The NFL's Best & Worst of 2009

The 2009 NFL season is coming up. Every year, we expect the same teams to appear at the top and at the bottom, and everyone ends up being dead wrong.

It gets to the point that predictions are utterly pointless I've decided not to go with my initial instincts this year, throwing in a few surprises in my top five best and worst teams for 2009.

Let the bashing begin!

1.) New England Patriots

Tom Brady says he feels great. I'm not sure most people understand the magnitude of this.

Tom Brady is healthy.

Just two years ago, the New England Patriots, despite losing in the Superbowl, set several records. Brady threw 50 touchdown passes. Moss caught 23 of them.

And they beat the 1999 Minnesota Vikings record for most points in a season.

Running back Laurence Maroney is healthy again. Expect the Patriots to run the ball more this year, which will only open up Brady's weapons more.

As for the defense, linebacker Jerod Mayo, a standout rookie in 2008, has another year under his belt. They picked up cornerback Shawn Springs who was released by the Redskins.

He's old, but he still dominated when he played last season.

2.) Pittsburgh Steelers

Honestly, I only have the Steelers second because I expect the Colts, Giants, and Titans to be worse than in 2008.

Yes, the Steelers won the Superbowl, but, the truth is, so many AFC teams were disappointments last year.

I had initially predicted the Steelers go 8-8. Why? They played the NFC East, AFC South, the Chargers, and the Patriots.

The Cowboys, Jaguars, Chargers, Patriots, and Colts (in the beginning), all slumped for one reason or another.

Still a fantastic defense, however. Plus running back Rashard Mendenhall is back.

3.) Philadelphia Eagles

I expect Donovan McNabb to have one of his best, if not his best, season in 2009.

With two offseason offensive line additions and draft picks Jeremy Maclin and LeSean McCoy, this offense should be superb.

After all, they had the ninth best offense in 2008 as it is.

Wideout DeSean Jackson had a very good rookie season, so may emerge as the Eagles' first receiver. Kevin Curtis makes a pretty good second, and Jeremy Maclin should see plenty of balls in the third spot.

With a better passing game, Westbrook should improve over last year's numbers, which weren't impressive relative to 2007.

The only elephant in the room is defensive coordinator Jim Johnson, who took leave to make an effort to recover from cancer.

Johnson is known for his complex blitzes and aggressive play-calling. And, head coach Andy Reid's son is once again in prison, which may be somewhat of a distraction for Reid.

4.) Atlanta Falcons

Most would call this a little silly, but hear me out. First off, I'm not a Falcons fan.

Quarterback Matt Ryan had a stellar rookie season. He still has running back Michael Turner lining up behind him, and I really don't see a sophomore slump for Ryan, especially with the addition of tight end Tony Gonzalez.

They might not have the fourth best record, because, well, the NFC is, I think, going to be much better than the AFC in 2009 (meaning a good AFC team can rack up many more wins).

However, I think they will emerge as the fourth best team.

5.) Green Bay Packers

Whoa! No he didn't!

Nor am I a Green Bay fan, by the way.

I actually was one of those people who thought Green Bay was overrated in 2007. I don't think they are now, though.

Aaron Rodgers threw for over four thousand yards in his first year starting. Very impressive. This was with running back Ryan Grant plagued by injuries all season.

They drafted big man B.J. Raji and linebacker Clay Matthews in the first round. These are great additions to a defense that had injuries all over the place last year.

Their defense will be much better, and so will Rodgers.

I expect Greg Jennings, now entering his fourth year in the NFL, to perhaps have the best numbers of any receiver in 2009.

And now for the bottom five...

32.) St. Louis Rams

This is a relatively easy pick for me.

First, they have a new head coach. I understand how great of a defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo is being a Redskins fan, but when a man inherits an already awful team, you have to wonder whether a rookie head coach is really going to improve things right away.

They lost future Hall-of-Famer Orlando Pace. Sure, they drafted Jason Smith with the second overall pick, but the offensive line will no doubt be less impressive in 2009.

Then there's Marc Bulger, who seems to be moving towards the end of his career, especially with the loss of Torry Holt to the Jacksonville Jaguars.

31.) Cleveland Browns

And here I thought the Browns would take the AFC North last year. Oh, and I also thought Braylon Edwards would have the best numbers of any receiver last year. Pssshh!

This team sucks. Really.

And so does Braylon Edwards. His numbers in 2007 were so, so good! But his hands are pathetic!

Derek Anderson could barely maintain a 50% completion percentage in 2008, and Brady Quinn doesn't have the experience to carry a team.

Fantastic tight end Kellen Winslow, Jr. is gone, too.

Then there's the new coaching situation. I don't even like Eric Mangini very much.

Sorry to bash so much, but—Bleh.

30.) Tampa Bay Buccaneers

I don't really know what to think about this team. I'm just glad John Gruden is gone, because he was so obsessed with taking in old quarterbacks.

What's the quarterback situation now? Rookie McCown vs. Leftwich? I think that says it right there.

Then there's their rookie head coach Raheem Morris.

I don't know. I just don't see much light for this team.

29.) Kansas City Chiefs

I want the Chiefs to be good; I really do. But, I just can't let them be.

First of all, I'm not a Matt Cassel fan. I think he's going to be this year's Derek Anderson, who had a stellar season one year and then jumped off a cliff the next.

For one, I think the Patriots have a plug-in-whoever-you-want system, similar to what the Denver Broncos have with running backs.

He hadn't started since high school, and he was at one point a third string quarterback at USC. Now he joins a team that is far too young, has a diminishing running back in Larry Johnson, and lost tight end Tony Gonzalez to the Falcons? C'mon.

I don't think so.

28.) Detroit Lions

I wish I could put the Lions higher. The fans have been through far too much since, well, forever.

They've made ample good offseason aquisitions, so I just can't put them at the bottom of the league. However, their offensive line will be average at best, and their running game I think is still in question.

I'm tempted to put the Raiders here or perhaps the Jaguars.