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2009 Superbowl Predictions
by Badger of Predictem.com
The march toward Superbowl 43 begins on September 4th, when the defending Super Bowl champion New York Giants host the Washington Redskins in the NFL season opener.
This year every teams goal is to make it all the way to Tampa, Florida, as Superbowl 43 (XLIII) will be played at Raymond James Stadium on Sunday, February 1st.
Here are my preseason predictions for division champs, wildcard winners and eventual playoff winners. I will also offer up a short, middle and long shot winner using the current 2009 Super Bowl odds listed at BetUS Sportsbook
NFC East - Dallas Cowboys (12-4)
The Cowboys will once again win the NFC East and will also earn home- field advantage throughout the playoffs with another strong season. But we all know how meaningless the home field has been for Tony Romo and the Boys in years past.
NFC North Green Bay Packers (10-6)
The Packers will win the North again, even with Aaron Rodgers replacing the legendary Brett Favre at quarterback. The Packers still have the best balance of offense and defense in the division, but they wont clinch the title until the final week of the season when they beat Detroit and Minnesota loses to the Giants.
NFC South New Orleans (8-8)
Yes, the Saints will rebound from a disappointing season in 2007 to win the division in 2008. And yes, it will happen with just a .500 record. The Saints improved more in the offseason than any other team in the division, which is why they sneak past the field and into the playoffs.
NFC West Seattle Seahawks (10-6)
The Seahawks are still the team to beat in the NFC weakest division. With a second straight 10-6 campaign the Seahawks will earn the NFCs other first-round bye by virtue of the tiebreaker system over the Packers.
NFC Wildcards New York Giants (10-6) and Philadelphia Eagles (9-7)
Once again the NFC East will send three teams into the playoffs as the Eagles sneak in past the Vikings based on strength of schedule and a better overall conference record.
AFC East New England (14-2)
No surprise here, except that the Patriots will actually lose a few times during the regular season since they have three really tough road games on their schedule (at S.D., at Indy, at Seattle).
AFC North Pittsburgh Steelers (9-7)
The Steelers win the division title when they beat the Cleveland Browns head-to-head in Pittsburgh in the final game of the regular season. The record for all of the teams in the AFC North will be down in 2008, thanks mostly to tough intra-conference games versus the loaded NFC East.
AFC South Jacksonville Jaguars (11-5)
The Jags will knock the Indianapolis Colts from their perch atop the AFC South as the Colts struggle in the early stages of the season with Peyton Manning and crew still working back into shape following all of their offseason surgeries.
AFC West San Diego Chargers (11-5)
Just like in the NFC, the West Division of the AFC is the weakest and the Chargers will win it with relative ease.
AFC Wildcards Indianapolis Colts (10-6) and Tennessee Titans (8-8)
The Colts are still one of the toughest teams to beat, which could make them this years New York Giants since they will have to win four games all on the road to hoist another Lombardi Trophy. The Titans win a three-way tiebreaker with Cleveland and the New York Jets because of victories over both of them in head-to-head matchups (both games are home games for Tennessee).
Wildcard Weekend (January 3rd & 4th)
Philadelphia Eagles at Green Bay Packers Philly goes on the road to take on the Packers, but Lambeau Field isnt quite frozen yet as the Eagles win another nail-biter versus the Pack (remember 4th-and-26 in 2005?).
New York Giants at New Orleans Saints The Giants will make the Saints one-dimensional by taking away the Saints meager run game, allowing the Giants pass rush to pin their ears back and go.
Tennessee Titans at San Diego Chargers Vince Young puts together another late-comeback victory, scrambling for a touchdown in the closing seconds to knock the heavily favored Bolts from the dance.
Indianapolis Colts at Pittsburgh Steelers In what proves to be the best game of the Wildcard round, the Colts and Peyton Manning put together a two-minute drill to march down the field and win the game with a late Vinatieri field goal.
Divisional Playoffs (January 10th & 11th)
Philadelphia Eagles at Seattle Seahawks Seattle is one of the hardest venues to go into and win, but the Eagles and Donovan McNabb will find a way to do it as Brian Westbrook runs wild on the Seahawk defense again (i.e. Packers Ryan Grant 201 yards last year).
New York Giants at Dallas Cowboys 2008 will finally be the year that Romo gets the monkey off his back, as the Cowboys will beat the Giants at their own game by putting Eli Manning on his back early and often.
Indianapolis Colts at New England Patriots The Colts will have shot their load the week before in Pittsburgh, so Tom Brady and Co. roll to an easy win on the slower grass turf of Gillette Stadium.
Tennessee Titans at Jacksonville Jaguars The Jags win in what will be the ugliest games in the 2008 playoffs. Both defenses will dominate, but the Jags will get a late field goal to win by a 13-10 score.
Conference Championships (January 18th)
Philadelphia Eagles at Dallas Cowboys Obviously these two teams will know each other backwards and forwards, so it will be a knock- down, drag-em-out battle from start to finish. Philly wins a nail- biter when Asante Samuel picks off a Romo-to-T.O. pass in the end zone to save the Eagles and send them into the Super Bowl.
Jacksonville Jaguars at New England Patriots The Patriots have unfinished business here, and they dispose of the Jags with a huge second half to break open a close game.
Superbowl XLIII Prediction
Philadelphia vs. New England As mentioned above, the Patriots finally take care of unfinished business and earn another Super Bowl title with Brady earning another MVP.
So based on my predictions above:
Short Favorite New England Patriots (currently 33-to-10 odds) Do I need to explain?
Middle of the Road Dallas Cowboys (currently 8-to-1 odds) yes, Im hedging here. But 8-to-1 is more middle than Philly.
Longshot Philadelphia Eagles (currently 20-to-1 odds) My true long shot falls one game short.
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