32 Bold Predictions for the 2009 NFL Season

I start this opus out with a heavy heart, as my father is currently hospitalized with heart arrhythmia after surgery to remove an abscess from his left knee somehow went wrong.

As I arrived home for a while after being out with him for several hours, I thought to myself, "What a great time to write my annual predictions article."

Football is not only a game and my favorite sport, but it's the gift that never stops giving.

My love for the sport helps me to feel a certain utopia that not many other things can compare to.

When I feel my worst, the feeling of anticipating a season, great matchup, or game that comes down to the last second seems to have a healing effect that nothing else can match.

As the preseason is now just a week away, I look at what has transpired in the offseason and I become very excited about what we as fans are about to witness.

Terrell Owens is a Buffalo Bill. Jay Cutler is a Chicago Bear. T.J. Houshmandzadeh is a Seattle Seahawk.

The Peyton Manning sans Marvin Harrison era begins. Michael Vick is out of jail. Plaxico Burress may be going.

Tom Brady is back. Brett Favre isn't. (There is a God.)

There are so many storylines that I could write a separate article about them all.

One word we will hear a lot this season is "parity." There is so much competition and so many teams that it is virtually a complete toss-up to try to predict who will be the last man standing like Bruce Willis.

I will for the second consecutive year attempt to do the impossible: predict the 2009 season all the way to the Super Bowl MVP.

Last year, I was about 42 percent correct, which isn't bad for blind predictions. I'm aiming for 100 percent this time, but hey, who's counting?

I want all comments, arguments and everything when you read this article. Spill it all, because we can go back to it in February.

After the season ends, I will revisit this article to see just how right I was. Let's get this party started.

32. The New England Patriots Will Win the AFC East

31. The Baltimore Ravens Will Win the AFC North

30. The Tennessee Titans Will Win the AFC South

29. The San Diego Chargers Will Win the AFC West

28. The Philadelphia Eagles Will Win the NFC East

27. The Minnesota Vikings Will Win the NFC North

26. The Atlanta Falcons Will Win the NFC South

25. The Arizona Cardinals Will Win the NFC West

24. The AFC East Will Finish Like This:

1. New England Patriots: 13-3

2. Buffalo Bills: 10-6

3. Miami Dolphins: 8-8

4. New York Jets: 5-11

23. The AFC North Will Finish Like This:

1. Baltimore Ravens: 11-5

2. Pittsburgh Steelers: 10-6

3. Cincinnati Bengals: 8-8

4. Cleveland Browns: 6-10

22. The AFC South Will Finish Like This:

1. Tennessee Titans: 11-5

2. Indianapolis Colts: 9-7

3. Houston Texans: 8-8

4. Jacksonville Jaguars: 4-12

21. The AFC West Will Finish Like This:

1. San Diego Chargers: 10-6

2. Oakland Raiders: 9-7

3. Kansas City Chiefs: 8-8

4. Denver Broncos: 5-11

20. The NFC East Will Finish Like This:

1. Philadelphia Eagles: 10-6

2. Dallas Cowboys: 10-6

3. New York Giants: 8-8

4. Washington Redskins: 7-9

19. The NFC North Will Finish Like This:

1. Minnesota Vikings: 11-5

2. Green Bay Packers: 10-6

3. Chicago Bears: 8-8

4. Detroit Lions: 5-11

18. The NFC South Will Finish Like This:

1. Atlanta Falcons: 12-4

2. New Orleans Saints: 10-6

3. Carolina Panthers: 8-8

4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 4-12

17. The NFC West Will Finish Like This:

1. Arizona Cardinals: 9-7

2. Seattle Seahawks: 8-8

3. San Francisco 49ers: 8-8

4. St. Louis Rams: 3-13

16. The San Diego Chargers Will Defeat the Pittsburgh Steelers 17-10 in WC1.

15. The Buffalo Bills Will Defeat the Tennessee Titans 14-10 in WC2.

14. The Dallas Cowboys Will Defeat the Arizona Cardinals 29-24 in WC3.

13. The Philadelphia Eagles Will Defeat the Green Bay Packers 27-13 in WC4.

12. The New England Patriots Will Defeat the Buffalo Bills 30-14 in the Divisional Round.

11. The Baltimore Ravens Will Defeat the San Diego Chargers 13-10 in the Divisional Round.

10. The Atlanta Falcons Will Defeat the Dallas Cowboys 24-14 in the Divisional Round.

9. The Minnesota Vikings Will Defeat the Philadelphia Eagles 21-17 in the Divisional Round.

8. The New England Patriots Will Defeat the Baltimore Ravens 28-20 in the AFC Championship Game.

7. The Atlanta Falcons Will Defeat the Minnesota Vikings 23-14 in the NFC Championship Game.

6. The Atlanta Falcons Will Defeat the New England Patriots 24-20 in Super Bowl XLIV.

5. Matt Ryan Will Be the MVP of Super Bowl XLIV.

4. Tom Brady and Adrian Peterson Will Be NFL Co-MVPs.

3. Mike Smith Will Be NFL Coach of the Year.

2. Michael Vick Will Be on a Playoff NFL Roster When the Postseason Arrives.

1. The Top Three NFL QB's in Passing Yards Will Be Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, and Carson Palmer, with Matt Ryan in a Close Fourth.

**Watch These Three First-Round Rookies

1. Jason Smith, St. Louis Rams

2. Aaron Maybin, Buffalo Bills

3. Jeremy Maclin, Philadelphia Eagles

As usual, this was extremely difficult due to the widespread talent of the NFL, and all of the teams that will surely contend this upcoming season.

I know that there will be many conflicting opinions, but that's the beauty of sport. We all see things differently.

But I can promise you one thing: It will be settled on the field.

Let's get ready for some football!