And AFC SOUTH

AFC EAST

Buffalo Bills

Last season: 8-8, fourth place.

Coach: Gregg Williams (11-21), third year with Bills.

Pressing question: Will the improved defense make a big enough difference in an extremely tight division?

Feeling the heat: RB Travis Henry had a Pro Bowl season, but he'll be looking over his shoulder at Willis McGahee, the Bills' surprise first-round pick.

Key reinforcements: Although the rehabilitating McGahee (knee) isn't expected to be a factor until 2004, LB Takeo Spikes and DT Sam Adams are expected to upgrade the defense significantly.

A lot rides on: DTs Adams and Pat Williams shutting down the inside running lanes. The Bills' rush defense was 29th last season.

Best-case scenario: QB Drew Bledsoe throws less and wins more because the Bills aren't always playing catch-up.

Worst-case scenario: Adams gets hurt, the defense can't stop the run and the Bills are playing catch-up again.

Miami Dolphins

Last season: 9-7, third place.

Coach: Dave Wannstedt (71-73), fourth year with Dolphins, 10th in NFL.

Pressing question: How many games does QB Jay Fiedler get before he loses his job to Brian Griese?

Feeling the heat: Wannstedt has little wiggle room after missing the playoffs a year ago. With a talented roster, he needs to win now and win big.

Key reinforcements: LB Junior Seau gives the Dolphins some sorely missed leadership and SS Sammy Knight a thumper in the secondary. Even if he doesn't start, Griese is a better backup than Ray Lucas.

A lot rides on: Winning the division. The Dolphins need home-field advantage in the postseason.

Best-case scenario: RB Ricky Williams makes the QB irrelevant and the Dolphins cruise into the AFC championship game.

Worst-case scenario: Another late-season collapse will send Wannstedt packing.

New England Patriots

Last season: 9-7, second place.

Coach: Bill Belichick (61-67), fourth year with Patriots, ninth in NFL.

Pressing question: With so many new faces on defense, can Belichick re-create the chemistry that highlighted the Patriots' Super Bowl season?

Feeling the heat: RB Antowain Smith, coming off a poor season, gets another chance because the Patriots never found a replacement.

Key reinforcements: The Patriots have greatly upgraded their defense with the addition of LB Rosevelt Colvin, DE Ty Warren, NT Ted Washington and CB Tyrone Poole.

A lot rides on: The ability of Washington to plug the middle in Belichick's 3-4 scheme; the Patriots ranked 31st against the run last year.

Best-case scenario: The quicker, younger defense responds and makes the Patriots a Super Bowl contender again.

Worst-case scenario: The Patriots still can't run or stop the run, and QB Tom Brady has to throw 45 passes every week.

New York Jets

Last season: 9-7, first place. Lost in divisional round to Raiders, 30-10.

Coach: Herman Edwards (19-13), third year with Jets.

Pressing question: Is QB Chad Pennington's season over with a serious wrist injury, and if so, how long can Vinny Testaverde hold up?

Feeling the heat: WR-KR Santana Moss. The former first-round pick needs to make an impact as a receiver, not just a returner.

Key reinforcements: Rookie DT Dewayne Robertson, the team's first-round pick, came at a high cost and must produce. WR Curtis Conway was signed after Laveranues Coles left.

A lot rides on: How much Testaverde has left. The veteran QB turns 40 in November.

Best-case scenario: Playing in the league's deepest division, the Jets remain competitive while they battle through their losses.

Worst-case scenario: The Jets' best playmakers line up with the Redskins and Pennington doesn't make it back. The fall would be precipitous.

AFC SOUTH

Houston Texans

Last season: 4-12, fourth place.

Coach: Dom Capers (34-46), second year with Texans, sixth in NFL.

Pressing question: Can QB David Carr endure another physical beating this season if his blockers don't protect him better?

Feeling the heat: The offensive line. A year ago, Carr was sacked a league-record 76 times as a rookie. No matter how good Carr's receivers are, he can't throw from his back.

Key reinforcements: WR Andre Johnson, the team's first-round pick, gives Carr a deep threat. OTs Zach Wiegert and Greg Randall must limit deficiencies in the line after the injury retirement of Tony Boselli.

A lot rides on: The defense staying competitive to give the offense a chance to grow.

Best-case scenario: With better weapons and more time, Carr shows why he was the first pick in the 2002 draft and the Texans reach respectability.

Worst-case scenario: The offensive line is still a sieve and the offense falters again.

Indianapolis Colts

Last season: 10-6, second place. Lost wild-card game to Jets, 41-0.

Coach: Tony Dungy (64-48), second year with Colts, eighth in NFL.

Pressing question: K Mike Vanderjagt's offseason criticism of QB Peyton Manning notwithstanding, isn't it time Manning won a playoff game?

Feeling the heat: Vanderjagt. After ripping Manning in the wake of the playoff loss, he had better not miss any big field-goal attempts.