STORYLINE: Three teams have legitimate shots at winning the division but the Steelers must start the year with QB Ben Roethlisberger serving a four-game suspension. The Ravens seem to have enough pieces - although Joe Flacco must play better in big games - while the Bengals, who stole the division a year ago, are banking that risky retreads like Terrell Owens and Pacman Jones can have the same success as Cedric Benson. The Browns? Wrong division.
BEST COACH: Mike Tomlin is probably the most popular coach football jerseys
with his players and not because he's a softie. Tomlin filled the shoes of Bill Cowher with a smooth transition to his style that didn't intrude on Steelers tradition. After winning a Super Bowl, he did well to get them to a 9-7 record amid a slew of injuries.
BEST PLAYER: Troy Polamalu missed 11 games with a knee injury last year and it cost the Steelers a spot in the playoffs. The high-energy, play-making safety is a force unto himself and he makes everyone else on the Steelers defense better. There is no better example of athleticism, brains and instincts on any other team.
DON'T BE SURPRISED IF: Jake Delhomme takes advantage of his second chance with the Browns. Mike Holmgren's arrival as team president in Cleveland means the Browns will play a hybrid of the West Coast offense and the Patriots' system that head coach Eric Mangini and offensive coordinator Brian Daboll were weaned on. It's made Delhomme's reads easier and through preseason, his QB rating was up near 116 with his completion percentage in the upper 70s.
KEY ADDITION: Never happy being overshadowed by Larry Fitzgerald on Pittsburgh Steelers jersey
the Cardinals, Anquan Boldin comes to Baltimore expected to be the missing link to an AFC championship. Boldin was quiet in the preseason until he caught four passes for 58 yards and a TD from out of the slot position against the Giants.
KEY SUBTRACTION: Shayne Graham missed a pair of field goals that could have affected the outcome of the Bengals' playoff loss to the Jets and ultimately ended his career in Cincinnati. He signed a one-year deal with the Ravens, but was beaten out by Billy Cundiff. Ex-Jet Mike Nugent beat out Dave Rayner for Graham's old job.
X-FACTOR: Terrell Owens just may have found a home in Indianapolis Colts jersey
Cincinnati where he and Chad Ochocinco should at least provide a few amusing moments. Outside of Ocho, the Bengals receiving corps was impotent last year. An inspired T.O. could end up being a lot more than an emergency replacement for the costly signing mistake that was Antonio Bryant. Or he could be a distraction.
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