Welcome to the 2009 NFL season ladies and gentlemen! Michael Green attempts to predict how everything will shake out in the AFC. Be sure to check out his NFC preview as well.

AFC West:

Predicted Winner:  San Diego Chargers

You
know you are in a weak division when an 8-8 record gets your team into
the playoffs. That is exactly what happened in the AFC West last year,
and things are not looking up for most of the division.

The
trajectory of the Oakland Raiders franchise is mirroring Al Davis'
descent into senility. While Jamarcus Russell and Darren McFadden offer
some hope, the Raiders will continue falling deeper into a "black hole" of futility.

New
Broncos head coach Josh McDaniels has successfully alienated himself
from everybody in Denver before the season even begins. With Jay Cutler
departed and Brandon Marshall disgruntled, the Mile High faithful can now enjoy a bad offense to go with their terrible defense.

Conversely,
the Kansas City Chiefs are heading in the right direction after trading
for a potential franchise quarterback in Matt Cassel. But new head
coach Todd Haley will have to be patient while this young team
continues to develop.

Picking the San Diego Chargers to win this division is easier than choosing Ed Hochuli to win a referee fight.

With
franchise cornerstones Shawne Merriman, LaDanian Tomlinson, and Antonio
Gates returning to full health, this team will make short work of the
AFC West. Remember, the Chargers were only one game away from playing
in the Super Bowl two seasons ago.

The
defensive secondary will be vulnerable once again with two of the NFL's
most erratic cornerbacks: Antonio Cromartie and Quentin Jammer. And
even with Merriman doing the "lights out" dance for a full season, San Diego still has some major holes up front.

Despite
defensive inadequacies, the Chargers boast one of the most
dangerous offenses in the NFL. That alone will make them a competitive
team as they sail through the division and into the playoffs.

AFC East:

Predicted Winner:  New England Patriots

Even
Tony Sparano had to have been surprised by the Dolphin's success last
season. After winning a division previously owned by the New England
Patriots, Miami will not sneak up on too many teams this time around.
Getting Jason Taylor back will add to an underrated defense, but what
is the likelihood that Chad Pennington can stay healthy for two
straight seasons?

Look
for the Buffalo Bills to melt down by late October as Terrell Owens
continues to single-handedly destroy team chemistry across the NFL.
Marshawn Lynch could be the lone bright spot...Oh wait, he's suspended
for the first three games of the season.

The
New York Jets may surprise those who have categorized them as a
rebuilding franchise. Mark Sanchez is extraordinarily composed for a
rookie quarterback, and the defense will flourish under new head coach
Rex Ryan.

But as long as Mr. Giselle Bundchen
manages to stay healthy, the Patriots will reclaim the AFC East
handily. With the Tom Brady to Randy Moss connection back in town, the
Patriots will be running up NFL scoreboards once again.

Wes
Welker will continue to inspire Average Joe's everywhere to strap on a
helmet and play flag football in their backyards. Some combination of
Fred Taylor, Lawrence Maroney, and Sammy Morris will force defenses to
give a moderate amount of respect to the running game as well.

Signing Shawn Springs and Leigh Bodden helps solidify a secondary that struggled at times last season.

Retired
defensive stalwarts Rodney Harrison and Teddy Bruschi leave a major
void in the Patriots locker room. The recent trade of Richard Seymour
only deepens this wound.

Still, Bill Belichick always seems to know what he is doing (wardrobe choices aside). Look for younger players like Jerod Mayo to step-up and lead a new generation of Patriots defenders.

If
the Patriots can maintain their level of defensive intensity from 2008,
Brady's bunch will win the division and compete for a much bigger
prize.

AFC North:

Predicted Winner:  Pittsburgh Steelers

AFC North fans outside of Pittsburgh and Baltimore actually have reason to follow the division in 2009.

The
Cincinnati Bengals are showing some promise this year with a healthy
Carson Palmer and rejuvenated Chad Ochocinco. The defense is not
looking half bad either with the addition of Cowboy cast-offs Tank
Johnson and Roy Williams.

However,
the team may want to consider enrolling Johnson and equally troubled
wide receiver Chris Henry in the "Plaxico Burress School for Gun
Control."  

Once
they settle on a quarterback, the Cleveland Browns will also look to
improve on a dismal 2008 season. Wide receiver Braylon Edwards seems to
think he has found a cure for last year's case of banana hands. But Jamal Lewis is still getting old, and the defense still couldn't stop a runny nose if they were spotted a box of tissues.

Speaking
of runny noses, the Baltimore Ravens will once again showcase a defense
that can knock the snot out of any opposing offense. Losing Pro Bowl
linebacker Bart Scott hurts, but Ray Lewis and Ed Reed will continue to
make life miserable for quarterbacks around the league.

The
emergence of talented second-year running back Ray Rice and continued
maturation of Joe Flacco will be key if the Ravens hope to unseat the
Pittsburgh Steelers this season.

But the Steelers have to be considered favorites to twirl their terrible towels atop the AFC North this season.

Their
only significant free agent departure was linebacker Larry Foote. But
go ahead and ask James Farrior or James Harrison if the linebacking
corps will miss Larry Foote. Actually, do not ask that, because either
of those men are libel to decleat you for such a ridiculous question.

The
Steelers offense should actually improve on 2008 with last year's
first-round draft pick, Rashard Mendenhall, back from injury and ready
to contribute over a full-season. Look for Limas Sweed to step into
that third receiver slot and have a solid season as well.

Only injuries or off-field issues will stand in the way of the Steelers this year. And despite Ben Roethlisberger's recent P.R. nightmare, Mike Tomlin will have his team focused on another Super Bowl run.

AFC South:

Predicted Winner:  Houston Texans

AFC
South fans are in for quite a show this season. The division could
easily be turned upside-down this year given the talent on all four
squads.

The
Indianapolis Colts still have Peyton Manning, Reggie Wayne, and Dwight
Freeney. Those players alone will make them competitive this season. Marvin
Harrison is a big loss in name only, as third-year wide receiver
Anthony Gonzalez is more than ready to become a premier target for
Manning. But look for some growing pains as the team gets used to the
post-Tony Dungy era.

Meanwhile, an improved offensive line and the addition of Torry Holt's freakish fingers
will mean a much improved Jacksonville Jaguars offense. But Jack Del
Rio needs to get more out of his defense and quarterback David Gerrard
if the team wants to finish with a winning record.

Fans in the Music City cannot be too happy about losing Albert Haynesworth
to the Washington Redskins. As a result, the Tennessee Titans are the
only team in this division likely to take a step back in 2009.
Offensively, runningback Chris Johnson will be the lone shiny ornament
on an otherwise austere Christmas tree.

With
that said, this is the year that Houston will Texas Two-Step into a
division title and the playoffs.  If Matt Schaub can finally stay
healthy, the Texans will have the best offense in the AFC South.

Steve
Slaton is a Brian Westbrook clone and will continue to be valuable out
of the backfield and as a pass catcher. Everybody knows that Andre
Johnson is an elite NFL receiver, but Kevin Walter and Owen Daniels are
underrated second and third options.

The offense is not the only show in Houston. Mario Williams
will lead a defensive unit that has yet to scratch the surface of its
potential. Look for continued development from defensive tackle Amobi
Okoye, along with the emergence of rookie Brian Cushing at linebacker.

Free
agent acquisition Antonio Smith also makes a nice bookend compliment to
Mario Williams on the defensive line. Do not be surprised if this unit
helps Houston finish towards the top of the AFC in sacks. 

There is one team every year that the rest of the NFL mistakenly sleeps on. The Houston Texans will be that team in 2009.

Wild Card: Indianapolis Colts and Baltimore Ravens

Playoffs: 

Wild Card Round:

#6 Baltimore Ravens def. #3 Houston Texans

#4 San Diego Chargers def. #5 Indianapolis Colts

Divisional Round:

#1 New England Patriots def. #6 Baltimore Ravens

#2 Pittsburgh Steelers def. #4 San Diego Chargers

Conference Championship:

#2 Pittsburgh Steelers def. #1 New England Patriots

AFC Super Bowl Representative:

Pittsburgh Steelers

Cinderella Man (Comeback Player of the Year): Chris Henry, wide receiver, Cincinnati

Chris Henry is the guy, because picking Shawne Merriman or Tom Brady would be too easy.

The only question is: does the NFL consider idiocy a legitimate injury to comeback from? The troubled wide receiver's wrap sheet is bigger than Michael Strahan's tooth gap.

All misdemeanors aside, Chris Henry's talent
has never been in question. The Bengals are giving Henry another 'last
chance' to live up to his potential. With 224 yards receiving in the
preseason, early indications are that he is ready to get serious about
football.

Honorable
Mentions: Shawne Merriman, linebacker, San Diego; Tom Brady, quarterback, New England; Braylon Edwards, wide receiver, Cleveland

Offensive Rookie of the Year: Knowshon Moreno, running back, Denver

A mild MCL sprain
prevented Knowshon Moreno from claiming the starting running back spot
this preseason. But the Broncos did not use a high first-round draft
pick on the University of Georgia product for nothing.

Correll
Buckhalter and LaMont Jordan are also on the roster, but Moreno's
skill-set will eventually relegate them to cheerleading duty. Plus,
Denver will need to throw all of their top tier talent onto the field
if they hope to make Kyle Orton look like a respectable NFL
quarterback.

Honorable
Mentions: James Davis, running back, Cleveland; Mark Sanchez, quarterback, New York Jets; Donald Brown, running back, Indianapolis

Defensive Rookie of the Year: Tyson Jackson, defensive end, Kansas City

Tyson Jackson
knows how to get into the backfield and is an ideal fit for a 3-4
defense, which is why Kansas City drafted the big defensive end from LSU
third overall this year.

Jackson will team with 2008 first-round draft pick Glenn Dorsey to create a formidable pass-rush on an emerging defensive unit.

Jackson's
impact will not be limited to the stat sheet. He eats a lot of space
and will occupy multiple offensive linemen, allowing other pass rushers
to reach the quarterback.

Honorable
Mention: Michael Johnson, defensive end, Cincinnati; Brian Cushing, linebacker, Houston; Ziggy Hood, defensive end, Pittsburgh Steelers

Your Next AFC Idol: Ray Rice, running back, Baltimore Ravens

Entering
his second-year, Ray Rice finds himself atop the Ravens running back
hierarchy. Rice is short in stature, but not on talent.

His
soft hands and hard-nosed running style present a challenge for any
defense. Ray Lewis & Co. will keep the Ravens in most contests. As
a result, ball-control will be the axiom on offense.

Look
for Ray Rice to accumulate over 1,300 combined yards rushing and
receiving as the Ravens go ground service into the playoffs.

Honorable Mentions: Jerod Mayo, linebacker, New England; Joe Flacco, quarterback, Baltimore; Rex Ryan, Head Coach, New York Jets

AFC MVP: Tom Brady, Quarterback, New England

With a supermodel wife, three Super Bowl rings, and superior acting skills,
Tom Brady officially has nothing left to prove in life. Nevertheless,
he finds it necessary make all other mortal men feel inadequate for
another football season.

Brady showed that he is, in fact, human last year after going down to a major knee
injury. Anybody who doubts this man's ability to comeback, however,
must not pay attention to football...Or the tabloids...Or modern popular
culture.

Tom
Brady will battle Peyton Manning all season for MVP honors. Ultimately,
Brady will win based on the Patriots' final record and his irresistible
boyish charm.

Honorable Mentions: Peyton Manning, quarterback, Indianapolis; Andre Johnson, wide receiver, Houston; Ed Reed, safety, Baltimore

Super Bowl Prediction: Green Bay 23 Pittsburgh 21

As previously stated in my NFC preview, the Green Bay Packers look primed to bring the Lombardi Trophy back to Green Bay.

Super Bowl XLIV will be played in Miami,
which is good news for Aaron Rodgers and the Packers. With what could be ideal weather conditions for offense, Green Bay will be able to
launch a full-scale assault on Pittsburgh.

Skeptics
will point to last year's Super Bowl played in Tampa Bay, where a
prolific Arizona Cardinals offense fell short against the Steelers:
similar location, similar opponent, and a similar vaunted Steelers
defense.

The
difference? Arizona rushed only 12 times for 33 yards in a game that
essentially came down to the final offensive possession. Green Bay will
have this knowledge coming into Miami and can showcase Ryan Grant
accordingly.

Pittsburgh
will make it a fight, but Green Bay wins this one with ball control and
a prolific game from Super Bowl MVP Aaron Rodgers.