NFL Team Ranks 2009 Predictions

The NFL 2009/2010 NFL Football season is now upon us. Before the first team takes the field and the first snap of the football there will be internet sites, magazines, expert sports writers and television network predictions for the success or failure of the professional football teams all across the country.

Everyone wants to get a sneak peek into what is expected from their favorite team. We all want to know if our favorite team has a chance to win their division, go to the playoffs and ultimately who will be in the Superbowl and who will be Superbowl Champions this year.

There is not any way to guarantee which team will triumph in the division, the conference or even the playoffs. But, there are factors that give teams an advantage over the rest. Some of these factors are; team schedule, lost players from last season, key additions, injuries in the off season, coach, assistant coaches and team continuity. By looking at all of these a prediction can be made.

The off season saw many changes. Coaches were fired and new coaches brought in to turn a team around. Players were moved around by trades, free agency or cut from the team. New strategy plans will be implemented on teams that will challenge how a team will perform in the upcoming year.

The NFL Draft has brought in some new talent that should have immediate impact on some teams, some of these players sooner than later. Matt Stafford and Mark Sanchez will be asked as rookies to learn fast and may be inserted into the line-up by the first game of the season depending on how fast they can adapt to the NFL from college football. There are a number of rookies that will have to play immediately. Their ability to meld with their teams will be crucial.

Now for the rankings! First, I will list my predictions for each conference. And then follow with my prediction for overall team rank. This is my own prediction by all of the information I have gathered and made my opinions from. I am sure these predictions will differ from a lot of other writers and from readers of this article. Below are my predictions.

The NFL Playoffs are set. Who will claim the coveted Super Bowl trophy this year? The field is wide open as the playoff season begins. At NFL Playoffs-NFL Schedules you will find the AFC and NFC Playoffs seeding, NFL game times, TV Network schedule and links for NFL playoff team tickets.

I look back at this NFL Preseason Team Rankings Predictions to see how I did in my predictions before the 2009 NFL season began. There have been a few surprises and disappointments. The fall of the New York Giants would have to be the biggest this year. Who would have thought that the Giants defense would be one of the worst in the league at the end of the season? Check out the rest of this article and then see how the teams stand as the NFL Playoffs begin.

Thanks to a game winning drive over a weak defense, the Pittsburgh Steelers claimed their league record sixth Superbowl title. At the time of this article, the Steelers have all but two returning players and key injured players returning healthy from last year’s team.

He's Baaacccckkk!!! The QB of the New England Patriots offensive machine of the 2007/2008 Superbowl runners-up Tom Brady is back. He is reportedly fully recovered and ready to make a run for another team title. Will the Patriots be the same?

The Tennessee Titans, Indianapolis Colts, Baltimore Ravens and San Diego Chargers will try to make their own case for AFC champs. Tennessee lost Albert Haynesworth, but still has a top notch defense and a strong running game. Derrick Mason is retiring and the wide receiver position will need to be filled quickly.

Indianapolis will have a healthy Peyton Manning to begin the season. Key injuries from last year returning will make this team more like the Colts we remember. The addition of Brown at the draft will strengthen the running game.

Baltimore will have a more mature QB in Flacco. The defense will be the heart of the team once more. San Diego will have major players healed from injuries. The return of Merriman will solidify their defense. Gates and L.T. will be factors again in the offense. Look for a huge rebound for the Chargers and a challenge for the AFC this year.

AFC EAST:

1. New England-Having Brady back instantly makes N.E. a SB contender.

2. NY Jets-Rookie QB Sanchez. Strong defense and good Off. Line. A 2^nd strong WR needs to step up. Sanchez may struggle early, but defense should make team competitive.

3. Miami-A Parcells team will be better, but may not mean more wins. Schedule is brutal. R. Brown looks good in spring work-out camp. WR needs to be more consistent.

4. Buffalo-The T.O. show begins! RB Lynch starts with suspension.

AFC NORTH:

1. Pittsburgh-Begin season as SB Champs. Pass protection better get better or Big Ben may not be as lucky to survive an entire season this year.

2. Baltimore-Flacco will be more mature and defense is still solid and the center of this team.

3. Cincinnati-Palmer is healthy. Ocho is mucho happier, he claims. Defense came along to finish last year. Could be a "surprise" team this year.

4. Cleveland-Which offense will be in Cleveland? Offense of 2007 or 2008? QB position needs to be settled and alot of holes to be filled on both sides of the ball.

AFC SOUTH:

1. Indianapolis-Healthy Manning to start the season. Running game should be improved with the addition of D. Brown.

2. Tennessee-Collins protects the ball and running game is solid with Johnson and White. Defense will still be one of the Top 3 without Haynesworth.

3. Houston-Team should make a push for the upper division this year. Defense should be stronger this and if Shaub can stay healthy, a 2^nd place finish is possible.

4. Jacksonville-Lots of holes to fill. Can MJD be the main RB for a whole season? Could be a tough season.

AFC WEST:

1. San Diego-Injuries killed this team last year and under performance. Gates and L.T. and the return of Merriman to run the defense should make this team a challenger once again. Division should be an easy win.

2. Denver-Talk about a team falling apart in the off-season! All-Pro QB traded, coach fired, top WR wants out…list of RB a mile long. Will struggle, but still enough offense to place 2^nd in this division.

3. Oakland-The running game is the strength of this team. Heyward-Bey was a surprise draft choice over Crabtree. Russell has worked hard to improve, but can he do it in the game? Defense needs work.

4. Kansas City-Can QB Cassel repeat his performance of last year in KC? Should be a drop off. L. Johnson is adequate at RB, but not what he once was. Long year in store.

The Arizona Cardinals were just one defensive play away from winning the Superbowl. The offense remains intact and the RB tandem of Hightower and rookie Wells should only make that high powered offense even better. Now if the new defensive coordinator can turn the defense around, the Cards could vie for another title run.

The New York Giants appeared to be the team to beat throughout last year until they lost WR Burris. Can Eli find a key receiver on this year's team?

Drew Brees had an amazing year statistically, but the Saints need their defense to step up if they want to make a title run. Injures last year on offense and defense did hurt, but Reggie Bush is healthy again and needs to play to the hype that is around him. Additions were made to the defense. This team has a real chance to represent the NFC in the Superbowl if they can gel as a team on both sides of the ball.

The Philadelphia Eagles will go as far as Donovan McNabb carries them. Can he still play a full season at that high level he ended on last year? He needs that intensity for 16 games plus. Westbrook is a question this year with being injury prone. The Atlanta Falcons, Chicago Bears, and Minnesota Vikings will be improved, but I believe is still at least a year away from challenging.

The Cowboys find out this year if Tony Romo really is the future of their team. T.O. is gone and according to reports, no more Jessica Simpson. So no more excuses. Wade Phillips needs to get a stronghold on this team and win a playoff game or he may be gone! The new billion dollar football stadium is complete in Arlington, Texas. If this team is to make a happy owner of Jerry Jones, this team had better win, sell game tickets, season tickets as well as the Box Seat tickets at the box office and fill the seats.

NFC EAST:

1. NY Giants-Who is the #1 receiver is still a question mark, but running game is strong and defense will have Umenyoura back. Should be the best of the NFC.

2. Philadelphia-If McNabb stays healthy and focused, the Eagles should move into 2^nd place. He now has a group of fast receivers. Westbrook has to avoid injuries for this team to be successful.

3. Dallas-Which Romo will show up this year and can he learn to win in December or January? No T.O. Can Roy Williams step up? Defense should be better with Wade Phillips more involved. Secondary needs help.

4. Washington-Haynesworth will improve on a tough defense. Offense, needs work.

NFC North:

1. Chicago- Jay Cutler is the team’s future at QB. Offense will be vastly improved. Running game is strong with Forte. Defense will rebound.

2. Minnesota-Who will be QB? Favre, Rosenfel, Jackson? Either way, this is a "running" team. A.D. carries the load. Defense will need to carry more of the load this year. *Update: Favre is staying retired. Who will step up at QB? Uncertainty here.

3. Green Bay-Offense will be better. Defense needs holes filled to return to 2007 form. Could surprise in the NFC this year.

4. Detroit-Will struggle through season, but will Win a game. Will be more competitive than the horrible 0-16 campaign. Another long season.

NFC SOUTH:

1. New Orleans-Brees leads this high powered offense. Reggie Bush needs to step up. If defense can progress, the Saints could make a Superbowl run.

2. Atlanta-Matt Ryan will be improved and have an added weapon in Tony Gonzalez. Tougher schedule and no surprise to teams this year.

3. Carolina-Julius Peppers will lead the defense once again. The 2-headed RB machine will continue to grind up yardage.

4. Tampa Bay-House cleaning after last season. New defensive scheme. Could be a tough year for the Bucs.

NFC WEST:

1. Arizona-Tougher schedule will test the Cards. Addition of B.Wells will strengthen the running game. Defense has to improve. A repeat to Superbowl will be tough.

2. Seattle-A healthy Hasselback and a healthy receivers will improve the Seahawks. T.J will make an instant weapon for Hasselback. Easy division adds up to more wins.

3. San Francisco-Defense showed signs of improvements at the end of the season last year. Crabtree adds a WR weapon to go with Bruce. QB position needs to mature.

4. St. Louis-Team is in rebuilding mode. Will Jackson stay healthy? Will offensive line be improved? Donnie Avery the #1 receiver now. Too many questions.

Coming into this season, I have ranked the teams in the order I perceive by the information gathered. Ranking can and will change as the season progresses.

1.  Pittsburgh
2. New England
3. NY Giants
4. New Orleans
5. Baltimore
6. Indianapolis
7. San Diego
8. Arizona
9. Chicago
10. Tennessee
11. Atlanta
12. Philadelphia
13. Minnesota
14. Dallas
15. NY Jets
16. Green Bay
17. Houston
18. Carolina
19. Washington
20. Miami
21. Cincinnati
22. Jacksonville
23. Denver
24. Buffalo
25. Cleveland
26. Seattle
27. Tampa Bay
28. San Francisco
29. Oakland
30. Kansas City
31. St. Louis
32. Detroit

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