Every year, prognosticators try to stick a fork in Indianapolis and elevate Houston as the next big thing in the AFC's Southern division. Each year, the Texans boast an explosive offense; however, their defense disappoints. In 2011, things won’t be a whole lot different except for one big thing: plagued by injury, Manning will struggle to move his team and score points, allowing Houston to finally break free and ascend to the top of the division.

1st place - Houston Texans 

For some reason, many are touting the hiring of defensive coordinator Wade Phillips as the big difference in putting the Texans over the top. This is the same guy that orchestrated the worst statistical defensive performance in Dallas Cowboys history just one season ago. If Houston finally does make it big, it will have more to do with consistent play from the offense and a disappointing performance by the division rival Colts.

Prediction: 10-6 (They'll finally make the playoffs and then exit quickly.)

2nd place - Indianapolis Colts

A rookie offensive lineman and an aging defense will combine to end the Colts’ streak of winning seasons. Expect Peyton Manning to throw close to 20 interceptions in 2011, as his inevitable decline begins.

Prediction: 8-8 (Peyton Manning's consecutive games-played streak will end in 2011.)

3rd place - Tennessee Titans

If Matt Hasselbeck can play half-way decent, and the team can convince Chris Johnson to end his holdout, Tennessee may be able to get close to .500. Unfortunately, they lack the defensive personnel to hold scoring down and will likely struggle in nearly every game.

Prediction: 7-9 (After signing a huge contract, Chris Johnson will have an injury-plagued season.)

4th place: Jacksonville Jaguars

Though they've improved their defense, the Jaguars know they aren't true contenders. Eventually, they'll install rookie Blaine Gabbert at quarterback, and the rest of the team’s games will resemble preseason football.

Prediction: 6-10 (Jack Del Rio won't survive the season.)

- Ryan Lawrence (Content Writer)

Like the western division in the National Football Conference, the AFC West is stocked with mediocre teams that consistently flounder under .500. Unlike the NFC's version, however, the AFC West is home to one formidable franchise that seems at the cusp of greatness. That team is San Diego; and if they are able to get out of their own way, the Chargers will claim another division title and secure one more chance at a Super Bowl appearance.

1st place - San Diego Chargers

This is the year for San Diego. Six games against relatively weak division opponents will allow the team to inflate its record and secure a first-round bye. Unfortunately, the Chargers don’t have what it takes to compete with New England and will ultimately see their Super Bowl dream end once more at the hands of Tom Brady.

Prediction: 13-3 (They'll get by in the regular season; but in the playoffs, they'll miss Darren Sproles.)

2nd place - Kansas City Chiefs

They played well last season, but the Chiefs are still at least another year away from becoming a realistic contender. Expect Kansas City to take a step back in 2011.

Prediction: 9-7 (Though they will be competitive in nearly every game, the Chiefs will ultimately give up too many points.)

3rd place - Oakland Raiders

It’s a new year; so there must be a new coach in Oakland. Quarterback problems will prevent Oakland from doing anything substantial in 2011. Expect a carbon copy of last season, with the team showing glimmers of talent that result in few wins.

Prediction: 7-9 (Jason Campbell will be cut after 2011.)

4th place: Denver Broncos

Denver convinced its savior, John Elway, to come to the rescue and take over team operations. Unfortunately, the guy can no longer play. Until it decides what to do with Tim Tebow, this franchise will continue to circle the drain. If it opts to play Tebow, Denver will at least know what it has and can set a course. If they stick with Kyle Orton, the Broncos will end up near .500 and will have no shot at Andrew Luck.

Prediction: 5-11 (Tim Tebow will be a tight end in 2012.)

- Ryan Lawrence (Content Writer)

Last year, the Pittsburgh Steelers enjoyed yet another fortuitous playoff schedule that excluded the vaunted New England Patriots; and they took advantage by overpowering the overmatched Ravens and Jets. Unfortunately, they were dismantled in the Super Bowl by a superior Green Bay team, equipped with a capable quarterback able to take advantage of Pittsburgh's deficiencies in the secondary. Now, it's the year after a Pittsburgh Super Bowl appearance, which traditionally means a poor follow-up for the Steelers. In 2011, expect no different; as the defending division champs will succumb to pressure from a pair of teams led by up-and-coming quarterbacks.

1st place - Baltimore Ravens

Make no mistake, the Ravens defense is on the decline. An aging Ray Lewis and Ed Reed won't be able to keep scoring down like they have in the past; however, expect Joe Flacco to finally come into his own and establish himself as a top-notch fantasy player and team leader.

Prediction: 10-6 (Flacco will have a Pro Bowl year.)

2nd place - Cleveland Browns

Last year, the Browns were competitive in nearly every game and posted impressive wins against New England and at New Orleans. Colt McCoy will benefit from short-yardage third downs, thanks to Peyton Hillis. This team will prove formidable for anyone on its schedule.

Prediction: 9-7 (Peyton Hillis will lead the League in rushing.)

3rd place - Pittsburgh Steelers

Green Bay exposed Pittsburgh's problems in the secondary. Expect teams to spread the Steelers out and take advantage. An aging Hines Ward won't be able to stretch defenses, and the team will struggle to consistently score. Expect a lot of close losses.

Prediction: 7-9 (To the dismay of Steelers fans, this will mark the first year of a four-year rebuilding process.)

4th place: Cincinnati Bengals

The team plans to start a rookie quarterback in place of the "retired" Carson Palmer. Unfortunately, that rookie is the overrated Andy Dalton who lacks the arm strength necessary to play in the NFL. If they'd drafted Ryan Mallett, the Bengals' future would be set. Instead, they're lined up for at least another five years of futility.

Prediction: 3-13 (Marvin Lewis will inexplicably retain his job for yet another year, thanks to the compromising photos he keeps of GM Mike Brown.)

- Ryan Lawrence (Content Writer)

Bill Parcells once said that past performance is an indicator of future actions. Unfortunately for also-rans like Buffalo and Miami, that theory seems to apply well to the AFC East, where year after year, one team seems to make all but one division opponent look foolish. Though they may make strides in the right direction, the Dolphins and Bills lack the firepower to realistically compete for a division title. In 2010, expect more of what you saw last year in this top-heavy division, where only two teams boast the ability to claim dominance.

1st place - New England Patriots

Last year, the Patriots maintained their decade-long reputation as the best regular season team only to be upended by the Jets in the divisional playoff round. Though the Jets have the ability to beat New England on any given Sunday, they lack the Patriots' consistency and won’t be able to post enough wins to stop their rivals from securing yet another division crown.

Prediction: 13-3 (Albert Haynesworth will wreak havoc and bring a dominant rush to the defense.)

2nd place - New York Jets

Make no mistake; the Jets pose serious problems for any team in the League, whether it be New Orleans, Indianapolis, Philadelphia or New England. Unfortunately, they also allow lesser teams to stay too close and ultimately end up suffering disappointing losses that prevent them from posting a lot of regular season wins. If they hope to be as dominant as the Patriots, the Jets need to find a way to separate from lesser opponents, or they're likely to barely slip into the playoffs as a wild card.

Prediction: 10-6 (The defense will be less dominant in 2011; but Sanchez will come into his own.)

3rd place - Miami Dolphins

Reggie Bush will give Henne an outlet that will prevent teams from blitzing with the same success they had in 2010; however, that doesn’t mean the Miami quarterback won't continue to sense nonexistent pressure and respond by throwing to the wrong team. They'd have been better off trading for Kyle Orton. Instead, they'll struggle to get to .500.

Prediction: 7-9 (Bill Cowher will be coaching in Miami in 2012.)

4th place: Buffalo Bills

The Bills will be a competitive team in 2011, thanks to a stronger defense led by rookie Marcell Dareus. Unfortunately, this division is just too tough to expect more than another sub-.500 season. Mix in four games against the loaded NFC East, and you've got a recipe for at least nine losses.

Prediction: 6-10 (A break here or there, and they could get to 8-8.)

- Ryan Lawrence (Content Writer)

Those analyzing the NFC West could make an argument for any of the four teams as potential division champions; however, only one seems to show consistent signs of improvement.

1st place - St Louis Rams

Last year, the Rams accomplished a lot with a rookie quarterback and almost nothing a wide receiver. This year, Sam Bradford will have more experience, and a healthy receiving core should help him play winning football. Will the Rams dominate every game they play? Not likely. However, they seem to be building a winning program, and unlike the other teams in the division, they have a coach you can believe in.

Prediction: 9-7 (To fantasy owners' surprise, Stephen Jackson will remain healthy for all 16 games.)

2nd place - Arizona Cardinals

Arizona added Kevin Kolb and may ultimately add a second receiver to compliment Fitzgerald. Unfortunately, they had to give up their best cornerback to get Kolb, and without him, the team is likely to struggle defensively all season long.

Prediction: 7-9 (Kolb will throw close to 20 interceptions.)

3rd place - San Francisco 49ers

If they'd made a move for Kyle Orton, the 49ers would be at the top of this list. Instead, they enter the season with the same problem they have every year: inconsistent quarterback play. Unless that changes before the season, there's no reason to expect marked improvement in San Francisco.

Prediction: 7-9 (If they make a move for Orton, the 49ers could surprise.)

4th place: Seattle Seahawks

Though they won a playoff game last season, the Seahawks were a losing team. Now that they've dumped their best quarterback, they'll see just how important that particular position is. This team is going to struggle from game one.

Prediction: 5-11 (Seattle will start at least three different quarterbacks this season.)

- Ryan Lawrence (Content Writer)

Though they made the playoff in 2010, the Saints were just a shadow of the dominant team that won the Super Bowl the previous season. Unfortunately for the defending South champion Atlanta Falcons and upstart Tampa Bay Bucs, New Orleans appears poised to ascend to the top of the division and reclaim its title as the League's best team.

1st place - New Orleans Saints

Though it lost Reggie Bush, New Orleans scored big by adding rookie Mark Ingram and speedy scat-back Darren Sproles. The backfield additions should add balance to the Saints and make their offense outright scary to opponents. An improved defense should be able to do just enough to hold opponents ' point totals down, while the offense scores at a blistering pace.

Prediction: 12-4 (Mark Ingram will rush for over 1000 yards.)

2nd place - Tampa Bay Bucs

Last year, Tampa Bay tallied double-digit wins and just narrowly missed the playoffs. The team entered the 2011 season equipped with millions in cap space, and many expected the Bucs to make a serious run toward big free agent talent. Instead, Tampa Bay did almost nothing. Though the Bucs have a bright future, don’t expect them to be able to keep pace with the Saints.

Prediction: 10-6 (Freeman will take a small step back.)

3rd place - Atlanta Falcons

In its attempt to land Matt Ryan another top-notch wide-out, Atlanta traded away a score of draft picks and mortgaged its future on unproven talent. Unfortunately for the team, the wide receiver position had nothing to do with its humiliating defeat to Green Bay in last year's divisional playoff round. The Falcons would have been much better served shoring up their pass defense. Expect Atlanta to score a few more points this year and record a few less wins.

Prediction: 8-8 (This will be the year Matt Ryan becomes a star; unfortunately, the defense will hamper the team's progress.)

4th place: Carolina Panthers

Cam Newton will be lucky to finish the season without suffering permanent psychological scarring. The Panthers don't have much of a chance playing six games against formidable divisional opponents. Expect another high draft pick for Carolina in 2012.

Prediction: 2-12 (If he plays at least 12 games in 2011, Cam Newton will throw 20-plus interceptions.)

- Ryan Lawrence (Content Writer)