New York Jets Football
If Mark Sanchez improves in his 2nd year, the Jets have all the makings for a run at the Super Bowl
The New York Jets definitely got better on paper in the offseason, acquiring CB Antonio Cromartie and WR Santonio Holmes in trades to bolster an already strong team that came within a half of making it to the Super Bowl last year.  However, Jets QB Mark Sanchez will need to find a way to develop his leadership skills quickly in his second year and take advantage of the talent around him while also improving his sometimes shaky play.  Sanchez tossed 20 interceptions and lost three fumbles as a rookie but has the poise and potential to lead the Jets to the Super Bowl.  New York head coach Rex Ryan should not have any problems with his NFL-best defense unless the egos he feeds get the best of him (like CB Darrelle Revis), and RB Shonn Greene is expected to have a breakout year and replace veteran Thomas Jones as the team’s leading rusher.

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Baltimore Ravens Football
In a loaded AFC North Division, the Ravens look strong
The Baltimore Ravens look to be one of the top teams to beat in the AFC this season as long as they continue to grow, improve and stay healthy.  The Ravens turned in arguably the most shocking performance of last year’s postseason, jumping out to a 24-0 first-quarter lead on their way to a 33-14 rout of the New England Patriots at home.  Baltimore has since added another offensive weapon in the offseason by acquiring WR Anquan Boldin in a trade with the Arizona Cardinals and hopes QB Joe Flacco and RB Ray Rice continue to develop into stars at their respective positions.  The Ravens will need to continue to improve offensively and score more because their once stout defense is aging quickly and simply does not have the same impact in the secondary due to key injuries to former All-Pro S Ed Reed and CB Domonique Foxworth.

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New Orelans Saints Football
Drew Brees and the Saints Will Be Trying To Repeat as Super Bowl Champions
The New Orleans Saints could not have written a better ending to their storybook season last year, knocking off a couple of the area’s most legendary athletes in quarterbacks Brett Favre and Peyton Manning en route to winning their first-ever Super Bowl title.  Drew Brees is now the most popular player in New Orleans and rightfully so following his MVP performance in the team’s biggest game ever.  The Saints open up defense of their championship with back-to-back appearances on national television but seem to have a relatively easy schedule after that until what looks like a make-or-break stretch of four road games in five weeks toward the end.

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Minnesota Vikings Football
A Healthy Favre is the key to the Minnesota Vikings Staying on Top of the North
The Minnesota Vikings came very close to breaking a four-game losing streak in NFC title games last year when they nearly beat the New Orleans Saints in the Superdome.  While some have argued they were the better team and would have gone on to win the Super Bowl, there is no erasing the five turnovers or history at this point.  Now all that matters to Minnesota fans is seeing QB Brett Favre take the field for one more season in hopes that he can still work his magic and help their team snap a four-game losing streak in Super Bowls if they can finally get there again.

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New England Patriots Football
Are the Pats No Longer the Team To Beat in the AFC East?
Defense (or a lack thereof) was definitely the downfall of the New England Patriots last season, proven on the very first play of their divisional playoff loss to the Baltimore Ravens when RB Ray Rice busted loose for an 83-yard touchdown run.  The Patriots knew they would need to get younger and faster at some point, and last year they suffered some severe growing pains.  If New England can turn things around defensively led by rising star LB Jerod Mayo and stay healthy after WR Wes Welker returns, this team should continue to be a factor in the AFC playoff race.

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The Philadelphia Eagles are obviously moving in a new offensive direction after trading QB Donovan McNabb to the Washington Redskins.  But they will be more than happy if new QB Kevin Kolb can emulate the Aaron Rodgers model in Green Bay of successfully following in the footsteps of a legend even if it involves some bumps in the road this season.  Kolb has more potential than McNabb as a pure passer – he is the only QB in NFL history to throw for 300+ yards in his first two starts – although the Eagles are also hoping second-year RB LeSean McCoy can replace the departed Brian Westbrook.  This will be tough task for Philly head coach Andy Reid, who must make his players believe they are still a playoff-caliber team.

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josh mcdaniels Denver Broncos Head Coach
Josh McDaniels and the Denver Broncos are 6 to 1 odds to win the AFC West
The Denver Broncos will eventually be led by QB Tim Tebow, but if and when that actually happens during his rookie year will play a large role in defining their season.  The Broncos folded after a surprising 6-0 start a year ago behind QB Kyle Orton, who was traded for the disgruntled Jay Cutler.  However, Orton showed he is nowhere near the level of a Pro Bowler as Denver dropped eight of 10 games to finish a roller-coaster season for first-year head coach Josh McDaniels.  Orton is expected to be the starter for the season opener, but how long he stays in that position remains to be seen with Tebow and Brady Quinn waiting in the wings.

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Chicago Bears Football Team
The Bears defense staying healthy is a major key to success in 2010
The Chicago Bears will likely put up more impressive numbers with the addition of new offensive coordinator Mike Martz, but they will need a much better defensive effort this season in order to be a real force in the NFC.  The signing of All-Pro DE Julius Peppers should help the Bears pressure the top quarterbacks in the division like Brett Favre and Aaron Rodgers if he is motivated enough to prove himself as one of the NFL’s best defensive players.  If not, the Windy City will blow head coach Lovie Smith out of town following another disappointing year.

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Matt Ryan Atlanta Falcons
The Betting Public Is Expecting Big Things From the Falcons in 2010
The Atlanta Falcons could very well have the best blend of youth and experience in the NFL led by third-year QB Matt Ryan, who regressed a bit in his sophomore season.  Ryan still managed to help the Falcons post their first back-to-back winning seasons in franchise history even though they did not get back to the playoffs.  This year, anything less than a return to the postseason will be disappointing, especially with future Hall of Famer Tony Gonzalez playing on borrowed time.

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Could This Finally Be The Year the Houston Texans Takes The Next Step?
The Houston Texans had the top QB-WR tandem in the NFL statistically last season with Matt Schaub (4,770 yards passing) and Andre Johnson (1,569 yards receiving).  Unfortunately, the Texans did not even have a 500-yard rusher on the roster, otherwise they likely would have been a playoff team.  With a respectable young defense that keeps getting better, the running game could again hold the key to whether or not Houston makes its first-ever trip to the postseason.

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