NFL Nation: 09 afc team wrap
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A team-by-team analysis of the division. The arrow indicates which direction each team is trending.
San Diego Chargers
Final Power Ranking: 2
Biggest surprise: It has to be how dominant San Diego became after it dropped to 2-3 and 3.5 games behind Denver after the Broncos hammered the Chargers at home in Week 6. San Diego hasn’t lost since. This is the third straight season San Diego has come back after a slow start to win the division title. But this year, the Chargers went from a team in despair to an elite team in a matter of days. They just turned it on and haven’t looked back.
Biggest disappointment: The running game. The Chargers invested more than $12 million in running backs LaDainian Tomlinson and Darren Sproles. Still, San Diego had one of the worst running attacks in the NFL. Tomlinson, 30, had the lowest rushing total of his nine-season career, and didn’t have a 100-yard rushing game all season. He is still good at the goal line, but the running attack is not the same in San Diego.
Biggest need: Expect San Diego to pursue a big running back in the draft. Tomlinson could be entering his final days with the team. San Diego also needs help on the defensive line. Expect the Chargers to pursue a big, run-stuffing interior defensive lineman. The team misses Jamal Williams, who was lost for the season in Week 1 with a triceps injury.
Team MVP: Quarterback Philip Rivers. He will get NFL MVP consideration. Rivers is an elite quarterback.
Magic moment: Tomlinson surpassed legend Jim Brown on the all-time rushing list -- in Cleveland. Brown was in attendance for the special event.
Denver Broncos
Final Power Ranking: 17
Biggest surprise: It has to be how much Denver fell apart after starting the season 6-0. The Broncos came out of their bye in Week 7 and were a totally different team. Denver finished the season with eight losses in its final 10 games. Denver became the third NFL team since the merger to start 6-0 and not make the playoffs. The Broncos became the first team in league history to have a 3.5-game division lead at any point in the season and not make the playoffs. It is shocking how fast this team fell off the cliff.
Biggest disappointment: The turmoil that met this team at the end of the season. Denver survived the Jay Cutler saga in the spring and then the Brandon Marshall saga in the summer. For Marshall and tight end Tony Scheffler to end the season with more turmoil has to be a huge disappointment for first-year coach Josh McDaniels. Marshall and Scheffler were deactivated for the team’s crucial season finale against Kansas City because of accountability issues, McDaniels said. Distractions plagued this team nearly all year.
Biggest need: Watch for Denver to make tweaks throughout the roster. But the Broncos’ needs start in the trenches. The offensive line has to get better in the run game. A starter or two may be needed. Defensively, the team could use an anchor and leader on the defensive front.
Team MVP: Linebacker Elvis Dumervil. He led the NFL with 17 sacks. He thrived in Denver’s new 3-4 system.
Magic moment: It had to be McDaniels pumping his arms and celebrating with the Denver crowd after the Broncos beat his former team, the New England Patriots, in October. But that moment seems like a long time ago.
Oakland Raiders
Final Power Ranking: 26
Biggest surprise: The Raiders came alive against some of the better teams they played this season. In the end, the Raiders had another lackluster season at 5-11. But they had some real highlight-film moments. Oakland beat Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Cincinnati and Denver when all of those teams had winning records. Most of those wins came with incredible theatrics at the end of the game. The Raiders provided fans with some good memories in 2009.
Biggest disappointment: The play of the team’s last three top draft picks: quarterback JaMarcus Russell, running back Darren McFadden and receiver Darrius Heyward-Bey. Russell was the No. 1 overall pick in 2007, McFadden was the No. 4 overall pick in 2008 and Heyward-Bey was the No. 7 overall pick in 2009. Those skill-position players were supposed to reconstruct Oakland’s offense. Yet, they were all disappointments this season. Russell lost his job and his future with the team is unclear. McFadden failed to show his collegiate explosiveness for the second straight year. Heyward-Bey made virtually no impact despite starting until he was hurt late in the season.
Biggest need: The Raiders need to address their offensive line. The team has toyed with trying to improve the unit in recent years. It’s time Oakland adds some top talent. And then, of course, there’s the question of what the team will do at quarterback.
Team MVP: Cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha. Oakland wasted another season with the game’s best corner.
Magic moment: Pittsburgh native Bruce Gradkowski showed playing him over Russell was the right call when he beat the Steelers in his hometown in the final seconds. The memory may be strong enough in Oakland for Gradkowski, who finished the season injured, to get a chance to be the starter next season.
Kansas City Chiefs
Final Power Ranking: 28
Biggest surprise: Running back Jamaal Charles. The Chiefs had hopes that the second-year player would make some noise after Larry Johnson was cut in November. The speedster was considered a change-of-pace back. But he finished the season showing he can be the primary ball carrier in the future. Charles finished the season with 1,120 yards and had a franchise record 259 yards in the season finale at Denver.
Biggest disappointment: The play of young defensive linemen Glenn Dorsey and Tyson Jackson. The former LSU teammates were the No. 5 and No. 3 overall picks, respectively, the past two seasons. Neither player made a huge impact in 2009. The team still has high hopes for both players, but they are making a lot of money and neither played up to expectations.
Biggest need: The Chiefs have needs at many positions, but they need to repair their offensive line first. Quarterback Matt Cassel needs better protection as he tries to become the franchise player the Chiefs paid him to be. The team needs about three new starters. Kansas City needs to find a stud left tackle to begin the reconstruction of a once-proud unit.
Team MVP: Charles. His spectacular end to the season gives this team hope moving forward.
Magic moment: The win at Denver on Sunday was nice, but the overtime win over defending Super Bowl champion Pittsburgh at Arrowhead Stadium was a great gift for the loyal home fans.
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| Awards A team-by-team analysis of the division. The arrow indicates which direction each team is trending.
San Diego Chargers
Final Power Ranking: 2
Biggest surprise: It has to be how dominant San Diego became after it dropped to 2-3 and 3.5 games behind Denver after the Broncos hammered the Chargers at home in Week 6. San Diego hasn’t lost since. This is the third straight season San Diego has come back after a slow start to win the division title. But this year, the Chargers went from a team in despair to an elite team in a matter of days. They just turned it on and haven’t looked back.
Biggest disappointment: The running game. The Chargers invested more than $12 million in running backs LaDainian Tomlinson and Darren Sproles. Still, San Diego had one of the worst running attacks in the NFL. Tomlinson, 30, had the lowest rushing total of his nine-season career, and didn’t have a 100-yard rushing game all season. He is still good at the goal line, but the running attack is not the same in San Diego.
Biggest need: Expect San Diego to pursue a big running back in the draft. Tomlinson could be entering his final days with the team. San Diego also needs help on the defensive line. Expect the Chargers to pursue a big, run-stuffing interior defensive lineman. The team misses Jamal Williams, who was lost for the season in Week 1 with a triceps injury.
Team MVP: Quarterback Philip Rivers. He will get NFL MVP consideration. Rivers is an elite quarterback.
Magic moment: Tomlinson surpassed legend Jim Brown on the all-time rushing list -- in Cleveland. Brown was in attendance for the special event.
Denver Broncos
Final Power Ranking: 17
Biggest surprise: It has to be how much Denver fell apart after starting the season 6-0. The Broncos came out of their bye in Week 7 and were a totally different team. Denver finished the season with eight losses in its final 10 games. Denver became the third NFL team since the merger to start 6-0 and not make the playoffs. The Broncos became the first team in league history to have a 3.5-game division lead at any point in the season and not make the playoffs. It is shocking how fast this team fell off the cliff.
Biggest disappointment: The turmoil that met this team at the end of the season. Denver survived the Jay Cutler saga in the spring and then the Brandon Marshall saga in the summer. For Marshall and tight end Tony Scheffler to end the season with more turmoil has to be a huge disappointment for first-year coach Josh McDaniels. Marshall and Scheffler were deactivated for the team’s crucial season finale against Kansas City because of accountability issues, McDaniels said. Distractions plagued this team nearly all year.
Biggest need: Watch for Denver to make tweaks throughout the roster. But the Broncos’ needs start in the trenches. The offensive line has to get better in the run game. A starter or two may be needed. Defensively, the team could use an anchor and leader on the defensive front.
Team MVP: Linebacker Elvis Dumervil. He led the NFL with 17 sacks. He thrived in Denver’s new 3-4 system.
Magic moment: It had to be McDaniels pumping his arms and celebrating with the Denver crowd after the Broncos beat his former team, the New England Patriots, in October. But that moment seems like a long time ago.
Oakland Raiders
Final Power Ranking: 26
Biggest surprise: The Raiders came alive against some of the better teams they played this season. In the end, the Raiders had another lackluster season at 5-11. But they had some real highlight-film moments. Oakland beat Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Cincinnati and Denver when all of those teams had winning records. Most of those wins came with incredible theatrics at the end of the game. The Raiders provided fans with some good memories in 2009.
Biggest disappointment: The play of the team’s last three top draft picks: quarterback JaMarcus Russell, running back Darren McFadden and receiver Darrius Heyward-Bey. Russell was the No. 1 overall pick in 2007, McFadden was the No. 4 overall pick in 2008 and Heyward-Bey was the No. 7 overall pick in 2009. Those skill-position players were supposed to reconstruct Oakland’s offense. Yet, they were all disappointments this season. Russell lost his job and his future with the team is unclear. McFadden failed to show his collegiate explosiveness for the second straight year. Heyward-Bey made virtually no impact despite starting until he was hurt late in the season.
Biggest need: The Raiders need to address their offensive line. The team has toyed with trying to improve the unit in recent years. It’s time Oakland adds some top talent. And then, of course, there’s the question of what the team will do at quarterback.
Team MVP: Cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha. Oakland wasted another season with the game’s best corner.
Magic moment: Pittsburgh native Bruce Gradkowski showed playing him over Russell was the right call when he beat the Steelers in his hometown in the final seconds. The memory may be strong enough in Oakland for Gradkowski, who finished the season injured, to get a chance to be the starter next season.
Kansas City Chiefs
Final Power Ranking: 28
Biggest surprise: Running back Jamaal Charles. The Chiefs had hopes that the second-year player would make some noise after Larry Johnson was cut in November. The speedster was considered a change-of-pace back. But he finished the season showing he can be the primary ball carrier in the future. Charles finished the season with 1,120 yards and had a franchise record 259 yards in the season finale at Denver.
Biggest disappointment: The play of young defensive linemen Glenn Dorsey and Tyson Jackson. The former LSU teammates were the No. 5 and No. 3 overall picks, respectively, the past two seasons. Neither player made a huge impact in 2009. The team still has high hopes for both players, but they are making a lot of money and neither played up to expectations.
Biggest need: The Chiefs have needs at many positions, but they need to repair their offensive line first. Quarterback Matt Cassel needs better protection as he tries to become the franchise player the Chiefs paid him to be. The team needs about three new starters. Kansas City needs to find a stud left tackle to begin the reconstruction of a once-proud unit.
Team MVP: Charles. His spectacular end to the season gives this team hope moving forward.
Magic moment: The win at Denver on Sunday was nice, but the overtime win over defending Super Bowl champion Pittsburgh at Arrowhead Stadium was a great gift for the loyal home fans.
» NFC Wrap-ups: East | West | North | South » AFC: East | West | North | South
» Clayton: Video | AFC grades ... NFC » More: Fantasy MVPs | FB Outsiders | Awards
A team-by-team analysis of the division. The arrow indicates which direction each team is trending.
Cincinnati Bengals
Final Power Ranking: No. 9
Biggest surprise: No one outside of Cincinnati’s locker room believed this team would win the AFC North this season. But the Bengals ran roughshod through the division with a 6-0 record. For the first time, the Bengals looked like a true AFC North team. Cincinnati ran the football extremely well and had the NFL’s fourth-ranked defense.
Biggest disappointment: When the Bengals drafted tackle Andre Smith with the sixth overall pick this past April, most NFL observers knew it was a bad pairing. Smith made several questionable business decisions leading up to the draft, including switching agents twice, and the Bengals are notoriously one of the league’s toughest teams when negotiating big-money contracts. As a result, Smith missed all of training camp in a contract dispute. He then broke a bone in his foot and missed the first nine games.
Biggest need: Cincinnati’s roster is talented, but its biggest need is another deep threat at receiver. No. 1 receiver Chad Ochocinco gets too much attention because there isn’t another player to stretch the field. Veteran Laveranues Coles does most of his work underneath at this stage of his career. Andre Caldwell made solid strides in his second year but is more of a possession receiver. Adding a speedy receiver via the draft or free agency could take Cincinnati’s offense to another level next season.
Team MVP: Tailback Cedric Benson is the engine behind the Bengals. He led the team with 1,251 rushing yards. His play took the pressure off quarterback Carson Palmer and helped keep the defense off the field. The Bengals were 6-0 when Benson rushed for more than 100 yards.
Schedule breakdown: The Bengals’ 1-3 record in the final month of the season has been a subject of debate. One school of thought is the team already had swept the division and was more concerned about the “second season.” Another school of thought is the Bengals are backing into the playoffs. Saturday’s wild-card game against the New York Jets will answer a lot of questions.
Baltimore Ravens
Final Power Ranking: No. 11
Biggest surprise: Ravens coaches told anyone who would listen in the offseason that second-year tailback Ray Rice was going to be a stud, and they were right. Rice made his first Pro Bowl after rushing for 1,339 yards and catching 78 passes out of the backfield. Getting Rice and quarterback Joe Flacco in the 2008 draft laid a great foundation for Baltimore’s offense.
Biggest disappointment: Baltimore’s inconsistency this year has been baffling. Following a 3-0 start, the Ravens were 6-7 in their final 13 games. Baltimore has the talent to compete with anyone. But penalties and poor secondary play often prevented the Ravens from putting together consistent stretches throughout the season. It’s anyone’s guess which team will show up in the playoffs.
Biggest need: A big-play receiver has been a void in Baltimore for quite some time. Derrick Mason, Mark Clayton and Demetrius Williams are all free agents in 2010. So general manager Ozzie Newsome has important decisions to make this offseason. Flacco looks like a franchise quarterback in the making, and it’s the responsibility of the front office to make sure he has enough weapons to continue his development.
Team MVP: Rice is the obvious choice. He was the one constant during an otherwise up-and-down season.
Schedule breakdown: Losses to the Bengals on Oct. 11 and Nov. 8 killed any chance of the Ravens winning the AFC North. Baltimore made the playoffs as a wild card for the second straight year. But a home playoff game would have made a significant difference.
Pittsburgh Steelers
Final Power Ranking: No. 13
Biggest surprise: Rookie receiver Mike Wallace exploded on the scene this season. The third-round pick opened training camp as the fourth receiver behind Hines Ward, Santonio Holmes and Limas Sweed. But Sweed's early struggles opened the door for Wallace, who turned out to be a natural fit in the offense. Wallace had 39 receptions for 756 yards. His blazing speed allowed Wallace to lead the team with 19.4 yards per catch.
Biggest disappointment: Pittsburgh’s fourth-quarter defense was a season-long issue that couldn’t be resolved. The knee injury to safety Troy Polamalu hurt. But the Steelers had to be disappointed no one stepped up in his absence during the crucial moments of games. Things were so bad that at one point coach Mike Tomlin called a surprise onside kick with a two-point lead late in the fourth quarter against the Green Bay Packers. Many commended Tomlin for the move, but it was a strong statement that the coaches had lost confidence in the defense.
Biggest need: The William Gay experiment didn’t go well. So look for the Steelers to upgrade the cornerback position. Perhaps budding rookie cornerbacks Keenan Lewis and Joe Burnett can make enough strides in their second year to fill the void. Cornerback also could be a target with Pittsburgh’s first-round pick (No. 18) in April.
Team MVP: Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger had a career year with 4,328 passing yards and 26 touchdowns. A strong case can also be made for Polamalu, but Pittsburgh likely would be a sub-.500 team had Roethlisberger missed most of this season.
Schedule breakdown: Pittsburgh’s five-game losing streak in November and December sealed its fate, particularly losses to bottom-feeders such as the Oakland Raiders, Kansas City Chiefs and Cleveland Browns. It was actually surprising the Steelers were still in the playoff hunt in the final week. A three-game winning streak to end the year came a little too late.
Cleveland Browns
Final Power Ranking: No. 25
Biggest surprise: Despite flashes of brilliance, running back Jerome Harrison spent most of his career buried on Cleveland’s depth chart. But a season-ending injury to Jamal Lewis (concussion) finally gave Harrison the opportunity he craved. He finished with a career-best 862 rushing yards and five touchdowns. Harrison’s 286-yard performance against the Kansas City Chiefs on Dec. 20 was third all time.
Biggest disappointment: The high-profile quarterback battle between Brady Quinn and Derek Anderson was a dud. The Browns entered training camp believing they had two starting-caliber NFL quarterbacks. But by the end of the season, the team wasn't sure either player is the long-term solution. Quinn won the job but was benched after three games. Anderson didn’t do much better with his opportunity. Quinn eventually returned and had some good moments before suffering a season-ending foot injury.
Biggest need: This may sound like an easy out, but Cleveland’s biggest need is overall talent. The Browns are lacking depth and impact players at just about every position. New president Mike Holmgren has his work cut out for him. The Browns have question marks at quarterback, receiver, tight end, linebacker, safety and cornerback.
Team MVP: Browns return specialist Josh Cribbs had arguably his best season with four returns for touchdowns (three kickoffs, one punt). Look for Cleveland to rework Cribbs’ contract in the offseason.
Schedule breakdown: The Browns ended the season as the hottest team in the AFC North. Cleveland’s four-game winning streak over the Steelers, Chiefs, Raiders and Jacksonville Jaguars provided hope and potential momentum going into next season.
» Clayton: Video | AFC grades ... NFC » More: Fantasy MVPs | FB Outsiders
| Awards A team-by-team analysis of the division. The arrow indicates which direction each team is trending.
Cincinnati Bengals
Final Power Ranking: No. 9
Biggest surprise: No one outside of Cincinnati’s locker room believed this team would win the AFC North this season. But the Bengals ran roughshod through the division with a 6-0 record. For the first time, the Bengals looked like a true AFC North team. Cincinnati ran the football extremely well and had the NFL’s fourth-ranked defense.
Biggest disappointment: When the Bengals drafted tackle Andre Smith with the sixth overall pick this past April, most NFL observers knew it was a bad pairing. Smith made several questionable business decisions leading up to the draft, including switching agents twice, and the Bengals are notoriously one of the league’s toughest teams when negotiating big-money contracts. As a result, Smith missed all of training camp in a contract dispute. He then broke a bone in his foot and missed the first nine games.
Biggest need: Cincinnati’s roster is talented, but its biggest need is another deep threat at receiver. No. 1 receiver Chad Ochocinco gets too much attention because there isn’t another player to stretch the field. Veteran Laveranues Coles does most of his work underneath at this stage of his career. Andre Caldwell made solid strides in his second year but is more of a possession receiver. Adding a speedy receiver via the draft or free agency could take Cincinnati’s offense to another level next season.
Team MVP: Tailback Cedric Benson is the engine behind the Bengals. He led the team with 1,251 rushing yards. His play took the pressure off quarterback Carson Palmer and helped keep the defense off the field. The Bengals were 6-0 when Benson rushed for more than 100 yards.
Schedule breakdown: The Bengals’ 1-3 record in the final month of the season has been a subject of debate. One school of thought is the team already had swept the division and was more concerned about the “second season.” Another school of thought is the Bengals are backing into the playoffs. Saturday’s wild-card game against the New York Jets will answer a lot of questions.
Baltimore Ravens
Final Power Ranking: No. 11
Biggest surprise: Ravens coaches told anyone who would listen in the offseason that second-year tailback Ray Rice was going to be a stud, and they were right. Rice made his first Pro Bowl after rushing for 1,339 yards and catching 78 passes out of the backfield. Getting Rice and quarterback Joe Flacco in the 2008 draft laid a great foundation for Baltimore’s offense.
Biggest disappointment: Baltimore’s inconsistency this year has been baffling. Following a 3-0 start, the Ravens were 6-7 in their final 13 games. Baltimore has the talent to compete with anyone. But penalties and poor secondary play often prevented the Ravens from putting together consistent stretches throughout the season. It’s anyone’s guess which team will show up in the playoffs.
Biggest need: A big-play receiver has been a void in Baltimore for quite some time. Derrick Mason, Mark Clayton and Demetrius Williams are all free agents in 2010. So general manager Ozzie Newsome has important decisions to make this offseason. Flacco looks like a franchise quarterback in the making, and it’s the responsibility of the front office to make sure he has enough weapons to continue his development.
Team MVP: Rice is the obvious choice. He was the one constant during an otherwise up-and-down season.
Schedule breakdown: Losses to the Bengals on Oct. 11 and Nov. 8 killed any chance of the Ravens winning the AFC North. Baltimore made the playoffs as a wild card for the second straight year. But a home playoff game would have made a significant difference.
Pittsburgh Steelers
Final Power Ranking: No. 13
Biggest surprise: Rookie receiver Mike Wallace exploded on the scene this season. The third-round pick opened training camp as the fourth receiver behind Hines Ward, Santonio Holmes and Limas Sweed. But Sweed's early struggles opened the door for Wallace, who turned out to be a natural fit in the offense. Wallace had 39 receptions for 756 yards. His blazing speed allowed Wallace to lead the team with 19.4 yards per catch.
Biggest disappointment: Pittsburgh’s fourth-quarter defense was a season-long issue that couldn’t be resolved. The knee injury to safety Troy Polamalu hurt. But the Steelers had to be disappointed no one stepped up in his absence during the crucial moments of games. Things were so bad that at one point coach Mike Tomlin called a surprise onside kick with a two-point lead late in the fourth quarter against the Green Bay Packers. Many commended Tomlin for the move, but it was a strong statement that the coaches had lost confidence in the defense.
Biggest need: The William Gay experiment didn’t go well. So look for the Steelers to upgrade the cornerback position. Perhaps budding rookie cornerbacks Keenan Lewis and Joe Burnett can make enough strides in their second year to fill the void. Cornerback also could be a target with Pittsburgh’s first-round pick (No. 18) in April.
Team MVP: Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger had a career year with 4,328 passing yards and 26 touchdowns. A strong case can also be made for Polamalu, but Pittsburgh likely would be a sub-.500 team had Roethlisberger missed most of this season.
Schedule breakdown: Pittsburgh’s five-game losing streak in November and December sealed its fate, particularly losses to bottom-feeders such as the Oakland Raiders, Kansas City Chiefs and Cleveland Browns. It was actually surprising the Steelers were still in the playoff hunt in the final week. A three-game winning streak to end the year came a little too late.
Cleveland Browns
Final Power Ranking: No. 25
Biggest surprise: Despite flashes of brilliance, running back Jerome Harrison spent most of his career buried on Cleveland’s depth chart. But a season-ending injury to Jamal Lewis (concussion) finally gave Harrison the opportunity he craved. He finished with a career-best 862 rushing yards and five touchdowns. Harrison’s 286-yard performance against the Kansas City Chiefs on Dec. 20 was third all time.
Biggest disappointment: The high-profile quarterback battle between Brady Quinn and Derek Anderson was a dud. The Browns entered training camp believing they had two starting-caliber NFL quarterbacks. But by the end of the season, the team wasn't sure either player is the long-term solution. Quinn won the job but was benched after three games. Anderson didn’t do much better with his opportunity. Quinn eventually returned and had some good moments before suffering a season-ending foot injury.
Biggest need: This may sound like an easy out, but Cleveland’s biggest need is overall talent. The Browns are lacking depth and impact players at just about every position. New president Mike Holmgren has his work cut out for him. The Browns have question marks at quarterback, receiver, tight end, linebacker, safety and cornerback.
Team MVP: Browns return specialist Josh Cribbs had arguably his best season with four returns for touchdowns (three kickoffs, one punt). Look for Cleveland to rework Cribbs’ contract in the offseason.
Schedule breakdown: The Browns ended the season as the hottest team in the AFC North. Cleveland’s four-game winning streak over the Steelers, Chiefs, Raiders and Jacksonville Jaguars provided hope and potential momentum going into next season.
» NFC Wrap-ups: East | West | North | South » AFC: East | West | North | South
» Clayton: Video | AFC grades ... NFC » More: Fantasy MVPs | FB Outsiders | Awards
A team-by-team analysis of the division. The arrow indicates which direction each team is trending.
Houston Texans
Final Power Ranking: 14
Biggest surprise: Despite losing tight end Owen Daniels to injury along the way, quarterback Matt Schaub and Andre Johnson connected consistently, even as defenses keyed on minimizing the receiver. Johnson led the league in receiving with 1,569 yards -- 221 yards more than No. 2 Wes Welker. Schaub answered questions about his durability by starting all 16 games, earning a $10 million option bonus to trigger the remainder of his contract in the process.
Biggest disappointment: The inability of Kris Brown to hit clutch kicks and running back Chris Brown to convert clutch chances. In back-to-back November losses to Indianapolis and Tennessee, the kicker had chances to force overtime and missed on each occasion. The running back was miscast as a short-yardage answer, and his ineffectiveness hurt the Texans at the end of losses to Jacksonville and Arizona.
Biggest need: The Texans have issues in the secondary, where free safety and cornerback need to be upgraded. But this is an offensive team and, even when running back Steve Slaton was healthy and running behind a healthy starting line, it didn’t run well enough to complement the pass attack. The Texans need a big back who can gain a tough yard.
Team MVP: Johnson. He consistently produced despite extra defensive attention, putting his combination of size and speed to the best use yet.
Contract issues pending: Three key members of the Texans -- Daniels, middle linebacker DeMeco Ryans and strong safety Bernard Pollard -- will lose chances at unrestricted free agency if there is no new CBA. In that case, they would be restricted free agents. They won’t be happy playing for one-year tenders and the Texans need to find a way to smooth things out with them.
Indianapolis Colts
Final Power Ranking: 1
Biggest surprise: Rookie cornerbacks Jerraud Powers and Jacob Lacey were supposed to be role players. But injuries in the secondary meant they were each starters for the majority of the season. Both did very well doing what the Colts asked of them. Overall, the secondary got little from three of four projected starters, with only free safety Antoine Bethea a consistent presence. But the Colts defense played very well anyway, giving up few big plays when Randy Moss wasn’t involved.
Biggest disappointment: Passing on a chance to try to carry a perfect regular season into the playoffs was a biggie. Team brass was clearly put off, and surprised, by the volume and depth of the media and fan backlash after the Colts pulled starters and handed the Jets a game that dropped the Colts to 14-1. To suggest records for wins in a decade and consecutive regular season wins were more historic than a perfect 19-0 season sure seemed silly during the spin control period.
Biggest need: Offensive linemen. Charlie Johnson did admirable work after he was promoted to replace the disappointing Tony Ugoh at left tackle and Kyle DeVan was a more physical right guard after replacing another underachiever, Mike Pollak. With legendary line coach Howard Mudd set to retire, the Colts need to restock and provide more options for his successor, Pete Metzlaars.
Team MVP: Peyton Manning is expected to win NFL MVP, so it would be hard to look anywhere else. He was exceptionally accurate and was a big reason young receivers developed and old targets produced. And it seemed like he led his team to a fourth-quarter comeback weekly.
Next men up: Anthony Gonzalez was expected to be the team’s No. 2 receiver behind Reggie Wayne. But he went down with a serious knee injury in the season opener and never made it back. Rookie Austin Collie and Pierre Garcon were effective targets for Manning when opponents worked hard to blanket Wayne and forced the Colts to go elsewhere.
Jacksonville Jaguars
Final Power Ranking: 23
Biggest surprise: They called it a retooling instead of a rebuilding, but after major roster turnover the Jaguars were 6-4 and 7-5 and very much in the thick of a hunt for an AFC playoff berth. They got quality experience for four high draft picks who started a lot of games -- offensive tackles Eugene Monroe and Eben Britton, cornerback Derek Cox and defensive tackle Terrance Knighton.
Biggest disappointment: David Garrard was sacked 42 times and hit way too much. The Jaguars failed badly in two West Coast trips, losing in Seattle and San Francisco, and closed with a four-game losing streak. Losses to Indianapolis and at New England were understandable, but defeats at home to Miami and at Cleveland in the season finale with an 8-8 record on the line were a lot harder to accept.
Biggest need: Though the team traded up for Derrick Harvey and took a second defensive end, Quentin Groves, with their first two picks just two years ago, it’s in desperate need of pass rush help. The team had just 14 sacks. Quarterbacks often had all day to throw and managed a 96.0 passer rating, 28 touchdowns and just 15 interceptions against Jacksonville.
Team MVP: Running back Maurice Jones-Drew fared very well in his first season as the team’s feature back and is the franchise’s lone Pro Bowler. He ran for 1,391 yards and 15 touchdowns behind an inconsistent line.
Mighty have fallen: Free safety Reggie Nelson, the team’s top pick in 2007, could be on his way out. He was consistently burned in coverage and failed to finish tackles. The team tried him at cornerback when injuries thinned out that position and he fared no better. By season’s end, he earned himself a spot on the bench.
Tennessee Titans
Final Power Ranking: 16
Biggest surprise: Chris Johnson showed himself to be an electrifying playmaker in his first season. But when he said in training camp before his rookie campaign he would run for 2,000 yards, people scoffed. Improbably, on a non-winning team, Johnson ran for a league-leading 2,006 yards, becoming just the sixth member of the 2,000-yard club. He topped 100 yards rushing in each of his final 11 games and scored on seven rushing plays of 20 yards or more.
Biggest disappointment: After a 13-3 regular season that was the NFL’s best in 2008, the 2009 team played terribly early and dug itself an 0-6 hole. While it did well climbing out and finishing 8-8, that miserable start cost the Titans a chance at a return to the playoffs. The slow start featured a slew of drops by the receivers, horrific pass coverage, and return game nightmares. The turnaround began after team owner Bud Adams called for Jeff Fisher to replace Kerry Collins with Vince Young at quarterback.
Biggest need: Defensive playmakers. The Titans got old and less effective at several spots. Defensive end Jevon Kearse and cornerback Nick Harper won’t be back. The team is likely ready to move on from veteran linebackers Keith Bulluck and David Thornton as well. Free safety Michael Griffin took a huge step backwards and defensive tackle Jason Jones couldn’t fight through a shoulder injury. The Titans will look to add veterans and draft picks to rebuild.
Team MVP: Johnson should be the NFL’s offensive player of the year. Without him, who knows what the Titans would have done down the stretch. Getting him to 2,000 yards was a unifying team goal. Johnson even impressed his teammates by backing up the bold 2,000-yard prediction.
Back from the dead: While he didn’t finish especially strong, Young did a lot of good work in 10 games after he was reinserted as the starter. He deserves credit for maturing. His decision making has improved. He's set himself up to be the Titans starter in 2010 after changing the opinion of many of his critics, some of whom reside inside team headquarters.
» Clayton: Video | AFC grades ... NFC » More: Fantasy MVPs | FB Outsiders
| Awards A team-by-team analysis of the division. The arrow indicates which direction each team is trending.
Houston Texans
Final Power Ranking: 14
Biggest surprise: Despite losing tight end Owen Daniels to injury along the way, quarterback Matt Schaub and Andre Johnson connected consistently, even as defenses keyed on minimizing the receiver. Johnson led the league in receiving with 1,569 yards -- 221 yards more than No. 2 Wes Welker. Schaub answered questions about his durability by starting all 16 games, earning a $10 million option bonus to trigger the remainder of his contract in the process.
Biggest disappointment: The inability of Kris Brown to hit clutch kicks and running back Chris Brown to convert clutch chances. In back-to-back November losses to Indianapolis and Tennessee, the kicker had chances to force overtime and missed on each occasion. The running back was miscast as a short-yardage answer, and his ineffectiveness hurt the Texans at the end of losses to Jacksonville and Arizona.
Biggest need: The Texans have issues in the secondary, where free safety and cornerback need to be upgraded. But this is an offensive team and, even when running back Steve Slaton was healthy and running behind a healthy starting line, it didn’t run well enough to complement the pass attack. The Texans need a big back who can gain a tough yard.
Team MVP: Johnson. He consistently produced despite extra defensive attention, putting his combination of size and speed to the best use yet.
Contract issues pending: Three key members of the Texans -- Daniels, middle linebacker DeMeco Ryans and strong safety Bernard Pollard -- will lose chances at unrestricted free agency if there is no new CBA. In that case, they would be restricted free agents. They won’t be happy playing for one-year tenders and the Texans need to find a way to smooth things out with them.
Indianapolis Colts
Final Power Ranking: 1
Biggest surprise: Rookie cornerbacks Jerraud Powers and Jacob Lacey were supposed to be role players. But injuries in the secondary meant they were each starters for the majority of the season. Both did very well doing what the Colts asked of them. Overall, the secondary got little from three of four projected starters, with only free safety Antoine Bethea a consistent presence. But the Colts defense played very well anyway, giving up few big plays when Randy Moss wasn’t involved.
Biggest disappointment: Passing on a chance to try to carry a perfect regular season into the playoffs was a biggie. Team brass was clearly put off, and surprised, by the volume and depth of the media and fan backlash after the Colts pulled starters and handed the Jets a game that dropped the Colts to 14-1. To suggest records for wins in a decade and consecutive regular season wins were more historic than a perfect 19-0 season sure seemed silly during the spin control period.
Biggest need: Offensive linemen. Charlie Johnson did admirable work after he was promoted to replace the disappointing Tony Ugoh at left tackle and Kyle DeVan was a more physical right guard after replacing another underachiever, Mike Pollak. With legendary line coach Howard Mudd set to retire, the Colts need to restock and provide more options for his successor, Pete Metzlaars.
Team MVP: Peyton Manning is expected to win NFL MVP, so it would be hard to look anywhere else. He was exceptionally accurate and was a big reason young receivers developed and old targets produced. And it seemed like he led his team to a fourth-quarter comeback weekly.
Next men up: Anthony Gonzalez was expected to be the team’s No. 2 receiver behind Reggie Wayne. But he went down with a serious knee injury in the season opener and never made it back. Rookie Austin Collie and Pierre Garcon were effective targets for Manning when opponents worked hard to blanket Wayne and forced the Colts to go elsewhere.
Jacksonville Jaguars
Final Power Ranking: 23
Biggest surprise: They called it a retooling instead of a rebuilding, but after major roster turnover the Jaguars were 6-4 and 7-5 and very much in the thick of a hunt for an AFC playoff berth. They got quality experience for four high draft picks who started a lot of games -- offensive tackles Eugene Monroe and Eben Britton, cornerback Derek Cox and defensive tackle Terrance Knighton.
Biggest disappointment: David Garrard was sacked 42 times and hit way too much. The Jaguars failed badly in two West Coast trips, losing in Seattle and San Francisco, and closed with a four-game losing streak. Losses to Indianapolis and at New England were understandable, but defeats at home to Miami and at Cleveland in the season finale with an 8-8 record on the line were a lot harder to accept.
Biggest need: Though the team traded up for Derrick Harvey and took a second defensive end, Quentin Groves, with their first two picks just two years ago, it’s in desperate need of pass rush help. The team had just 14 sacks. Quarterbacks often had all day to throw and managed a 96.0 passer rating, 28 touchdowns and just 15 interceptions against Jacksonville.
Team MVP: Running back Maurice Jones-Drew fared very well in his first season as the team’s feature back and is the franchise’s lone Pro Bowler. He ran for 1,391 yards and 15 touchdowns behind an inconsistent line.
Mighty have fallen: Free safety Reggie Nelson, the team’s top pick in 2007, could be on his way out. He was consistently burned in coverage and failed to finish tackles. The team tried him at cornerback when injuries thinned out that position and he fared no better. By season’s end, he earned himself a spot on the bench.
Tennessee Titans
Final Power Ranking: 16
Biggest surprise: Chris Johnson showed himself to be an electrifying playmaker in his first season. But when he said in training camp before his rookie campaign he would run for 2,000 yards, people scoffed. Improbably, on a non-winning team, Johnson ran for a league-leading 2,006 yards, becoming just the sixth member of the 2,000-yard club. He topped 100 yards rushing in each of his final 11 games and scored on seven rushing plays of 20 yards or more.
Biggest disappointment: After a 13-3 regular season that was the NFL’s best in 2008, the 2009 team played terribly early and dug itself an 0-6 hole. While it did well climbing out and finishing 8-8, that miserable start cost the Titans a chance at a return to the playoffs. The slow start featured a slew of drops by the receivers, horrific pass coverage, and return game nightmares. The turnaround began after team owner Bud Adams called for Jeff Fisher to replace Kerry Collins with Vince Young at quarterback.
Biggest need: Defensive playmakers. The Titans got old and less effective at several spots. Defensive end Jevon Kearse and cornerback Nick Harper won’t be back. The team is likely ready to move on from veteran linebackers Keith Bulluck and David Thornton as well. Free safety Michael Griffin took a huge step backwards and defensive tackle Jason Jones couldn’t fight through a shoulder injury. The Titans will look to add veterans and draft picks to rebuild.
Team MVP: Johnson should be the NFL’s offensive player of the year. Without him, who knows what the Titans would have done down the stretch. Getting him to 2,000 yards was a unifying team goal. Johnson even impressed his teammates by backing up the bold 2,000-yard prediction.
Back from the dead: While he didn’t finish especially strong, Young did a lot of good work in 10 games after he was reinserted as the starter. He deserves credit for maturing. His decision making has improved. He's set himself up to be the Titans starter in 2010 after changing the opinion of many of his critics, some of whom reside inside team headquarters.
» NFC Wrap-ups: East | West | North | South » AFC: East | West | North | South
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A team-by-team analysis of the division. The arrow indicates which direction each team is trending.
New England Patriots
Final Power Ranking: 10
Biggest surprise: Tully Banta-Cain largely was considered an afterthought to the Patriots' defense when the season began. Players such as Vince Wilfork, Ty Warren, Jerod Mayo and Brandon Meriweather were the projected stars. But Banta-Cain, back after two years with the 49ers, led the Patriots with 9.5 sacks, four more than his previous career-high. He also had a pair of forced fumbles.
Biggest disappointment: Outside linebacker Adalius Thomas probably won't be back next year. Thomas has two years remaining on a free-agent contract that pays him an average of $7 million, but that didn't stop Bill Belichick from benching him twice. Thomas notched 11 sacks for the Ravens the year before the Patriots signed him. He finished with three this year, tying his worst output since he became a starter in 2001.
Biggest need: Despite unexpected seasons from Banta-Cain and defensive tackle Mike Wright, the Patriots must improve their pass rush. Wright had five sacks. So did Derrick Burgess, acquired with high expectations in a trade with the Raiders in training camp. The Patriots notched a mere 31 sacks, tying them for 23rd in the league. They ranked 12th in pass defense.
Team MVP: Wes Welker won't be around for the playoffs, but he certainly helped the Patriots get there. He led the NFL with a franchise-record 123 receptions for 1,348 yards.
Turning point: On opening night, Bills kick returner Leodis McKelvin fumbled with about minute left in the game to set up Tom Brady's second touchdown pass in the final 2:06 of a stunning victory. Had the Patriots lost that game, the whole trajectory of their season might've changed.
New York Jets
Final Power Ranking: 12
Biggest surprise: When star nose tackle Kris Jenkins suffered a season-ending knee injury in Week 6, everyone figured the Jets' 3-4 defense was doomed. But rookie coach Rex Ryan continued to mold his defense into the NFL's best unit. The Jets ranked No. 1 in total defense and passing defense, and gave up the fewest first downs. The Cowboys had to close the season with back-to-back shutouts to nip the Jets by one-tenth of a point for the best scoring defense.
Biggest disappointment: Rookie quarterback Mark Sanchez's lack of progression from the start of the season has been frustrating. He began his career remarkably well, playing beyond his years in helping the Jets open 3-0. But his penchant for giveaways and a failure to grasp team concepts forced the Jets to curb their offense rather than open it up as the season wore on. The best solution has been to marginalize Sanchez. In his past five victories, his attempts were in the teens, and his yardage never surpassed 154.
Biggest need: Aside from accelerated experience at quarterback? Despite the trade for downfield threat Braylon Edwards, the Jets really could use help at receiver. Sanchez would benefit from a reliable slot receiver. The Jets' fourth-leading target was running back Leon Washington, who didn't play the final nine games. You'd have to look even lower on the stat sheet to find their third receiver. David Clowney finished with 14 catches for 191 yards.
Team MVP: Lockdown cornerback Darrelle Revis was the best player on the NFL's best defense. His six interceptions tied him for fifth in the league, and his 37 passes defensed were best by a comfortable margin.
Turning point: The Jets had a miraculous Week 16. All of the teams they needed to lose fell flat, and the undefeated Colts pulled their starters with almost six minutes left in the third quarter to usher the Jets onto the postseason threshold.
Miami Dolphins
Final Power Ranking: 21
Biggest surprise: The Dolphins couldn't have appear more condemned than when they started 0-3 and lost quarterback Chad Pennington to a season-ending shoulder injury. In came sophomore Chad Henne, who had been lackluster in the preseason. The Dolphins preferred to let Henne marinate for another season, but he won seven of his first 10 starts and showed enough to give Dolfans reason to believe they've found a franchise quarterback.
Biggest disappointment: The best compliment head coach Tony Sparano could pay outside linebacker Joey Porter recently was that he had gotten better at stopping the run as the season progressed. Porter led the AFC in sacks last season with 17. He recorded only nine this season, with half coming in two games. A hamstring problem bothered him, and Sparano benched him one game for disciplinary reasons.
Biggest need: The Dolphins need receiving help more than ever. Pennington thrived with their collection of possession receivers because he's a precision passer. But Henne has downfield capabilities that require a reliable deep threat. Ted Ginn certainly has the speed but little else to qualify him as a No. 1 wideout.
Team MVP: Ricky Williams is 32 years old, but he turned back the calendar with his best campaign since 2003, the longest spread between 1,000-yard seasons in NFL history. He became the workhorse, rushing for at least 102 yards in four out of the five games after Ronnie Brown suffered a season-ending broken foot in Week 10.
Turning point: The Dolphins were in control when they were 7-6. Then they lost their last three games to finish out of the playoffs.
Buffalo Bills
Final Power Ranking: 24
Biggest surprise: When it came to this year's draft class, all of the attention was focused on defensive end Aaron Maybin (11th overall) and offensive linemen Eric Wood (28th) and Andy Levitre (51st). But safety Jairus Byrd (42nd) stole the show for much of the season and was selected for the Pro Bowl. Byrd started only 11 games, but his nine interceptions tied for the NFL lead.
Biggest disappointment: Marshawn Lynch appeared ready to break out as an elite running back. He was entering his third season and was a Pro Bowler with a pair of 1,000-yard campaigns. But he opened the season with a three-game suspension for repeated bad behavior. He lost his job as the featured back by Week 11 and finished with 450 yards. He completed four games with 6 or fewer yards.
Biggest need: The Bills are practically naked at both offensive tackle spots. They traded Pro Bowler Jason Peters before the draft and chose not to replace him -- even though they had a crack at young star Michael Oher. The Bills went through a series of unimpressive names, including Demetrius Bell, Brad Butler, Jamon Meredith, Jonathan Scott and Kirk Chambers.
Team MVP: Fred Jackson took over as lead back by thoroughly outperforming Lynch. Jackson rushed for 1,062 yards and two touchdowns, and caught 46 passes for 371 yards and two touchdowns. Jackson also was Buffalo's top kick returner with 1,014 yards.
Turning point: Had McKelvin not coughed up the ball on that fateful kickoff return on opening night, the Bills would have ended a wicked losing skid against the Patriots and probably would have changed the course of their season.
» Clayton: Video | AFC grades ... NFC » More: Fantasy MVPs | FB Outsiders
| Awards A team-by-team analysis of the division. The arrow indicates which direction each team is trending.
New England Patriots
Final Power Ranking: 10
Biggest surprise: Tully Banta-Cain largely was considered an afterthought to the Patriots' defense when the season began. Players such as Vince Wilfork, Ty Warren, Jerod Mayo and Brandon Meriweather were the projected stars. But Banta-Cain, back after two years with the 49ers, led the Patriots with 9.5 sacks, four more than his previous career-high. He also had a pair of forced fumbles.
Biggest disappointment: Outside linebacker Adalius Thomas probably won't be back next year. Thomas has two years remaining on a free-agent contract that pays him an average of $7 million, but that didn't stop Bill Belichick from benching him twice. Thomas notched 11 sacks for the Ravens the year before the Patriots signed him. He finished with three this year, tying his worst output since he became a starter in 2001.
Biggest need: Despite unexpected seasons from Banta-Cain and defensive tackle Mike Wright, the Patriots must improve their pass rush. Wright had five sacks. So did Derrick Burgess, acquired with high expectations in a trade with the Raiders in training camp. The Patriots notched a mere 31 sacks, tying them for 23rd in the league. They ranked 12th in pass defense.
Team MVP: Wes Welker won't be around for the playoffs, but he certainly helped the Patriots get there. He led the NFL with a franchise-record 123 receptions for 1,348 yards.
Turning point: On opening night, Bills kick returner Leodis McKelvin fumbled with about minute left in the game to set up Tom Brady's second touchdown pass in the final 2:06 of a stunning victory. Had the Patriots lost that game, the whole trajectory of their season might've changed.
New York Jets
Final Power Ranking: 12
Biggest surprise: When star nose tackle Kris Jenkins suffered a season-ending knee injury in Week 6, everyone figured the Jets' 3-4 defense was doomed. But rookie coach Rex Ryan continued to mold his defense into the NFL's best unit. The Jets ranked No. 1 in total defense and passing defense, and gave up the fewest first downs. The Cowboys had to close the season with back-to-back shutouts to nip the Jets by one-tenth of a point for the best scoring defense.
Biggest disappointment: Rookie quarterback Mark Sanchez's lack of progression from the start of the season has been frustrating. He began his career remarkably well, playing beyond his years in helping the Jets open 3-0. But his penchant for giveaways and a failure to grasp team concepts forced the Jets to curb their offense rather than open it up as the season wore on. The best solution has been to marginalize Sanchez. In his past five victories, his attempts were in the teens, and his yardage never surpassed 154.
Biggest need: Aside from accelerated experience at quarterback? Despite the trade for downfield threat Braylon Edwards, the Jets really could use help at receiver. Sanchez would benefit from a reliable slot receiver. The Jets' fourth-leading target was running back Leon Washington, who didn't play the final nine games. You'd have to look even lower on the stat sheet to find their third receiver. David Clowney finished with 14 catches for 191 yards.
Team MVP: Lockdown cornerback Darrelle Revis was the best player on the NFL's best defense. His six interceptions tied him for fifth in the league, and his 37 passes defensed were best by a comfortable margin.
Turning point: The Jets had a miraculous Week 16. All of the teams they needed to lose fell flat, and the undefeated Colts pulled their starters with almost six minutes left in the third quarter to usher the Jets onto the postseason threshold.
Miami Dolphins
Final Power Ranking: 21
Biggest surprise: The Dolphins couldn't have appear more condemned than when they started 0-3 and lost quarterback Chad Pennington to a season-ending shoulder injury. In came sophomore Chad Henne, who had been lackluster in the preseason. The Dolphins preferred to let Henne marinate for another season, but he won seven of his first 10 starts and showed enough to give Dolfans reason to believe they've found a franchise quarterback.
Biggest disappointment: The best compliment head coach Tony Sparano could pay outside linebacker Joey Porter recently was that he had gotten better at stopping the run as the season progressed. Porter led the AFC in sacks last season with 17. He recorded only nine this season, with half coming in two games. A hamstring problem bothered him, and Sparano benched him one game for disciplinary reasons.
Biggest need: The Dolphins need receiving help more than ever. Pennington thrived with their collection of possession receivers because he's a precision passer. But Henne has downfield capabilities that require a reliable deep threat. Ted Ginn certainly has the speed but little else to qualify him as a No. 1 wideout.
Team MVP: Ricky Williams is 32 years old, but he turned back the calendar with his best campaign since 2003, the longest spread between 1,000-yard seasons in NFL history. He became the workhorse, rushing for at least 102 yards in four out of the five games after Ronnie Brown suffered a season-ending broken foot in Week 10.
Turning point: The Dolphins were in control when they were 7-6. Then they lost their last three games to finish out of the playoffs.
Buffalo Bills
Final Power Ranking: 24
Biggest surprise: When it came to this year's draft class, all of the attention was focused on defensive end Aaron Maybin (11th overall) and offensive linemen Eric Wood (28th) and Andy Levitre (51st). But safety Jairus Byrd (42nd) stole the show for much of the season and was selected for the Pro Bowl. Byrd started only 11 games, but his nine interceptions tied for the NFL lead.
Biggest disappointment: Marshawn Lynch appeared ready to break out as an elite running back. He was entering his third season and was a Pro Bowler with a pair of 1,000-yard campaigns. But he opened the season with a three-game suspension for repeated bad behavior. He lost his job as the featured back by Week 11 and finished with 450 yards. He completed four games with 6 or fewer yards.
Biggest need: The Bills are practically naked at both offensive tackle spots. They traded Pro Bowler Jason Peters before the draft and chose not to replace him -- even though they had a crack at young star Michael Oher. The Bills went through a series of unimpressive names, including Demetrius Bell, Brad Butler, Jamon Meredith, Jonathan Scott and Kirk Chambers.
Team MVP: Fred Jackson took over as lead back by thoroughly outperforming Lynch. Jackson rushed for 1,062 yards and two touchdowns, and caught 46 passes for 371 yards and two touchdowns. Jackson also was Buffalo's top kick returner with 1,014 yards.
Turning point: Had McKelvin not coughed up the ball on that fateful kickoff return on opening night, the Bills would have ended a wicked losing skid against the Patriots and probably would have changed the course of their season.
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