The 2006 season kicks off this Thursday with the Steelers playing the Dolphins. There have been a lot of changes this year with lots of new coaches and starting quarterbacks on different teams. Here is a list of the new coaches this year:

• Jets: Eric Mangini replaces Herm Edwards
• Bills: Dick Jauron replaces Mike Mularkey
• Texans: Gary Kubiak replaces Dom Capers
• Chiefs: Herm Edwards replaces Dick Vermeil
• Raiders: Art Shell replaces Norv Turner
• Saints: Sean Payton replaces Mike Haslett
• Vikings: Brad Childress replaces Mike Tice
• Packers: Mike McCarthy replaces Mike Sherman
• Lions: Rod Marinelli replaces Steve Mariucci
• Rams: Scott Linehan replaces Mike Martz

That is 10 teams with coaching changes this year. It usually takes a while for coaches to fully implement their systems and get the roster turned over with their players. In the first year with a new coach, most teams have pretty poor records with some large improvements in the second year (there are 2nd year coaches in Cleveland, Miami, and San Francisco).

48 of the 102 quarterbacks on NFL rosters last year have either retired or switched teams. At least nine teams will have different starting quarterbacks this year than last year. Here is a list of the new starting QB’s this year:

• Jets: Chad Pennington (injured last year)
• Dolphins: Daunte Culpepper replaces Gus Frerotte
• Titans: Kerry Collins or Vince Young replace Steve McNair
• Ravens: Steve McNair replaces Kyle Boller
• Chargers: Philip Rivers replaces Drew Brees
• Raiders: Aaron Brooks replaces Kerry Collins
• Saints: Drew Brees replaces Aaron Brooks
• Vikings: Brad Johnson replaces Daunte Culpepper
• Lions: Jon Kitna replaces Jeff Garcia / Joey Harrington

Between 10 coaching changes and 8 new starting quarterbacks, there is a lot of change for this year. He is my prediction of each team’s final position this year:

AFC East

1. Patriots (11-5)
2. Dolphins (10-6)
3. Jets (7-9)
4. Bills (5-11)

AFC North

1. Bengals (12-4)
2. Steelers (9-7)
3. Browns (9-7)
4. Ravens (5-11)

AFC South

1. Jaguars (11-5)
2. Colts (10-6)
3. Titans (9-7)
4. Texans (4-12)

AFC West

1. Chargers (10-6)
2. Broncos (8-8)
3. Chiefs (6-10)
4. Raiders (3-13)

NFC East

1. Cowboys (10-6)
2. Giants (10-6)
3. Eagles (8-8)
4. Redskins (7-9)

NFC South

1. Falcons (10-6)
2. Panthers (9-7)
3. Buccaneers (7-9)
4. Saints (5-11)

NFC North

1. Bears (9-7)
2. Vikings (8-8)
3. Lions (7-9)
4. Packers (5-11)

NFC West

1. Cardinals (10-6)
2. Seahawks (10-6)
3. Rams (7-9)
4. 49ers (5-11)

AFC Playoffs

1. Bengals
2. Patriots
3. Jaguars
4. Chargers
5. Dolphins
6. Colts

NFC Playoffs

1. Falcons
2. Cowboys
3. Cardinals
4. Bears
5. Seahawks
6. Giants

Super Bowl:

Patriots over the Cowboys!