1. Indianapolis Colts

Last year Peyton Manning threw 14 interceptions; eight of them came against the Chargers, who ended up knocking Indy out of the playoffs. Manning enters 2008 surrounded by questions regarding his health, something unfamiliar with the signal caller. It's still unclear just how serious the knee issue will be this season, but it's clearly the most important aspect of the team's season. With Jake Scott gone and Jeff Saturday injured, rookie Mike Pollak will become an integral part of the offense, playing a position of significant importance. Saturday's injury could be devastating. With Anthony Gonzalez developing and the return of Marvin Harrison, there are plenty of weapons in the passing game, even if Harrison shows expected signs of decline. If Dwight Freeney and Bob Sanders remain healthy, the defense will be very tough to score on.

2. Houston Texans (wild card)

Watch out, this team could be dangerous. Defense is still a huge question mark, but Mario Williams could lead the league in sacks this season, and a dominant end can be felt everywhere. Amobi Okoye could also break out, while DeMeco Ryans is a force at linebacker. Fred Bennett allowed the fewest YPA of any corner in football last season. Bottom line, it remains to be seen how the unit will perform as a whole, but there are some nice pieces in place, especially if Dunta Robinson can return to old form midway through the season. On offense, it's imperative Matt Schaub stays healthy. Sage Rosenfels is a solid backup, but he's nowhere near the QB Schaub is. With Andre Johnson, Kevin Walter and Owen Daniels as targets, this passing game could light up the scoreboard. The fact they don't have a brand name running back means little.

3. Jacksonville Jaguars

Jacksonville is a solid football team, but the defense overachieved last year. On a per play basis, they were average, but when it came to the red zone, they did a tremendous job of holding opponents to field goals and not touchdowns. Kind of like a hitter who raked with RISP one season, that type of performance is likely unsustainable, which means the Jags will be giving up more points this year, especially since Marcus Stroud is gone, and John Henderson is aging and a big injury risk. However, it's possible their draft picks will help nullify that. Adding Jerry Porter probably won't help much, but David Garrard is an elite talent. Still, his 0.9 interception percentage last year was the lowest in NFL history, so more turnovers are inevitable.

4. Tennessee Titans

If defense and running the football leads to winning, the Titans will certainly finish higher than this fourth place projection. The defense is strong, especially if Albert Haynesworth can stay healthy and motivated. Cortland Finnegan sounds more like an Irish Pub than it does a cornerback, but he's legit. The offensive line is also a strength, and Chris Johnson adds an explosive element previously missing. It says here Johnson has a much better year than LenDale White. Unfortunately, the passing game is completely inept, with no wide receivers and Vince Young at quarterback. Young could show improvement with Norm Chow now gone, but he's a better fantasy QB than one in real life. It's a big problem.