SPORTSGERBIL'S 2009 FEARLESS NFL PREDICTIONS

About the only good thing with the summer coming to an end each year is that it means the NFL is back! Between the Cubs being pitiful this year and the Jets drafting Mark Sanchez, I know I couldn't be more excited to get this season going. Well it all begins tomorrow night when the defending champion, Pittsburgh Steelers, play host to the Tennessee Titans. Then, we'll just have to find a way to get to Sunday (or Monday for Jaxster) to see our teams for the first time. Hit play on the video above for a little classic NFL music while reading the picks!

Below are my predictions for 2009 that are guaranteed to look really embarrassing after the season plays out. The number in parentheses are the official Vegas over/under numbers for each team. Instead of giving you wins and losses, I'll just be predicting whether they go over or under that number. (^Best Record, *Wildcard)

AFC East: ^New England (O 11.5), Miami (U 7), NY Jets (U 7), Buffalo (U 7.5)
AFC North: Pittsburgh (O 10.5), *Baltimore (O 8.5), Cleveland (U 6.5), Cincinnati (U 7)
AFC South: Indianapolis (O 10), *Houston (O 8.5), Tennessee (U 9), Jacksonville (U 8)
AFC West: San Diego (O 10), Oakland (U 5.5), Kansas City (U 6), Denver (U 6.5)

AFC Wildcard: San Diego over Houston, Indianapolis over Baltimore
AFC Divisional: New England over Indianapolis, Pittsburgh over San Diego
AFC Championship: New England over Pittsburgh

NFC East: Philadelphia (O 9.5), *NY Giants (O 10), Dallas (U 9.5), Washington (U 8)
NFC North: ^Green Bay (O 9), Chicago (U 9), Minnesota (U 9.5), Detroit (U 5)
NFC South: New Orleans (O 8.5), *Atlanta (O 9), Carolina (O 8.5), Tampa Bay (U 6.5)
NFC West: Arizona (O 8.5), Seattle (U 8), San Francisco (U 7), St. Louis (U 5.5)

NFC Wildcard: New Orleans over Atlanta, NY Giants over Arizona
NFC Divisional: NY Giants over Green Bay, Philadelphia over New Orleans
NFC Championship: Philadelphia over NY Giants

AFC Overrated: San Diego; Even though they'll coast home in the weak AFC West, I think people are crazy for picking them to win the Super Bowl. I would like to see them gel in the regular season and earn a high seed before I can put them on the elite level of teams. They are certainly talented, but they are being given too much praise.
NFC Overrated: Dallas; I have seen too many people pick this team to go to the playoffs. They are probably the third best team in perhaps the best overall division in football. Tony Romo doesn't have the weapons he used to and the defense isn't great. I smell an 8-8 season.
AFC Underrated: Indianapolis; Peyton Manning has gone from overrated to underrated in my eyes. He carried a mediocre Colts team to 12 wins last year. I think he will win the team another AFC South title. I also think people are overrating the retirement of Tony Dungy. He was a much better man than coach. This has always been Peyton's team, not Tony Dungy's, and it won't be Jim Caldwell's either.
NFC Underrated: Green Bay; The schedule is very favorable for the Packers to win 11+ games this year. I think Aaron Rodgers is the best quarterback in the division. They have plenty of weapons on offense and a fairly decent defense. People are overrating the Vikings and Bears in my opinion. I think the Pack take home the NFC North and could do some damage in the playoffs.

MVP: Peyton Manning
Rookie of the Year: Mark Sanchez
Coach of the Year: Mike McCarthy - Green Bay

Super Bowl XLIV Pick: Philadelphia 27, New England 24; I think the Eagles will finally get it done. They will certainly miss long-time defensive coordinator Jim Johnson who died this offseason, but I think they will be fired up to play well in his honor. He will be more missed over time than this year I think. Michael Vick should make the offense very unpredictable as well. I think this is a very balanced team that should eek out a Super Bowl against Tom Brady's Patriots.