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View from the cheap seats - As I promised last week, I am going focus this column on the National Football League. Now this is a pretty big topic, so I thought it would be best to tackle one conference at a time. I'll do the AFC this time and next week I'll take a go at the NFC.

I also feel like it would be much easier to do this topic in kind of a block format - one Division at a time with a quick breakdown of each team in the respective Divisions. Okay, here goes nothing.

AFC North

Pittsburgh Steelers - A very talented offensive team; with Roethlisberger, Heath Miller and company. They have a solid defense but a very weak offensive line that may not be able to protect Big Ben enough when playing good teams. They could be in trouble with a very tough schedule this year but I still think they'll win what I consider a relatively weak division.

Cincinnati Bengals - A horrible defensive team but will put up plenty of points with Carson Palmer, newly named Chad Ocho Cinqo, and TJ Houshmandzadeh. Could get as many as 10 or 11 wins or as low as 2 or 3.

Cleveland Browns - Another team with a very potent offence and no defence. Derek Anderson will have to have a repeat of his stellar 2007 season. He will have plenty of options with Braylon Edwards, Kellen Winslow and newly acquired receiver Donte Stallworth. They better put plenty of points on the board because they will give up lots of them.

Baltimore Ravens - The only team in this division with a good defence; a very good defence. The problem is they are a horrible offensive team. Scored in the bottom of the league last year as far as points per game goes and that won't change this year. Todd Heap and Derrick Mason are very capable receivers but they just don't have anyone that can deliver the ball with any consistency.

AFC East

New England Patriots - The cream of the NFL resides in this division. Coming off what was supposed to be the first perfect season since the '72 dolphins, only to be foiled by the improbable 2007 Super Bowl champion New York Giants, the only obstacle again this year will be Brady's health.

Their Pro Bowl pivot had an ankle injury that kept him out of preseason but if healthy, as he claims he is now, Brady and that vaunted offense could ride rough-shot over the entire AFC. Randy Moss, Wes Welker and Jabar Gaffney, along with the tandem of Lamont Jordan and Heath Evans in the backfield, will provide Brady with plenty of options and they have a very stingy defense to go along with their tier one offense.

Buffalo Bills - They are a wait and see team for me this year. They have an above average defense so they will be able to stop teams but for me everything depends on quarterback Trent Edwards. He had a solid rookie campaign, earning five victories in nine starts last year, and if the bills are to have any success this year he needs to be even better in his sophomore season.

New York Jets - Well, I guess we'll see what the legendary Brett Favre can do out of a Green Bay Packer uniform for the first time in his career. With on offensive line that has more than a few question marks Favre may have to rely a lot on those thirty-nine year old legs to keep him from being sacked on a regular basis.

I think in his haste to get back on the gridiron the future Hall of Famer didn't take into account that he might get traded to a bad team. That's what the Jets are and I expect - that after the beating he takes this year, Brett may opt for retirement again, again.

Miami Dolphins - Well, what do say about one of the worst teams in the league? That's what the Miami Dolphins are and have been for the past few years. It's a long way from the days of Dan Marino and the feared Miami offense and don't look for anything to change this season.

Ricky Williams seemed to have found his game in preseason and if he continues to play well when it counts he and fellow running back Ronnie Brown will provide relief for a non-existent air attack. I have several friends who are big Dolphin fans, so it saddens me to say that the goose egg for wins could be in play for them again this year.

AFC West

San Diego Chargers - Next to the Patriots, the Chargers are arguably the best team in the NFL. They are supremely talented on offence, with Philip Rivers at the helm and LaDainian Tomlinson's all-purpose attack, and employ one of the stingiest defenses in the league - a lock to win their weak division and claim one of the top two regular season spots in the AFC.

The rest - I said the Chargers were in a weak division and I'm so firm in that assertion that I'm not even going to the rest of the AFC West in the same format as prior divisions. I will simply say that the Oakland Raiders, who may be slightly better than the 2007, the Kansas City Chiefs and the Denver Broncos are three of the weakest clubs in the entire league. If these three win a dozen games between them I will be shocked.

AFC South

Indianapolis Colts - When you have Peyton Manning as your quarterback, then you really needn't say anything else about the offence. That's a sure bet every time out. The defence is what's really impressive about this club; with two of the best linebackers in the game in Freddy Keiaho and Bob Sanders and perennial pro bowl defensive end Dwight Freeney this defense is scary good. Just two years removed from their Super Bowl victory over my Chicago Bears this group will take a serious run at another championship this season.

Jacksonville Jaguars - The Jags are a pretty well-round team. They have a very good pivot in David Garrard, a solid receiving core especially with the off-season acquisition of Jerry Porter, and one of the best running games in the league.

Running Back Fred Taylor should have another very good season. The Jags also always seem to field an above average defense as well and the combination they possess on both sides of the ball should take them a long way this year.

Houston Texans - They are another club that I like very much this year. They have excellent depth at quarterback, with Matt Schaub and Sage Rosenfels, and Andre Johnson is one of the most complete receivers in the league when healthy.

They upgraded and already good defense with the addition of Rosevelt Colvin and coming off their most successful year in their six NFL seasons, they were 8-8 in 2007, I'm looking for good things from the Texans this time around. I've said that about these guys for the past couple of years and I hope they finally prove me right this year.

Tennessee Titans - last but not least is the Titans. Having said that I think they actually are the least - even with the supremely talented Vince Young at quarterback/running back this team isn't going anywhere. Tight End Alge Crumpler, who Tennessee signed as a free agent in the spring, will be a welcome target for the oft beleaguered Young but not nearly enough to help them get out of the AFC South basement.