4XLT

The glory and splendor of the National Football League’s 2008-2009 season is upon us, and the world seems to be good and well once more. So in honor of this momentous weekend, I’m posting my predictions for the season:

AFC East:

1. Patriots: As much as I hate ‘em, they’re just too good. Not good enough for a perfect season, but 1 or 2 losses, maybe.
2. Bills: A team on the rise with a solid defense.
3. Jets: Even Farve can’t make the team playoff material.
4. Dolphins: It’s going to take a few years to turn this ship around.

AFC North:

1. Browns: Crazy good options on offensive, and the defense gets beefed up. I like the Browns this year.
2. Steelers: Big Ben is a beast, but there schedule makes grown men cry.
3. Bengals: The defense is their weak link.
4. Ravens: Way too many questions on offense for the team to go anywhere.

AFC South:

1. Colts: Time tested. The division is theirs, hands down.
2. Jaguars: I’ve got a good feeling about Jacksonville, especially after their playoff run last year.
3. Texans: The Texans are on their way up, but not up enough in their division.
4. Titans: If Vince Young and Albert Haynesworth show up this season, the Titans might surprise us.

AFC West:

1. Chargers: Ubertalented and an underperforming division (God, what is up with the two West divisions?!)
2. Broncos: They’ll scrape past an 8-8 season, but the playoffs? Maybe not.
3. Raiders: Spend as much money as you want, but you can’t buy wins.
4. Chiefs: Excellent draft choices set the stage for more rebuilding.

NFC East:

1. Cowboys: Romo and T.O. make for a helluva team this year.
2. Giants: Without Strahan, the Giants will do okay. But not great.
3. Eagles: Injuries in an already tough division.
4. Redskins: It’s going to take some time for Jim Zorn to find his groove. Not this season.

NFC North:

1. Vikings: Jared Allen’s D and Peterson’s O – good combo
2. Lions: I think they’ll start slow, but finish respectably.
3. Packers: I’m rooting for Aaron Rodgers, but it will take some time to get in the swing of things.
4. Bears: Bad O, bad D, bad season

NFC South:

1. Saints: Explosive offense sets them up to win the division
2. Buccaneers: John Gruden, John Gruden, John Gruden,… and a solid defense
3. Panthers: Jake Delhomme has to stay healthy, but I’m still not sold on Carolina.
4. Falcons: Avoiding the dog fights is about the best Atlanta can do this year.

NFC West:

1. Seahawks: If Seattle recovers from their injuries, they’ve got a complete package to send Holmgren out with a ring.
2. Cardinals: Improving all the time with a good shot at the wildcards
3. 49ers: J.T. O’Sulivan might surprise some folks.
4. Rams: Tough early schedule spells the end for Scott Linehan

Super Bowl:

Seahawks v. Patriots

This year, if the Seahawks get patched up, stay healthy (ungh, it’s been nasty so far), and get the running game to keep working with the multiple backs, they have all the pieces together to make a solid run at the big game.

The Patriots are just too good not to end up at the Super Bowl again.

My alternate Super Bowl: Cowboys v. Colts