Crystal Ball: A Look at the 2009 NFL Season

The 2009 season of NFL football looks to be an interesting one. It sees 11 head-coaching changes (many of them new to the job), the Cutler Diva Drama, holdouts, the return of Tom Terrific and the possible returns of Vick and Favre.

With all of these variables, and with roster cuts far in the future, predictions right now are a little premature. But its fun, and, if I happen to be right at the end of the season, I can look back and say, "Wow, I called that in June!"

We'll start with the NFC.

NFC West

This is a difficult division to call, because there are three new head coaches in the division (well, Singletary was interim last year, but...) Here are my picks:

1. Arizona: I'm giving the division to the Cards because, despite the Super Bowl hangover, they are (right now) the most stable team with the least likelihood of some kind of roster shake-up.
2. Seattle: Experience and maturity keeps the Seahawks in the mix in this soft division, but that maturity could bring them down if the injury bug bites.
3. San Francisco: They could possibly take the division or they could lose every game. The 9ers are in a state of flux, because they don't have their starting QB named, and they're still looking at getting him offensive weapons. If it were August, this would be a problem—good thing for them it's June.
4. St. Louis: After a dismal season, the Rams have made a coaching change and some cuts and trades. I wouldn't look for them to be Super Bowl champs this year, but I would call this year a "rebuilding" one. They look like they're making all the right steps, so it should be an interesting year for the Rams.

NFC South

1. Atlanta Falcons: I like the Falcons because I feel like they have a lot of young talent, good coaching and went through a post-Vick karmic rebirth last season. They are not the Falcons they were under Vick, and even though it's a tough division. I think the Falcons will come out on top.
2. New Orleans: If they can get the defense to match that high-powered offense and no one gets hurt, the Saints should be a force to be reckoned with. Again, the division is going to be a tough one for any team to outright win.
   
3. Carolina: The Panthers are coming off a decent NFL season, but they have to find balance in their offense. They have great running offense and okay passing, but the defense will be the key here. Peppers is unhappy, which causes distractions and may end up causing a trade, which would be very bad for Carolina.
4. Tampa Bay: I do not have an irrational hatred for all things Tampa Bay, I promise (I still hate the Rays and their cowbells, but I'm neutral on the Bucs). What's the reason why Tampa Bay is down here? It's a tough division, the teams are pretty equal in talent and because of the coaching change.
   

NFC North

I'm not even going to try ranking these teams. A Chicago Bears with Cutler could take the division. A Minnesota Vikings with Vick in the Wildcat and Jackson under center could take the division. A Vikings with Favre under center could take the division. And the Green Bay Packers with Rodgers are still a force to be reckoned with and they could take the division.

The only thing I feel comfortable picking for the NFC North is this: the Detroit Lions will not win the division.

NFC East

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