AFC East

Rob Gronkowski, New England's key man. Image via Yahoo Sports

New England Patriots

Last Season: 12-4 (Lost in AFC Championship Match)

Key Player: Rob Gronkowski (TE). Suddenly the Man Who Is Party has become Tom Brady’s most valuable receiver. A lot of expectation comes with that.

What To Watch For: No more Welker, no more Hernandez (wow), a very questionable offensive line and only an average defensive unit. It’ll take some more of that Belichick genius this year. Luckily there’s plenty of that to go around.

Key Question: Tim Tebow? Poor Tebow.

2013 Prediction: 11-6, lose in AFC Divisional Playoffs.

Miami Dolphins

Last Season: 7-9

Key Player: Mike Wallace (WR). With Tannehill continually improving at QB, the free agent acquisition of former Steelers wideout Wallace will be huge for this offence.

What To Watch For: They’ve got a pretty soft fixture list, and playing in a weak (New England excluded) division, the Dolphins could even be a dark horse for the playoffs.

Key Question: Can 3rd overall pick Dion Jordan (LB) become the superstar that Miami can build this improving defence around?

2013 Prediction: 8-8

New York Jets

Last Season: 6-10

Key Player: Darrelle Revis (CB). Oh no, wait, he left. Umm… pass?

What To Watch For: The quarterback debacle. So many options, so little talent.

Key Question: Can Rex Ryan survive another season as Jets coach? Can he literally survive another season as Jets coach? Can he survive it without accidentally revealing another embarrassing secret from his personal life?

2013 Prediction: 7-9

Buffalo Bills

Last Season: 6-10

Key Player: CJ Spiller (RB). He’ll do the damage. He’ll be the only one.

What To Watch For: EJ Manuel was the highest drafted QB in the last draft. Let’s see if he can make something out of nothing.

Key Question: Why bother?

2013 Prediction: 4-12

AFC North

Baltimore Ravens

Last Season: 10-6 (NFC Champions – Superbowl Champions)

Key Player: Ray Rice (RB). Flacco’s getting the dollars, but Rice is the truly elite player on this roster.

What To Watch For: A Ravens defence without Ray Lewis or Ed Reed. It’ll be eerie, that’s for sure.

Key Question: Can Joe Flacco live up to his enormous contract? (He’s got 120 million reasons not to care)

2013 Prediction: 10-6, lose in the AFC Wildcard.

Cincinnati Bengals

Last Season: 10-6 (Lost in AFC Wildcard)

Key Player: AJ Green (WR). A truly elite receiver. Hopefully Andy Dalton’s arm strength can catch up to Green’s speed.

What To Watch For: These guys have been surprise postseason staples the last 2 years. It’ll be interesting to see if they can take that next step forward and actually win a playoff game.

Key Question: Can Andy Dalton lead the Bengals to victory against the league’s very best?

2013 Prediction: 10-6, lose in AFC Divisional Playoffs

Cleveland Browns

Last Season: 5-11

Key Player: Trent Richardson (RB). In his second year, he’s already gonna be expected to have an Adrian Peterson-like role of total domination in this fraught offence.

What To Watch For: To be honest, there’s not really any reason to watch the Cleveland Browns.

Key Question: Is theirs the most uninspired logo of all? It’s just a bloody helmet!

2013 Prediction: 5-11

Pittsburgh Steelers

Last Season: 8-8

Key Player: Ben Roethlisberger (QB). Big Ben’s fitness will absolutely decide the Steelers’ fate this season as always. Them aging bones are beginning to creak.

What To Watch For: Andre Brown taking over from Mike Wallace as the main WR. He’s got the skills, don’t doubt it.

Key Question: Will Le’Veon Bell be the franchise running back that the Steelers have been searching for ever since Willie Parker broke his leg in 2007?

2013 Prediction: 7-9

AFC South

Houston Texans

Last Season: 12-4 (Lost in NFC Divisional Playoffs)

Key Player: Arian Foster (RB). When he’s fit, the Texans win more than not. Without him, tough times await.

What To Watch For: More like what to watch OUT for. And it’s JJ Watt, One Man Wrecking Crew.

Key Question: Can they win a Superbowl with Matt Schaub? We may well find out come February.

2013 Prediction: 13-3, lose in NFC Championship match

JJ Watt of the Houston Texanms gives his trademark celebratory salute. Image via Brett Coomer, Beaumont Enterprise

Indianapolis Colts

Last Season: 11-5 (Lost in NFC Wildcard)

Key Player: Andrew Luck (QB). For a young guy, he’s carrying a heavy load.

What To Watch For: Head coach Chuck Pagano missed a lot of last season as he battled cancer. He’s in remission now, and back to work. A lovely human story of resilience. #CHUCKSTRONG

Key Question: Can the most promising draft prospect of his generation avoid the sophomore slump?

2013 Prediction: 9-7, lose in AFC Wildcard

Jacksonville Jaguars

Last Season: 2-14

Key Player: Maurice Jones-Drew (RB). He’ll get the carries, that’s for sure. Will he stay healthy?

What To Watch For: Aw, man. I mean, it’s not on the same scale as telling a patient they have cancer, but… look Jags fans, you know as well as I that your team is awful. There is nothing to watch for here.

Key Question: Who do they draft with the first overall pick next year?

2013 Prediction: 3-13

Tennessee Titans

Last Season: 6-10

Key Player: Chris Johnson (RB). He’s telling everyone he’s back to his CJ2K best. With Jake Locker at QB, he’ll have to be.

What To Watch For: They’ve been stocking up talent after their shocking defence gave up the most points per game last year. They can only have improved.

Key Question: Would you rather have Jake Locker or Christian Ponder leading your team?

2013 Prediction: 7-9

AFC West

Denver Broncos

Last Season: 13-3 (Lost in NFC Championship Match)

Key Player: Von Miller (LB). They’re gonna struggle a bit through the 6 weeks of his suspension, but he’ll be a real shot in the arm when he returns. In a legal, non-steroidy way.

What To Watch For: If ya can’t beat ‘em, steal their players. Two of Manning’s arch enemies – Wes Welker (once rival Tom Brady’s top receiver) and Ed Reed (Ravens legend whose team knocked Peyton out of the playoffs last season) team up with The Sherriff in Denver.

Key Question: Who was it who dropped the ball on the Vonn Miller suspension? Something about that whole saga seems… shady. I’d better get the magnifying glass and deerstalker out.

2013 Prediction: 12-4, AFC Champions, lose in Superbowl

Kansas City Chiefs

Last Season: 2-14

Key Player: Alex Smith (QB). He’s replacing Matt Cassel, so KC can’t really complain, but Smith still has a lot of work to do to make these guys competitive. I’m not sure he’s got it in him.

What To Watch For: The impact of new coach Andy Reid. He was mostly great at Philly, Chiefs fans will expect the same here.

Key Question: Don’t you think Andy Reid with his moustache kinda looks like a walrus? Goo goo g'joob indeed.

2013 Prediction: 6-10

Oakland Raiders

Last Season: 4-12

Key Player: Darren McFadden (RB). With their QB crisis as apparent as ever, their star running back is in for a very prominent role.

What To Watch For: Well, if you’ve got fantasy players on the opposition you’ve got plenty of reason to watch the Raiders play.

Key Question: How is it that the team with the most badass public image is actually one of the softest in the league?

2013 Prediction: 5-11

San Diego Chargers

Last Season: 7-9

Key Player: Philip Rivers (QB) and his interception count.

What To Watch For: Rookie Manti Te’o (LB) is a real headline grabber on and off the field. Don’t bother watching for his girlfriend though, you won’t be able to spot her.

Key Question: Can the offensive line provide Rivers with the time and space eh needs to get back to being the great QB he once was?

2013 Prediction: 8-8

Check back tomorrow for Part II