AFC South
Indianapolis
NFL's 4-time MVP - Peyton Manning
The 14-2 Colts, ending their fine year with a 31–17 Super Bowl XLIV will use the same formula for success this year, despite some personnel changes. Behind the arm and mind of four-time NFL MVP Peyton Manning is a feeble running game of Joseph Addai and Donald Brown (32nd-ranked).
But it is through the air Indianapolis makes their mark. Led by Pro Bowl center Jeff Saturday, the offensive line allowed a franchise-low 13 sacks and management picked up some younger and bigger bodies to continue in that mode. Manning’s receiving corps of Reggie Wayne, one of the game’s best, and youngsters Pierre Garçon and Austin Collie is a talented trio. Of course, tight end Dallas Clark is highly productive.
Defensively the team’s first pick has analysts believing TCU’s DE Jerry Hughes is a younger Dwight Freeney. Both led the nation in sacks for a season in their college careers, but the NFL grants no one a free pass and it remains to be seen if the hype is just that. In between Freeney and Robert Mathis are tackles Dan Muir and Antonio Johnson who get the job done plugging up the middle, but the big question is deep in the backfield where 2007 NFL Defensive Player of the Year Bob Sanders has now missed more regular-season games (49) than he has played (47). Playing in only two games last year before tearing a bicep, Sanders must avoid injury if he expects to stay with the team that now counts on pro bowler Antoine Bethea at safety.
Another looming question pegged to injury is kicker Adam Vinatieri. Despite being one of the most clutch performers at his position, the 37 year-old missed most of last season with a knee injury.
WEEK DATE OPPONENT TIME (ET)
1 Sun, Sep 12 at Houston 1:00 PM
2 Sun, Sep 19 NY Giants 8:20 PM
3 Sun, Sep 26 at Denver 4:15 PM
4 Sun, Oct 3 at Jacksonville 4:05 PM
5 Sun, Oct 10 Kansas City 1:00 PM
6 Sun, Oct 17 at Washington 8:20 PM
7 BYE
8 Mon, Nov 1 Houston 8:30 PM
9 Sun, Nov 7 at Philadelphia 4:15 PM
10 Sun, Nov 14 Cincinnati 1:00 PM
11 Sun, Nov 21 at New England 4:15 PM
12 Sun, Nov 28 San Diego 8:20 PM
13 Sun, Dec 5 Dallas 4:15 PM
14 Thu, Dec 9 at Tennessee 8:20 PM
15 Sun, Dec 19 Jacksonville 1:00 PM
16 Sun, Dec 26 at Oakland 4:05 PM
17 Sun, Jan 2 Tennessee 1:00 PM
Tennessee
Chris Johnson is the NFL's most exciting player
Coming off an 8-8 season, the Titans might have a free pass under the radar.
The offense is led by running back Chris Johnson (2,006 yards), but the real key is if quarterback Vince Young, now entering his fifth season, can show last year was no fluke and that he is the real deal Tennessee had spent a lot of money for. Taking over for the faltering Kerry Collins, the team went 8-2 with Young starting. If he can be productive with his arm and feet, Johnson can do the rest. Just the sixth running back in NFL history to reach the 2,000-yard plateau, Johnson also caught 50 passes for 503 yards to give him 2,509 yards from scrimmage, an NFL record.
The defense is a bit in the dark as to what it can really do because it remains to be seen whether their many drafts on that side of the ball can produce quickly and the others can return to form from injuries. Losing Kyle Vanden Bosch this year and Albert Haynesworth thear before that, coach Fisher will have to push the buttons of rookies like
monster Derrick Morgan, DE, 6-3, 266 from Georgia Tech to improve on them being ranked 31st in the league in pass defense, allowing 258.7 yards per game.
WEEK DATE OPPONENT TIME (ET)
1 Sun, Sep 12 Oakland 1:00 PM
2 Sun, Sep 19 Pittsburgh 1:00 PM
3 Sun, Sep 26 at NY Giants 1:00 PM
4 Sun, Oct 3 Denver 1:00 PM
5 Sun, Oct 10 at Dallas 4:15 PM
6 Mon, Oct 18 at Jacksonville 8:30 PM
7 Sun, Oct 24 Philadelphia 1:00 PM
8 Sun, Oct 31 at San Diego 4:05 PM
9 BYE
10 Sun, Nov 14 at Miami 1:00 PM
11 Sun, Nov 21 Washington 1:00 PM
12 Sun, Nov 28 at Houston 1:00 PM
13 Sun, Dec 5 Jacksonville 1:00 PM
14 Thu, Dec 9 Indianapolis 8:20 PM
15 Sun, Dec 19 Houston 1:00 PM
16 Sun, Dec 26 at Kansas City 1:00 PM
17 Sun, Jan 2 at Indianapolis 1:00 PM
Houston
Matt Schaub is all set to lead his team to the playoffs
Here is a squad that could really break through if they can get some help in output beyond their brilliant receiver Andre Johnson. Quarterback Matt Schaub made it to the Pro Bowl and has improved every year with the Texans. Throwing for a career-high 4,770 yards with 29 touchdowns and 15 interceptions, he is going places (the playoffs) especially if rookie running back Ben Tate, the team’s second-round pick from Auburn, can produce some numbers of his own.
A young defense has added a promising cornerback out of Alabama in Kareem Jackson.
Finally, the team simply has to stop the poor starts (0–4 in 2008 and 2–3 last year).
WEEK DATE OPPONENT TIME (ET)
1 Sun, Sep 12 Indianapolis 1:00 PM
2 Sun, Sep 19 at Washington 4:15 PM
3 Sun, Sep 26 Dallas 1:00 PM
4 Sun, Oct 3 at Oakland 4:05 PM
5 Sun, Oct 10 NY Giants 1:00 PM
6 Sun, Oct 17 Kansas City 1:00 PM
7 BYE
8 Mon, Nov 1 at Indianapolis 8:30 PM
9 Sun, Nov 7 San Diego 1:00 PM
10 Sun, Nov 14 at Jacksonville 1:00 PM
11 Sun, Nov 21 at NY Jets 1:00 PM
12 Sun, Nov 28 Tennessee 1:00 PM
13 Thu, Dec 2 at Philadelphia 8:20 PM
14 Mon, Dec 13 Baltimore 8:30 PM
15 Sun, Dec 19 at Tennessee 1:00 PM
16 Sun, Dec 26 at Denver 4:05 PM
17 Sun, Jan 2 Jacksonville 1:00 PM
Jacksonville
Coach Jack Del Rio
Small in stature but large in performance, multi-purpose running back Maurice Jones-Drew (1,391 yards and scored 16 touchdowns)can use some help because all that wear and tear has to catch up soon.
Quarterback David Garrard isn’t scaring people on the other side of the ball when he is forced to throw and if he can’t deliver, it could be curtains for coach Jack Del Rio’s eight year run at Jacksonville. The team has finished in the division cellar two years in a row.
With half a dozen games against the likes of the Colts, Titans and Texans along with trips to Dallas and New York this season, the schedule won’t be an ally.
WEEK DATE OPPONENT TIME (ET)
1 Sun, Sep 12 Denver 1:00 PM
2 Sun, Sep 19 at San Diego 4:15 PM
3 Sun, Sep 26 Philadelphia 4:05 PM
4 Sun, Oct 3 Indianapolis 4:05 PM
5 Sun, Oct 10 at Buffalo 1:00 PM
6 Mon, Oct 18 Tennessee 8:30 PM
7 Sun, Oct 24 at Kansas City 1:00 PM
8 Sun, Oct 31 at Dallas 1:00 PM
9 BYE
10 Sun, Nov 14 Houston 1:00 PM
11 Sun, Nov 21 Cleveland 1:00 PM
12 Sun, Nov 28 at NY Giants 1:00 PM
13 Sun, Dec 5 at Tennessee 1:00 PM
14 Sun, Dec 12 Oakland 1:00 PM
15 Sun, Dec 19 at Indianapolis 1:00 PM
16 Sun, Dec 26 Washington 1:00 PM
17 Sun, Jan 2 at Houston 1:00 PM
