2009 NFL Season Predictions

None of these will be right:
AFC East
1. New England 11-5 (It's Brady's Bunch again - to cover for a weaker defense)
2. New York Jets 9-7 (Rex Ryan's defense gives Mark Sanchez room to grow)
3. Miami 7-9 (More people are running the Wildcat)
4. Buffalo 6-10 (Terrell Owens is already complaining about the offense)

AFC South
1. Indianapolis 11-5 (A rebound year - if that's possible - for Peyton Manning)
2. Tennessee 9-7 (The Titans' margin for error is too small)
3. Houston 9-7 (Receiver Andre Johnson is the best player no one knows about)
4. Jacksonville 5-11 (The crowds won't be the only thing missing in North Florida)

AFC North
1. Pittsburgh 11-5 (Running game rebounds for defending champions)
2. Baltimore 11-5 (Sophomore jinx won't catch Joe Flacco)
3. Cincinnati 6-10 (When is Marvin Lewis' contract up?)
4. Cleveland 5-11 (Eric Mangini was not a good hire)

AFC West
1. San Diego 12-4 (Time for Chargers to back up their talk)
2. Denver 7-9 (How about that offseason?)
3. Oakland 4-12 (Raiders actually played hard at the end of '08)
4. Kansas City 3-13 (Talent base is thin)

Wild Cards: New York Jets, Baltimore. AFC Champion: New England.

NFC East
1. Philadelphia 12-4 (Michael Vick comes up with three or four plays to make a difference)
2. New York Giants 10-6 (For a Super Bowl-winning quarterback, Eli Manning needs to step up)
3. Dallas 10-6 (Wade Phillips is sitting on the hottest seat in the league)
4. Washington 7-9 (Division is too tough for 'Skins to move up)

NFC South
1. Carolina 10-6 (Last run for Jake Delhomme?)
2. New Orleans 9-7 (If Saints get anything out of their defense ...)
3. Atlanta 8-8 (Sophomore jinx does catch Matt Ryan)
4. Tampa Bay 3-13 (Bucs cleaned house and will pay for it in '09)

NFC North
1. Chicago 11-5 (Jay Cutler has something to prove)
2. Minnesota 11-5 (Brett Favre can't lose games for the Vikings)
3. Green Bay 9-7 (Packers are under the radar and happy to be there)
4. Detroit 2-14 (It's an improvement)

NFC West
1. Seattle 10-6 (Comeback year in the Northwest)
2. Arizona 9-7 (Can Kurt Warner last the entire season?)
3. San Francisco 7-9 (You gotta root for Mike Singletary)
4. St. Louis 2-14 (New coach, same problems)

Wild Cards: New York Giants, Minnesota. NFC Champion: Philadelphia.

Super Bowl XLIV: New England over Philadelphia.