2009 NFL Preview: AFC Dominance

(Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images)

The 2009 NFL season will be remembered for one thing: AFC dominance.

The Lombardi Trophy currently resides in the AFC, where the Steelers are looking primed for a repeat.

The Patriots get Tom Brady back; in addition, they have made improvements to their defense -- consider them a borderline juggernaut.

San Diego, my pick last year to win the Super Bowl, gets Shawne Merriman back healthy. Add Merriman, with the fact that Philip Rivers is coming off an MVP-caliber season into year three of Norv Turner’s offense, and you have excellence.

Tennessee, the top seed in last year’s playoffs, suffered a big blow in losing Al Haynesworth, but are still a well-coached, resilient team.

And let’s not forget my beloved Ravens, who despite losing some grit on defense still have a lot of top-flight talent, as well as an emerging rookie quarterback in Joe Flacco.

Meanwhile, NFC counterparts, who have produced just one Super Bowl winner (the 2007 Giants) in the past six seasons, have a lot more questions than answers and no clear favorites.

New York's Giants might be everyone’s top team, but we all saw how hindered their offense was without Plaxico Burress and now they don’t have Derrick Ward.

Dallas and Philly have major questions.

Chicago might have gotten Jay Cutler, but he’s never even been to the playoffs with good receivers and now he’s saddled with maybe the worst corps in the league.

Green Bay and New Orleans have serious defensive issues, along with defending Conference Champ Arizona. Carolina and Minnesota have deep teams with quarterbacking problems.

All of this said, I think the Super Bowl winner will definitely be one of the AFC’s elite teams. And who might that just be? You’ll have to read the preview to find out, starting with the NFC…

East

1-Giants

2-Eagles

3-Cowboys

4-Redskins

10 points:

-The Giants need to find a solid replacement at WR. I’m not sold on Hakeem Nicks being the answer. Either way, the division is theirs for the taking.

-In two home playoff games, Eli Manning is 0-2 and the Giants have been outscored 46-11.

-Philly was my original choice as NFC Champions before Jimmy Johnson’s death, the gamut of injuries to their defense and the tread on Brian Westbrook’s tires make me worry.

-Jeremy Maclin should provide a solid target for Donovan McNabb, who’s been stuck with one of the worst receiving corps in the NFL the past two years.

-Michael Vick…why? Just…why?

-Despite getting rid of all the malignant personalities in the locker room, Dallas will miss Terrell Owens more than they think.

-I applaud Wade Phillips for taking over the defense. One of the more sound minds out there. But I’m not sold on him as a head coach.

-Their running game has the potential to be the best in the NFC if Marion Barber is healthy, but can Tony Romo play well enough without his lead weapon? I’m not sold at all on the Roy Williams-Miles Austin combo.

-Jason Campbell is the reincarnation of Kyle Boller. It kills me because I’ve always been a Campbell booster but after three years, I’m hopping off the bandwagon.

-If Mike Shanahan isn’t coaching this team, or Dallas by next year, I’ll be shocked.

North

1-Packers

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