Don Pierson

Jonathan Vilma could be the man who stops the New England Patriots.

Daunte Culpepper is the Man in Minnesota.

Julius Peppers just might be the best athlete in the NFL.

Jamal Lewis is ready to break out-again.

Carson Palmer looks like he can prove something.

Those five players are ones to watch in 2005, all for the same reasons. They already have demonstrated talent and circumstances are changing. How they play this year could tip the balance in several divisions.

Vilma
Defense is king in the AFC East and the New York Jets middle linebacker was rookie of the year when the Jets came close with no cigars. Burdened with the label as the new Ray Lewis, Vilma quickly became a leader on coach Herman Edwards' improving defense.

The Jets ranked seventh on defense, the Patriots ninth, the Miami Dolphins eighth and the Buffalo Bills second, so nobody in the division is weak. But with the Patriots expected to lose leader Tedy Bruschi, Vilma is poised to step up.

In the playoffs, he got 13 tackles against the Chargers and 17 against the Steelers, catapulting him into his second season, when players traditionally make their biggest improvement.

Culpepper
Except for Peyton Manning, Culpepper's 2004 season would have been heralded as one of the all-time best with 39 touchdown passes and 11 interceptions.

But that was with Randy Moss, the game's most feared deep threat receiver. When Moss was injured, Culpepper adjusted so quickly it helped convince the Vikings there indeed could be life after Randy.

Now Culpepper must turn Nate Burleson into a threat, speed the development of rookie Troy Williamson and salvage the career of former Baltimore No. 1 pick Travis Taylor to justify the Vikings' faith in him.

Peppers
The sight of the 6-foot-6, 285-pound defensive end running back that interception 97 yards was one of the enduring images of the 2004 season, enough to scare the daylights out of offensive tackles assigned to block him, quarterbacks trying to avoid him, offensive coordinators scheming against him, and yes, defensive coordinators who hope Carolina coach John Fox doesn't get too many ideas about using him as a receiver in the red zone.

Peppers got 11 sacks without benefit of the presence of outstanding tackle Kris Jenkins, so if anybody can lead his team back to the Super Bowl single-handedly and chase down Atlanta's Michael Vick in the process, it's Peppers.

In his fourth season, Peppers is no longing feeling his way. He's about to enter his prime. At his best, there is no way to handle him.

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