2008-09 National Football League Outlook

The National Football League is back for its 89th season as the kickoff game occurred earlier Thursday 4 September between the defending champions New York Giants and the Washington Redskins to get things going. The National Football League has done the best job of all the four major sports in getting close to parity with the opportunity for every club to move into playoff contention in only a few years with the optimum management of personnel and coaching (Unless one is talking about the Detroit Lions and Arizona Cardinals). There will probably be at least 3-4 different clubs in the playoffs as compared to last season, and it would not be surprising at all to see a Super Bowl winner that is a first timer or one that has not been there in many, many years.

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My outlook on the divisions of both conferences:

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AFC EAST

1) New England: solid, could make it a fifth SB appearance in eight years.

2) New York: Favre not enough but they will be better with around 7 victories.
3) Buffalo: a possible sleeper team to make playoffs but still much to prove.

4) Miami: the Fish (actually mammals) are rotten and will still stink.

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AFC SOUTH

1) Indianapolis: Colts hang on to division barely in their swan song.
2) Jacksonville: Solid everywhere, just need to put and keep it all together.

3) Houston: Solid dark horse that could go deep into the playoffs.

4) Tennessee: Vince Young sucks and the Titans will be down this year.

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AFC NORTH

1) Pittsburgh: Steelers win playing tough and hard and look superb again.

2) Cleveland: Can they take the next step ? Close but no cigar again.

3) Cincinnati: Not a team but a collection of hot dog individuals dooms the Bengals

4) Baltimore: Rebuilding and will stuggle.

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AFC WEST

1) San Diego: The best team in the AFC and a favorite to win it all.

2) Denver: Will all the young players deliver ? Sometimes, yes; sometimes, no...

3) Oakland: Mediocrity and haplessness the order of the season for the East Bay.

4) Kansas City: The worst team in the AFC, may only win one game.

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NFC WEST:

1) Seattle: Best of a so-so bunch in the league's worst division top to bottom.

2) Arizona: If things go right, Cardinals win division and more.

3) San Francisco: Another long year for the Niners as the glorious past seems far away.

4) St Louis: Rams will be better but nowhere near playoff contention.

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NFC NORTH:

1) Minnesota: Vikings have it all except top notch QB which may come through the season.

2) Green Bay: Rodgers will keep the Pack playing winning football all season.

3) Chicago: Bears a sleeper team to make playoffs depending on QB play.

4) Detroit: Another woeful year for the eternally hapless Lions.

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NFC SOUTH:

1) New Orleans: Best team on paper in the NFC; has all the weapons to go all the way.

2) Tampa Bay: Decent team that will contend for playoff slot.

3) Carolina: Another sleeper team that could emerge and make the playoffs.

4) Atlanta: Worst team in the league and may win only one game all season.

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NFC EAST:

1) Philadelphia: Andy Reid is the best coach in NFL and Eagles soar again this year.

2) New York: Giants drop a notch but still solid and in contention.

3) Dallas: A step down this year with 'boys set to underachieve under egomaniacal Jones.

4) Washington: Not nearly good enough in probably the best division in the league.

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Wild cards: Tampa Bay, Green Bay, Jacksonville, Houston

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Super Bowl: Minnesota defeats Jacksonville.

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This season, due to time limitations for myself, will not have any weekly predictions and picks for NFL football games as I have done in past years.

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