1. New England

Coach: Bill Belichick, 17th year (187-69)

Last year: 12-4, 1st place, AFC East (lost AFC Championship)

Outlook: The Patriots should still get to at least 10 wins, even without Tom Brady for the first four games. But this year presents new obstacles for Belichick and Co., between Brady’s suspension, a still-unsettled offensive line, and injury worries with Dion Lewis and Julian Edelman.

The Big Question: Can the Patriots muster up enough of that good, old-fashioned New England mental toughness? They’ve got the best roster in the NFL, but they’ll need to conquer several daunting outside forces to get back to the Super Bowl.

STARTING OFFENSESTARTING DEFENSE

QB T. Brady/J. Garoppolo DE R. Ninkovich/C. Long

RB LeGarrette Blount DT Alan Branch

FB James Develin DT Malcom Brown

WR Julian Edelman DE Jabaal Sheard

WR Chris Hogan OLB Jamie Collins

TE Rob Gronkowski MLB Shea McClellin

LT Nate Solder OLB Dont’a Hightower

LG Joe Thuney CB Malcolm Butler

C David Andrews CB Logan Ryan

RG Josh Kline SS Patrick Chung

RT Marcus Cannon FS Devin McCourty

2. Miami

Coach: Adam Gase, 1st year

Last year: 6-10, 4th place, AFC East (missed playoffs)

Outlook: Acknowledging up front that the Dolphins are annual disappointments, they’ve put some great young weapons around Ryan Tannehill, invested a ton into the offensive line, and have a stout defensive line. If Gase can coach, the Dolphins could be dangerous.

The Big Question: Can Gase get Tannehill to be more consistent? Tannehill shows flashes of greatness, but they are too few and far between. Tannehill is now on his third offensive system in five years — is it finally the right fit?

STARTING OFFENSESTARTING DEFENSE

QB Ryan Tannehill DE Cameron Wake

RB Arian Foster DT Earl Mitchell

RB Jay Ajayi DT Ndamukong Suh

WR Jarvis Landry DE Mario Williams

WR Kenny Stills OLB Jelani Jenkins

TE Jordan Cameron MLB Kiko Alonso

LT Branden Albert OLB Koa Misi

LG Laremy Tunsil CB Byron Maxwell

C Mike Pouncey CB Tony Lippett

RG Jermon Bushrod FS Isa Abdul-Quddus

RT Ja’wuan James SS Reshad Jones

3. NY Jets

Coach: Todd Bowles, 2d year (10-6) 

Last year: 10-6, 2d place, AFC East (missed playoffs)

Outlook: The Jets basically return the same crew from last season, with newcomer Matt Forte joining Brandon Marshall and Eric Decker as the top weapons. The Jets’ season will come down to the play of Ryan Fitzpatrick. Anyone expect him to replicate 31 TDs against 15 INTs? Nope.

The Big Question: How much does Darrelle Revis have left? Though he did have an eye-opening five interceptions and four fumble recoveries last season, Revis had a tough time with the league’s younger, quicker receivers. Now at 31, can the man still be his own island?

STARTING OFFENSESTARTING DEFENSE

QB Ryan Fitzpatrick DE Leonard Williams

RB Matt Forte DT Muhammad Wilkerson

RB Bilal Powell DT Steve McLendon

WR Brandon Marshall DE Sheldon Richardson

WR Eric Decker OLB Lorenzo Mauldin

TE Kellen Davis MLB Darron Lee

LT Ryan Clady OLB David Harris

LG James Carpenter CB Darrelle Revis

C Nick Mangold CB Buster Skrine

RG Brian Winters FS Marcus Gilchrist

RT Ben Ijalana SS Calvin Pryor

4. Buffalo

Coach: Rex Ryan, 2d year (8-8)

Last year: 8-8, 3d place, AFC East (missed playoffs)

Outlook: The Bills have speed on offense with Tyrod Taylor, Sammy Watkins, LeSean McCoy and now Reggie Bush. And we know Rex will get after it with blitzes. But the front seven depth is shaky, they didn’t do much to replace Mario Williams, and we’re not sold on Taylor.

The Big Questions: Can Taylor develop into a winning quarterback? He had a great statistical season in 2015 — 20 TDs , 6 INTs and a 63.7 completion percentage in 14 games, plus 568 rushing yards. But he needs to rely less on his feet and more on his pocket passing.

STARTING OFFENSESTARTING DEFENSE

QB Tyrod Taylor DE Kyle Williams

RB LeSean McCoy DT Adolphus Washington

RB Reggie Bush DT M. Dareus/C. Bryant

WR Sammy Watkins OLB Jerry Hughes

WR Robert Woods ILB Zach Brown

TE Charles Clay ILB Preston Brown

LT Cordy Glenn OLB Lorenzo Alexander

LG Richie Incognito CB Stephon Gilmore

C Eric Wood CB Ronald Darby

RG John Miller FS Corey Graham

RT Jordan Mills SS Aaron Williams

1. Baltimore

Coach: John Harbaugh, 9th season (77-51)

Last year: 5-11, 3d place, AFC North (missed playoffs)

Outlook: The Ravens had a brutal year of injuries in 2015 and limped to the finish line. But Joe Flacco, Steve Smith and Terrell Suggs are back, and Harbaugh, who has made the playoffs in six of his eight seasons, always has his team ready to play.

The Big Question: Who are the playmakers on offense? Smith is back, but he’s 37 and coming off a torn Achilles’. Mike Wallace was signed from Minnesota, but how much does he have left at age 30?

STARTING OFFENSESTARTING DEFENSE

QB Joe Flacco DE Timmy Jernigan

RB Javorius Allen DT Brandon Williams

FB Kyle Juszczyk DE Lawrence Guy

WR Mike Wallace OLB Terrell Suggs

WR Steve Smith ILB C.J. Mosley

TE Crockett Gillmore ILB Zach Orr

LT Ronnie Stanley OLB Elvis Dumervil

LG Alex Lewis CB Jimmy Smith

C Jeremy Zuttah CB Shareece Wright

RG Marshal Yanda FS Lardarius Webb

RT Rick Wagner SS Eric Weddle

2. Cincinnati

Coach: Marvin Lewis, 14th season (112-94-2)

Last year: 12-4, 1st place, AFC North (lost in Wild-Card round)

Outlook: The Bengals have become the NFL version of “Groundhog Day.’’ They have talented playmakers on offense, a nasty veteran defense and one of the best rosters top to bottom in the NFL. And with Andy Dalton and Marvin Lewis running the team, they are destined to be one-and-done in the playoffs forever.

The Big Question: Can Dalton take the next step? He’s 0 for 5 in the playoffs, and needs to prove he can rise to the occasion in big games.

STARTING OFFENSESTARTING DEFENSE

QB Andy Dalton DE Carlos Dunlap

RB Jeremy Hill DT Domata Peko

RB Giovani Bernard DT Geno Atkins

WR A.J. Green DE Michael Johnson

WR Brandon LaFell OLB Karlos Dansby

TE Tyler Eifert MLB Rey Maualuga

LT Andrew Whitworth OLB Vontaze Burfict

LG Clint Boling CB Dre Kirkpatrick

C Russell Bodine CB Adam Jones

RG Kevin Zeitler FS George Iloka

RT Cedric Ogbuehi SS Shawn Williams

3. Pittsburgh

Coach: Mike Tomlin, 10th season (92-52)

Last year: 10-6, 2d place, AFC North (lost in divisional round)

Outlook: Ben Roethlisberger is one of the top quarterbacks in the NFL and will keep the Steelers competitive. Antonio Brown is uncoverable, and Le’Veon Bell should be great when he comes back from suspension. But the Steelers have too weak a defense to be serious contenders.

The Big Question: Will investments in the defense pay off? They have used first- or second-round picks on Cameron Heyward, Jarvis Jones, Ryan Shazier, Bud Dupree and Stephon Tuitt, but have slid down the rankings the last three years.

STARTING OFFENSESTARTING DEFENSE

QB Ben Roethlisberger DE Cameron Heyward

RB Le’Veon Bell DT Daniel McCullers

RB DeAngelo Williams DE Stephon Tuitt

WR Antonio Brown OLB Bud Dupree

WR Markus Wheaton ILB Ryan Shazier

TE Jesse James ILB Lawrence Timmons

LT Alejandro Villaneuva OLB J. Jones/J. Harrison

LG Ramon Foster CB William Gay

C Maurkice Pouncey CB Justin Gilbert

RG David DeCastro FS Mike Mitchell

RT Marcus Gilbert SS Robert Golden

4. Cleveland

Coach: Hue Jackson, 1st year

Last year: 3-13, 3d place, AFC North (missed playoffs)

Outlook: The Browns don’t even pretend to have false hope this season, taking a long-term view at their latest rebuild and collecting draft picks and saving salary cap space instead of signing pricey veterans. Jackson is a great young offensive coach, but they haven’t figured out their quarterback situation yet.

The Big Question: What does Robert Griffin III have left? The oft-injured Griffin didn’t play a snap in 2015, only played in nine games in 2014, and still has a lot to prove as a pocket passer.

STARTING OFFENSESTARTING DEFENSE

QB Robert Griffin III DE Xavier Cooper

RB Isaiah Crowell DT Danny Shelton

RB Duke Johnson DE John Hughes

WR Corey Coleman OLB Emmanuel Ogbah

WR Terrelle Pryor ILB Demario Davis

TE Gary Barnidge ILB Christian Kirksey

LT Joe Thomas OLB Nate Orchard

LG Joel Bitonio CB Joe Haden

C Cameron Erving CB Jamar Taylor

RG John Greco FS Jordan Poyer

RT Austin Pasztor SS Ibraheim Campbell

1. Indianapolis

Coach: Chuck Pagano, 5th year (41-23)

Last year: 8-8, 2d place, AFC South (missed playoffs)

Outlook: The Colts fell apart with injuries and their offensive line got Andrew Luck pummeled last season, but they still almost sneaked into the playoffs. The offensive line still isn’t great, but Luck is by far the best quarterback in a bad division.

The Big Question: Will the coaching changes work? They kept Pagano but have new coordinators and position coaches. Rob Chudzinski is the new offensive coordinator, and needs to find better ways to protect Luck and bring more balance to the offense.

STARTING OFFENSESTARTING DEFENSE

QB Andrew Luck DE Kendall Langford

RB Frank Gore DT David Parry

RB Robert Turbin DE Henry Anderson

WR T.Y. Hilton OLB Erik Walden

WR Donte Moncrief ILB D’Qwell Jackson

TE Dwayne Allen ILB Sio Moore

LT Anthony Castonzo OLB Robert Mathis

LG Jonotthan Harrison CB Vontae Davis

C Ryan Kelly CB Patrick Robinson

RG Hugh Thornton FS T.J. Green

RT Joe Reitz SS Mike Adams

2. Houston

Coach: Bill O’Brien, 3d season (18-14)

Last year: 9-7, 1st place, AFC South (lost in AFC Wild-Card)

Outlook: The Texans have retooled the offense, with Brock Osweiler now calling the shots. He is surrounded by Lamar Miller, Will Fuller and Braxton Miller along with DeAndre Hopkins. O’Brien is a good coach, but this feels like shuffling the deck chairs on the Titanic.

The Big Question: Pretty basic — is Osweiler a franchise quarterback? The Texans sure hope so after giving him $37 million and the starting job for the next two years.

STARTING OFFENSESTARTING DEFENSE

QB Brock Osweiler DE J.J. Watt

RB Lamar Miller DT Vince Wilfork

RB Alfred Blue DE Devon Still

WR DeAndre Hopkins OLB Whitney Mercilus

WR Jaelen Strong ILB Brian Cushing

TE C.J. Fiedorowicz ILB Benardrick McKinney

LT Duane Brown OLB Jadeveon Clowney

LG Xavier Su’a-Filo CB Kareem Jackson

C Greg Mancz CB Johnathan Joseph

RG Jeff Allen FS Andre Hal

RT Derek Newton SS Quintin Demps

3. Jacksonville

Coach: Gus Bradley, 4th season (12-36)

Last year: 5-11, 3d place, AFC North (missed playoffs)

Outlook: They have a promising young offense with Blake Bortles, Allen Robinson, Allen Hurns and T.J. Yeldon. But Bradley hasn’t been able to replicate the success on defense he had with the Seahawks. The Jags should be more competitive, but Bradley may not survive the year.

The Big Question: Is Bortles more than a “garbage stats’’ quarterback? Sixteen of his 35 touchdowns and 1,789 of his 4,428 yards (40 percent) came when the team was down by more than one score.

STARTING OFFENSESTARTING DEFENSE

QB Blake Bortles DE Dante Fowler

RB T.J. Yeldon DT Malik Jackson

RB Chris Ivory DT Roy Miller

WR Allen Robinson DE Jared Odrick

WR Allen Hurns OLB Telvin Smith

TE Julius Thomas MLB Myles Jack

LT Kelvin Beachum OLB Dan Skuta

LG Luke Joeckel CB Davon House

C Brandon Linder CB Jalen Ramsey

RG A.J. Cann FS Tashaun Gipson

RT Jermey Parnell SS Johnathan Cyprien

4. Tennessee

Coach: Mike Mularkey, 2d season (2-7)

Last year: 3-13, 4th place, AFC South (missed playoffs)

Outlook: The Titans are in a major rebuild and made several surprise cuts. The Titans have exciting young pieces on offense, but it comes down to the development of Marcus Mariota, who had a decent rookie year but finished with a knee injury.

The Big Question: Do the Titans have the pieces to help Mariota develop? The names are certainly intriguing — DeMarco Murray, Delanie Walker, and rookie running back Derrick Henry, who is built like a tank. They also have three first-round picks on the offensive line.

STARTING OFFENSESTARTING DEFENSE

QB Marcus Mariota DE DaQuan Jones

RB DeMarco Murray DT Al Woods

RB Derrick Henry DE Jurrell Casey

WR Rishard Matthews OLB Derrick Morgan

WR Tajae Sharpe ILB Wesley Woodyard

TE Delanie Walker ILB Avery Williamson

LT Taylor Lewan OLB Brian Orakpo

LG Quinton Spain CB Perrish Cox

C Ben Jones CB Jason McCourty

RG Chance Warmack FS Rashad Johnson

RT Jack Conklin SS Da’Norris Searcy

1. Kansas City

Coach: Andy Reid, 4th year (48-31)

Last year: 11-5, 2d place, AFC West (lost in divisional round)

Outlook: The Chiefs return pretty much every key piece from an offense that finished ninth in points scored and a defense that ranked third in points allowed. Not having Justin Houston for the first half of the season will hurt, but the Chiefs are a well-coached team who will take advantage of a Super Bowl hangover in Denver.

The Big Question: Can Alex Smith lead the Chiefs to the Super Bowl? He was steady last year, throwing just seven INTs and leading the Chiefs to an 11-5 record.

STARTING OFFENSESTARTING DEFENSE

QB Alex Smith DE Jaye Howard

RB Jamaal Charles DT Dontari Poe

RB Charcandrick West DE Allen Bailey

WR Jeremy Maclin OLB Dee Ford

WR Albert Wilson ILB Derrick Johnson

TE Travis Kelce ILB Ramik Wilson

LT Eric Fisher OLB Tamba Hali

LG Parker Ehinger CB Marcus Peters

C Mitch Morse CB Steven Nelson

RG Laurent Duvernay-Tardif FS Ron Parker

RT Mitchell Schwartz SS Eric Berry

2. Oakland

Coach: Jack Del Rio, 2d year (7-9)

Last year: 7-9, 3d place, AFC West (missed playoffs)

Outlook: The Raiders were feisty last season, and are this year’s sexy sleeper team with Derek Carr coming off a fantastic second NFL season. Carr and Amari Cooper have another year together, and the Raiders fortified their defense with Bruce Irvin, Sean Smith and Reggie Nelson. There’s a lot to like in Oakland.

The Big Question: Does any team have a better young trio than Carr, Cooper and Khalil Mack? Mack had 15 sacks, including five in one game. This is a big jump year for the Raiders.

STARTING OFFENSESTARTING DEFENSE

QB Derek Carr DE Mario Edwards

RB Latavius Murray DT Jihad Ward

FB Marcel Reece DT Justin Ellis

WR Amari Cooper DE Khalil Mack

WR Michael Crabtree OLB Bruce Irvin

TE Lee Smith MLB Ben Heeney

LT Donald Penn OLB Malcolm Smith

LG Kelechi Osemele CB David Amerson

C Rodney Hudson CB Sean Smith

RG Gabe Jackson FS Reggie Nelson

RT Menelik Watson SS Karl Joseph

3. Denver

Coach: Gary Kubiak, 2d year (12-4)

Last year: 12-4, first place, AFC West (won Super Bowl)

Outlook: The champs won on the strength of their defense last year, and most of the big names return (particularly that Von Miller guy). But Peyton Manning’s role as game manager and on-field coach shouldn’t be understated. We think the Broncos will have a little Super Bowl hangover.

The Big Question: Did the Broncos pick the right QB? They let Brock Osweiler walk out the door and instead traded up to the 26th pick in the draft to take Paxton Lynch. Trevor Siemian will start the season.

STARTING OFFENSESTARTING DEFENSE

QB Trevor Siemian DE Derek Wolfe

RB C.J. Anderson DT Sylvester Williams

RB Devontae Booker DE Jared Crick

WR Demaryius Thomas OLB Von Miller

WR Emmanuel Sanders ILB Brandon Marshall

TE Virgil Green ILB Todd Davis

LT Russell Okung OLB DeMarcus Ware

LG Max Garcia CB Aqib Talib

C Matt Paradis CB Chris Harris

RG Ty Sambrailo FS Darian Stewart

RT Donald Stephenson SS T.J. Ward

4. San Diego

Coach: Mike McCoy, 4th season (22-26)

Last year: 4-12, 4th place, AFC West (missed playoffs)

Outlook: The Chargers will get budding star receiver Keenan Allen back from injury, and they did add a deep threat in Travis Benjamin, but otherwise they did little to improve a decidedly average team that plays in the toughest division in the NFL.

The Big Question: Can the Chargers eliminate the distractions? The team is having trouble securing a new stadium in San Diego, is openly flirting with Los Angeles, and this season could easily devolve into a “Cleveland Browns in 1995’’ situation if the Chargers get off to a slow start.

STARTING OFFENSESTARTING DEFENSE

QB Philip Rivers DE Joey Bosa

RB Melvin Gordon DT Brandon Mebane

RB Danny Woodhead DE Corey Liuget

WR Keenan Allen OLB Melvin Ingram

WR Travis Benjamin ILB Manti Te’o

TE Antonio Gates ILB Denzel Perryman

LT King Dunlap OLB Jerry Attaochu

LG Orlando Franklin CB Brandon Flowers

C Matt Slauson CB Jason Verrett

RG DJ. Fluker FS Dwight Lowery

RT Joe Barksdale SS Jahleel Addae