I thought maybe this was the best way to talk about our favorite teams this season rather than individual threads for each team.

The Bengals' Chad Johnson officially changes his name to "Chad Javon Ocho Cinco" in Broward County, FL.

This team doesn't need any more distraction and drama. I may be biased, but I can't see the Bengals challenging the Steelers for their division title this year. The only credible threat may be the Browns. Thoughts?

The Bengals are a joke. Between Ocho Cinco and the Chris Henry return and all of the drama and arrests, this team is a mess. There was such hope for Marvin Lewis when he was hired. I don't know how much of it is his doing and how much of it is the franchise, but Lewis is in over his head.

I hear little Joey Harrington has now signed with the Ravens!

That was reported but actually didn't happen. The "sources" were wrong. Baltimore signed Todd Bouman instead. He's backing up Joe Flacco

In AFC North action this week, we have the Steelers visiting the Browns, the Bengals playing host to the Titans, and the Ravens visiting the Texans.

Steelers (1-0) vs. Browns (0-1)

The Steelers kicked off their 2008-09 campaign by thrashing the Texans. Willie Parker ran for 138 yards and 3 TDs en route to being named AFC Offensive Player of the Week. Meanwhile, S Troy Polamalu intercepted the ball for the first time in two years.

Meanwhile, the Browns had a difficult time with the Cowboys in Week 1. Their defense allowed 487 yards against the Cowboys, while QB Derek Anderson only completed 11 of 24 passes for 114 yards and 1 TD. KR Joshua Cribbs, who returned a kick for a TD against the Steelers last season, is expected to play.

Prediction : Steelers 24, Browns 7


Titans (1-0) vs. Bengals (0-1)

The Titans knocked off the Jaguars in Week 1 not with offense, but with a robust defense. They sacked Jags' QB David Garrard seven times. Their offense will be without the services of Vince Young who is out with a sprained knee and personal issues. Instead, veteran QB Kerry Collins gets the start. Collins performed admirably in Young's absence, going 2-for-2, including a screen play to TE Bo Scaife that was turned into a 44-yard gain.

The Bengals did nothing to shed their underachieving label last week against the Ravens. Their defense made an easy transition from college ball to pro ball for Ravens' rookie QB Joe Flacco. They allowed 358 yards, 229 of them on the ground. Their offense was no better, with Carson Palmer passing for only 99 yards and earning a 35.3 QB rating.

Prediction : Titans 31, Bengals 10.


Ravens (1-0) vs. Texans (0-1)

Ravens' QB Joe Flacco couldn't have had an easier NFL debut. He passed for 129 yards and rushed for a TD. The Ravens' offense also ran over the Bengals' front line, racking up 229 yards on the ground. Their defense only allowed 154 yards.

The Texans began the season with high expectations. After playing the Steelers, those expectations might need to be tapered. Their defense allowed RB Willie Parker to rush for more TDs in that game than he had all of last season. Even worse was their offense, especially their running game, which only gained 75 yards. QB Matt Schaub was intercepted twice and was sacked five times.

Prediction: Ravens 30, Texans 14.

The Ravens / Texans game has been rescheduled for Monday night, due to the effects of Hurricane Ike.

I forgot to mention this earlier but watching the Giants-Bengals game I noticed the announcers weren't buying into the whole Ocho Cinco crap. They called him Chad Johnson the entire game even though the moron legally changed his name.

And now this dope is at it again...the Bengals are 0-4 and Johnson is talking about kissing the star when the Bengals play in Dallas this week.

Brady Quinn's starting on Thursday. God help us all.

New Quarterback...same old Browns - dropped passes, penalties, crap play: Denver 34-Cleveland 30.