Baltimore Ravens
Last year, Baltimore proved that defense really does win championships. Despite a below average offense - which included a 21 quarter stretch without an offensive touchdown - the play of Ray Lewis and the rest of the defense was enough to bring home the Ravens first Superbowl championship in the brief franchise history. And while Baltimore made several key personnel changes during the off-season, it strived to keep the defense in tact.
On the offensive side of the ball, the Ravens upgraded their quarterback position by releasing Trent Dilfer and signing Elvis Grbac, who will add consistency to a previously low scoring offense. Losing running back Jamal Lewis in the preseason opener for the duration of season to a knee injury hinders the team immensely, as it will now have to rely on a passing-heavy offense. If the squad does not make a trade to fill the void in its running game, the Ravens will leave themselves open to major competition for the division title.
Tennessee Titans
Last year's AFC Central division winners entered the postseason with the NFL's best record (13-3) only to be sent home in the second round by the Ravens' fearsome defense. This season, the Titans enter with a defense that might even rival Baltimore's. The addition of defensive end Kevin Carter coupled with the dominance of defensive end Jevon Kearse give Tennessee a feared pass rush. Add a healthy Steve McNair, who has recovered well from off-season shoulder surgery, to the equation and the Titans have a legitimate chance at a Superbowl run.Eddie George, who finished second in the league with 1509 yards rushing, remains crucial to the Titan offense, and it is important that he is not overworked. If the Titans stay healthy, they will be in the Superbowl hunt.
Pittsburgh Steelers
After a 9-7 finish last season, Pittsburgh fans believe this is the season that their team will make it back to the playoffs. With a defense that held opponents to nine points or fewer six times last season, their optimism is not unjustified. Yet the off-season proved to be a disappointment to the Steeler's defense. Instead of taking the opportunity to add another quality player to the unit, the Steelers lost their star, Levon Kirkland, to free agency.Offensively, the Steelers are full of question marks. They entered the preseason with three players vying for quarterback, but it is likely that Kordell Stewart will regain his QB position. Unfortunately for Steeler fans, Pittsburgh made few changes to last year's offense which ranked 29th in the NFL. In this division, that won't be anywhere near enough for a division title.
Jacksonville Jaguars
After a disappointing season last year, the Jaguars look ready to rebound. The most significant off-season move was the re-signing of quarterback Mark Brunell, which served to keep their offense intact. With an offensive line decimated by injuries last year, the Jags hope that a healthy line will help bring Brunell back to top form. Running back Fred Taylor is coming off a strong season in which he had 1,399 rushing yards, and he should continue to perform as a top tier rusher.The injury trend seems to be continuing this year, as the Jags have already lost left tackle Toni Bosseli, who was injured in the preseason opener. Even if the offense does improve, the Jaguars still enter the season with a shaky defense. Without Leon Searcy, who left the Jags two years ago for the Ravens, the defense struggled.
Cleveland Browns
The Browns are still in the rebuilding process but could do slightly better than they did last year. Last season's number one picks Courtney Brown and Gerard Warren looked impressive and could help improve the defense. Yet even with Tim Couch on offense, it will take a lot more to turn around last year's 3-13 record.Coach Butch Davis' biggest challenge this year is to prove to management that his team is on the rise. However, the few stars on this team just won't be enough for the Browns to go anywhere this season. Their biggest feat will be to stay out of the cellar. Other than that, they won't be threatening anyone's playoff hopes.
Cincinnati Bengals
Even with Corey Dillon as their running back, the Bengals' offense won't put up a fight against anyone this season. After trading away Scott Mitchell, the Bengals left themselves with Jon Kitna as their starting quarterback. Kitna has yet to establish himself as a starting QB in the NFL and will have a tough job, as will Peter Warrick as his number one target.While Warrick showed flashes of his ability in his rookie season, he was overall inconsistent and disappointing. The Bengals lack offense and have no defense of which to speak. Their biggest weakness is the lack of presence at center, which leaves gaping holes for the running game.
