Opening drive: Five AFC teams can’t afford a stumbling start

Before Week 1, every NFL team is a contender. On Tuesday, half the league will be scrambling after a loss.
Getting out to a fast start is critical, especially in football jersey
the tough AFC. Five teams to watch closely early in the playoff race:
Houston Texans. They've been a sleeper team the past few years, thanks in part to wide receiver Andre Johnson(notes) headlining a prolific passing game. Sunday, they open with a critical home game against their division nemesis, the Colts—a team they have beaten only once in 16 tries.
CBS play-by-play man Jim Nantz, who said the Texans may have more riding on Week 1 than any team, believes a victory over Indianapolis would have a lasting effect. "They'll be looked at as perhaps the team to beat in the AFC South," he said.
Pittsburgh Steelers. They will be without Ben Roethlisberger(notes) for four weeks and will especially need to be up to the challenge in home games against the Falcons (Sunday) and Ravens (Oct. 3). "They're going to lean on their defense, they're going to Indianapolis Colts jersey
lean on the running game," CBS analyst and former Steelers coach Bill Cowher said. "It's not something they haven't done before."
Cincinnati Bengals. The reigning AFC North champions have a chance to make a big statement Sunday at New England. The Bengals will try to show they were for real last season, and that they are improved this season. "They feel like this is their year," ESPN analyst and former Broncos linebacker Tom Jackson said.
New York Jets. Now that they've done the talking, they have to try to live up to expectations. And they start with two teams that don't like them—Ray Lewis'(notes) Ravens and Tom Brady's(notes) Patriots. "They put a lot of pressure on themselves," Hall of Fame quarterback and CBS analyst Dan Marino said.
San Diego Chargers. It's time to shake the habit of Dallas Cowboys jersey
stumbling out of the gate. With a favorable schedule, they must prove they can shine without two holdouts: wide receiver Vincent Jackson(notes) and left tackle Marcus McNeill(notes). "They need to show, 'We can still be a dominant offense,' " ESPN analyst and former NFL quarterback Trent Dilfer(notes) said.