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SEATTLE -- It's looking like the Arizona Cardinals' offense will run through quarterback Kevin Kolb to an even greater degree in Week 3.

Running back Beanie Wells, who suffered a hamstring injury in practice Friday, is among the Cardinals players named inactive against Seattle. Receiver Chansi Stuckey, quarterback John Skelton, running back LaRod Stephens-Howling, tackle D'Anthony Batiste, tight end Jim Dray and defensive end Ronald Talley are also inactive.

Chester Taylor will start in Wells' place. Stephens-Howling, slowed by a hand injury, could have helped in a situational role if active, but he does not project as an every-down runner.

Taylor and Alfonso Smith are the only halfbacks active for the Cardinals. Fullback Anthony Sherman is also active.

The Cardinals' depth at running back was already thin even when Wells was available. I did not expect the Cardinals' ground game to gain significant traction against Seattle's run defense in this game. Those expectations are firmer now.

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FALLING

1. San Francisco 49ers secondary. Three spots weren't enough to process all the falling stock within the division this week. I have requested and received special permission to expand the "falling" section. Nothing in the division failed quite so spectacularly as the 49ers' pass defense against Dallas. Blaming individuals in the secondary can be tricky without knowing specifics about coverages. I'll point to the secondary in general for allowing three touchdowns to Miles Austin and a backbreaking 77-yard reception to the little-known Jesse Holley in overtime. Tough way to lose.

2. Ray Horton, Arizona Cardinals defensive coordinator. The Cardinals have allowed more yards through two games than any team in franchise history since at least 1940. Sure, they're learning a new system and breaking in young cornerbacks, but that was the plan. Horton expected significant improvement this season. He put it this way back in July: "The things we need to work on are very correctable. If we're not markedly improved, I'd be shocked. Not surprised, but shocked if we're not one of the better defenses in the league."

3. St. Louis Rams backups: Cadillac Williams, subbing for the injured Steven Jackson, dropped an ill-fated screen pass from Sam Bradford against the Giants, then mistakenly thought the play was dead. The Giants' Michael Boley returned the loose ball for a touchdown. Bradford took responsibility for getting pressured into throwing the ball backward, but Williams should have been aware the play was live. Williams, whose stock rose with a strong rushing performance in Week 1, gained 36 yards on 13 carries Monday. Another Rams backup, rookie receiver Greg Salas, muffed a punt against the Giants and could not handle a third-down pass. He required X-rays after the game for an unspecified injury.

3a. NFC West self-esteem: All four division teams lost in embarrassing fashion. The Cardinals allowed 455 yards to Rex Grossman and the Washington Redskins. The 49ers blew a 24-14 fourth-quarter lead. The Seattle Seahawks were shut out at Pittsburgh. The Rams slopped their way through the team's first Monday night appearance since 2006, falling to the New York Giants. At least one NFC West team will likely win in Week 3. Arizona visits Seattle.

3b. Tarvaris Jackson, Seahawks quarterback. Coach Pete Carroll was right when he said the Seahawks' problems against Pittsburgh went far beyond the quarterback position. It's also reasonable to expect a quarterback to spark his team from time to time. Jackson, once a threat as a scrambler, has so far abandoned that aspect of his game. He needs to show more against Arizona in Week 3.

3c. Chansi Stuckey, Cardinals receiver. Stuckey lost a fumble when the Cardinals were trying to mount one final drive with a chance to get into field goal range during a one-point game at Washington. Last season, when Stuckey was with Cleveland, he lost an overtime fumble while the Browns were driving toward a potential winning field goal.

3d. Brandon Browner, Seahawks cornerback. Browner had problems in coverage against the Steelers' Mike Wallace and will need to bounce back against Larry Fitzgerald and the Cardinals in Week 3.

RISING

1. Danario Alexander, Rams receiver: Three catches for 122 yards and a touchdown against the Giants validated the highest expectations for Alexander. He was the only Rams player on offense to show game-changing ability as a playmaker.

2. Beanie Wells, Cardinals running back. The Cardinals got their ground game going in the second half against Washington, with Wells leading the way. This was as physical as Wells has run in some time and exactly what Arizona needs from him. Wells had 93 yards rushing on only 14 carries and was in position for much bigger numbers if Arizona's defense could have gotten off the field more readily.

3. Robert Quinn, Rams defensive end. The Rams' first-round draft choice made his regular-season debut against the Giants and played more extensively than I had anticipated. Quinn had one sack and gained valuable experience.

LANDOVER, Md. -- Thoughts on the Arizona Cardinals' defeat against the Washington Redskins at FedEx Field in Week 2:

What it means: Arizona fell to 1-1 after squandering a prime opportunity to collect a road victory on the East Coast. The defensive problems that hurt Arizona in Week 1 become harder to overlook following a defeat. Every victory is precious for NFC West teams after Seattle needed only seven victories to claim the division title last season. Losing this one hurts.

What I liked: The Cardinals again showed big-play ability in the passing game, this time with a strong second-half running game. Their defense, though pliable, made stops at critical times to help limit the damage, including when Arizona foiled a potential tying two-point conversion attempt with 5:17 remaining. Adrian Wilson's first-quarter interception stopped the Redskins after a disputed penalty had sustained Washington's drive deep in Arizona territory. The Cardinals made an obvious effort to get their ground game going in the second half, critical after the team's defense spent too much time on the field in the first half. Even when the Redskins lost cornerback Josh Wilson to injury, the Cardinals stayed with two-receiver personnel for a time, giving the ball to Beanie Wells. Later, the Cardinals went with four-receiver groupings, taking advantage of the personnel situation. Once the ground game was established, Kolb found Larry Fitzgerald for a 73-yard touchdown that gave Arizona a 21-13 lead in the fourth quarter. Wells ran hard and seemed eager to ward off defenders with a stiff-arm Arizona hasn't seen nearly enough over the past couple seasons.

What I didn't like: The Cardinals' defense was on the field for all but 8:29 of the first half despite collecting those early interceptions off Grossman. That was far too long. Arizona's offense needed only two plays to score following the second interception. The Cardinals never really tried to get their running game going early, carrying only three times in the first half. And their defense, though stout in the red zone, could not stop Tim Hightower from carrying 15 times for 83 yards in the first half alone. Kolb took two sacks when held the ball too long. Left tackle Levi Brown put the offense in a tough spot with a false-start penalty. Playing on the road is tough enough without inviting trouble. The blind-side hit Kolb took after throwing his long touchdown to Fitzgerald was the type of play that can knock out a quarterback. Receiver Chansi Stuckey lost a fumble when Arizona was trying to mount a comeback in the final 1:23.

Commissioner on Line One: King will be hearing from the league office this week after committing one of the more flagrant facemask penalties I can recall seeing. The Redskins' Brandon Banks was 35 yards into his punt return and threatening to score when King cut him off near the Redskins' sideline. King pulled down Banks violently by the facemask, possibly saving a touchdown. Later, when King was participating on the Cardinals' punt coverage team, Redskins fullback Darrel Young drove King to the ground and roughed him up.

Fitzgearld milestone: Fitzgerald's long touchdown grab gives him 66 career scoring receptions, matching Roy Green for the franchise record. Sonny Randle (60), Mel Gray (45) and Anquan Boldin (44) are next on the list. This was also Fitzgerald's 27th 100-yard receiving game, tying him with Boldin for most in franchise history. Jackie Smith (22), Green (20) and Rob Moore (18) are next on the list.

Block party: Cardinals defensive end Calais Campbell blocked a field-goal try in the first half, the third blocked attempt of his career. The play came to mind when Arizona was protecting a 21-19 lead late in the game.



Injuries of note: The Cardinals were already thin at inside linebacker when they lost Paris Lenon to an ankle injury in the first half. Stewart Bradley and Reggie Walker were already going to see increased playing time because Arizona entered the game without starter Daryl Washington, who has a calf injury. Lenon returned to the game in the second half.

What's next: The Cardinals open the NFC West portion of their schedule with a Week 3 game at Seattle.

Kevin Kolb's arrival from Philadelphia gives the Arizona Cardinals renewed hope at quarterback and clear direction following Kurt Warner's retirement.

It provides a fresh start after a forgettable 2010 transition season for Arizona.

So much has changed for the Cardinals since their Super Bowl appearance following the 2008 season. Other rosters around the league have turned over since then, of course, but not every team was coming off a Super Bowl appearance.

Quite a few teams have sought change. For the Cardinals, it just happened.

Warner's departure, while easily the biggest change, was far from the only one. Between five and eight starters from that Super Bowl game project as starters in 2011, depending upon how many of the team's unrestricted free agents re-sign.

When Steve Breaston left the Cardinals for Kansas City this week, drawing attention to the cumulative effect of Arizona's roster upheaval, a Seahawks fan drew parallels between Seattle's post-Super Bowl decline and the Cardinals' plight last season.

"Don't misunderstand," Ricky Frey wrote on my Facebook wall, "I'm a Hawks fan, but it seems eerily familiar to watch this happen and know what happened to Holmgren/Mora. Writing on the wall?"

Not if Kolb has anything to say about it. Acquiring a relatively young, potentially ascending quarterback puts Arizona in position to avoid the decline Seattle experienced as a Matt Hasselbeck struggled with injuries while the roster around him withered away. The NFC West remains in transition overall, and the Cardinals know it.

"It’s obviously winnable, but it’s funny to think that everybody thinks you can just step in and win it," Kolb told reporters Friday. "You’re talking about NFL football teams here. I know last year 7-9 is what won it, but it doesn’t matter. ... The door is open, we know, and we’ll be ready to kick it in when it’s time, but it’s not going to be an easy task."

Larry Fitzgerald, Levi Brown, Darnell Dockett, Adrian Wilson and the recently re-signed Lyle Sendlein started for Arizona in the Super Bowl and remain starters in 2011. Another starter from that Super Bowl game, Gerald Hayes, was released this week. Three more are becoming unrestricted free agents: Deuce Lutui, Bryan Robinson and Gabe Watson.

Six Arizona starters from that game are retired or did not play last season: Mike Gandy, Warner, Edgerrin James, Terrelle Smith, Chike Okeafor and Monty Beisel. Seven more play for other teams: Reggie Wells, Leonard Pope, Anquan Boldin, Antonio Smith, Karlos Dansby, Antrel Rolle and the recently traded Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie.

Some were role players. Others were tougher to replace.

Breaston was a backup on that team, but he played extensively as the third receiver and finished the season with more than 1,000 yards.

Kolb's addition headlined a flurry of transactions the Cardinals announced Thursday and Friday.

Sendlein, safety Hamza Abdullah, cornerback Michael Adams, tackle D'Anthony Batiste, center Ben Claxton, punter Ben Graham, fullback Reagan Maui'a and tight end Stephen Spach re-signed.

Five draft choices have signed. Guard Daryn Colledge, defensive end Nick Eason, tight end Jeff King, receiver Chansi Stuckey and linebacker Stewart Bradley have signed as free agents from other teams.

Re-signing Sendlein while adding Kolb, Colledge and Bradley suggests the 2011 team is still coming together, not necessarily falling apart.

CLEVELAND -- The New York Jets scored another wild victory, scoring in the final seconds of sudden death to beat the Cleveland Browns 26-20.

What it means: The Jets amazingly won -- again -- and are in command of the AFC East at 7-2. They are a few fortunate plays away from being winless in their past four games, having magically beaten the Denver Broncos and Detroit Lions also.

Hero: Mark Sanchez was Houdini, escaping a couple of near-certain sacks late in the game to keep plays -- and the game -- alive. He connected with Santonio Holmes on a 37-yard catch-and-run to win a game that deserved to end in a tie.

Goat I: This is a rare case where the winning team has a goat. Jets kicker Nick Folk missed three field goals, including a 24-yarder in the third quarter and a 47-yarder in overtime.

Goat II: Former Jets receiver Chansi Stuckey converted a crucial third down in overtime with a 14-yard reception, but Jets cornerback Drew Coleman stripped him, and cornerback Antonio Cromartie recovered on the Jets' 36-yard line.

Defense rises up (temporarily): After a raggedy 30 minutes, Rex Ryan's defense came alive in the second half. A foot injury to Browns receiver Josh Cribbs and dominant time of possession for the Jets' offense helped. But the Jets sacked Colt McCoy twice and held Peyton Hillis to 22 yards. Hillis ran 10 times for 60 yards and a touchdown in the first half. The Jets allowed one first down and forced two three-and-outs on Cleveland's first three series.

And then: On the Browns' fourth series of the second half, they gave up the tying touchdown. McCoy looked like Brian Sipe circa 1980 in moving the Browns 59 yards on 10 plays in 1:58. McCoy connected on three consecutive passes to finish the drive. Benjamin Watson made a sensational catch for 21 yards on a third-and-10 play, and one snap later Evan Moore made an even better one for 18 yards against Darrelle Revis. McCoy tossed to Mohamed Massaquoi for the 3-yard touchdown.

Braylon's battle: In what he called his "personal war" with Cleveland, Edwards had four catches and 59 yards. He also was called for holding to erase a 25-yard Brad Smith run.

That empty feeling: The Jets kept the ball for the first 10:04 of the third quarter yet failed to inflate their lead. Folk missed a 24-yard field goal, clanking the right upright.

Sanchez scare: The Browns sacked Sanchez on third down with 1:24 left in the third quarter. He limped off the field and had his right leg checked out for several minutes on the sideline trainer's table. Backup quarterback Mark Brunell warmed up, but Sanchez returned for the next series.

What's next: The Houston Texans drop by the Meadowlands to play the Jets on Sunday.

BEREA, Ohio -- Like a proud father flipping through a photo album of his children, Eric Mangini leaned forward in his office chair to display the New York Jets' offensive and defensive depth charts to a visitor seated across from his desk.

Mangini pointed at player after player after player after player. These were the guys he once coached. As he rattled them off, he tacked the phrase "was with me" after each name. Mangini articulated the names with an emphasis that reflected their importance to him.

"You go right on down the list," Mangini said from his spacious office that overlooks the Cleveland Browns' practice fields. "It's a core group of guys, and you know so much about these guys. You've had so many shared experiences with them, and now you're playing against them."

Mangini is in between games against his previous employers, referring to these two weeks as his personal version of the film "Ghosts of Girlfriends Past."

He gleefully embarrassed the New England Patriots last week and will coach against the Jets for the first time since joining the Browns on Sunday.

Mangini unwillingly departed the Jets 22 months ago. They fired him after a 9-7 season that began with a promising 8-3 start and Super Bowl chatter but disintegrated along with Brett Favre's right arm.

An outsider might assume the games create similar feelings for Mangini. They don't.

Mangini has faced his former mentor, Bill Belichick, several times. They've exchanged many frigid handshakes. Mangini, a former defensive assistant ruled a turncoat for joining the Jets, has a long history with the Patriots. The subsequent Spygate scandal drove the wedge deeper.

Still, the Patriots and Belichick are in his coaching DNA. Mangini is from them, of them.

"Being with Bill as long as I was there," Mangini said, leaning back in his leather chair and eating purple grapes from a cup, "you understand things change and parts change there each week, but philosophically it doesn't change."

His three years with the Jets were more of an association. Unlike his time with the Patriots, though, he had ownership of the Jets' roster. Those were his guys, and many of them remain on Rex Ryan's squad.

"Those are guys that I was instrumental in bringing in and developing and coaching and teaching," Mangini said.

"I told those guys when I left -- I got to address the team -- and I said 'Look, fellas, we were close here, and we made mistakes. There's a new head coach coming in here, and you guys have worked too hard to fight that guy and set yourself back. Embrace that guy and allow him the opportunity to achieve things we could have achieved.'"

Mangini didn't know at the time the Jets would hire Ryan, a gregarious figure who made the transition easier for the players. Most of them quickly embraced Ryan on his own merits, but the fact that he was a stark contrast to Mangini's austerity helped.

The Mangini-Jets breakup has worked out for the Jets. They made the playoffs last year -- with the same 9-7 record that got Mangini fired -- and are considered among the NFL's top few teams, a Super Bowl contender.

It must be noted Mangini played a significant role in giving Ryan a roster to work with. Still, Mangini insisted he's not bitter about his exit. He has acknowledged the concept of the fall guy, and one was necessary. He remains close friends with Jets general manager Mike Tannenbaum.

"It's cool to see them doing as well as they're doing," Mangini said.

Mangini claimed that what's happening in Cleveland has made this week's preparations for the Jets less emotional for him.

Mangini barely survived his first season with the Browns. They went 5-11 but won their last four games. The Browns hired Mike Holmgren to oversee football operations. Holmgren stripped Mangini of some duties, but the product seems to be improving.

The Browns are 3-5 and enter Sunday's game against the Jets with back-to-back victories over the New Orleans Saints and Patriots.

"This has been pretty satisfying," Mangini said. "Getting the job was great because it meant somebody recognized the great work we did in New York. We had a tough last year, but we developed. This year, we're competitive and we're making more steps. It's starting to pay off to some degree."

Mangini's disparate feelings for the Jets and Patriots are evident in his personnel moves.

He and Tannenbaum have made notable trades.

The Browns sent Braylon Edwards to the Jets last year for receiver Chansi Stuckey, linebacker Jason Trusnik and two draft picks. The Jets were able to get quarterback Mark Sanchez through a blockbuster draft-day trade that sent quarterback Brett Ratliff, defensive end Kenyon Coleman, safety Abram Elam and two picks to the Browns for the fifth overall selection.

Mangini, whether with the Jets or Browns, never made a trade with Belichick.

That fractured relationship is unlikely to heal.

"I appreciate what he did for me," Mangini said. "He was a huge part of my life. We were very close friends for a long time. When things started to go south, it sucked.

"Whether it'll ever get to that stage where we're close friends again, I don't know. Maybe, maybe not. But at no point will I ever stop appreciating what he's done. I feel I know who the guy is as a person, and hopefully at some point the friendship will resume."

That's why the Jets and Patriots are different for Mangini.

But he wants to beat them just the same.

A matchup that might not look too special at first glance of the Week 10 schedule contains a few appealing storylines.

The New York Jets will visit the Cleveland Browns on Sunday.

Browns head coach Eric Mangini, coming off a rousing victory over mentor Bill Belichick, will face his previous team for the first time since it fired him.

Jets head coach Rex Ryan will match wits with his twin brother, Browns defensive coordinator Rob Ryan.

And there will be all sorts of former Browns (Braylon Edwards, Brodney Pool) and former Jets (Chansi Stuckey, Kenyon Coleman, Abram Elam, et al) playing their old teams. The Jets drafted quarterback Mark Sanchez with the fifth overall pick acquired from the Browns in a blockbuster trade.

In the span of three days, New York Times reporter Greg Bishop produced two must-read features about the trash-talking Ryan twins and a reinvented Mangini.

From the Ryan story:

Both brothers speak in expletives as much as in English. Both have mountainous midsections. Both are considered brilliant defensive strategists, a notion sometimes overshadowed by their bluster and brutal honesty. Even their sentences sound the same.

Rob, with an expletive removed: "When Rex won the Super Bowl, I was jacked. I was talking so much mess. It was awesome."

Rex, with an expletive removed: "When Rob won the Super Bowl, I was surrounded by St. Louis fans, talking mess the whole game. When Brady led them down the field, it was awesome."

From the Mangini story:

The night the [2008] regular season ended, Mangini watched television on his couch, preparing for exit interviews, compiling an off-season checklist. General Manager Mike Tannenbaum called at 11:40 p.m., charged with the unpleasant task of firing one of his best friends.

Mangini kept returning to one thought: He had compromised, sold out [for signing off on Brett Favre].

"I get that someone had to pay," Mangini said. "And it was me."

In the meantime, fans of both clubs are excited about their young quarterbacks. The Browns could've drafted Sanchez if they wanted, but they had Brady Quinn and Derek Anderson at the time. Both are gone, but this year the Browns selected Colt McCoy, who has won head-to-head meetings against Drew Brees and Tom Brady.

After they dumped quarterback Trent Edwards and traded running back Marshawn Lynch in consecutive weeks, a lone member of the Buffalo Bills' 2007 draft class remained on the roster.

Just three years later, one keeper is a lousy return.

But consider how the rest of AFC East drafted in 2007.

Only six of 30 AFC East draftees from 2007 still are with the team that drafted them: two New York Jets, two Miami Dolphins, one New England Patriot and one Bill. (See chart below.)

The Jets were most effective. They drafted just four players. Their first two have been stars, and the last pick helped them acquire a standout receiver. They traded up to select star cornerback Darrelle Revis 14th overall and top inside linebacker David Harris 47th. Seventh-round pick Chansi Stuckey was sent to the Cleveland Browns in the trade that landed receiver Braylon Edwards.

The Patriots were the least efficient on nine picks, but they had only two selections inside the first four rounds. Their lone keeper was Pro Bowl safety Brandon Meriweather in the first round.

The Dolphins made 10 selections in what was the final draft class for general manager Randy Mueller and the only one for rookie head coach Cam Cameron. They famously misfired on ninth overall pick Ted Ginn, who was traded for a fifth-round pick this offseason, and second-round quarterback John Beck. Still around are defensive tackle Paul Soliai and punter Brandon Fields.

The last man standing from Buffalo's seven-man 2007 draft class is second-round linebacker Paul Posluszny.

So that's a 20 percent retention rate for the AFC East on all draftees and a 40 percent rate for those selected in the top three rounds.

With help from ESPN researcher Keith Hawkins and the Elias Sports Bureau, I wanted to find out how those percentages compared leaguewide.

Poorly, it turns out.

Of the 225 players chosen in other divisions that year, 100 have remained with the teams that drafted them. That's 44.4 percent overall, more than twice the AFC East rate.

When narrowing the field to players taken within the first three rounds, 89 prospects were absorbed into other divisions, and 54 have stuck, a success rate of 60.7 percent.

A few notes turned up by the research:

• The Dolphins are the only team that has gotten rid of their top four picks.
• Twenty-six teams have parted ways with at least one of their picks from the first three rounds.
• Of the 19 teams that had at least one pick in each of the first three rounds, only the Pittsburgh Steelers retained all of them (Lawrence Timmons, LaMarr Woodley, Matt Spaeth).

Miami Dolphins coach Tony Sparano has gotten singed his share of times by Brett Favre.

But Sparano is not necessarily buying Tuesday's hot rumor that Brett Favre will retire.

"Well, I'll believe it when the season starts and he's on that couch somewhere out there," Sparano said "All I know is we're going to Minnesota in Week 2. So I hope he's ... We'll see."

Sparano spent five years as a Dallas Cowboys assistant, crossing paths with Favre several times. Favre's season with the New York Jets coincided with Sparano's rookie year with the Dolphins.

"Facing him with the Jets, facing him in Dallas, facing him in a lot of places I've been," Sparano said, "there were times where with Brett you kind of felt like it was seven-on-seven out there and nobody was on the other side.

"The throws he made, some of the plays he made ... I remember in Dallas, us having him in the grasp a few different times. He spun out one time, spun around, kind of had him again. We thought he was down. Next thing you know he flips this thing up and he makes a big play on us.

"Then we see this thing down here [at Sun Life Stadium] in the first game that I coached [for the Dolphins], in my first at bat, and this thing goes up in the air and ends up coming down into somebody's hands."

The last play Sparano referenced came in his head-coaching debut, Favre's first game for the Jets in 2008.

Jets kicker Mike Nugent was sidelined with a leg injury, forcing the Jets to go for it on fourth-and-13 from the Dolphins' 22-yard line in the second quarter. Favre escaped what appeared to be a certain sack and threw a high, arcing desperation lob toward the end zone. Chansi Stuckey came down with the ball just inside the goal line for a touchdown. The Jets went on to win 20-14.

The Dolphins went on to win the AFC East, clinching it with a victory over the Jets in the regular-season finale. But prior to that, when the Dolphins were clawing their way toward the finish line, I asked Sparano if he still thought about Favre's play.

"That wakes me up some nights when I'm trying to sleep," Sparano admitted.

Offensive coordinators Bruce Arians, Cam Cameron, Bob Bratkowski and Brian Daboll have something in common: They're lightning rods for fans throughout the AFC North.

They are among the most talked about assistants in the division, and in many ways it's a very tough spot to be in. When things go right, the players executed. But when things go wrong, it's the offensive coordinators who get blamed for poor play calling. All four face different challenges in 2010.

Here's a look at the coordinators for each team:

Offensive coordinator: Bruce Arians

Team: Pittsburgh Steelers

Offensive ranking in '09: No. 7

Biggest challenge: The start of the season will be trying for the Steelers as star quarterback Ben Roethlisberger serves his conditional six-game suspension. With good behavior Roethlisberger could return after four games, which is the expected outcome. But Pittsburgh has had the luxury of Roethlisberger making magic out of broken plays and will need to be more structured and conventional to win during the first month of the season. Expect Arians to earn his money trying to scheme without his best offensive player.

Biggest strength: Even with the trade of Santonio Holmes, the Steelers still have a good group of veteran skill players. Hines Ward is coming off another 1,000-yard season, Heath Miller is the top tight end in the division, and tailback Rashard Mendenhall is a budding talent. Also look out for second-year receiver Mike Wallace. The NFL game didn't seem too big for him as a rookie, and Wallace seems primed to break out in his first year as a starter.

Biggest weakness: For Pittsburgh, it's scoring touchdowns. Despite a 4,000-yard quarterback, a 1,000-yard rusher and two 1,000-yard receivers, the Steelers averaged 23 points per game last season. That's not a bad number, but you would expect more points with the amount of yards Arians' unit produced last year. The offensive line struggled mightily in the red zone, and Willie Colon's season-ending Achilles injury doesn't help. Mendenhall also needs to get better at getting the tough yards, especially with Roethlisberger not in the fold early.

Forecast: I don't have particularly high hopes for Pittsburgh's offense with Byron Leftwich or Dennis Dixon under center. Teams will stack the box against Mendenhall until Pittsburgh proves it can pass. The offensive line also has questions. But once Roethlisberger comes back, this unit is talented enough to get hot in the second half of the season. But will it be too late?

Offensive coordinator: Bob Bratkowski

Team: Cincinnati Bengals

Offensive ranking in '09: No. 24

Biggest challenge: The biggest hurdle facing Bratkowski and the Bengals' offense is creating balance. It was very one-dimensional last year, particularly late in the season. Outside of Pro Bowl receiver Chad Ochocinco, there were no legitimate threats in the passing game. As a result, Cincinnati overhauled its offense via the draft and free agency by adding receivers Antonio Bryant, Jordan Shipley and tight end Jermaine Gresham.

Biggest strength: Despite the flashy additions in the passing game, the running game remains the most proven commodity for Cincinnati. Cedric Benson is coming off a career year and his first 1,000-yard season, and Bernard Scott and Brian Leonard are decent backup options. The Bengals' offensive line also is very good at controlling and moving the line of scrimmage. But the unit wasn't as solid in pass protection for quarterback Carson Palmer.

Biggest weakness: Right now the biggest question for Cincinnati's offense is at fullback. The Bengals have finally moved forward without Jeremi Johnson, who was constantly battling weight problems. Now the unproven Fui Vakapuna looks like the early favorite to win the job. Look for Cincinnati to run a lot of multiple-receiver and tight end sets this year. So the fullback position may not be as important.

Forecast: The Bengals will rely on a lot of new parts, including Bryant, Gresham and Shipley. But if a majority of these options pan out, Cincinnati could be a dangerous unit. Benson's off-field issues may be something to watch in case a suspension is looming. But other than that, expect Bratkowski and the Bengals to be much better than last year's No. 24 ranking.

Offensive coordinator: Cam Cameron

Team: Baltimore Ravens

Offensive ranking in '09: No. 13

Biggest challenge: Managing egos will be a unique challenge for Cameron. With the exception of quarterback Joe Flacco, every starting skill player for Baltimore has been to the Pro Bowl. That's a lot of talent and a lot of players who want the ball. Anquan Boldin, Ray Rice, Derrick Mason, Le'Ron McClain, Todd Heap and Willis McGahee all feel they can help the team win. But there will be weeks when Cameron must tell Boldin he's a decoy and games when Rice will get only 10 carries. How will they react? Winning solves a lot of problems. But if this team experiences a significant losing streak, look out.

Biggest strength: Versatility is something that Baltimore's offense has lacked in the past. But that's no longer the case. The Ravens should be able to win games on the ground and through the air this year, which was the goal this offseason for general manager Ozzie Newsome. Boldin's acquisition was huge for the passing game, and Rice still hasn't reached his ceiling as an NFL running back. Cameron believes Baltimore has the potential to be a top-five scoring offense, and on paper there's no reason to doubt that.

Biggest weakness: There aren't many weaknesses on this unit. But if I had to nitpick, Baltimore's depth on the offensive line isn't the greatest. Injuries happen all the time in the trenches. An injury at offensive tackle to Michael Oher or Jared Gaither, for example, would result in a significant drop-off in talent.

Forecast: There is a lot of preseason hype surrounding the Ravens, and the offense shares those extremely high expectations. This unit has talent, depth and a developing third-year quarterback in Flacco, who, if healthy, should put up career-best numbers this season. As long as Cameron can get everyone to play nice and share the football, this offense should be one of the NFL's most effective units.

Offensive coordinator: Brian Daboll

Team: Cleveland Browns

Offensive ranking in '09: No. 32

Biggest challenge: The Browns do not have a lot of talent to work with offensively. During Cleveland's four-game winning streak to end last season, Daboll had to get by with a lot of running and Wildcat formations with Josh Cribbs. Much of Cleveland's success will hinge on veteran quarterback Jake Delhomme, who had more than twice as many interceptions (18) last year than touchdowns (eight). If Daboll can get a bounce-back season out of Delhomme, that will be a good starting point for Cleveland's offense to improve.

Biggest strength: The left side of the offensive line is one of the NFL's best. Joe Thomas is considered by many to be the best left tackle in football, and Eric Steinbach has been a quality guard for years. Cleveland also hit in last year's draft with first-round pick Alex Mack, who appears to be one of the league's up-and-coming centers. This trio provides some stability to an otherwise unstable offense.

Biggest weakness: Cleveland's offense has several holes but the biggest is at wide receiver. Mohamed Massaquoi had a decent rookie year, but he's likely not ready to be a No. 1 receiver. Brian Robiskie had a good offseason but remains unproven, and Chansi Stuckey isn't a game-breaker. The Browns this week also added veteran Bobby Engram, who turned 37 this year. A case can be made that this is the worst group of receivers in the league.

Forecast: The Browns were ranked last in '09, so there's nowhere to go but up. There are a lot of question marks, and I don't see enough upgrades across the board to be optimistic about this unit. Whether Delhomme at this stage of his career is an upgrade over Brady Quinn and Derek Anderson also remains to be seen.

In the span of six measly months, the New York Jets' top three receivers went from this:

1. Jerricho Cotchery

2. Chansi Stuckey

3. David Clowney

To this:

1a. Braylon Edwards

1b. Santonio Holmes

3. Cotchery

What an upgrade. The Jets continued their metamorphosis Sunday night, sending a fifth-round draft choice to the Pittsburgh Steelers for Holmes.

In a short time, the Jets went from wondering how their passing game would cope without Laveranues Coles to boasting a crew that features three 1,100-yard receivers.

Go back a year and the Jets' passing game was even more dubious. Brett Favre was gone. Some believed Brett Ratliff had a shot at the job.

Among the receivers, Cotchery had with the highest pedigree. He was a fourth-round draft pick. Stuckey was a seventh-rounder. Clowney was a waiver-wire pickup.

Now the Jets have a pair of first-rounders with some hardware. Edwards, the third overall selection in 2005, is a Pro Bowler. Holmes, the 25th pick in 2006, was the MVP of Super Bowl XLIII.

Cotchery is the oldest of the three. He'll turn 28 in June.

Think second-year quarterback Mark Sanchez might be excited about throwing a little more this year?

Sanchez also has tight end Dustin Keller, another first-rounder. The backfield options are LaDainian Tomlinson and Leon Washington, two fellows who can catch.

The Jets had the NFL's top rushing attack last year. Their 37.9 carries per game were 5.1 attempts more than the second team and about 10 more than the league average.

At the league owners meetings last month in Orlando, Fla., Jets coach Rex Ryan said, "We might not run it as much as we did last year, but we’ll be pretty close."

When you consider the talent the Jets continue to assemble, that's getting increasingly harder to believe.

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Posted by ESPN.com’s James Walker

Five nuggets of knowledge about this weekend’s games:

	Jim McIsaac/Getty Images
	Carson Palmer owns a 6-3 record in nine starts against the Ravens.

Who is No. 1: Sole possession of first place is on the line Sunday when the Cincinnati Bengals (3-1) travel to play the Baltimore Ravens (3-1). This is the biggest game to date in the AFC North and will set the tone for the first half of the 2009 season. The Ravens and Bengals have split the past six meetings, but Baltimore swept the season series in 2008 in convincing fashion, outscoring the Bengals 51-13.

Palmer vs. Ravens: Cincinnati’s Carson Palmer is one of the few quarterbacks who’ve had consistent success against Baltimore’s stout defense. Palmer is an impressive 6-3 in nine starts against the Ravens. He’s had some of his best days against Ray Lewis and Co., throwing for 2,235 yards, 12 touchdowns and eight interceptions in nine games. Palmer will need another great performance against Baltimore to catapult Cincinnati into first place in the division.

O-line shuffle: One of the top, young offensive tackle duos probably won't be whole as Jared Gaither is not expected to play Sunday following a recent neck injury. The left tackle’s probable absence will lead to some shuffling. Rookie right tackle Michael Oher will move into Gaither’s spot on the left side, and backup Marshal Yanda will make his first start of the season at right tackle. Oher and Yanda held their own on short notice last week in the second half against the New England Patriots.

Mendy is in: Is there a running back controversy brewing in Pittsburgh? Perhaps. Steelers starting tailback Willie Parker (toe) probaly will sit out his second consecutive game against the Detroit Lions (1-3), which means Rashard Mendenhall will get another start. In Mendenhall’s first start in Week 4, the 2008 first-round draft pick rushed for 165 yards and two touchdowns on 29 carries, earning AFC player of the week honors. Parker struggled this year when healthy, so if Mendenhall has another big game Sunday against the Lions, a starting job may not be waiting for Parker when he returns.

Different look: How will the offense of the Cleveland Browns look without Braylon Edwards? The Browns made their second significant change in as many weeks, trading the former Pro Bowl receiver to the New York Jets for receiver Chansi Stuckey, reserve linebacker Jason Trusnik and two draft picks. In Week 4, Cleveland benched former starting quarterback Brady Quinn in favor of Derek Anderson and it provided a spark. Now rookie Mohamed Massaquoi will take over Edwards' role as the No. 1 receiver. Massaquoi had a career game in Sunday’s loss to Cincinnati with eight catches for 148 yards. He will start opposite Josh Cribbs or fellow rookie Brian Robiskie.

Posted by ESPN.com’s James Walker

BEREA, Ohio -- The AFC North blog spent Wednesday at Cleveland Browns headquarters following the blockbuster trade of receiver Braylon Edwards.

Edwards

Here are some notes and observations:

• Browns coach Eric Mangini definitely sent a message to his team. There’s a strong feeling in Cleveland’s locker room Wednesday that no player is safe until after the Oct. 20 trade deadline. Cleveland is 0-4 and going nowhere. So it may not be the last trade as the Browns begin building for the future.
• Although Edwards didn’t speak with the Browns’ media before leaving, I’m told Edwards is happy that he’s out of Cleveland. He wanted a change of scenery and was pretty much counting the days to free agency. This is the final year of a five-year contract and he didn’t plan to re-sign with the Browns.
• Rest assured Jets coach Rex Ryan talked to his twin brother, Rob, to get a scouting report on Edwards before New York signed off on the deal. Rob Ryan is the defensive coordinator in Cleveland and spent enough time with Edwards this year to get a feel for whether the receiver could mesh well with his twin brother as head coach.
• As far as my personal opinion, Edwards’ tenure in New York can go either way. He usually plays hard on good teams, so it could work out with the Jets. But Edwards also can get frazzled easily if he has a bad game. He often thought Cleveland’s media was too harsh on him, so I can’t imagine how he would react following a bad game with the relentless New York media. From Cleveland’s perspective, I have no problem with the Browns getting something when Edwards wasn’t returning next year. But they should have made this move in the offseason when Edwards’ value was higher.
• According to some of the former New York Jets with Cleveland, receiver Chansi Stuckey is a smart player. He is at his best in the slot, which makes you wonder if he’s starting material or just a No. 3 receiver. Ironically Stuckey had one more reception (11) this season than Edwards (10) through four games.
• Finally, Mangini dodged the question twice of whether trading Edwards for Stuckey, special-teamer Jason Trusnik and two draft picks instantly makes the team better. The truth is it doesn’t. Cleveland is a worse team Wednesday than it was a day ago. But the Browns could’ve gone winless without Edwards in the first month of the season. So with two additional players and reportedly third- and fifth-round picks in 2010, the Browns can only hope the trade works out best in the long-term.

Posted by ESPN.com’s James Walker

BEREA, Ohio -- There is a running joke in northeast Ohio that the Cleveland Browns should wear green jerseys this year and rename themselves the Cleveland Jets. That came after new head coach Eric Mangini acquired seven of his former players from New York last offseason.

On Wednesday the Browns acquired two more former Jets in receiver Chansi Stuckey and special teams ace Jason Trusnik in exchange for former Pro Bowl receiver Braylon Edwards. It was the second trade in six months between Mangini’s current and former team.

Currently nine of Cleveland’s 53 players are made up of former Jets—or 17 percent of Mangini’s roster. Technically it’s in general manager George Kokinis’ contract to make roster decisions. But it’s very evident Mangini is calling the shots with so many players being shipped in from New York.

The results have been sub-par. Players such as safety Abram Elam, defensive end Kenyon Coleman and linebackers Eric Barton and David Bowens are all contributors but none have made enough impact to help the Browns (0-4) win a game this season.

Cleveland Jets The Browns have nine former New York Jets on their roster. Player Position Acquired Eric Barton LB Free agent David Bowens LB Free agent Kenyon Coleman DL Trade Abram Elam S Trade C.J. Mosley DL Free agent Hank Poteat CB Free agent Brett Ratliff QB Trade Chansi Stuckey WR Trade Jason Trusnik LB Trade

Posted by ESPN.com’s James Walker

BEREA, Ohio -- If the winless Cleveland Browns are willing to trade former Pro Bowl receiver Braylon Edwards, they can trade just about anyone.

Mangini

"I’m definitely surprised," Browns linebacker D’Qwell Jackson said.

That was the resounding reaction Wednesday in a shocked locker room after Cleveland’s blockbuster deal to send Edwards to the New York Jets.

Browns head coach Eric Mangini reiterated that personal conduct is very important. Through trading Edwards, Mangini’s message was clear: Get with the program or get out.

"That’s been the message since he got here," Browns Pro Bowl left tackle Joe Thomas said. "You’re going to do things the way you’re coached to do it and the way you’re told to do it. If you’re not, then we’ll find somebody else."

Mangini added that, contrary to popular belief, he had trade talks with teams other than the Jets.

But in the end, New York once again provided the best package for Edwards. Cleveland in return gained receiver Chansi Stuckey, special-teams ace Jason Trusnik and two draft picks in 2010. It was the second trade in six months between those two teams.

Moving forward, it’s still to be determined who Cleveland’s starting receivers will be Sunday against the Buffalo Bills. Rookie Mohamed Massaquoi will take one spot, while fellow rookie Brian Robiskie, Josh Cribbs and Mike Furrey will compete for the other starting job. Stuckey is out of the running for now as he has to learn the playbook.

Every pass-catcher from the high-powered offense of the Browns in 2007 is now gone. Edwards and tight end Kellen Winslow Jr. were both traded in 2009 and Joe Jurevicius was released last offseason.

"There’s just times where you just move forward and we got to get better," said Browns quarterback Derek Anderson, who was also surprised by the move. "The 11 guys that we put out there, we got to find a way to get it done and execute the plays no matter who those guys are."