Preseason Pickin': AFC South

The AFC South sent two teams to the playoffs last year. They have sent four wild card teams to the playoffs in the last four years. Another division that has been great over the years had last year's best regular season team in the Tennessee Titans, who were 13-3. The Colts finished the season with 9 straight wins but fell short to the Chargers in the playoffs. The Texans had their best season in franchise history last year at 8-8. The Jaguars had a down season after making the playoffs in 2005 and 2007. The AFC South is a tough division, but who will prevail this year? Here's what I think.

Team on the Rise: Houston Texans
Steve Slaton proved to be an impact rookie last year. Many thought he would not do well, but boy did he prove people wrong. Slaton put up Pro Bowl-like numbers, with 1,282 yards and 9 touchdowns. Slaton and Matt Schaub at quarterback should make this a very strong and improved offense. The team had 382.1 yards per game last year, 3rd in the NFL. Oh yeah, and there is a guy named Andre Johnson. The 3-time Pro Bowler might help a little bit too.

Team on the Decline: Tennessee Titans
Like I said about the Ravens, I think the Titans will have a great season. But it is very difficult to repeat a 13-3 season, especially in the division they are in. They have a great defense, but I don't know if they can have as good of a defense as they had last year, especially with the loss of Albert Haynesworth. Also, Kerry Collins is 36, and I don't know if he has much left in him.

Biggest Impact Players: Joseph Addai and Chris Johnson
Joseph Addai played very well his first two seasons and rushed for over 1,000 yards in each, but really did not have the type of season he wanted last year. We know what Peyton Manning and Reggie Wayne can do: Joseph Addai is the X-factor for them this season. For the Titans, Kerry Collins lead them to a 13-win season in 2008, but Chris Johnson was an impact rookie. Johnson was booed after the Titans drafted him, as many thought Tennessee should have drafted a wide out, but Johnson prevailed as a great draft pick. Chris Johnson had 1,228 and 9 touchdowns as a first year player last year, and if he can put up numbers like that again as the Titans starting running back, the Titans will be fine on offense.

Best Offense: Indianapolis Colts
The Colts have always had a great offense, and despite the loss of Marvin Harrison, I think they will have the best offense again. Donald Brown was a good draft pick at 27, and I think Joesph Addai will have a great comeback season as well. Also, Peyton Manning and Reggie Wayne will put up big numbers again.

Best Defense: Tennesse Titans
Yes, I did say I don't think the Titans have as good of a defense as they had last year, but nonetheless, this defense is good, and the defenses in the division are not the great. Haynesworth is a tough loss, but Keith Bulluck made a big impact on the D last year and Cortland Finnegan and Chris Hope made the Pro Bowl. I think they should all have solid seasons once again.

Best Division Game: Tennessee Titans at Indianapolis Colts
December 6th, in Week 13, the Titans travel to Indy to take on the Colts. This is a very crucial meeting, as it is the last between these teams in the 2009 regular season, and I think the winner of this has the better shot at winning the division, which I think will be the Colts because of home field advantage.

Division Winner: Indianapolis Colts
The Colts lost in the first round of the playoffs last year, but they won their final 9 regular season games. I like Donald Brown and Joseph Addai in the backfield, and I think that eventually Peyton and the Colts will get use to Jim Caldwell as their coach.

In the picture: Tennessee Titans - Tennessee brings back a great defense, and I think that having the best defense in the division will help them a lot. My concern for them is Kerry Collins, and I think that they will lose to Indianapolis in Week 13. If they win that game though, I would not be surprised if they defend their AFC South title.