The Sports Brief's 2009 NFL Preview

The NFL Season Kicks off tonight with Steelers and Titans. Below are the predictions for the 2009 season. Final division standings, playoff match ups, Super Bowl picks, and the big individual awards.

KEEFE's Picks:

AFC East

1. Patriots*

2. Bills*

3. Dolphins

4. Jets

AFC North

1. Steelers*

2. Ravens*

3. Bengals

4. Browns

AFC South

1. Texans*

2. Colts

3. Titans

4. Jaguars

AFC West

1. Chargers*

2. Raiders

3. Chiefs

4. Broncos

Playoffs:

Wildcard:

Patriots over Bills

Ravens over Texans

Divisional:

Patriots over Steelers

Chargers over Ravens

Conference:

Chargers over Patriots

NFC East

1. Eagles*

2. Giants

3. Redskins

4. Cowboys

NFC North

1. Bears*

2. Vikings*

3. Packers

4. Lions

NFC South

1. Saints*

2. Panthers

3. Falcons

4. Buccaneers

NFC West

1. Cardinals*

2. Seahawks*

3. Rams

4. 49ers

Playoffs

Wildcard:

Seahawks over Cardinals

Eagles over Vikings

Divisional:

Eagles over Bears

Saints over Seahawks

Conference:

Saints over Eagles

SUPER BOWL: Chargers over Saints

MVP: Drew Brees, Saints

Offensive Player of the Year: Brees, Saints

Defensive Player of the Year: Mario Williams, Texans

O-Rookie: Percy Harvin, Vikings

D-Rookie: Brian Cushing, Texans

Coach: Gary Kubiak, Texans

BESSE's Picks:

AFC East

1. Patriots*

2. Dolphins

3. Jets

4. Bills

AFC North

1. Steelers*

2. Bengals*

3. Ravens

4. Browns

AFC South

1. Colts*

2. Texans*

3. Titans

4. Jaguars

AFC West

1. Chargers*

2. Broncos

3. Chiefs

4. Raiders

AFC Playoffs

Wildcard:

Chargers over Texans

Colts over Bengals

Divisional:

Pats over Chargers

Steelers over Colts

Conference:

Pats over Steelers

NFC East

1. Giants*

2. Cowboys*

3. Eagles

4. Redskins

NFC North

1. Packers*

2. Bears

3. Vikings

4. Lions

NFC South

1. Saints*

2. Falcons*

3. Panthers

4. Bucs

NFC West

1. Seahawks*

2. Cardinals

3. 49ers

4. Rams

NFC Playoffs

Wildcard:

Falcons over Giants

Cowboys over Seahawks

Divisional:

Packers over Cowboys

Falcons over Saints

Conference:

Falcons over Packers

SUPER BOWL: Pats over Falcons

Awards:

MVP – Aaron Rodgers, Packers

Offensive POY – Drew Brees, Saints

Defensive POY – Justin Tuck, Giants

Offensive ROY – Knowshon Moreno, Broncos

Defensive ROY – James Laurinaitis, Rams

Coach of the Year – Mike McCarthy, Packers

-The Sports Brief

Week 1 Picks

Keefe: Steelers(-6) over the Titans

Hate both teams, but I'll go with Pittsburgh at home to win by more than a touchdown. They will be all jacked up and could get off to a slow start, but I think that's going to be the Titans' problem all year. Collins plays himself out of the starting QB job, only for it to get worse with Vince Young at the helm.

Besse: Steelers (-6) over Titans
While some money grubbin' whore in Vegas is digging up the names of every chick Big Ben has slayed (good luck w/ that), he'll be methodically breaking down the Titans defense on opening night. The loss of Haynesworth will gleam brightly tonight for the Titans, and the vaunted Steelers defense will shut down the run and force Kerry Collins to pass more. By the end of the night, we'll be wondering if Collins fell off the wagon again. And look for Willie Parker to do what he did last year: explode in Week 1, get all of his fantasy owners jacked up for the rest of the season, then get hurt and run like Maroney for the rest of the year. If you can't tell, that's exactly what happened to me last year. Bitter? Nah...

Where Will T.O. Go?

There are 32 teams in the NFL. Owens was just released by Dallas, making it 31 possible destinations. Yeah right. We all know that Owens (who is 2nd all time in TD catches) has severed many ties to players and coaches along the way. Most recently he was the scapegoat in Dallas despite Jason Garrett coaching the second half of the season with his hands around his neck, Wade Phillips being Wade Phillips, and Jerry Jones trading a 1st and 3rd round pick for the 2nd best receivers on the 0-16 Lions and then not even throwing to him. But if they want to blame Owens for their struggles go right ahead.

When Owens has been cast a side by a team he has come back the next year on a mission. First year in Philly he had 14 TDs in 14 games helping the Eagles make the Super Bowl, where he was the only player on offense who remembered to show up to the Big Game... Philly has not been back since. In Dallas, Owens led the NFL in TDs his first year there, and would have likely won a playoff game for the first time since Aikman/Smith/Irvin, if Tony Romo knew how to hold.

Despite these Pro Bowl seasons once he joins a new team, many NFL organizations have already claimed to want nothing to do with T.O. Profootballtalk kept a list going yesterday of teams that said no thanks that included: the New York Giants, Washington Redskins (heard they were in and out), Minnesota Vikings (Brad Childress connection), Philadelphia Eagles, Miami Dolphins, Baltimore Ravens, Atlanta Falcons, Cleveland Browns, San Diego Chargers, New York Jets, St. Louis Rams, New Orleans Saints, San Francisco 49ers, Houston Texans, Tennessee Titans, and Jacksonville Jaguars. Throw in the obvious Cowboys and that's more than half the teams in the league.

Do I believe all those teams really don't want T.O.? Hell no. Who had more TD catches the last 3 years in the NFL? That's right, no one. Not even Randy Moss. Look it up. 3 years in Dallas Owens caught 38 TDs, he also ranked 4th in receiving yards over that span. Check out the number 1 WRs on some of the teams listed above. They have got to be kidding themselves. Hey Jacksonville, I'd rather have Owens than a guy who does coke in a parking lot, but that's just me.

T.O. has caused problems are certain teams, but it's naive to think it was all his fault. Also he gets tied in with Pacman Jones, Plaxico Burress, etc. Am I missing something? When was the last time Owens was arrested? You don't hear about drugs, guns, DUI, assualts, homicide (looking at you choir boy Marvin Harrison), dog fighting with T.O. Don't compare him to those guys.

Back to the teams that should be interested in him. I make fun of Jacksonville for saying they are not interested considering they're WRs are for lack of a better word, terrible. The fact of the matter is, they shouldn't be going after him as long as they have David Garrard throwing, make that trying to throw him the ball. It wouldn't work for anyone. A team must have a strong coach but perhaps more importantly a Top 10 or maybe even Top 5 QB.

Despite what some of the teams, and sources have said to this point, here are 5 spots I could see Terrell Owens playing in 2009. (Salaries not withstanding, we'll have to see what the market is)

1. Colts:

I know they have a new coach in town, so maybe that would throw a wrinkle in my plan, but why not Indy? Marvin Harrison is gone, they still have Reggie Wayne, Anthony Gonzalez, and Dallas Clark. When Peyton Manning was at his best he could spread the ball around and have 3 players with 1,000 yards. Manning has the Super Bowl ring, and thus the respect of T.O. As a Pats fan I would be nervous as hell if the Colts got Owens.

2. Chiefs:

I guess there was some verbal jarring between Owens and new head coach Todd Haley on the sidelines in the past, but if KC really wants to win, and do it soon they have to consider T.O. Scott Pioli rolled the dice in the past with Corey Dillon and Randy Moss, he should make a big splash with Owens, giving Matt Cassel a Moss-like threat to throw to.

3. Broncos:

Calm Jay Culter down from all the trade talks by bringing in one of the best wide receivers of all time. Brandon Marshall wide right, Terrell Owens wide left, with Eddie Royal in the slot. Sounds like a points bonanza to me. Josh McDaniels at the helm may nix this thing, can a 1st year coach handle Owens?

4. Chargers:

Another place that would scare the crap out of me as a Pats fan. Philip Rivers may have had the best season of any QB last year in the regular season. He's fiery and I think would stand up to Owens if he had to. They have LT, for now, and a bunch of other personalities. It would be a reality show in the making, but if they could play together, look out.

5. Patriots:

That's right, I said it. Moss, Welker, and Owens. I just passed out. 3 great players with 0 Super Bowl titles. I can't think of a better QB/ coach duo to embrace Owens than Tom Brady and Bill Belichick. I believe Owens would respect Manning, so Brady and Belichick, come on. Also don't forget Belichick always remembers players who play well against him. Wes Welker was a guy BB said torched them all the time, so he went and got him. Greg Lewis for God sake played a couple good games against the Pats, and Belichick traded for him. How about that Super Bowl game? I can hope right.

-Keefe