Alright guys, I'm not him so we'll be okay.

Al Davis is crazy, this much we know. But something strange happened this year—a miracle you could say. Maybe for the first time in his life Davis didn’t buy into the hype surrounding certain draft prospects and instead of opting for Combine stars or speed or arm strength, he chose solid football players—guys who’ll immediately impact the team’s fortune. Davis also seems to have cooled his itchy trigger finger and for the first time in four years the Raiders actually look like they’ll have the same coach complete two consecutive seasons; amazing considering they’ve had eight coaches in the past 15 years. But wait—there’s more (as if that wasn’t enough to make your heart stop). For maybe the first time in his life Davis actually admitted a mistake and cut the overweight, purple-dranking, rocket-armed, accuracy-deprived, super-bust love of his life, JaMarcus Russell. Instead of hanging on to the pipe dream of Russell actually making something of himself, Davis instead did the sensible thing (amazing I know) and took advantage of the rare opportunity when a legit starting quarterback is available and acquired Jason Campbell for peanuts (or was it purple drank?). Now they have a quarterback with a pulse, an improved defense, and continuity on the coaching staff. Hell hasn’t frozen over, but the Raiders may actually be decent this year. Wait—was that a pig with wings?

Offense: The Raiders had the second worst offense in the league last year, managing only 266 yards/game. The biggest reason for that atrocity was the horrific play of Russell; if it weren’t for him they most certainly would’ve finished higher. Consider this: in the 12 games he played, nine of which he started, Russell threw for a vomit-inducing 107.3 yards/game. Journeymen Bruce Gradkowski and Charlie Frye, while not superb, were both considerably better. Because of that you can throw last year’s stats out the window; with Campbell under center there’s no way they’ll be as handicapped as they were. Campbell threw for 60 yards/game more with a rating 20 points higher than the Raiders team total. Suffice it to say the Raiders’ offense will have a much different feel from last season. The insertion of Michael Bush as the starting running back will also be a boon to the offense. Bush averaged 1.4 yards/carry more than Darren McFadden and despite their love of McFadden and his draft pedigree the Raiders finally came to their senses and realized Run DMC isn’t the every-down back they drafted him to be, although he could still find a way to be effective as a Reggie Bush-esque satellite player. But while Campbell will provide the biggest improvement any team will see at quarterback he won’t have too many options in the passing game. With Chaz Schilens unable to overcome the injury bug and former Terp Darrius Heyward-Bey still struggling to adapt to the NFL game, Campbell’s top wideout is second-year former Gator Louis Murphy, a decent but unspectacular receiver. His top option will be athletic tight end, and leading receiver from last year, Zach Miller. Miller found a way to produce with Russell throwing to him, so with Campbell his arrow can only point up and with his athleticism and soft hands he could become the Raiders best offensive weapon. Oakland’s offensive line should also be improved and maybe knowing they’re protecting somebody that can actually throw the ball on target will increase their desire to block. But it really doesn’t matter who’s at the skill positions or blocking; the simple fact is Russell is gone—ergo no way they’ll be as bad as last season.

Defense: The biggest beneficiary of Davis’ sudden bout of sanity was John Marshall’s defense. Marshall’s defense didn’t fare too well last year in giving up 362 yards/game, but that should improve with the additions of impact rookies Rolando McClain and Lamarr Houston. McClain automatically becomes the defensive leader and he has the potential to become one of the best middle linebackers in the game. Houston has had an excellent preseason and will be a rock for Oakland at defensive end for the next decade. With those two cornerstones in place the rest of the defense should fill in nicely around them. Tommy Kelly is overpaid, but he at least gives consistent effort with an occasional big play. Richard Seymour is far from finished like the Patriots thought but after being moved inside to tackle it’ll be interesting to see how he performs this season and if he’ll be happy enough in his new role to consider signing a long-term extension. Their trade with Cleveland to acquire Kamerion Wimbley is looking like one of the biggest steals of the offseason as Wimbley was outstanding in the preseason and if he can carry that over to the regular season the Raiders pass rush will be much improved. Then of course there’s Nnamdi Asomugha. Darrelle Revis gets all the attention as the best corner in the game, but Asomugha has done it much longer and is arguably better and more consistent than Revis. He was shutting down an entire side of the field while Revis was still at Pitt and now that the Raiders are willing to move him around to follow their opponent’s best receiver, expect the hype to gravitate back to him this season. For those who remain ignorant and refuse to accept Asomugha’s brilliance, consider this: the Raiders were 26^th in total defense but seventh against the pass. That ranking was all Asomugha because, well, who else did they have? The bottom line is he’s a beast and because of Davis’ bizarre—for him—behavior their defense will be better.

Special Teams: The one place where Davis’ obsession with combine numbers and measurables has actually paid off is with his kickers. The Raiders have quite possibly the two strongest-legged kickers in the game in Shane Lechler, a five-time first-team All Pro punter, and Sebastian Janikowski, the highest-paid kicker in the game who’s coming off his most accurate season to date. The return games are a question mark though; Rock Cartwright assumes kick return duties after coming over from Washington and Johnnie Lee Higgins again returns punts. Higgins has three career return TDs but he needs to be more consistent.

Coaching: Tom Cable did the impossible and found a way to convince Davis that he should return, despite another season of double-digit losses. But maybe Davis actually realized continuity is important and coaches aren’t interchangeable. Cable has a decent staff around him and made a smart move luring Hue Jackson away from Baltimore to serve as offensive coordinator. If he can break the 11-loss curse, he may even do the unthinkable and return to Oakland for a third go-round.

Miller won't fly under the radar much longer.

Hot Seat: Anybody who wears a headset in Oakland is always on the hot seat. While the Raiders should be better this year and Davis seems to have come to his senses a bit, he certainly won’t stand for another 11-loss season. Cable was given another shot; he has to make the most of it.

Breakout Player: I know he’s already known around the league but nobody gives him the credit he deserves. But it’ll be hard to deny Campbell that respect after he guides the Raiders to their first non-11 loss season in eight years and makes the Raiders relevant again.

Biggest Question: Can the Raiders get any production from their wide receivers? Miller was their leading receiver last year with 66 catches for 805 yards, but he plays tight end. Their leading wide receiver was Murphy with 34 for 521. Heyward-Bey was a huge disappointment and Schilens can’t seem to stay on the field. That’ll be unacceptable this year. Campbell should automatically boost those numbers, but just because he’s better than Russell doesn’t guarantee they’ll produce; they have to step up.

Key Game: If the Raiders have any plans of unseating the Chargers from their perch atop the division they can’t afford to lose to them when they welcome them to the Black Hole on October 10. If they win that game the division race could get a lot more interesting.

Quick Take: As long as anyone other than Russell is quarterbacking this team they have to be better. But they didn’t get just anyone, they got Campbell, a legitimate starter who’ll bring confidence to a team that could really use it. They’ll finally break their NFL-record seven straight seasons with at least 11 losses and if anyone can challenge the Chargers and upset order in the division it’s them.

Predicted Finish: 8-8

For the other 31 teams, click here.

Charles is as explosive a back as there is.

The past few years have been pretty rough for the Chiefs. Arrowhead Stadium used to be the toughest place to play in the league—the sea of red and insane crowd noise made leaving Kansas City victorious a rarity. But after just 10 wins combined the last three seasons, entering Arrowhead is daunting no more. But selecting at the top of three consecutive drafts has allowed to Chiefs to begin accumulating the talent necessary to once again make their opponents wary of trips to western Missouri. Carl Peterson was dismissed as president/general manager two years ago because he couldn’t restore the franchise’s proud tradition or even relive the success he built in the 90s and, with more than enough opportunities to acquire talent, if Scott Pioli doesn’t restore that same tradition he won’t come close to sniffing the two decades Peterson spent spearheading the operation. But so far his draft picks have underperformed, the quarterback he targeted has been a disappointment, and the coach he hired lost 12 games. He’s going to need better than that to revive the intimidating Arrowhead atmosphere that’s lay dormant for way too long.

Offense: If their offense is to improve on their 25^th place finish a year ago Matt Cassel has to play like the quarterback Pioli thought he signed to that ridiculous lucrative contract—if that quarterback even exists. Skepticism ran rampant after Pioli doled out more than $10 million a season for a quarterback with than a full season of starting experience since high school and so far Cassel’s done nothing to prove his doubters wrong. That has to change and sooner rather than later; they’ve surrounded him with enough talent that another disappointing season could prove too much for him to overcome. Another disappointing season from Cassel would also put the Chiefs right back at the top of the draft where passing on his replacement would be tough considering the talent of the quarterback class. With Dwayne Bowe and Chris Chambers at receiver, a loaded backfield of Jamaal Charles and Thomas Jones, a wild card in Dexter McCluster, and an improved offensive line, Cassel has no excuses for another season of matching touchdown and interception totals. As long as Bowe keeps his head on straight, coach Todd Haley recognizes he can’t keep his best receiver off the field, and they get the ball in Charles’ hands as often as possible, the Chiefs offense will be better than it was a year ago. That of course will take Cassel not playing like a high school quarterback, which is far from a certainty.

Defense: With Romeo Crennel in charge and all of the young talent they have on this unit there’s no way they finish 30^th in total defense again. Crennel will get the most out of these guys possible and that could have this talented unit playing at a level very few people expect. When the question of best cornerback duos comes up very rarely does anyone mention the tandem of Brandon Flowers and Brandon Carr, but under Crennel that should all change. They’ve been playing at a high level for two years now but under Crennel the defense as a whole might finally be good enough to get them the recognition they deserve. With the addition of stud rookie Eric Berry, the Chiefs may very well have the best young secondary in the league, which should become dominant in the next two to three years. Tamba Hali is the team’s best pass rusher and it’s been argued he’s the team’s most indispensable player; he’s only getting better too. He’s the only sure thing linebacking group has though. Derrick Johnson has been labeled an underachiever but his talent is undeniable; with Crennel in the fold I expect him to play the best football of his career but again, that’s far from a certainty. The biggest question for the unit is the line. Tyson Jackson was considered a reach as the #3 overall pick last year and he didn’t do anything to disprove that belief. Glenn Dorsey has also been a disappointment since being drafted #5 two years ago. The way that both of them play this year will determine how good this defense can be. If Dorsey and Jackson can elevate their game to match the lofty draft status than I truly believe this unit can vault into the top 10.

Special Teams: The return games should get a boost with the selections of McCluster and Javier Arenas in this year’s draft; both players were elite returners at the college level. Dustin Colquitt and Ryan Succop are both good young kickers and while neither is elite, they’re both solid and should be in Kansas City for a long time.

Coaching: This coaching staff just got a whole lot better with the star power they added this offseason. Todd Haley, known to be a very prideful man, swallowed his ego and brought on coaches with more cache than he’s ever had. But he absolutely couldn’t go wrong with adding Crennel and Charlie Weiss. While he may not get all the credit for their success if they win, at least Haley will be able to keep his job a little longer.

Hali is all they got as far as a pass rush.

Hot Seat: While Mike Vrabel provides invaluable leadership, he can still provide it from the bench, which is where he might end up if Andy Studebaker keeps playing like he did in the preseason. He’s younger, faster, and more explosive than Vrabel from what I’ve seen so far this year. He could provide a boost to the Chiefs anemic pass rush.

Breakout Player: Berry’s just a rookie, but he’s good—really good. He’ll immediately come in and be the leader of the secondary and maybe even the entire defense. His maturity is astounding for a rookie and he simply does nothing but make plays when he’s on the field. He’ll be one of the best three safeties in the league within three years, at least. Seriously, he’s that good.

Biggest Question: When the Chiefs traded Jared Allen their entire pass rush went with him. While Hali is solid off the edge, he’s really all they have in that regard. Vrabel’s aging and although Studebaker has played well in the preseason it’s too soon to know how reliable he is. It all comes back to the line. While 3-4 linemen don’t necessarily have to be elite pass rushers, they should at least be able to free up the edge rushers so they can be. Well that hasn’t happened yet, but it absolutely has to if they want to record more than the 22 measly sacks they had last year. Again, it’s all on Jackson and Dorsey.

Key Game: Every game against the Raiders is important for the simple fact they hate each other. But with both teams improving from last year they should be battling for second place, increasing that hate. The Raiders don’t visit Arrowhead until the final week so the Chiefs want to make sure they put it on them when they travel to the Black Hole on November 7.

Quick Take: The Chiefs have acquired a lot of talent over the past few years and that should begin to show this season. They’ll show signs of progress and they’ll be a much tougher out than they’ve been the past few years but they’re not quite ready to challenge for the playoffs. But another draft like this year’s and they’ll be well on their way to competing for the division as soon as next year.

Predicted Finish: 6-10

For the other 31 teams, click here.

Sans Jackson, Rivers will have to raise the game of his lesser receivers.

To the casual observer the Chargers offseason has been especially tumultuous. First they unceremoniously released face of the franchise LaDainian Tomlinson and then traded barbs with him in the media; certainly not the way you want your relationship with arguably the greatest player in franchise history to end. Then there are the very public holdouts of wide receiver Vincent Jackson and left tackle Marcus McNeill, both Pro Bowlers, which look to have no end in sight. While the Chargers have discussed a possible extension with McNeill they refuse to cede to Jackson’s outlandish demands and the only resolution now seems to be a trade, which the Chargers will only do on their terms. General manager AJ Smith is stubborn and refuses to let players run the team, but he’s also shown that if you go about your business correctly you’ll be rewarded. Very quietly, amid the tumult, Smith rewarded Antonio Gates with the richest tight end contract in history, a gesture that showed their appreciation to him while at the same time thumbing their nose at Jackson. But even with all the distractions the Chargers have been able to focus and continue on their way, playing excellent football in the preseason and showing no signs of slipping, whether they have Jackson and McNeill or not. But the preseason is still just the preseason and when the games count can they still score the points necessary to compete in a competitive AFC without their best lineman and one of the top receivers in the game?

Offense: The Chargers were 10^th in total offense a year ago and it’d be easy to assume they’ll slip without Jackson and McNeill; however, they should be able to be just as good for a couple of reasons. Losing Jackson is a huge blow to the offense, no doubt, but the addition of Ryan Mathews should offset his absence. They might’ve been 10^th in total offense, but behind the sluggish legs of Tomlinson they had the second worst running game in the league with a meager 88.9 yards/game. Even more discouraging was their league worst 3.3 yards/ carry. While Tomllnson blamed the offensive line and the game plan for his struggles he clearly lacked the quickness and explosiveness that defined him earlier in his career. Mathews will immediately improve the running game because while he may not be the quickest or most explosive, he’s a tough, shifty runner that at 22 clearly has more in his tank than Tomlinson, who was running on E all year. The increase in running efficiency will make up for the decrease in passing output, but just because Jackson is absent doesn’t mean their passing game will fall off a cliff. Expect more of the onus of the passing game to fall on Gates, but as arguably the best tight end in the game he should be more than able to handle the increased work. Malcom Floyd and Legedu Naanee are also capable receivers and they just added Patrick Crayton for depth. Philip Rivers is one of the best quarterbacks in the game and while he’d certainly love to have Jackson present he’ll benefit from an improved ground game and will find a way to make it work without him.

Defense: The Chargers defense was mediocre last year and with the expected improvement of their division foes they’ll have to step it up a bit this year. They don’t have to be a shutout-capable unit; they just have to give Rivers ample opportunity to put games away. One area where they could improve is rushing the passer. Their leading pass rusher last year was Shaun Phillips with only seven sacks, followed by the once-dominant former Terp Shawne Merriman with four. Merriman is going to have to play better, especially if he wants the fat contract he’s been seeking for years. His status as feared is waning and he has to prove he’s fully recovered from his knee issues and that he’s worth the money he wants in the offseason. The Chargers are also expecting a lager contribution from Larry English and he’ll have to produce more than the two sacks he conjured last year. English was drafted as their contingency plan in case Merriman bolted and with that likely to be the case English needs to prove capable of assuming a full-time role. Another youngster assuming a larger role this year is Antoine Cason, who takes over for Antonio Cromartie. Cason should be an improvement over the former Pro Bowler who’d seen his play decline the last two seasons and was a liability against the run. Cason is a solid cover guy and is a vast improvement over Cromartie against the run. With Quentin Jammer, and Nathan Vasher most likely in the nickel, the Chargers will be able to defend spread sets better than most teams in the league. What will be the most interesting to watch will be how well Antonio Garay fills in at nose tackle. They’ve been used to superb play at the position for years with Jamal Williams anchoring their defense but with his injury history and age a concern they let him sign with division rival Denver and decided to turn the job over to Garay.  They’re hoping he brings more to the table than Ian Scott did last year, but being in and out of football the last few seasons means that he’s not the most reliable player and at a position as important as nose tackle he’ll have to prove their decision to ignore the position in the draft wasn’t ill advised.

Special Teams: They’ve got best kicking duo in the league and it’s not even close. Mike Scifres is as deadly a punter as there is and nobody excels at placing the ball inside the five than he does. Nate Kaeding is an excellent placekicker but one area where he needs to improve is converting pressure kicks with his history of coming up short in the playoffs. With the team expecting another playoff run he’ll get ample shots at redemption; he just better make sure he comes through or they may have no choice but to look for somebody who can. As far as returning duties, you’d be hard pressed to find somebody as dangerous as the diminutive Darren Sproles.

Coaching: Marty Schottenheimer was fired after a 14-2 season because he was unable to take a loaded team past their first playoff game. But while Norv Turner has been able to notch a few playoff wins, he too hasn’t found a way to get a very talented team to the Super Bowl; maybe he needs to call Stan Humphries? Regardless, Turner has proven that he’s still one of the brightest offensive minds in the league and with Ron Rivera running his defense the Chargers have a solid staff in place. But eventually Turner is going to have show he can get this team to where Smith built it to go.

Mathews should offset the loss of Jackson.

Hot Seat: Merriman started his career on an absolute tear with 39.5 sacks in his first three seasons; but since suffering a knee injury and missing all but a game in ’08 he has just four sacks since. It’s unlikely the Chargers bring him back next year unless he’s willing to return at a reduced rate. He wants a huge contract but if he plays like he did last year that’ll be impossible. This is his audition to prove to other teams that he can still be the dominant pass rusher he was in his first three seasons. But if he plays like he did last year he might not see the field as much either because the Chargers won’t hesitate to start the transition to English now.

Breakout Player: He may only be a rookie but Mathews should have a big year. They didn’t trade all the way up to #12 for a player they don’t plan on featuring from the jump. He’s not only their best option as a feature back—he’s their only option because Sproles isn’t built for it. He’ll get ample opportunity to prove them right in giving up a bounty to draft him.

Biggest Question: With Darrelle Revis now signed, no situation in the league is being watched as closely as Jackson’s. Since he remains unsigned he’ll now miss the first six weeks of the season whether he reports to the Chargers or is traded. While the Chargers would love to have him back, that’s very unlikely and the next time he steps on a football field it’ll probably be with another team. Who that team is and what the Chargers receive in return is unknown. All we know is this situation is far from over.

Key Game: The Chargers always give Peyton Manning fits and they’ll get another chance at a marquee victory when they travel to Indianapolis on November 28 for a Sunday night showdown. It’s Week 12 and by then both teams could be jockeying for playoff positioning. If Jackson is still absent, which I expect, it’ll be a good test to see whether Rivers and the offense can hang in what projects to be a shootout minus their top wideout.

Quick Take: While the gap is closing between the Chargers and the rest of the AFC West, they’re still the class of the division and should once again win the division by multiple games. But, recently the playoffs have been decided by quarterbacks and their receivers and the loss of Jackson could ultimately come back to haunt this team.

Predicted Finish: 11-5

For the other 31 teams, click here.

Jackson is basically all the Rams have.

The Rams are the definition of a franchise in flux; no team has as much uncertainty surrounding it this season. Stan Kroenke has assumed majority ownership and nobody can be certain what his vision is for this club, but you can bet that he has some changes in mind for a club that’s won only six games the last three years and is coming off a 1-15 season. Steve Spagnuolo was hired just last year to coach and Billy Devaney was promoted to general manager the year before; but neither are Kroenke’s guys so their job security suddenly comes into question. They’ll also be starting a rookie quarterback from Day One and even though Sam Bradford was the #1 overall pick, the track record of rookie quarterbacks is not very good, to say the least. Both Devaney and Spagnuolo have to hope his transition to the NFL isn’t disastrous because their futures are strongly tied to his success. He doesn’t have to take the world by storm and lead the Rams to the playoffs; however, progress is important because Kroenke will want to see signs that they’re building a foundation and not staying mired in the muck that’s engulfed them the past few years. While nobody expects the playoffs this is an important season nonetheless, with a lot hinging on the tender shoulder of Bradford.

Offense: There’s Steven Jackson and then there’s everybody else. Outside of the rugged bruiser with the Charmin-soft hands there’s very little to get excited about here. But let’s at least get excited about him before we delve into the doldrums of the rest of this offense. Jackson is an absolute beast. He’s one of the best five running backs in the game and you’d be hard pressed to find one who does everything as well as he does; he’s the total package. But he’s even more than that—he plays the game the way it should be played. Perfect example: the Rams are getting whooped by the 49ers 35-0 in the fourth quarter and he’s churning for extra yards and running like the game is in overtime; how many players do that? Now, Spagnuolo should’ve never had him in the game in that situation, especially with his injury history, but he wanted to be out there because that’s the type of player he is. Even with teams aware that he was their only viable option he still finished second in rushing with 1,416 yards on 4.4 yards/carry. And he did all that with a bad back too (in all honesty doesn’t Jackson’s back injury have to be the most ironic injury in all of sports? I mean, he’s been carrying this team on his back the past three years; no wonder his back gave out). If he stays healthy he could be even better this year because Jason Smith should show some growth in his second year and the addition of Rodger Saffold should improve one of the league’s worst lines. They better be improved because Bradford’s going to need time to find his nondescript group of receivers; if they weren’t wearing Rams unis I don’t even know if Bradford would recognize them. But Laurent Robinson is a solid possession guy, he just has no place being a #1 receiver, but with Donnie Avery finding it impossible to stay healthy that’s the situation the Rams are in. Danny Amendola could also put up some good numbers from the slot because Bradford will need to dump the ball off a lot and he can’t always go to Jackson—or could (should?) he?

Defense: It doesn’t get much better on defense either. You know it’s bad when your defense gives up the second most points in the league (27.2) and your offense scores the fewest (10.3).  Unless their offense has found the antidote for an allergy to the end zone it’s not going to get much better this year because there hasn’t been much done to improve a porous unit; I think they’re just banking on veterans getting younger and the younger players playing like veterans. If that’s the case they should get Mike + the Mechanics to sing “All I Need is a Miracle” before every game. All kidding aside, I know that everyone says they see a ton of potential in Chris Long and it won’t be long before he blossoms; but, while I love his motor, I don’t know if I ever see him becoming the player they thought they drafted. He was the second overall pick and while he did start 16 games as a rookie, he started only four last year and although nine sacks in two seasons isn’t terrible, it’s disappointing considering his pedigree. But he better step it up because outside of him they don’t have much along the front, although George Selvie could become a productive player in time. There is a bright spot in the middle of the defense though. James Laurinitis proved he can be the leader of the defense for the next decade and he has the ability to become one of the better middle linebackers in the league; a welcome revelation for a team starved for leadership. Other than that the only other player on this defense worth mentioning is OJ Atogwe, who would’ve been gone if anyone showed the slightest bit of interest in meeting his demands. But the Rams are lucky he returned because he has a penchant for making big plays and the Rams can use as many of them as possible because outside of Jackson, their offense won’t be producing much.

Special Teams: Rookie Mardy Gilyard from Cincinnati was one of the most explosive kick returners in college football last season; he has the potential to provide a major upgrade over Amendola, though Amendola will still return punts as of now. Josh Brown is back as the kicker and while he was a coup when they pried him away from Seattle two years ago, his play has steadily declined and he might not be back next year if that trend continues. Donnie Jones was excellent last year (and he should’ve been considering how much practice he got) and at only 29 there’s no reason to believe he shouldn’t be just as good this year.

Coaching: You couldn’t tell from watching them last year, but Spagnuolo is a brilliant defensive mind. It can be argued he was more important to the Giants winning the title in ‘07 than Tom Coughlin. He’s been forced to draft for offense, but if Kroenke believes he’s the right coach to bring success back to St. Louis, I have complete faith he can make the Rams defense respectable—solid even—in the next few seasons. He just needs a chance.

Robinson has the chance to break out this year.

Hot Seat: Virtually every player on this team is on the hot seat because they’re going to be looking for any and every way to win games. But if I had to pick just one guy who might be under the most pressure I’d have to go with defensive tackle Gary Gibson. He’s still fairly young but Darell Scott is younger and has more potential than Gibson. For teams in the Rams’ position who expect to lose more than they win the youth movement can start fairly early and unless he proves he’s indispensable, which would be a major development, Scott should be starting by the end of the year.

Breakout Player: Robinson was off to an excellent start last season, accumulating 13 catches for 167 yards and a TD in just 2.5 games. Those numbers are even more impressive when you consider the offense they came in. If Robinson can stay healthy I expect him to be Bradford’s go-to guy and he could post 80 catches and close to 1,000 yards. He doesn’t have great size or speed, but he’s got good hands and is the type of reliable receiver Bradford will need in his development.

Biggest Question: Can they find any offense outside of Jackson? This question will be tough to answer with a rookie under center. While I’ll admit that Bradford has looked better than I thought he would, he’s still a rookie and his receiving options aren’t all that great. While I do believe Robinson will perform admirably this year, when he’s your top option you have problems. But they absolutely have to find someone to take the pressure off Jackson because if they don’t it’s doubtful he’ll make it through a full season. Robinson will need Amendola to step up from the slot and maybe even a guy like Keenan Burton to assert himself.

Key Game: For a new owner looking for any sign of improvement division games provide the best opportunity to do so, especially on the road. So when the Rams travel to Arizona, a team that’s experienced a large amount of success in recent years, on December 5 Spagnuolo and Bradford with be presented with the perfect opportunity to show Kroenke that they’re making progress and they’re trending in the right direction. A loss won’t kill them, but a victory would pay itself back in spades.

Quick Take: This season is more about progress than it is about success. That’s a good thing because this team stinks. But they should be able to win more than one game this year, but if they don’t you can expect them to be looking for a new coach after the season. But I do think there will be very subtle signs of progress.

Predicted Finish: 3-13

For the other 31 teams, click here.

Rice should be even better in his second season as a starter.

The Ravens are one of the most consistent teams in the league. Despite roster turnover and a coaching change, the Ravens have maintained their identity while remaining competitive. They’re one of the toughest, most hard-nosed teams in the league; Ray Lewis certainly has something to do with that because while he may be the leader of the defense, his influence is felt on the other side of the ball as well. But the real reason the Ravens haven’t experienced a prolonged swoon or significant letdown, like most teams in the league, is because of the man upstairs—not God, but general manager Ozzie Newsome (though many in Baltimore probably think they’re one and the same). I previously wrote about Newsome’s draft day genius, but managing a team doesn’t end once the draft is over and neither does Newsome’s genius. The Wizard that’s Oz is also a master of manipulating the roster and getting the right pieces to fit the Ravens’ locker room dynamic, which has remained steady over the years due largely to Lewis’ presence. Newsome was at it again this year when he traded mid-round draft picks to acquire Anquan Boldin and then in what’s been a largely overlooked move—but again pure genius—Newsome pried cornerback Josh Wilson (Terp) from the Seahawks for a fifth-round pick; no small feat considering the state of the Ravens’ secondary.  Newsome may very well be the best GM in the league and this could be the most complete team he’s put together. Now can the players reward Newsome for all his hard work or will they once again fall just shy?

Offense: This will probably be the best offense this franchise has had since moving to Baltimore. Joe Flacco is starting to come into his own and this could be a huge year for him. He already had all the physical tools, but now he has the experience to go with it. Not to mention he’s also finally been given all the right pieces around him to be successful. Boldin gives him a legit #1 receiver that’ll dictate coverage and open up Derrick Mason for the underneath routes. When Donte’ Stallworth returns from a broken foot he should be able to stretch the field to draw some attention away from Boldin. The Ravens backfield is also rock solid. Ray Rice exploded last year for almost 1,400 yards rushing and over 700 receiving and Willis McGahee morphed into an effective goal line back; you could do a lot worse than him as your #2 back. With Todd Heap declining in recent seasons Newsome decided to shore up tight end in the draft with Oregon’s Ed Dickson and BYU’s Dennis Pitta. But a funny thing happened—Heap responded to the competition and had the best preseason of his career. If he keeps it up the Ravens could have an element they didn’t expect to have this year. If he doesn’t, it’s no sweat off their back because that’s what they expected anyway. But there are some questions starting to creep in about their offensive line. Their best lineman, Jared Gaither, is unhappy with his contract and was the topic of trade talks all summer and now he’s hurt. The Ravens need him back quickly because their line was exposed in the preseason and with all the weapons the Ravens have it would be a shame to see it all derailed because of injuries up front. But I expect Gaither back shortly to team with Michael Oher to form one of the best tackle tandems in the league and lead the way for what should be an explosive season in Baltimore.

Defense: Defense has been their hallmark for over a decade, with Lewis its ringleader. But while the offense may have surpassed them for the first time in franchise history that doesn’t mean this defense has collapsed. Lewis still has Terrell Suggs and Haloti Ngata up front and as long as they’re present this defense will knock people around. They also strengthened the nose this year by drafting behemoth nose tackle Terrence Cody from Alabama and he’ll start to push Kelly Gregg this season. The front seven will remain intimidating, but the four guys behind them raise red flags. It can be argued Ed Reed is even more important to this defense than Lewis (don’t tell him I said that) because of his ability to change the game on a single play. But he’s likely to miss at least the first six games of the season and they’re not even sure if he’ll be ready at all. I know expectations are high in Baltimore this year—and they should be—but I’ll say it now: they can’t win the Super Bowl without Reed, plain and simple. But their secondary issues don’t stop there. Both of their starting corners are returning from knee injuries and while they may be on the field to start the season, there’s no guarantee that Fabian Washington and Lardarius Webb will finish it. The loss of Dominique Foxworth to the same injury was devastating and the Ravens are thin behind the two starters. That’s why the Wilson trade was so crucial. At least now the Ravens don’t have to depend on the health of each; they just have to hope both don’t go down again. But even with Wilson this group will feel the loss of Reed and will struggle to defend the pass. It’s a good thing the offense is much improved because for the first time the Ravens may actually have to win some shootouts.

Special Teams: Surprisingly Shayne Graham lost the kicking competition and was cut in favor of Billy Cundiff. I didn’t see that coming at all, especially considering how accurate Graham has been throughout his career. Sam Koch returns as the punter and he’s been good during his career with the Ravens—nothing special, but solid. The Ravens return game could use some help and they’re hoping Jalen Parmele can provide it, as he was pretty good last year in limited opportunities. Chris Carr will again return punts but if he struggles again they could easily turn to Tom Zbikowski.

Ngata has become of the best down lineman in the league.

Coaching: John Harbaugh has been excellent since taking over for Brian Billick; two seasons, two playoff appearances—not too bad for the former Eagles’ special teams coordinator. He’s spent most of his time on the offensive side of the ball and it’s starting to pay off. One of the smartest things he did upon taking over this team was leaving well enough alone with the defense. He kept the coaching staff, which is self-sustaining and keeps churning out bright defensive minds year after year; Greg Mattison is the latest in a long line. Harbaugh didn’t rock the boat when he took over, instead, realizing that they already had a good thing going, he opted instead to tweak a few things and revamp the offense, bringing in Cam Cameron and getting the ball rolling on a change of philosophy. So far, the Ravens have nothing to complain about.

Hot Seat: It’s not that Gregg isn’t good or his play has tailed off, because he is and it really hasn’t. But he’s getting older and they did just draft a monster in the middle. Cody has had weight and motivation issues but if he gets his head together and he’s fully motivated there’s no telling how good he can be; but I know that it’s better than Gregg. Gregg is workmanlike and does all the dirty work and that’s earned him respect in the locker room. But Cody could be special and it’s hard to keep that off the field.

Breakout Player: Paul Kruger was disappointing in his rookie year; the pass rusher from Utah started only three games and registered just a single sack. But the Ravens have been experimenting with new ways to use him and that should include moving him around to free him up. Rotating between standing up and lining up on the defensive line could utilize his versatility and allow him to finally live up to their lofty expectations for the former second-round pick.

Biggest Question: No doubt it’s the secondary, whose problems could ultimately be what keep the Ravens from winning the division and playing deep into January. Starting the season without Reed is a huge loss and losing Foxworth for the season further crushed an already thin group. But if Webb and Washington can stay healthy and Wilson is solid in the nickel the Ravens could be just good enough to keep their postseason hopes alive. But if injuries strike once again, they’ll come up short of expectations and their season will be shorter than expected.

Key Game: Their games with the Steelers incite feelings no other games can, but this team has bigger aspirations than just beating the Steelers and winning the division. They think they’re a Super Bowl-caliber team and their December 19 match-up against the Saints at home will determine if in fact they really are. To be the best you have to beat the best and the Saints are the defending champs. If both teams play as expected this season, this could be one of the premier games of the season.

Quick Take: This should be good—really good. Their offense has finally caught up to their defense and has probably surpassed it as the best unit on the team. In fact, their offense could be one of the best ones in the league. The AFC North looks to be as tough as it’s ever been this year and the Ravens are shaping up to be the class of the division. If their secondary can hang in there all year and Reed returns to his All-Pro form, the Ravens should fully expect to be playing football deep into January, and maybe even into February; I sure do.

Predicted Finish: 11-5

For the other 31 teams, click here.

Arizona's success rests on Anderson.

The 2010 Cardinals are the perfect example of how important a quarterback is in today’s NFL. Last year it could’ve been argued that they had one of the best quarterback situations in football. Kurt Warner was playing at an MVP-level and Matt Leinart, a former first-round pick and Heisman Trophy winner, was backing him up. While Leinart was largely unproven the feeling in Phoenix was that if Warner went down he’d be able to fill and even win a few games. But then Warner retired and Leinart was once again the starter—or so we thought. But after several disappointing outings and a lackadaisical attitude about them the Cardinals decided that not only wasn’t he fit to be a starter, he wasn’t even fit for their roster. The Cardinals instead opted to go with Derek Anderson, a former Pro Bowler with a cannon arm and more accuracy issues than Shaq shooting free throws. After years of futility the Warner-led Cardinals had finally established themselves as a contender. They won their second straight division title last season and outgunned the Packers in one of the most entertaining playoff games of all time. But once Warner retired expectations diminished. Now the Cardinals are back to a team forced to prove they’re more than an also-ran. But is Anderson capable of replicating Warner’s success?

Offense: Looking at last season as a point of reference just doesn’t work for this season’s Cardinals. Without Warner this is going to be a completely different offense. The only thing that will remain the same is their running game and even that will change because without Warner they’re going to emphasize running a lot more because of the lack of a prolific quarterback. With more attempts, an older and more experienced Beanie Wells, and the addition of road grading guard Alan Faneca, the Cardinals should easily improve their standing in the running game. But unless that improvement is extraordinary I’m not sure if it’ll be enough to make up for the drop-off their passing game is sure to experience. Larry Fitzgerald is still one of the best receivers in the game, but Anquan Boldin was traded, there’s still no tight end, and Anderson is far from the quarterback that Warner was. It’s a good thing Fitzgerald has the largest catch radius in the league because with Anderson’s accuracy he’ll need every centimeter of it to haul in his wayward passes; at least he has the arm to go deep, something Leinart lacked. But after finishing the season 11^th in points/game, with a new emphasis on the running game and a new, less prolific quarterback under center, you can fully expect less scoring than the 23.4 points/game they scored last year.

Defense: The Cardinals defense wasn’t very good last year and that was before they lost two of their cornerstones, Karlos Dansby and Antrel Rolle. With those two guys the Cardinals defense got rolled up by Aaron Rodgers and the Packers offense in the playoffs for 493 yards and 45 points; luckily for them their offense scored 51 and they won the game. But now Rolle and Dansby are gone and the Cardinals offense isn’t shaping up to be nearly as formidable without Warner and Boldin. With a lower scoring offense the defense is going to have to find a way to be stouter than it as a year ago minus two of its best players—not an easy task. But to their advantage the emphasis on the running game this year should give them a bit more time to rest between drives.  But despite the departures there’s still talent here. Darnell Dockett remains one of the best down lineman in football. Adrian Wilson is still one of the most fearsome defenders in the game. Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie is bordering on the level of the elite cornerbacks. Calais Campbell is a blossoming pass rusher. Dan Williams has the potential to become a stud at nose tackle. Daryl Washington is looking like a steal in the second round at linebacker. Joey Porter will bring added attitude and a pass rush presence off the edge. Kerry Rhodes assures the drop off at safety after Rolle’s departure wasn’t too catastrophic. As a matter of fact, while I started out with the intention of stating my doubt about this unit’s prospects this year, I actually just convinced myself that this defense might actually be pretty darn good. There’s a lot of talent here. The 49ers defense is getting a lot of attention but I actually think now that I’ve fully examined it, the Cardinals defense won’t be too far behind.

Special Teams: Any talk about the Cardinals special teams has to start with LaRod Stephens-Howling. The guy is a solid return man, but he’s a stellar coverage guy. If you watch any Cardinals game you’ll see Stephens-Howling all over the field. The Jaguars Kassim Osgood made a name for himself in San Diego with his outstanding special teams play, but Stephens-Howling has surpassed him as the preeminent gunner in the game. They do have a solid kicking game with Jay Feely and Ben Graham, but it’s all about Stephens-Howling in Arizona.

Coaching: Ken Whisenhunt has gotten off to an outstanding start in Arizona and he already has to be considered the best coach the team has ever had. They’ve made consecutive playoff appearances for the first time under him and he took this once-destitute franchise to the Super Bowl. He does have several excellent assistants, like Russ Grimm, but he hired them so he deserves most of the credit. But he’ll face his biggest challenge this year as he tries to keep the Cardinals competitive with a shaky quarterback situation.

Campbell could be ready for a big year.

Hot Seat: The Cardinals have been trying to figure out the cornerback spot opposite Rodgers-Cromartie all summer. They seem to have settled on Greg Toler as that guy, but uncertainty still remains. Toler will get first crack, but if he stumbles even a little bit it wouldn’t be shocking to see Whisenhunt, a man known to challenge his players, go with Trumaine McBride or even Michael Adams instead.

Breakout Player: Steve Breaston’s already had a 1,000-yard season and Wells has garnered attention all summer. They’ve arguably already broken onto the scene. But nobody seems to be talking about Campbell and he could be on the verge of great things. Ends in a 3-4 aren’t supposed to be excellent pass rushers; they hold the point of attack, swallow blockers, and stop the run. But Dockett has already proven that doesn’t have to be the case and Campbell is doing the same. His seven sacks last year were great for a 3-4 end and he looks to be only getting better. At 6’8” and 300 lbs. he’s an imposing figure and playing opposite a beast like Dockett should allow him to break into double-digit sacks this year.

Biggest Question: With the Cardinals about to cut ties with Leinart, the question now becomes is Anderson really the guy to lead this team? Seriously, when you think about it, he wasn’t good enough for Cleveland and they’re one of the worst teams in the league. So how can he possibly come in and lead a team with playoff aspirations? It’s certainly not crazy to think he can though, either. He’s been to the Pro Bowl and has impressive physical tools, but there seems to be something wrong with his head and his accuracy is horrendous. But as long as he can get the ball to Fitzgerald he might be able to make it through the season without too many hiccups.

Key Game: Even with Warner the Cardinals were swept by the 49ers last season; how will they fare without him? The 49ers have become the sexy pick to win the division and everyone seems to be in agreement that the Cardinals are set for a down year. Well, on November 29 they’ll get their first chance to prove their doubters wrong when the 49ers make a trip to Glendale. A victory will not only quiet some of the doubters, but it’ll be a huge confidence boost for a team maybe starting to doubt themselves.

Quick Take: I may not have realized how much I actually like their defense, but I still have serious questions about this offense. While I believe Wells will be an excellent back and Fitzgerald is an absolute force, Anderson is a very shaky proposition at quarterback and I doubt his ability to get this back to the playoffs. The 49ers already started to impose their will on this team last year and I think they might be in their heads. Even if their not they just look like a better team right now and the Cardinals are indeed setting themselves up for a down year.

Predicted Finish: 6-10

For the other 31 teams, click here.

Morris had to cover his mouth from puking during his first season.

Offense: Last year was not a good year for the Buccaneers’ offense; however, finishing 28^th in total offense should be expected from a club with minimal talent breaking in a rookie quarterback. But there were also some positives to be gleaned from the wreckage. Freeman grew as the year progressed and showed signs that he can become the franchise quarterback they’ve so desperately needed since Doug Williams left town. They also realized that Cadillac Williams actually had a lot more left in his two butchered knees than anyone could have hoped and regained the look of a back that could be featured in their offense; great news considering Derrick Ward was a bust and was recently released. But a young quarterback needs people to throw to and while Kellen Winslow is a top-flight tight end, the Bucs lacked a threat on the outside. Realizing that their leading returning receiver outside of Winslow was slot receiver Sammie Stroughter with 31 catches, the Bucs set out to arm Freeman with those much-needed threats and they succeeded by drafting Arrelious Benn and Mike Williams. I fully expect both Benn and Williams to make immediate impacts as rookies (more on Williams later) and to become the reliable targets that Freeman needs to progress as a quarterback. While Freeman is certainly further along than he was a year ago and will get better as the season progresses, he still has a ways to go. Their offense will be better than last years, but they’re not ready to challenge the Saints quite yet.

Defense: While the offense was bad, the defense wasn’t much better. The Bucs have been a team renowned for defense the last decade but the last two years they’ve looked like a shell of their former selves; makes sense considering Barber is the last man standing from those great defensive teams. The Bucs finished ahead of only five teams in total defense and were dead last against the run. Don’t be fooled either by their 10^th ranked pass defense; teams didn’t have to throw on them because they were running the ball down their throats. But things should improve a little this time around. The Bucs drafted for defense with their first two picks, selecting defensive tackles Gerald McCoy and Brian Price. They’ll immediately improve a defensive line that was amongst the worst in the league. But their defensive ends still stink and they have the worst 4-3 defensive end tandem in football; Stylez White and Kyle Moore won’t be making any trips to the Pro Bowl soon, let alone deserve to be starters. The additions of McCoy and Price will help their linebackers, especially Barrett Ruud, who at one time was a promising young linebacker but has seen his play slip recently. The secondary should be a tad better too as Aqib Talib is showing signs of finally living up to his immense potential and Tanard Jackson is a thumper with decent range; but Barber is aging and I’m not sure how much he has left in what has been a potential Hall-of-Fame career. So while the Bucs did address a major need on their defensive line and there should be signs of improvement, this defense is still a ways off from those dominant days of yore.

Special Teams: Pro Bowler Clifton Smith returns from concussions that prematurely ended his 2009 season and he should once again prove formidable in both phases of the return game. Connor Barth was underwhelming in his first season in Tampa, converting less than 75% of his attempts, but the Bucs chose to bring him back anyway; a risky move considering they’ll need all the points they can get. Rookie Brent Bowden assumes punt duties and after a solid career at Virginia Tech should be an improvement over Dirk Johnson.

Coaching: Morris’ head coaching career might have gotten off to a rough start, but like I said before he had nobody to blame but himself. I still wonder about the decision for such a young coach to take on the responsibility of also being the defensive coordinator. It’s a very risky, and immature, move for him not to trust anyone else with that responsibility, especially considering how poorly they played last year. While he seems to be getting it together, he can’t possibly survive too many more 3-13 seasons.

Meet the next Brandon Marshall.

Hot Seat: I don’t want to take anything away from him because he’s had an outstanding career, but Barber’s play has declined in recent seasons and while he still has the ability to come up with big plays he just isn’t a consistent corner anymore. He’s penciled in as the starter right now but the Bucs are very high on rookie Myron Lewis out of Vanderbilt and would love if he stepped up so they could slide Barber into the nickel. Right now Barber’s their best option, but once Lewis proves he’s ready, Barber will quickly be demoted, unless of course he finds a time machine to 2002.

Breakout Player: Williams may only be a fourth-round draft pick and receivers tend to take longer to acclimate themselves to the NFL, but he’s already earned the #1 receiver role and looks to be the real deal. I’ve said it before and I truly believe it: Williams is just like Brandon Marshall. Both were excellent college players who saw their draft day stock drop due to off-field and personality issues. But we see what a steal Marshall was and Williams will prove to be the same. In fact, he has a real chance to be the best receiver to come out of this draft, including Dez Bryant.

Biggest Question: Can the Bucs stop the run? Last season they gave up a league worst 158.2 yards/game on the ground while being consistently beaten at the point of attack and blown off the ball. Ryan Sims and Chris Hovan don’t deserve to be starters in this league and they proved that last year. And without consistent play from the guys in front of him, Ruud wasn’t the player he we’d grown used to watching. Taking notice the Bucs used their first two draft picks on defensive tackles and McCoy and Price should immediately upgrade the Bucs front seven. They may not become a top ten team against the run instantly, but teams will find it to be tougher sledding this year against those guys.

Key Game: On November 14 the Bucs will welcome the Panthers to Raymond James Stadium in what for them will be the biggest game of the year. By then their young players should have sufficient time under their belts and Freeman should be completely settled as the starting quarterback. The Panthers aren’t too far ahead of the Bucs in terms of talent so to prove to both the front office and the fans that he’s making progress Morris needs to have his team playing their best.

Quick Take: The Buccaneers will most certainly be improved from last season. Morris looks to have this team on the right track and in due time should even be able to lead this team back to the playoffs. But this isn’t that year. But they’ll definitely win more than three games this year and will challenge teams more than they did last year; playing the Bucs won’t be the cakewalk it was just a year ago. This year is more about progress than it is about punching a postseason ticket. I think they’ll show that progress and give their fans something to look forward to.

Predicted Finish: 5-11

For the other 31 teams, click here.

The 'Skins hope McNabb is smiling all season long.

No team in the league underwent as massive an overhaul as the Redskins this offseason. The past six months were filled with nothing but upheaval in the Capitol. The Mike Shanahan regime is now firmly in place and with it comes a new (old) quarterback, a new defensive scheme, and a new attitude. After reviewing tape and realizing Jason Campbell wasn’t his quarterback, Shanahan wasted no time in acquiring Donovan McNabb from division rival Philadelphia, believing he could do with him what he did with John Elway in Denver. Shanahan was also quick to establish his tyranny, publicly embarrassing and ridiculing Albert Haynesworth for daring to question his power. But while Haynewsorth has been used as nothing more than an example and will be lucky to make it through September still a member of the Redskins, Shanahan has gained the respect of his players who understand that to win you have to buy into the program; it doesn’t hurt that the program has two rings to show for it. But in the midst of a transition to a 3-4 defense with their best defensive player on the sideline, could Shanahan’s arrogance ultimately cause Washington to struggle?

Offense: The Redskins offense wasn’t very good last year and while Campbell received most of the blame, it wasn’t all on him. In fact, Campbell performed admirably while running for his life behind an atrocious offensive line. Clinton Portis was also banged up for the majority of the season and their receiving corps was far from prolific. But while Campbell was decent given the circumstances, McNabb still provides an upgrade; he’s more accomplished and will bring a level of confidence the Redskins lacked last year. But there’s a level of risk bringing in an aging quarterback with a history of injuries and with McNabb’s foot already in a boot and his status questionable for the season opener against Dallas those risks are quickly becoming a reality. There are also myriad questions about stocking the stable full of aging running backs and I have a feeling the move could backfire. But the Redskins offensive line should be improved behind rookie Trent Williams and former Saint Jammal Brown because honestly, it can’t get any worse; that should help whichever geriatric back happens to be toting the rock on any given Sunday. But in order for the ‘Skins to see any level of success on offense they’re going to need improved production from their receivers. Their tight ends are solid—they may have the best 1-2 punch in the league—but their receivers are chronic underachievers and if they have to spend another season depending solely on the diminutive Santana Moss there’ll be trouble on the Beltway. McNabb should bring a few extra points with him, but as he proved in Philly, he’ll need a lot of help.

Defense: While the offense struggled last year the defense was pretty darn good. In fact, the ‘Skins have fielded a top-10 defense three years running, and given that level of success, it makes me wonder if switching to the 3-4 is right for them; but that’s what new defensive coordinator Jim Haslett prefers. Haslett is a bright defensive mind and they can be successful in their first year in the new alignment. If he can stay healthy Adam Carriker should fit perfectly as a 3-4 end; he seemed miscast at tackle with the Rams. Brian Orakpo is an absolute beast and is perfect coming off the edge in this alignment; he’ll soon join the ranks of the league’s elite pass rushers. Andre Carter should be solid as a pass rushing linebacker, but you have to wonder about his ability to cover tight ends and backs if he’s forced into coverage. One of my issues with the scheme is with London Fletcher. Playing the middle, he’s been this defense’s best player the last few seasons, but he’s undersized and I worry about his ability to consistently battle guards and hold up under the beating that 3-4 inside linebackers take. The “Skins were also eighth in the league last season against the pass; fairly impressive given their personnel. DeAngelo Hall is blazing fast but a player with his speed should never get beat deep; but that’s often the case because he gambles too much. LaRon Landry is a solid but the team expects more from the former first-round pick and while Carlos Rogers has had moments his inconsistency is frustrating. While eighth is impressive, with three first round picks in the secondary they should be better. But the biggest key to their transition is Haynesworth. While he believes he’s best as a tackle in a 4-3, he’s built perfect for the nose. He’s big, strong, quick, and his ability to take on—and beat—multiple blockers is virtually unparalleled. If he cleans up his act the ‘Skins defense could vault into the top five. If the charade continues he could earn his ticket out of town and the ‘Skins defense could slide.

Special Teams: Keep moving; there’s nothing to see here folks. Graham Gano and Josh Bidwell could compose the most nondescript kicking duo in the league. Phillip Buchanon will be returning punts for his fifth team and Devin Thomas, like all aspects of his game, was underwhelming on kickoffs last season. Should be another year of no-so-special teams in DC.

Coaching: Shanahan’s a winner—there’s no questioning that. But it should be noted that he hasn’t won anything without Elway. But Elway or not Shanahan’s an excellent coach with one of the premier offensive minds in football. If anyone can make the ‘Skins aging backfield productive it’s him and his zone blocking scheme. He’s also brought with him his son Kyle, who helped construct Houston’s explosive passing game the past few years, and Haslett, the former Saints head coach who’s known as an excellent defensive coach. The ‘Skins have one of the most name-recognizable coaching staffs in football, now they just have to prove they have the players to carry out their plans.

Orakpo is a straight beast.

Hot Seat: It’s Haynesworth and it’s not even close. After not participating in the offseason program because he claimed he was working out on his own and was in the best shape of his life, he showed up to camp out of shape and it took him almost two weeks to pass the conditioning test to get on the field. Things haven’t gotten much better since. He traded barbs with Shanahan through the media and has been rewarded handsomely with playing time in the third quarter of a preseason game, something he apparently found to be abhorrent; it’s clear Haynesworth can’t win this battle. It’s now just a question of whether or not he’ll keep fighting or if he’ll fall in line. Either way I don’t see any way he remains in Washington past this year—if he makes it through this year.

Breakout Player: While Thomas has been a disappointment since being drafted in the second round three years ago, he’s shown flashes of the potential that had scouts buzzing during his Michigan State days. But he only caught 25 balls last year for 325 yards, though he did score three TDs. He seems to slowly be turning the corner and with Moss the only reliable receiver on the roster and McNabb now in the fold, his production should only increase. I’m not sure if he’ll ever be the receiver many thought he’d become coming out of college, but he has a chance to become a solid #2 receiver and an asset in the ‘Skins passing game.

Biggest Question: Is McNabb really the answer? I said before—and I truly believe it—that Campbell wasn’t the problem here. He did the best he could given the circumstances and his effort was pretty solid considering. But nobody in the Redskins organization viewed him as a franchise quarterback and tried to get rid of him for two years before finally getting the chance by landing McNabb. But McNabb is an injury risk and he’s only played a full schedule four times in his 11-year career; he’s already off to a bad start with his Week 1 status in doubt. Philly also soured on him for many reasons: his leadership is questionable and he’s not afraid to throw his teammates under the bus; he can be too lackadaisical at times; his accuracy is shoddy; and he’s not nearly as mobile as he once was. But the “Skins put all their eggs in his basket so he has to produce. If he doesn’t the “Skins don’t stand a chance.

Key Game: Without a doubt McNabb’s first trip back to Philly on October 3 is the biggest game on the Redskins slate. McNabb should receive mixed reactions from the Philly faithful and it’ll be interesting to see how well he manages his emotions because it wasn’t a secret he wasn’t happy about being traded. If the Redskins can prove the Eagles wrong for trading their former Pro Bowl quarterback within the division the Redskins season could be considered a success while at the same time destroy the Eagles’. This is a must watch game no matter what team you’re a fan of.

Quick Take: The arrivals of Shanahan and McNabb have pundits across the country jumping on the “Skins bandwagon. Some are even predicting a playoff appearance this season. I’m not nearly as sold on this team because like I’ve said a million times, the questions on this team go beyond the quarterback position. This division is still to tough and right now I don’t think McNabb is enough to drag this team from the NFC East basement. Even worse for ‘Skins fans, I actually think Campbell could lead the Raiders to a better season than McNabb and the ‘Skins.

Predicted Finish: 7-9

For the other 31 teams, click here.

After just a year, the Seahawks are looking to part with Housh.

If a team is looking for a reliable possession receiver all they need to do is call the Seahawks. According to the NFL Network’s Jason La Canfora, the Seahawks are willingly fielding offers for 32-year-old former Pro Bowler  TJ Houshmanzadeh.

But their phone remains silent and interest remains low. There is no word yet on what level of compensation they’re seeking for Houshmanzadeh, but with four years left on a five-year $40 million contract, his salary could be more prohibitive than the asking price.

But after signing him last year to that five-year deal, this latest news begs the question of why the Seahawks would be willing to part with their most dependable receiver, especially considering the comfort level that Matt Hasselbeck has displayed with him. There’s really only one sensible explanation: to clear room for Vincent Jackson.

The Seahawks were the only team given permission to speak with Jackson and his agents but after some initial conversation the talks died. The Chargers aren’t asking for much—just a second-round pick. It’s Jackson’s asking price on a new contract that initially turned off the Seahawks as well as other teams that might otherwise be interested.

But it looks like the Seahawks are willing to meet his demands—as long as they can unload their other high-priced receiver.

Brees is poised to lead the Saints to another stellar season.

The defending Super Bowl champs became the nation’s darlings last season. Their magical season captured the spirit of a region devastated by Hurricane Katrina and their ascension from years of disarray embodied the plight of their fans and community. For anyone not a Colts fan, it truly was something to behold—as if the people on Bourbon Street needed a reason to party for days—or months. But this is a new season and after hoisting the Lombardi Trophy the target is now squarely on their backs. They’ll get everyone’s best shot and they have to be at the top of their game every week if they have any hope of repeating the magic. But unlike most defending champs they return largely intact and with every significant contributor from last season in tow. From a pure personnel standpoint, they’re in the best position to repeat since the Patriots did in 2004. Though it’ll be much harder this time around the Saints are certainly up to the task and are more than capable of putting together an even better season than the one they just got finished celebrating.

Offense: It doesn’t get any better than this: since Drew Brees came to New Orleans they’ve led the league in offense three of the past four years and finished fourth the other. That’s consistency. But what finally pushed the Saints over the top last year and made them a complete offense was the running game. Everyone knows about the Saints deep stable of receivers that seem to come off the sideline like they were climbing out of Coolio’s trunk in the “Fantastic Voyage” video. But while they were able to throw the ball all over the field they struggled converting short yardage situations and couldn’t finish teams off in the fourth quarter because of their lack of a running game. A lot of that had to do with them trying to fit Reggie Bush into a square hole; he simply isn’t a between-the-tackles runner and Sean Payton finally realized that. With Bush in his appropriate satellite role and Pierre Thomas taking over as the feature back the Saints’ running game jumped 22 spots to sixth. With a respected running game to keep defenses honest the Saints were virtually unstoppable. As hard as it is to believe, the Saints—with a healthy-looking and explosive Bush—could be even better this year. How scary is that?

Defense: While the Saints offense was lighting up scoreboards the past few years, so were their opponents. The Saints could score but they couldn’t stop their opponents from doing the same. Enter defensive coordinator Gregg Williams. The Saints defense last year actually wasn’t all that much better at stopping teams from gaining yards or scoring points, but what the aggressive defense that Williams installed did was create turnovers—17 more than the year before to be exact. They forced 39 turnovers, which was good for the second best total in the league, and the one thing you don’t want to do against the Saints is give the ball back to Brees and that lethal offense. While forcing another 39 turnovers is unlikely, they’ve improved their defensive line with the addition of Alex Brown and their secondary, if healthy, should once again be able to lock down receivers behind cornerbacks Tracy Porter and Jabari Greer, one of the top tandems in the league. Darren Sharper led the defensive renaissance last year but he figures to play a much less prominent role this year—if he plays a role at all. But the groundwork that he helped lay is now firmly in place and with one of the best secondaries in the league the Saints should once again be good enough on defense to not restrict the offense, which is really all they have to do.

Special Teams: The thing is when you have an elite offense and a defense that causes turnovers you don’t need great special teams play, but that doesn’t mean the Saints are terrible either. Garret Hartley is decent but he gets way more credit than he deserves because he kicked them into the Super Bowl. Thomas Morstead had a pretty good rookie year and his punting average should only improve in his second season. Courtney Roby is solid returning kicks. But Bush returning punts is what takes this unit from average and makes them decent. Bush is a threat to score every time he touches the ball and oftentimes teams avoid him altogether. Brees doesn’t need great field position, but Bush gives it to him anyway.

Coaching: Payton has quickly made a name for himself and although his career is still young, has already become one of the best coaches in the game. He’s aggressive and ballsy but not to where its detrimental to the team. Case in point: the onside kick in the Super Bowl. It’s gotten enough publicity already but in all honesty, how crazy was that? His players love him and his peers respect him. How many other coaches do you know would take a pay cut so they could pay their defensive coordinator? That’s why they’re the champs.

Porter got the glory in the Super Bowl, but Greer is the better corner.

Hot Seat: With Jammal Brown spending the entire season on injured reserve Jermon Bushrod was thrust into the starting lineup, a role he clearly wasn’t ready for. But after winning a championship with that arrangement the Saints viewed Brown as expendable and sent him packing. Brees was only sacked 20 times, but that was due more to his quick release and ability to evade pressure than it was a testament to Bushrod’s performance. Simply stated—Bushrod was often overmatched and out of place. While he’ll enter the season as the starter, the Saints drafted former Trojan Charles Brown, a prospect many considered a first-round talent, in the second round and he’ll eventually take over for Bushrod. It’s not a matter of if it’s simply a matter of when.

Breakout Player: Malcolm Jenkins was groomed to eventually take over for Sharper and with Sharper’s status up in the air after knee surgery the time has come for Jenkins to step up. He was a cornerback at Ohio State so he can cover receivers and he’s big enough to battle tight ends. He may not put up the huge interception numbers that Sharper did, but he’s a player in the same mold and he could eventually grow into the playmaking safety Sharper was.

Biggest Question: For any team coming off of a championship the biggest question is if they can maintain the same level of intensity, especially now that they’re the hunted. But with the aggressiveness of Payton and the heart of Brees that shouldn’t be a problem. But repeating is always difficult and in today’s NFL it’s almost impossible. Complacency will be their biggest challenge all season.

Key Game: Defending champs aren’t supposed to have it this easy, but the Saints lucked out with the sixth easiest strength of schedule. That doesn’t mean it’ll be a cakewalk though as many of the teams they’ll face are expected to be improved from last year. There will also be a rematch with the Cowboys, an early season favorite to win the NFC and the team that just so happened to end the Saints bid at an undefeated season. This time the game’s in Dallas—on Thanksgiving. There’ll finally be some good football with your turkey.

Quick Take: There’s no doubt this is a good team that has the opportunity to be great once again; a repeat would certainly solidify that status. Despite their supposed easy schedule though it won’t be nearly as easy as it was last year and the Saints, and their fans, can’t expect to start the season with 13 straight wins. But they’re one of the best teams in the conference and while the Falcons bandwagon is quickly crowding, I’m not so quick to jump on. The Saints are still the class of the division and should repeat as champs—with the chance to do the same in February in Dallas.

Predicted Finish: 11-5

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