A Glimpse at the 2009 NFL Season According to a So-Called Expert

Taking It to the House’s Lloyd Vance is predicting a big year for Safety Troy Polamalu (Defensive MVP pick) and the defending Super Bowl champion Pittsburgh Steelers.

Once again it is time for me to get out my crystal ball and see if I can prognosticate the upcoming NFL season. As all of my friends can attest to, I have never been totally right or wrong and I have never gotten the Super Bowl matchup or champion completely right.

The 2008 NFL season was evidence that in the league’s almost 90-year history that nothing is predictable. I am still looking for the person that could have predicted events like the long downtrodden Arizona Cardinals going to the Super Bowl led by retread quarterback Kurt Warner, New England Patriots superstar quarterback Tom Brady getting hurt on the first series of the Pats’ first game of the season and rookie quarterbacks Joe Flacco (Baltimore Ravens) and Matt Ryan (Atlanta Falcons) leading their respective teams to the playoffs.

Maybe this year I will be the envy of my doubters—Big V, I am specifically talking to you.  However you know I will probably have to eat some crow later this season from the predictions that I am about to make.

My annual reading of the NFL’s tea leaves is all in good fun, so with the season almost ready to kick off—Thursday, Sept. 10 with the defending Super Bowl Champion Pittsburgh Steelers hosting the Tennessee Titans—we can all rejoice and say “Hallelujah” as the 2009 NFL Season is finally here.

NFC

NFC East

New York Giants 11-5

Philadelphia Eagles 10-6

Dallas Cowboys 8-8

Washington Redskins 6-10

NFC North

Chicago Bears 10-6

Minnesota Vikings 10-6

Green Bay Packers 7-9

Detroit Lions 3-13

NFC South

New Orleans Saints 10-6

Atlanta Falcons 9-7

Tampa Bay Buccaneers 6-10

Carolina Panthers 5-11

NFC West

Arizona Cardinals 11-5

SF 49ers 9-7

Seattle Seahawks 6-10

St. Louis Rams 5-11

Division Champions: Cardinals (Bye), Giants (Bye), Saints, Bears

NFC Wild Cards: Eagles, Vikings

AFC

AFC East

New England Patriots 12-4

Buffalo Bills 9-7

Miami Dolphins 7-9

New York Jets 6-10

AFC North

Pittsburgh Steelers 12-4

Baltimore Ravens   10-6

Cincinnati Bengals   6-10

Cleveland Browns   4-12

AFC South

Houston Texans 11-5

Indianapolis Colts 10-6

Tennessee Titans 8-8

Jacksonville Jaguars 5-11

AFC West

San Diego Chargers 11-5

Denver Broncos 8-8

Oakland Raiders 7-9

Kansas City Chiefs 4-12

Division Champions: Patriots (Bye), Steelers (Bye), Chargers, Texans

AFC Wild Cards: Colts, Ravens 

Playoffs

AFC Wild Card Round: Colts over Chargers, Texans over Ravens

NFC Wild Card Round: Eagles over Bears, Vikings over Saints

AFC Divisional Round: Patriots over Colts, Steelers over Texans

NFC Divisional Round: Giants over Eagles, Vikings over Cardinals

NFC Championship: Giants over Vikings

AFC Championship: Steelers over Patriots

Super Bowl XLIV:   Steelers over Giants

Awards

NFL Coach of the Year: Mike Tomlin, Pittsburgh Steelers

NFL Offensive MVP: Minnesota Vikings Running back Adrian Peterson

NFL Defensive MVP: Pittsburgh Steelers Safety Troy Polamalu,

NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year:  Minnesota Vikings WR/KR Percy Harvin

**Also keep an eye on Denver Broncos RB Knowshon Moreno and Detroit Lions QB Matthew Stafford

NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year: Miami Dolphins Cornerback Vontae Davis

** Also keep an eye on Houston Texans LB Brian Cushing and Washington Redskins DE/LB Brian Orakpo

NFL Comeback Player of the Year: Pittsburgh Steelers RB Rashard Mendenhall

** Also keep an eye on Jacksonville Jaguars WR Tory Holt

NFL Breakout Player:  Pittsburgh Steelers LB Lawrence Timmons

First Pick of the 2010 NFL Draft: Florida DE Carlos Dunlap

 

Lloyd Vance is a Sr. NFL Writer for Taking It to the House and an award-winning member of the Pro Football Writers of America (PFWA)

Posted in 2009 NFL Predictions, 2009 NFL Season, Brett Favre, Mike Tomlin, Pittsburgh Steelers, Troy Polamalu Tagged: 2009 NFL Predictions, 2009 NFL Season, Brett Favre, Football, Mike Tomlin, NFL, Pittsburgh Steelers, Sports, Troy Polamalu