2010 NFL season preview

The 2010-2011 NFL season will be a year of changes for several teams. Can the New Orleans Saints repeat as Super Bowl champions? Can the Dallas Cowboys be the first team in NFL history to play a Super Bowl game in their own stadium? Following is a breakdown of every division, beginning with the AFC West.

The San Diego Chargers have taken the AFC West title the last four years proving their consistency. However, this team is determined to do something they haven't done in these four seasons and that is bringing home a championship. The Denver Broncos have made news this off season by acquiring college superstar Tim Tebow, who many teams passed on because they felt he wasn't ready to play in the NFL. Kyle Orton is the starting QB, but don't be surprised if you see Tebow in action early.

The New York Jets are a hot pick to win the AFC East, but the question is can they re-sign Darrelle Revis? Revis is coming off a career-high year that led his defense to the AFC championship game. Re-signing Revis is huge for this team if they want to contend with their division. Tom Brady has played a full season since his injury and should be able to lead his Patriots to another AFC East title. The Miami Dolphins landed Wide Receiver Brandon Marshall and now have a serious threat on offense for QB Chad Henne to use.

In the AFC North, the Pittsburgh Steelers are coming off one of their worst years defensively in quite some time. In 2009, the Steelers were more of a passing than running team, as in past years. With all the drama surrounding QB Ben Roethlisberger during the off season, Steeler fans are unsure of what's to come in 2010-11. Roethlisberger will start the year on the bench for at least six weeks because of his suspension in the off-season. Backup QB Dennis Dixon will try to steer the Steelers in the right direction to start the season.

The Baltimore Ravens should be able to toughen up their defense and the addition of Anquan Bolden and Donte Stallworth who give Joe Flacco weapons for the passing game. The Cincinnati Bengals defense carried them in many games last season. The big question will be, can Ocho Cinco and Terrell Owens be content with the number of catches they receive, and will T.O. be a team player or cause trouble?

In the AFC South the Indianapolis Colts should handle their division once again. The Houston Texans will surely put up a fight for a playoff spot, but will their defense be able to get them over the top?

Now to the NFC. In the NFC East, the Dallas Cowboys are highly favored for a Super Bowl berth and Championship with the Super Bowl being played in their home stadium. Cowboy owner Jerry Jones has kept the team together that finally won a playoff game last year they seem ready for a serious title run. The addition of rookie Wide Receiver Dez Bryant should make the Cowboys even better by providing an offensive spark and bring them closer to winning the NFC.

The New York Giants fell apart last season and struggled with injuries to Brandon Jacobs and Bradshaw. Eli Manning has a good set of wide receivers, but the running game has to improve and the defense has to be in form from when they won Super Bowl XLII.

A big story in NFC East this past season was the Philadelphia Eagles trading Donovan McNabb to the Washington Redskins. Kevin Kolb will get his chance to quarterback the Eagles, a team that had high hopes of a Super Bowl.

Mike Shannahan, former Broncos coach, came out of retirement to be head coach of the Washington Redskins. QB Jason Campbell was traded to the raiders and during preseason Albert Haynesworth has already had trouble on and off the field with his weight and behavior. Whether he will be able to keep up with Shannahan is yet to be seen.

In the NFC South, the New Orleans Saints will try to defend their championship to try and become the first team since the New England Patriots to repeat as champions. With a target on their back, it will be difficult for the Saints to repeat. The Atlanta Falcons had many injuries on offense last season. Look for the Falcons and QB Matt Ryan to pressure the Saints for the NFC South crown.

In the NFC North the big question was whether Brett Favre would return to the Minnesota Vikings for his 20th season. After coming off the best year in his career at age 40 and one bad throw in the NFC title game, the return of Favre seemed like a for-sure deal, which proved to be the case. The Vikings will again have a huge impact on the NFC North.

The Green Bay Packers will push the Vikings as hard as they can for the NFC North title. Aaron Rodgers is now the leader of the Packers his team and with a strong defense look for Green Bay to make a strong push for the NFC North title and perhaps the NFC Championship.

In the NFC West, the Arizona Cardinals start without Kurt Warner, who retired last season. Matt Leinart now gets his chance to lead the Cardinals as the starting QB. This could be the year he shows if he can be a dominate QB in the future of his NFL career. Look for the Cardinals to have great contributions from Larry Fitzgerald and Steve Breaston, and more important, contend for a NFC West title.

The San Francisco 49'ers will contend in the NFC West if QB Alex Smith steps up and shows he can be an elite QB in this league. The defense is strong and the running game is solid, but the question will be whether Smith can take San Francisco to the next level.

My predictions for the season are: Dallas represents the NFC in Super Bowl 45 and bring it all home; in the AFC, Rex Ryan and his Jets will be coming to Cowboy Stadium IF DARELLE REVIS returns to New York; and never underestimate Payton Manning and the Colts and Brady and New England.