NFL Preview - Part 2

Dave has made his picks, so it is time for me to make mine. I am going to see if I can keep the explanation to each pick to as close to one sentence as possible.

Here we go:

NFC East: NY Giants - I can hear the homer chants now. I know in our over/under I picked the Eagles to win more games, but that was before they signed Micheal Vick. I love what Vick does on the field, I don't like what he is going to do to the locker room and team chemistry, and to Donovan McNabb's head specifically.

NFC South: New Orleans Saints - I am not in love with the Panthers like everyone else is and I think the Falcons will regress. Give me the Saints to step up on defense and continue with that high flying offense.

NFC North: Minnesota Vikings - Their defense is amazing and they have the best RB in football. I think Favre and company do just enough to edge the Packers for the division crown.

NFC West: Seattle Seahawks - Arizona won't do what they did last year. I don't believe in Beanie Wells and the rest of the Cardinal runners. The rest of the division sucks out loud. Seattle wins by default.

NFC Wild Cards: Philadelphia Eagles and Green Bay Packers - both teams will finish as close seconds in their respective divisions.

AFC East: New England Patriots - I've said it all pre-season, New England is back. They won 11 games last year with Matt Cassell at the helm; they'll win more if Tom Brady is even 80% of what he used to be.

AFC South: Tennessee Titans - Last night's loss to Pittsburgh aside, this team is great, especially on defense where it seems the loss of Albert Haynesworth has been addition by subtraction. They will win a close race in what is the deepest division in the NFL.

AFC North: Pittsburgh Steelers - The champs picked up right where they left off last year. Roethlisberger doesn't get the credit for being as great as he is because he isn't a pretty boy with big numbers. But he knows how to win, as does Mike Tomlin and their defense.

AFC West: San Diego Chargers - This is the easiest pick of all, but that's how it is when your division has one real team and three teams that belong in the Pac-10. The Chargers are so good on both sides of the ball and they will run away with the division.

AFC Wild Cards: Houston Texans and Baltimore Ravens - The Ravens defense and running game are too good. The Texans will win their last game of the year, at home against a Patriots team with little to play for, to edge Indianapolis for the final playoff spot.

Playoffs:

NFC Championship - Giants over the Saints.

AFC Championship - Patriots over the Steelers.

Super Bowl: Patriots over the Giants.

Coach of the Year: Gary Kubiak, Houston.

MVP: Drew Brees

Offensive Player of the Year: Adrian Peterson, Minnesota

Defensive Player of the Year: Demarcus Ware, Dallas.

Comeback Player of the Year: Matt Hasselbeck, Seattle.

Offensive Rookie of the Year: Mark Sanchez, New York Jets.

Defensive Rookie of the Year: Aaron Curry, Seattle.