2009 NFL Preview; Team by Team Keys to a Successful Season
With the return of Tom Brady from knee surgery and the past success of the franchise, the NFL odds makers have instilled the New England Patriots as the odds-on-favorite to win another Super Bowl. Unfortunately for New England there are thirty-one other teams, including the defending champion Pittsburgh Steelers that will have something to say about that.
Here is a look at each team and their chances to hoist the Vince Lombardi Trophy.
AFC
Baltimore Ravens
The Ravens need to find a way to get past Pittsburgh, having lost to them three times last season including the playoffs. They will need more production from Joe Flacco than just managing the offense.
Buffalo Bills
The pressure will be Trent Edwards for a number of reasons. He will have to find a way to run the Bills this offense and keep Terrell Owens happy, which no other quarterback has been able to do for an extended period of time.
Cincinnati Bengals
Cincinnati has done little this off season to try and improve a very poor team. Carson Palmer will be back and healthy and they still have Chad (Ochocinco) Johnson but it will not be enough to avoid another losing season.
Cleveland Browns
Cleveland has really done nothing to try and reverse their dismal performance the past few seasons. Hiring a coach who has no track record of winning on a consistent basis was not a step in the right direction. Sorry Browns fans but your team is bringing up the rear this year in the AFC North.
Denver Broncos
New head coach, Josh McDaniels hasn’t coached one single game yet and has been involved in enough drama to last a season. He needs to get control of this team and move forward with the players that are there.
Houston Texans
The Texans schedule sets up nice as I see them getting off to a good start. They have been slowly improving and this could be a break out year for them. I look for Houston to be in the playoff hunt right down to the end.
Indianapolis Colts
With Tony Dungee gone this will be a transition year for the Colts. They still have enough talent to win their division, but I see them actually taking a step backward this year. Tennessee and Houston could keep them from even making the playoffs.
Jacksonville Jaguars
It will be interesting to see how the Jaguars respond after last season’s disappointing performance. It seems when nobody picks them to win, they do well. As soon as they are in the spotlight, they tend to fold.
Kansas City Chiefs
The Todd Haley era begins in Kansas City after the Chiefs cleaned house after last year’s dismal performance. Fortunately for them they play in a very weak division that an 8-8 record could still win it.
Miami Dolphins
The Dolphins turn around last season was one of the best stories in football. Unfortunately, this season they are not going to sneak up on anyone. They need to go at least .500 in their division and 3-1 against the NFC South to have a chance to make the playoffs.
New England Patriots
If Tom Brady is able to perform at a high level this season, the Patriots should be right back on top in the AFC East. This team always finds a way to compete no matter whom is on the roster, but Brady is the key to winning it all.
New York Jets
The big question for the Jets is will Mark Sanchez be ready to start at quarterback against Houston in week one. I think he has the ability to come in a play at a high level right from the start. We will have to wait and see if he gets the chance.
Oakland Raiders
The big question for the Raiders will be how long do they stick with JaMarcas Russell at quarterback. I think Garcia will get his shot in about week six or seven to try and salvage the season.
Pittsburgh Steelers
The Steelers do not play arch rival Baltimore until week 12 so we will know a lot about these two teams before this game. They meet again in week 16 in a game that could very well decide the division.
San Diego Chargers
The Chargers are still loaded with talent especially on the offensive side of the ball. If they can develop some consistency week in and week out they have the ability to win it all.
Tennessee Titans
The Titans success depends on Kerry Collins having one more productive season in him or Vince Young putting last season behind him and getting is head in the right frame of mind to play football.
NFC
Arizona Cardinals
The Cardinals have basically the same roster as last year’s Super Bowl team so there is no reason they shouldn’t be right in the mix. Unfortunately for them, the recent track record of teams that lose the Super Bowl next season’s performance is often horrible.
Atlanta Falcons
The big question for the Falcons will be the continued development of QB Matt Ryan. As a rookie he caught a lot of teams by surprise last season. He will not be sneaking up on anyone this year.
Carolina Panthers
With their two biggest stars QB Jake Delhomme and DE Julius Peppers rich and happy they can now concentrate on repeating as NFC South champs.
Chicago Bears
With the arrival of Jay Cutler in Chicago expectations are high for this season. I see the Bears as the class of the NFC North, but not the NFC. They will most likely win the division and Cutler will throw for 4000 yards, but still end up with an early exit from the playoffs.
Dallas Cowboys
I see the Cowboys as a .500 ball club this season. They have done little to improve their current roster as New York, Philly, and Washington all made some moves to improve.
Detroit Lions
Unfortunately for the Lions, after looking at their schedule, if things do not get better quickly their losing streak could go on for quite awhile. You might have to look all the way to week 8 at home against the Rams for their first possible win.
Green Bay Packers
This team is firmly in the hands of QB Aaron Rodgers which may be good or bad. He will need to develop much more consistency than he has shown if this team is going to compete in the North.
Minnesota Vikings
Brad Childress is resting his hopes on Brett Favre’s ability to squeeze one more productive year out of his battered body. That just shows you how much confidence he has in Tavaris Jackson.
New Orleans Saints
The Saints will be a factor in the NFC South this season as that division is up for grabs. Playing three division teams in their last four games will most likely determine their playoff future.
New York Giants
As with most seasons, the Giant’s fortunes are going to come down to games against Dallas and Philadelphia at home, whom they play this year back to back in weeks 13 and 14.
Philadelphia Eagles
The key to the Eagles season will be how well they do in the division. Last year they went 2-4 and only made the playoffs by the skin of their teeth. If they have aspirations of the Super Bowl, it has to begin with beating the other teams in the East.
San Francisco 49ers
I like the mindset that Mike Singletary brings to this team. It is amazing how much production you can squeeze out of average players if they are properly motivated. I look for this team to be right in the mix in the West.
Seattle Seahawks
Seattle will be one of the more interesting teams to watch this season. The NFC West is wide open and another 9-7 season will probably win it. With a healthy Matt Hasslebeck, I see Seattle battling it out with the 49′ers for the division.
St. Louis Rams
The Rams are the worst team in the NFC’s worst division. I guess somebody has to be last. The expectations for the Rams are so low; they could actually go out and win some games they shouldn’t. That being said they will be hard pressed to win more than four or five.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
This will definitely be a transition year for the Bucs. With a new coaching staff and a lack of talent in several skill positions, they will have to take the time to let some players develop. The other problem Tampa faces is that the other three teams in the NFC South are clearly better.
Washington Redskins
The biggest question mark in my mind is Jason Campbell’s ability to be a big time quarterback in this league. I think he has some talent, but I do not think he has what it takes to win championships.
The current parity in the NFL has created the situation where a large majority of teams have a chance to make the playoffs.
The reality is that only a handful has a chance to win it all.
2009 NFL Predictions
My choices would be New England and San Diego in the AFC and Philadelphia and New York in the NFC.
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David Schwab is a regular contributor to the Cappers Picks Blog. While not cheering for his beloved Philadelphia Eagles David can be found working on his blog at www.eaglesinc.com. David wants to hear from you so please comment below.
