Are You Ready For Some Football?

(and now back to our regularly scheduled programming....)

It's that time of the year when all the so-called experts issue their predictions as to the upcoming NFL season. So I figured, why should the likes Peter King and Dr. Z (the Sports Illustrated writer, not the annoying bald-headed Chrysler spokesperson with the German accent) have all the fun? Here are my predictions, in print, subject to the ridicule of the masses, though I intend to be proven correct on most of them. Also, I intend to ressurect, at least in limited form, my old prognostication column from college. Keep an eye out Thursdays during the NFL season for Playing the Spread, starting tomorrow.

American Football Conference
East: New England Patriots
North: Pittsburgh Steelers
South: Indianapolis Colts
West: Denver Broncos
Wild Cards: Miami Dolphins, San Diego Chargers

Wild Card Playoffs:
Dolphins defeat Steelers, Patriots defeat Chargers

Divisional Playoffs:
Colts defeat Dolphins, Broncos defeat Patriots

Conference Championship:
Broncos defeat Colts (another Peyton Manning choke, helped by an Adam Vinatieri shank in the closing seconds -- you heard it here first)

National Football Conference
East: Dallas Cowboys
North: Chicago Bears (by default)
South: Carolina Panthers
West: Seattle Seahawks
Wild Cards: New York Giants, New Orleans Saints

Wild Card Playoffs:
Seahawks defeat Saints, Giants defeat Bears

Divisional Playoffs:
Panthers defeat Giants, Cowboys defeat Seahawks

Conference Championship:
Cowboys defeat Panthers

Super Bowl XLI
Cowboys defeat Broncos (as much as I hate to see TO win a Super Bowl, it would be a wonderful way for the Big Tuna to end his career, this time for good)