, which was best shown by his 178 yard, 2 touchdown performance in week 17 against the Falcons. The biggest off-season move for the Browns was the addition of C Jeff Faine, who may hold that line down in Cleveland for years to come. Quarterback controsery swirls around in Cleveland these days. Tim Couch showed signs last year of being the quarterback the Browns have been waiting for, as soon as that occured around came Kelly Holcomb who seems to be riding the wings of the Browns fans these days. The biggest thing for the Browns to click this year is picking a QB and staying with him. Also Kevin Johnson returning to form. Johnson's numbers last season where down quiet a bit from a year ago when he caught for over 1050 yards and 9 scores.
Key to their season - settling the QB controversy.
3. Baltimore Ravens ( 8-8 ):
The Ravens entered the '02 season a much younger and cheaper team than the one that won them a championship. Although it was an overhaul in Baltimore these team is still based around ball control offense, great turnover ratio, and a solid defense this team is still not even close to as good as that one that pounded the Giants a few years ago. That being said, this is still a decent team. Jamal Lewis coming back is just huge for this offense, lets not take anything away from all-pro tight end Todd Heap thou. Takes a ton of pressure off of young QB Chris Redman. If Lewis can control the clock and Redman can throw few INT's this team can very well contend in the below average AFC North. The Ravens switched from a 4-3 to a 3-4 defense last season, mainly because they lacked the bulk and numbers along the defensive line. Although the players that jumped into this new scheme where very productive.
Key to their season - Jamal Lewis.
4. Cincinnati Bengals ( 4-12 ):
Wanna know how bad it was in Cincinnati last season? Well they lost a franchise high 14 games, an internet petition was started to demand Mike Brown give up control of the team which collected over 13,000 signatures, Livid over his team's play in the first half of a home game, then Bengals LB Takeo Spikes blasted his teammates for their lack of effort. The Bengals went on to allow a opening run back for a touchdown to start the 2nd half. Must I even mention that they gave up more points then any team in the league. Wait there is good in Cincinati, well one thing, Corey Dillon. Dillon is a class act and a very solid running back. The big question surfacing this team would be is Carson Palmer the answer? While Jon Kitna will start the season in Cincinnati the question would is how soon will Palmer see his playing days with Cincinnati? Marvin Lewis likely will run a Baltimore Ravens type offense which many think Jon Kitna is perfect for. The big question is can this defense allow him to do that, the answer to that is a strong no.
Key to their season - First 3 games - Denver, @ Oakland, Pittsbugh.
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