Predicting Every Division Winner, Wild Card Team, and Champion In The NFL

With the 2010 NFL season set to kick off tonight with the defending Super Bowl champion Saints hosting Brett Favre and the Vikings, it's time for some season predictions.

There could be some major turnovers in the league this season concerning teams heading to the playoffs.

How do I think everything will shape up? Find out here with my picks for each division winner, wild card team, and Super Bowl XLV champion.

AFC East: New York Jets

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EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ - AUGUST 27: Mark Sanchez #6 of the New York Jets in action against the Washington Redskins during their preseason game on August 27, 2010 at the New Meadowlands Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Imag

Yes, they are basically everyone's hot pick this season, and yes I write about the Jets. But, that's not the only reason I pick them to win the AFC East, a division that includes Tom Brady.

The Jets are just a team with outstanding talent and potential. At this time of year, before a game has been played, potential is what it's all about. Many teams could fizzle out or surprise, but it's a crapshoot.

The Jets are loaded with guys who can make plays on both sides of the ball. Now with Darrelle Revis back, the defense should be tops for another season.

Offensively, they probably won't be anywhere near explosive. Second-year quarterback Mark Sanchez has a lot to prove, and will be handed more responsibility with the personnel the Jets brought in on offense.

By bringing in Santonio Holmes, and by re-signing Braylon Edwards, the Jets are showing they'd like to pass a little more. But, even so, they have talented receivers.

Running back LaDainian Tomlinson looked fresh in the preseason and Shonn Greene emerged as a threat from the backfield in last season's playoffs.

Defensively, they're loaded. Tagged with Revis is Antonio Cromartie, so the Jets should have a better chance at sacking the quarterback.

The question is, can Jason Taylor step in admirably for the injured Calvin Pace? We'll see, but this team has great expectations, and a great defense to back it up.

Projected record: 12-4

AFC North: Cincinnati Bengals

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CINCINNATI - AUGUST 20: Chad Ochocinco #85 of the Cincinnati Bengals is pictured before the NFL preseason game against the Philadelphia Eagles at Paul Brown Stadium on August 20, 2010 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)

Last season, the Bengals stunned everyone to win the AFC North by going 10-6. Carson Palmer had a pretty good season, with Chad Ochocinco to throw to and Cedric Benson to hand off to.

This offseason, the Bengals brought in Terrell Owens to tag up with Ochocinco, although what Owens has left is questionable.

But with the weapons Palmer has and a defense that finished fourth last season in yards per game allowed, the Bengals should be able to win the division again.

It's really one of the more stronger divisions in football with the Ravens and Steelers being strong competition.

The Bengals went 6-0 in the AFC North last season, so they have already proven they can win big games against the teams that matter.

Projected record: 11-5

AFC South: Indianapolis Colts

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GREEN BAY, WI - AUGUST 26: Peyton Manning #18 of the Indianapolis Colts throws a pass against the Green Bay Packers during a preseason game at Lambeau Field on August 26, 2010 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. The Packers defeated the Colts 59-24. (Photo by Jonath

Who else would win the AFC South other than the Colts? There are the Houston Texans, who are getting better by the season, but they aren't yet on the level of Peyton Manning and Indianapolis.

The Colts have the best offense in the AFC. At running back, Joseph Addai is a strong carrier from the backfield.

The biggest strength of the offense is the passing game, which can just tear defenses apart. It was evidenced by the way Manning played in the AFC Championship game against the Jets and their top ranked defense.

They have an amazing collection of receivers like Dallas Clark, Austin Collie, Pierre Garcon, and Reggie Wayne. Garcon came on last season in his first season as a starter to become an elite receiver, just adding to the collection of guys that make Peyton Manning unstoppable.

The Colts also have a good defense, and overall are the most rounded out team in the division. They should cruise to another title.

Projected record: 13-3

AFC West: San Diego Chargers

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NEW ORLEANS - AUGUST 27: Philip Rivers #17 of the San Diego Chargers in action against the New Orleans Saints at the Louisiana Superdome on August 27, 2010 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)

Many people are not going with the Chargers this season in the AFC West. They're picking the Oakland Raiders or even the Kansas City Chiefs. I just don't see any team unseeding the Chargers.

They may not be a good playoff team, but they still have the best quarterback in the division, Philip Rivers, and that's what it comes down to.

Malcolm Floyd and Vincent Jackson are a great duo for Rivers to pass to, and Darren Sproles has become a lethal running back. They did lose corner back Antonio Cromartie to trade, but they still have Quentin Jammer to try to stop opponents passing games.

Besides the Chargers in the AFC West, it's hard to imagine any other team finishing better than .500. They may not go far in the playoffs, but they should easily win their division.

Projected record: 10-6

NFC East: Dallas Cowboys

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HOUSTON - AUGUST 28: Quarterback Tony Romo #9 of the Dallas Cowboys calls out a play at the line of scrimmage during a football game against the Houston Texans at Reliant Stadium on August 28, 2010 in Houston, Texas. Houston won 23-7. (Photo by Bob Levey/

There has been some change in the NFC East. Donovan McNabb is no longer with the Eagles, but now with the Redskins. The Giants are all banged up and don't have a strong defense.

Therefore, the Dallas Cowboys are the favorites to win this division. Tony Romo and company finally won a playoff game last season, and should go even further this season.

Just like the Colts in the AFC, the Cowboys have one of the stronger passing games in the NFC. Jason Witten and Miles Austin are a fearsome duo who combined to catch for over 2,300 yards last season.

Marion Barber and Felix Jones form their own fearsome tag team in the backfield, giving Romo a plethora of options to run his offense.

Defensively, the Cowboys are set at corner back with Mike Jenkins and Terence Newman, who intercepted three passes and recorded 52 tackles last season. Keith Brooking leads the linebacker core, part of a good Cowboys defense.

Dallas has everything on both sides of the ball to be a great team this season.

Projected record: 11-5

NFC North: Minnesota Vikings

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MINNEAPOLIS - AUGUST 28: Brett Favre #4 of the Minnesota Vikings looks to pass against the Seattle Seahawks during a preseason NFL game at Mall of America Field at the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome on August 28, 2010 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by

So, the soon-to-be 41-year-old quarterback has returned, and so has the level of the Vikings greatness. Brett Favre arguably had the best season of his illustrious career in 2009, and if his ankle holds up, should be in for another great seasonwith some question, that is.

He will be without receiver Sidney Rice for at least half the season, as he underwent hip surgery, an injury he suffered in the NFC Championship Game. The Vikings still have receivers Bernard Berrian and Greg Camarillo, and should at least have some success, although not as much.

If Favre has trouble in the passing game, he still has Adrian Peterson to hand the ball to. Favre's success will also depend on how much his offensive line can protect him, but he should be able to have enough time to throw the ball downfield, although you wouldn't know it with his interception in last season's NFC Championship Game.

The Vikings also have a good defense, and should be able to hold off the Packers for the division title.

Projected record: 11-5

NFC South: New Orleans Saints

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NEW ORLEANS - AUGUST 27: Drew Brees #9 of the New Orleans Saints in action against the San Diego Chargers at the Louisiana Superdome on August 27, 2010 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)

The defending Super Bowl champion New Orleans Saints should have another great season, as their entire offense has returned in 2010.

One thing that's going to hurt the Saints is losing safety Darren Sharper for the first six weeks of the season. He underwent micro-fracture surgery on his left knee in the offseason, and was placed on the PUP list. 

The offense though, is the best there is in the NFC. Brees has a bunch of receivers to pass to like Marques Colston, Devery Henderson, Robert Meachem, and Lance Moore, although Moore has been injury prone over the last couple of seasons.

In the backfield, Pierre Thomas and Reggie Bush will carry the ball, and help expand the Saints offensive play-calling.

The defense isn't great, as the Saints played some high-scoring games last season, but they have more than enough offense to win any shootout they get into, with an example of that being the NFC Championship Game.

They're not my pick to the win the Super Bowl again this season, but they'll get deep into the playoffs.

Projected record: 13-3

NFC West: San Francisco 49ers

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OAKLAND, CA - AUGUST 28: Alex Smith #11 of the San Francisco 49ers passes against the Oakland Raiders during an NFL preseason game at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum on August 28, 2010 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images)

The San Francisco 49ers are the hot pick of the 2010 NFL season, as many including myself pick them to win the NFC West.

One of the big reasons is because of the play of linebacker Patrick Willis. He's my pick to win Defensive Player of Year, and he's in the center of a great 49ers defense.

In the backfield, Frank Gore is Alex Smith's main back. He rushed for over 1,000 yards last season for a fourth straight season, and gives the 49ers a respectable offensive presence for the less-than-stellar quarterback Alex Smith.

As for Smith's receiving targets, Vernon Davis broke out for a career season in 2009, nearly going for 1,000 yards. Michael Crabtree is an emerging star in his second season, and the 49ers acquired Ted Ginn Jr. from the Dolphins.

In a division that has a fading Cardinals team, and two bad Seahawks and Rams teams, the 49ers should get back to the playoffs for the first time since 2002.

Projected record: 10-6

AFC and NFC Wild Card Teams

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NEW ORLEANS - AUGUST 21: Matt Schaub #8 of the Houston Texans in action during the game against the New Orleans Saints at the Louisiana Superdome on August 21, 2010 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)

Here are my picks for the four teams who will win the Wild Card spots in the AFC and NFC, along with my Super Bowl XLV champion:

AFC:

Baltimore Ravens (North)

Houston Texans (South)

NFC:

Green Bay Packers (North)

Atlanta Falcons (South)

Super Bowl XLV Champion:

Dallas Cowboys defeat New York Jets