The team was 14-2 last year, and now they have Shawne Merriman for 16 games, an upgraded WR core with Vincent Jackson (hardly used early on last year) and Craig Davis, a quarterback with another year of experience and a healthier defense.

Of course, they'd have to win at New England in Week 2 and home against Indy in Week 9.

If Culpepper's completely healthy, the team suddenly has an experienced quarterback who has played at a consistently high level in the past. Culpepper's only 30, and before his knee injury, threw 64 TD against just 22 picks from '03-'04. Moreover, the Raiders defense is a nasty, blitzing bunch under defensive coordinator Rob Ryan, son of Buddy Ryan and former assistant to Bill Belichick. If the offense can stay on the field longer, that defense will be even tougher to deal with this season.

The Texans defense doesn't project to be very good, so Schaub will presumably be playing from behind often. Ahman Green will get receiving yards out of the backfield, and Owen Daniels is a decent pass-catching TE. Andre Johnson could be an elite No. 1 wideout with better QB play, and Kevin Walter and Jacoby Jones could each get 500-600 yards.

The combination of size, speed, playmaking ability, confidence and young quarterbacks who need a security blanket could put Winslow over the top now that he's another year removed from his knee surgeries.

With Michael Strahan on his way back, Osi Umenyiora healthy, Justin Tuck healthy and having a great camp and Mathias Kiwanuka on the field at outside linebacker, the Giants have a lot of pass rushers to go along with run-stopping Antonio Pierce, Fred Robbins and Kawika Mitchell.

With fast Willie Parker, speedy Santonio Holmes, a more wide open offense under Bruce Arians and a declining defense, the Steelers are more likely to be in shootouts than defensive struggles. One of the Cin-Pitt games goes over 70.

Chester Taylor and Adrian Peterson, a good offensive line, good run defense, no passing game to speak of, the Vikings ugly up games and keep it close against good and bad teams alike. Taylor gets 800 yards rushing, Peterson gets 1200, Tarvaris Jackson gets 450.

With Devery Henderson nursing a hamstring strain, Robert Meachem not panning out and Terrence Copper having a minor role, Johnson steps up as the team's consistent No. 2 target behind Marques Colston.

No one disputes that Young could get 700-800 yards rushing and 6-8 TDs on the ground, but no one seems to think he could throw for 3400 yards and 21 TDs. But in his second year with Norm Chow and more experience under his belt, there's no reason why those pedestrian passing numbers couldn't be reachable if Young shows improvement as a passer. If that happens, his numbers would be off the charts.

He's Terrell Owens with more speed and height, Randy Moss with more muscle and weight. He's on a team with a terrible defense, and he's got an offensive coordinator who will throw downfield all the time.

He's averaged 26 TDs per year over the last four, and that was with below average receivers - and we don't just mean last year. David Givens and Deion Branch were nothing special, either, and Brady still put up two 28-TD season with them. The Pats like to throw in the red-zone, and that tendency might even be more pronounced with Corey Dillon gone and Randy Moss and Donte' Stallworth on the team.