Super Bowl: Patriots over Giants
Tom Brady and his Pats get revenge on the G-Men this year.
NFC East winners: Giants - Yeah, they don't have Plax, but I'm expecting to see Nicks fall into that No. 2 role nicely and quickly become a favorite target for Eli. Defensively, that front seven is healthy and nasty. It'll come down between the blue men from Jersey and the Eagles, but I think the Giants will take it.
NFC West winners: Seahawks - This division might be the second worst in football. The 'hawks get their QB back, and defensively I think this team can compete. The Cardinals will give these guys hell, but Hasselbeck and The Housh are the X-Factors here. 8-8 may be good enough win this division again.
NFC South winners: Saints - I don't care how bad that defense is because there isn't a defense in the league that should hold Drew Brees and his Saints under 21 points. His receivers are young, his running game found its identity late last year and I expect the Saints to roll to 10 wins.
NFC North Winners: Packers - Sleeper pick for MVP: Aaron Rodgers. Most people were too busy watching Favre over on the East Coast to witness Rodgers sucessfully handle No. 4's torch in Green Bay. He has an incredible wideout group here and there is leadership among the young receivers in Donald Driver. The 3-4 scheme the defense switched to can't be any worse than how this defense performed last year. I'm expecting 12 - yes, 12 - wins from the Cheesemen.
Wildcards: Eagles, Vikings - It's no seceret, I'm an Eagles fan. But they can't keep up with the Giants with their God-awful lnebacking corps and all-about-me offensive line. McNabb should have a hell of a year (4,000 yards, 32 TD's, 12 INT. You heard it here first), but Westbrook will probably miss about five games as usual. For Minnesoata, I had this team here before Favre. He will not be the savior of this team, but he will make them better. It's the defense I like up in the Twin Cities. The Williams Wall manhandles any running attack it plays and the secondary is above average. And, of course, All-Day Adrian Peterson will be the best player in the NFL this year. That should help this team's chances.
AFC East winners: Patriots - The Pats won 11 games last year with a nobody at QB. People want put Cassel on a throne, but I think his success had more to do with Belichick being the best coach in the league. Brady's healthy, and this team is livid it missed the playoffs despite winning 11 games last year. Remember what happened the last time New England had a little extra motivation? (See: Spygate, 16-0).
AFC West winners: Chargers - This is the worst divison in football, and that should help a Chargers team that really doesn't need a helping hand to be successful. I really think L.T. gets his head together and puts up another MVP-worthy season. Phillip Rivers has turned himself into a franchise QB out there on the West Coast and the defense has talent at nearly every position. The only thing holding back San Diego this year is Shawn Merriman running around beating women and their terrible head coach in Norv Turner.
AFC South winners: Colts - Does it really matter who the head coach is when Payton Manning is your QB? He's still the best in the NFL and his receiving corps is solid. The run game could use some work here, however. Still, this is a team that knows how to win. I'm thinking 11 wins.
AFC North Winners: Steelers - The Ravens will give my least-favorite team a run for their money, but Pittsburgh is just old reliable. The offensive line is a little better than last year, Fast Willie is healthy and Big Ben continues to be the best game pacer in the league. Santonio Holmes should really breakout this year if the Super Bowl was any sort of precursor. The defense is still wicked, as always, and Timmons' speed will give offenive coordinators another headache.
Wildcards: Ravens, Jets (Yes, Jets) - Uh oh, AFC - the Ravens have an offense now. Flacco became a true franchise player in the last half of last season. The plethora of running backs in Baltimore should keep oppoisng defenses gassed and keep the Ravens D resting on the sideline. And how 'bout that Ravens D? Ray Lewis is back and Ed Reed is still the best defnesive player in the game. Enjoy, Ravens' opponents. The Jets are my sleeper pick here. Mark Sanchez will be a Top-10 quarterback in the NFL by seasons end, I'm calling that now. Shonn Green, Tommy Jones and Lil' Leon Washington make that backfield one of the best in the AFC. Defensively, I really like the addition of Lito Sheppard. He was a Pro Bowler in Philly before falling into Reid's dog house. I'm calling 10 wins for the Jets.
MVP: Adrian Peterson
Enjoy ripping me to shreds come January.
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