Mark My Words: 10 Predictions for the 2009 NFL Season

10. Without Kurt Warner the Cardinals will fall hard

If the Cardinals are smart, they will do anything possible to get Kurt Warner back on their roster in 2009. Kurt was the reason that team made it to the Super Bowl. I'm not insulting Larry Fitzgerald, but a team can't win with a great reciever and a bad quarterback.

If you want proof look at this past season's Lions. Calvin Johnson is a beast, but without a quarterback a team is nothing. Unless Matt Leinart shows major development this offseason or they re-sign Kurt Warner, the Cardinals could be in deep trouble.

9. The 49ers will win the NFC West

Like I said in my last prediction, the Cardinals are nothing without Warner. I don't believe Warner will come back either, so I think this is the Niners time to shine. The Niners are a solid team, especially with Mike Singletary as head coach. The only missing piece to the puzzle is a signal caller. I don't think the Niners answer is Shaun Hill or draft-bust Alex Smith.

The Niners will either draft Mark Sanchez or trade to get Matt Cassel. With a big-time signal caller under center, the Niners will storm the nation and utterly ransack the lackluster NFC West.

8. Tony Romo will lead the NFL in passing

I know what you're all saying. The Cowboys will be terrible. Tony Romo is a choke artist, and so on and so forth. But underneath his primadona shell is the gunslingin' competitor that made us all love him so much.

In a year where everybody will be waiting to criticize the Cowboys, Tony Romo will put his boots on and show us all why he's an elite quarterback. T.O. or no T.O., Tony will show up this year and put up giant numbers.

7. Michael Crabtree is ready for the NFL now

Obviously Crabtree has already declared for the draft, and is already being considered the best player in the draft. While rookie recievers tend not to do so great, Crabtree is special. He is along the Calvin Johnson mold, and like Johnson will wreak havoc on NFL defenses.

And while everybody predicts Seattle taking him at number four, I have full confidence the Seahawks will draft someone else. Whoever Crabtree goes to I predict he'll have 60+ catches, 800-1,000 yards, and over five touchdowns in his rookie campaign.

6. Tyler Thigpen will stay in Kansas City, and go to the Pro-Bowl

Will the Chiefs get better in '09? I believe so. With new GM Scott Pioli and new head coach Todd Haley, I believe the Chiefs are on a path to success. They will be along the lines of Miami this year, though I'm still not sure they'll make it to the playoffs. With the third overall pick, the Chiefs will take offensive Eugene Monroe out of Virginia.

And while everybody has paid attention to Calvin Johnson, Dwayne has very silently put up solid numbers. Add another solid reciever, and you have the type of dynamic passing game Todd Haley likes. I've seen enough of Thigpen to believe he'll put up big enough numbers to make the Pro Bowl next year.

Oh, and don't forget about a guy named Tony Gonzalez, another weapon Thgipen has in his arsenal.

5. The Seattle Seahawks will draft Matthew Stafford

I don't know why, but Matt Hasselbeck's time up in Seattle is running short. And while he may not be shown the door this offseason, he'll only be around long enough to mentor Matt Stafford.

He also could be viable trade bait to a team like Minnesota, but Seattle doesn't want to throw Stafford into the fire right away, so look for Hasselbeck to stick around a little longer. While there are numerous ways the Seahawks could go with this pick, the bottom line is this: Hasselbeck is old and with Jim Mora taking over the reigns, look for a new era of football to be ushered in.

4. The Giants will miss Paxico Burress badly

While everybody and their dog has made this prediction, I'm taking this a step further and saying that, without Plaxico Buress the New York Giants will not make the playoffs. And with the possibility of veteran Amani Toomer leaving, the picture will not be pretty. Without a go-to receiver, Eli will be flustered and revert back to the Eli of old.

All-in-all, the Giants will suffer and fall to a dismal record of 6-10. From here on in things will only get worse for the Giants. The team we all hailed last year will be exposed for it's glaring blind spots.

3. The Texans will take over the AFC South

The Indianpolis Colts are without Tony Dungy and on the down side of their run, nobody knows who the Jaguars really are, and the Titans have a lot of positions that could be questionable thanks to free-agency. Enter Houston Texans: the Texans are the future of the AFC. They have both a dynamic offense and a stout defense.

Look for them only to get better on defense in the draft this year. They have arguably the NFL's best reciever in Andre Johnson, and a budding young quarterback in Matt Schaub. Say all you want about inexperience, but this division belongs to the Texans.

2. The Pack will be back

Everybody is predicting that with a legit quarterback the Vikings will be a Super Bowl contender. As electrifying as Adrian Peterson is, I'm not convinced their offense is up to the task of making a Super Bowl run. The Packers are a few defensive players away from being dangerous.

I predict the Packers will draft Brian Orakpo out of Texas along with another linebacker. Their secondary is solid but they may upgrade just in case. This will lead to the trade for former MVP LaDanian Tomlinson. Yes, you read that right. L.T. will be wearing green and yellow next year.

L.T.'s status in San Diego is already shaky, and with Ryan Grant looking more and more like a one-year wonder, the trade is iminent. In a division with Adrian Peterson and Matt Forte, look for L.T. to make some noise along with the Green Bay Packers.

1. All-Texas Super Bowl

I'm sticking my neck out on this one. I know their are planty of other teams that would be better options in the AFC—the Steelers for one—But I can't help but shake the feeling that the Texans are going to be legit next year. Look for them to go 12-4 or 11-5 next year, and nab the third or second seed in the playoffs.

They will have a long and hard journey but it will only prove that they belong in the Super Bowl. In the NFC look for the Cowboys to come out  gang banging. The offseason will pay off for Romo, as his and Roy Williams relationship greatly improves. The Packers and Niners will greatly challenge their toughness, but in the end the 'Boys will prevail in the NFC.

In the Super Bowl Romo and Schaub will own the night, setting up a duel to the death. Romo will lead a drive down the field and hook up with Jason Witten to win their sixth Lombardi trophy and make all those Steelers fans eat their words about being the greatest.