NFL Season Predictions

Americans will once again be able to feed their addiction to the NFL as another pro football season arrives just in time to end the boredom of a long summer of watching television reruns and baseball. Every season has its surprises and disappointments, as this one surely will, but only the foolhardy try to predict the winners and losers. Alas, no one every accused your favorite scribe of being a certified Mensa member.

After consulting a Ouija board and a gap-toothed tarot card reader, here are some predictions for the new NFL season:

OVERACHIEVERS:

SAN FRANCISCO: Coach Mike Singletary has remade the Forty-Niners into a tough, run-oriented team. They were close in a lot of game last season, only to let them slip away in the fourth quarter. This is a club with offensive firepower and a rugged defense. The experience of last season should benefit the Niners, if quarterback Alex Smith can deliver in the clutch. Look for San Fran to win the NFC West and make the playoffs.

NY GIANTS: The Giants played more like Midgets last season, especially on defense. They lost their defensive edge, something the Giants had built their franchise on in the past decade. Injuries didn't help but several stalwarts also underperformed. If the defense shows improvement, the Giants could surprise in the NFC East. They are flying under the radar right now, which makes the Giants dangerous, especially with a solid coach and tough running game.

TENNESSEE: The Titans began last season like a team looking for an early offseason vacation. They stumbled out of the gate and never recovered until their season was done. But in winning their last six games, the Titans proved they were still a championship caliber team. Vince Young led the late-season resurgence after almost burning his bridges in Tennessee. Coach Jeff Fisher is one of the NFL's best at preparing his team. This season he leads the Titans to a division title.

OAKLAND: No team has been more woeful than the Oakland Raiders with the possible exception of the Obama Administration. Al Davis' bunch has stumbled, bumbled and grumbled themselves through a lost decade of uninspiring football. The franchise biggest blunder was taking overweight, overrated Jamarcus Russell with the first pick in the draft and then installing him as their quarterback. He flopped bigger than a beached whale. The trade for Redskins' signal caller Jason Campbell was just what the Raiders needed to stabilize their offense. The defense was one of the best in the AFC last season. The Raiders might not make the playoffs but they will return to respectability.

DETROIT: The Lions' performance has been the only thing worst than Detroit's sagging economy. However, things are looking up, since ownership dumped the general manager. Two straight years of excellent drafts has armed the team with talent on both offense and defense. Matthew Stafford was impressive in his rookie reason. If he continues to improve, the future is bright in the bleak Motor City. The Lions might not even finish 8-8 this season, but at least they will be competitive. With a few breaks, they could even find the promised land of a .500 season.


UNDERACHIEVERS:

ARIZONA: After making the playoffs the last two years, the Cardinals are destined for a precipitous fall. Quarterback Kurt Warner, the heart and soul of the franchise, has departed for the retirement couch, leaving the Big Red with a gaping hole at this key position. Matt Leinart has already proven he can't handle the pressure and Derek Anderson is a stopgap measure. The penny-pinching Cardinals have lost too much talent to free agency over the last two years. Look for the team to be sub-500 and miss the playoffs.

DALLAS: No team attracts preseason hype like the Cowboys and no team disappoints its followers more often than the Cowboys. Expectations are high in Dallas, since the team hosts the Super Bowl. However, the Cowboy offense has gotten too predictable under former genius Jason Garrett. The defense gives up too many big plays and still is searching for a secondary to match its defensive front. Then you have coach Yuck-Yuck, Wade Phillips. No one is more uninspiring nor more ill prepared on game day. As a result, they lose games they should win on talent alone. The Cowboys will finish second in their division, make the playoffs as a wild card and make an early exit.

MINNESOTA: Drama queen Brett Favre is back at the helm and most prognosticators are anointing the Vikings as a Super Bowl team. Not so fast. Running back Adrian Peterson has slipped a notch, thanks to fumble prone hands. Favre will be 41 (or is it 61?) and the tank may finally be empty. Minnesota has flourished in a weak division, but a tough non-conference schedule will extract its revenge on their record. Look for Green Bay to replace Minnesota at the top of the NFC North Division.

NEW YORK JETS: The Jets shocked the NFL last season in Rex Ryan's debut. Their aggressive, swarming defense was the best in the entire league. However, the offense, handed over to rookie quarterback Mark Sanchez, was pedestrian. The Jets modus operandi was to win tight games with defense. The Jets upgraded on offense, but Sanchez is not the man to build an offense around. Teams will be gunning for loud mouth Rex this year. The defense will still be stout, but the Jets will need to shutout every team to finish ahead of New England and Miami. They are destined to finish in the middle of the pack.

SUPER BOWL PREDICTIONS:

In the AFC, the champion will be decided between Baltimore and New England. The Ravens, under second year quarterback Joe Flacco, have all the ingredients for a championship run: defense, running game and a quality leader. The Pats suffered a string of injuries last season that doomed their chances for another title. With a little luck in that area, they should return to their accustomed place in the championship game. However, the nod goes to the Ravens.

In the NFC, the Giants will return to their dominance, thanks to an improved defense and a healthy Eli Manning. Some are discounting the Saints because of their suspect defense, but defensive coordinator Greg Williams has made improvements on that side of the ball. Drew Brees has established himself as the best at leading a high octane offense. The Saints will repeat as NFC champs.

And the Super Bowl Champion is (drum roll): Baltimore Ravens.