2009 NFL Preview

The National Football League is ready to roll, and the 2009 season promises great excitement and intrigue. With no further ado, here are my thoughts and predictions on the upcoming season:



TOP FIVE SUPER BOWL CONTENDERS



1. Pittsburgh Steelers/ Head Coach: Mike Tomlin



The defending Super Bowl champs have almost the exact same roster as last year. With an elite quarterback (Ben Roethlisberger), an explosive running back (Willie Parker), a clutch wide receiver (Hines Ward), and two of the best defensive players in the game (James Harrison and Troy Polomalu), what's not to like?



2. New England Patriots/ Head Coach: Bill Belichick



It is easy to dislike the curmudgeonly antics of Coach Belichick, but even Belichick haters like myself know that he is an outstanding coach. If Tom Brady can stay healthy, Belichick's Pats will have a legitimate chance at another championship. The loss of the newly retired Tedy Bruschi may ding the defense a little bit, but New England still has enough defensive prowess. The acquisition of veteran running back Fred Taylor will further improve an already stellar offense.



3. Chicago Bears/ Head Coach: Lovie Smith



The Bears have always been known for their stalwart defense, led by the great Brian Urlacher. This year, however, the Bears will have an outstanding offense to match that intimidating D. Thanks to the acquisition of quarterback Jay Cutler from Denver, in addition to the blazing speed of Devin Hester and Matt Forte, Chicago finally has a well-rounded team that, I think, will win the NFC. Cutler will erase the stale memories of the Rex Grossman/Kyle Orton era, and the Bears D will continue to be dominant. The Bears will be a force to be reckoned with.



4. New York Giants/ Head Coach: Tom Coughlin



The loss of soon-to-be prison inmate Plaxico Burress poses some cause for concern, but I think the G-Men will be just fine. Eli Manning has blossomed into an elite QB, and even without Plaxico, Manning still has some nice offensive weapons (Brandon Jacobs, Steve Smith). On the defensive side of things, the return of Osi Umenyiora is huge for the Giants. The Eagles and Cowboys will be lurking, but the New York Giants will win the NFC East.



5. Indianapolis Colts/ Head Coach: Jim Caldwell



There are several reasons to believe that this will be a down year for the Colts. First of all, they are no longer guided by the great Tony Dungy. Secondly, they no longer have Marvin Harrison, one of the most prolific wide receivers in NFL history. So yes, first year coach Jim Caldwell has a mightily difficult job on his hands. However, there is one constant in Indy, and that is Peyton Manning. As long as Number 18 is taking the snaps, the Colts will remain a Super Bowl contender. With this being said, the Colts will need major contributions from Reggie Wayne, Anthony Gonzalez, and Joseph Addai on the offensive end, as well as from Dwight Freeney and Melvin Bullitt on the defensive side of things.

Honorable Mentions: Atlanta Falcons; Baltimore Ravens; Philadelphia Eagles



THREE TEAMS ON THE RISE



1. Kansas City Chiefs/ Head Coach: Todd Haley

Following a thoroughly forgettable 2-win season in 2008, the new-look Chiefs are poised to return to winning ways. Kansas City, led by first-year head coach Todd Haley, will probably not be able to outseat the Chargers in the AFC West, but they will contend for a wild card. Quarterback Matt Cassel takes the reins after a successful year in New England, and he is a far more consistent force behind center than KC's previous two QB's, Brady Croyle and Damon Huard. Two big additions, wide receiver Bobby Engram and linebacker Mike Vrabel, will buoy the Chiefs to a much-improved season in 2009.

2. San Francisco 49ers/ Head Coach: Mike Singletary

Am I biased? Of course I am. But I truly believe that my Niners have the best shot at dethroning the defending NFC West champion Arizona Cardinals. Granted, Shaun Hill won't draw any comparisons to Steve Young and Joe Montana, but he is a much better option than draft bust Alex Smith. The Niners have a phenomenal ground game, led by pro bowler Frank Gore and soon-to-be rookie sensation Glen Coffee. San Francisco also has two of the best defensive players in the NFL in Patrick Willis and Nate Clements. Add that to the passionate leadership of Coach Mike Singletary, and my Niners will be an exciting team to watch in 2009. Now back to unbiased programming.

3. Houston Texans/ Head Coach: Gary Kubiak

If there was ever a time for the Houston Texans to start winning, it is now. The AFC South has never been more wide open. The Colts have no Marvin Harrison, the Jaguars have no Fred Taylor, the Titans have no Albert Haynesworth. The Texans, meanwhile, have all of their pieces intact, led by star defensive end Mario Williams. If QB Matt Schaub and running back Steve Slaton stay healthy, the Texans could be the Miami Dolphins of 2009.

BOTTOM THREE

1. Detroit Lions/ Head Coach: Jim Schwartz

If the Lions do the right thing and reward Matthew Stafford with the starting quarterback job over Dante Culpepper, the Lions will successfully start the road to recovery. However, memories of that winless 2008 season still linger, and the rebuilding process is bound to be slow. Until the Lions win a football game, sad to say, they hold on to the title of the NFL's worst team.

2. Oakland Raiders/ Head Coach: Tom Cable

It has been a tumultuous offseason for the Silver and Black, thanks to the punching outburst of head coach Tom Cable. The Raiders remain the NFL's most dysfunctional franchise. They have an unproven quarterback (JaMarcus Russell), an unproven coach (Tom Cable), and sports' most sleazy owner (Al Davis). The skills of Darren McFadden will provide some thrilling moments in 2009, but it will be an otherwise painful season for the Raiders.

3. Cleveland Browns/ Head Coach: Eric Mangini

I'm a Mangini fan, but it will take him a while to rebuild this franchise. Like the Lions, the Browns would be wise to start the young and untested quarterback (Brady Quinn) over the veteran (Derek Anderson). Quinn is the face of the future for the Browns, and in a division that will be dominated by the Steelers and Ravens, Cleveland needs to start retooling for the future immediately if they want to contend within the next couple of years.

SUPER BOWL PREDICTION

The Steelers will outlast the Patriots in the AFC Championship game, and Jay Cutler will lead the Bears past the Giants in the NFC Championship Game. In the end, the Steelers will be Super Bowl champs yet again. I know, not a very bold pick, but my predictions are usually hogwash, so you can't really blame me for taking the safe route on this one.