NFL Predictions: 10 Bold Predictions for the 2010 Season

Will the Jet's win the Super Bowl, as promised? Can the Texans make the playoffs for the first time ever? Will Albert Haynesworth stay in Washington?

As the preseason winds down and we come closer to September, we find ourselves asking questions about our teams and favorite players. Everyone starts the season on equal footing, but here are a few bold predictions to think about as the season unfolds.

1. Tom Brady Hits The Mega Millions

Will the Colts make Peyton Manning the highest paid player in the NFL? Or will it be the Patriots and Tom Brady?

How is it that these two players, constantly compared to each other, argued over, and pitted against each other are both in the final year of their contracts? You can't make up coincidences like this.  

There's no doubt the contracts will get done. But when? And how much? 

My bold prediction? Brady will get more than Manning. 

Why? I have a feeling Manning's deal will get done first, and because Brady is a year younger and has more rings, Robert Kraft will give him that little extra oomph. We are probably talking about a minor difference, maybe a few million dollars or so. And Brady's deal will come much closer to the end of the season, adding a level of desperation to mix.

2. The Niners Are Golden Again

This year could be the 49ers year. While their quarterback situation is not great, they have some good young guys and that division is weak. 

When you have to compete with a post-Warner Arizona, hapless St. Louis, and iffy Seattle, it is not a stretch to see them doing well in that division.

Their schedule isn't exactly hard, either. If they go 4-2 in the division, the rest of their schedule is feast or famine. Win half of those games and they will be 9-7.

I also happen to love Mike Singletary.  

That's my second bold prediction.

The San Francisco 49ers will finish the season 9-7 and win the NFC West.

3. Jay Cutler's UnBEARable Statistics

Jay Cutler will throw almost as many picks as touchdowns. 

With Forte and Taylor the running game is pretty good, his recieving core is not great, and Mike Martz is a coach, not a magician. Not even the architect of the "Greatest Show on Turf" is able to turn that offense around in the time he's been given.

So prediction number three:

Jay Cutler will finish the season throwing 3 interceptions for every 4 touchdowns. Not all of them will be his fault, and it will be better than last year, but it's not going to be great.

Sorry Bears fans.

4. Wes Welker, Super Slot Machine

Last season Wes Welker went down with a torn ACL and MCL. No Patriots fan can forget the sight of Wes on the sidelines sobbing into a towel. We just weren't used to Wes not popping right back up after being hit.

This season Welker has proven his toughness. It's going to take a while for the fans to stop holding their breath every time he goes down, but it looks like he's ready and raring to go. 

In limited play in the pre-season, Welker has seemed like his old self. Quite an accomplishment considering when he had surgery, the thought was he wouldn't be back until a few games into the season. 

The Patriots are still going to give him plays off to ease him back in, but bold prediction number four?

Wes Welker will have a phenomenal season.  

5. Under the Radar Teams

A few teams are flying under the radar this season. The Patriots and Dolphins are two of them. 

With all the noise and bluster the Jets have been making, and the media's been enamored with how they look on paper, they've practically handed the Jets the division. 

No mention of the fact that the Patriots are the reigning division champs and the Dolphins won the year before. The Dolphins are healthy this season, and the Patriots are looking more balanced and back to their offensive form. 

And for all the "great moves" the Jets have made this year, the Dolphins added Brandon Marshall and Karlos Dansby. Pretty good additions to a pretty good team, when healthy. 

Bold prediction five: continued in bold prediction number six. 

6. Jet Fuel or Fizzle?

The Jets have been crowned by many in the media as Super Bowl favorites. 

Yes, they made great offseason moves. Yes, they have a great defense and a good offense. 

And yes, they have a lot of personality. A whole lot of personality. They also have a TV show following their every move. 

Being on Hard Knocks does not bode well for the Jets. Of the six seasons they have had, only two of those teams have made the playoffs, and neither made it passed the divisional round. 

And without Darrelle Revis, that defense is not nearly as good. And Sanchez is good, but is he a Super Bowl caliber quarterback yet? Eh...jury's still out.

Bold predicitons number 5 and 6: The Dolphins and/or the Patriots will make the playoffs. The Jets will not. 

7. Vick the Pick?

Michael Vick has looked much better this preseason than he did last year. And he's in Philly, one of the most passionate, and fickle, fan-bases in the league. 

If Kevin Kolb struggles for ten seconds or more this season, the fans in Philly will be calling for Michael Vick. Or angry at their team for getting rid of their much-hated pro-bowl-level took them to the playoffs and Super Bowl quarterback Donovan McNabb. Especially if he comes into Philly and beats them with the Redskins of all people. 

Bold prediction number seven: Michael Vick will start at least one game this season. Whether that's due to injury or irate fans remains to be seen, but he will start one game. 

8. Deflated in Denver?

No one expects much from the Denver Broncos this year. They've gotten rid of just about everyone and seem to be starting over under Kyle Orton/Brady Quinn. 

It won't be long for Tim Tebow to get into the discussion as well, especially if both Orton and Quinn struggle, but I don't see it happening. 

Their defense it okay, the offense is okay, and it is a very young team. This year they have already been bitten by the injury bug, so that hurts them as well. 

But I don't think they will be as bad as everyone says they will. Do I think they make the playoffs? No. But they'll put some pressure on San Diego. And it is a soft division.

Bold prediction number 8: the Broncos will be at least 7-9 or better. (In that division, that's not bad)

9. Houston in the Playoffs?

The Houston Texans are in a tough division. They have to face perennial favorite Indianapolis twice a year. But the Texans always play the Colts well. 

Their schedule is not terrible, they have to play the much weaker AFC East and Jacksonville and Tennessee are good, not great, and the Texans should be able to be at least 3-3 in the division, probably better. 

Bold prediction number nine: the Texans will make the playoffs this season for the first time ever. I'm thinking probably as a Wild Card but the AFC East and South are going to be really tough divisions this year with some really talented teams. 

10. Haynesworth vs. Shanahan

In the saga that we all thought was over with the passing of the conditioning test, a new mystery muschle ailment is adding to the drama that is the relationship between Albert Haynesworth and Mike Shanahan.

Unless you've been living under a rock the last month or so, you know all about this tumultuous relationship. 

Albert doesn't want to play nose-tackle, Shanahan wants to assert his authority as coach. Major drama the likes of Real Housewives ensues.

So what is the solution to this problem? Well, someone has to blink. Or Albert has to be traded.

Bold prediction number 10: Albert Haynesworth will play nose tackle this season. 

This, I consider bold because Haynesworth has a head full of rocks, apparently, and refuses to do anything he doesn't want to. But I think, in the end, he blinks first.

The End...

The End. 

Wait...what's a slideshow with bold predictions without predicting a Super Bowl champion? 

I have learned my lesson after years of people picking the San Diego Chargers as the Super Bowl favorites. They've only been once, way back in 1994. 

This year the darling is the Jets, with some picking the Vikings, Saints, and Colts. 

Thanks, but no thanks. I'll let you make your own bold Super Bowl predictions. I'll keep rooting for the New England Patriots, and my personal hope that they will be the next team to smudge the Lombardi trophy with their fingerprints.