MANKATO —
The NFL season begins tonight with the Vikings playing at New Orleans in a rematch of last year’s NFC championship game. With that in mind, here are my predictions for the 2010 season.
We’ll start with division winners:
In the AFC East it will be New England that wins the title. A lot of armchair quarterbacks like the Jets, but I’m still not a believer in Mark Sanchez.
The AFC West goes to San Diego by default. Oakland and Kansas City still have a lot of work to do and Denver isn’t quite in the same class as the Chargers just yet.
The AFC South belongs to Indianapolis simply because the Colts are the most balanced team in the division. Houston has great offense but a suspect defense, Tennessee still has some defensive problems and
Jacksonville is mediocre on both sides of the ball.
In the AFC North the winner will be Baltimore. The Ravens’ defense is not what it once was, but the offense has improved enough that it no longer has to be carried by Ray Lewis and Co. Pittsburgh could sneak in if it survives its Roethlisberger-less start, but I still like the Ravens.
In the NFC, I’ll go with Dallas to win the East. The Cowboys offense may be a bit over hyped but the defense is for real.
The NFC West title goes to San Francisco, again by default. Seattle is average, the Rams are ... well the Rams ... and Arizona no longer has Kurt Warner. Derek Anderson will surprise some people in Arizona, but not enough to catch Frisco.
In the NFC South, the team to beat is again New Orleans. Atlanta may give the Saints all they can handle but the Falcons are still a year away.
Green Bay is the popular pick in the NFC North and it should be. The Packers are better on defense than last year and boast perhaps the premier passing attack in the NFL. Look for Green Bay to reverse its fortunes from a year ago and to beat Minnesota twice during the regular season.
The AFC championship game will come down Baltimore vs. Indianapolis with the Colts prevailing.
The NFC champiionship will feature Green Bay against Dallas with the Cowboys coming out on top.
In the Super Bowl, the pick is Dallas 28, Baltimore 24 in another tight title game.
Jim Rueda is the Free Press sports editor. To contact him, call 344-6381 or e-mail him at jrueda@mankatofreepress.com
Sports
Related Photos
-
Rueda
It's time for preseason prognostictions
- Sports
-
-
West duo’s final performance at MSU as Kenny & Shorty
Former Mankato West standouts Kenra Huettl and Amanda Umhoefer enter their final seasons of collegiate softball at Minnesota State University.
-
Mankato dentist will go old school for Birkebeiner
-
Another weekend in Splitsville for the Maverick hockey team
-
Giants win Super Bowl 21-17
Eli Manning named Super Bowl MVP after leading 88-yard touchdown drive in final minutes.
-
MSU hockey review: Minnesota State remains trendy
Another series split, more strong games from the freshmen
-
Cross: Some traps have no business in nature
When it comes to trapping, there are traps that do the job, and then there is overkill.
-
First period dooms Minnesota State hockey team
Michigan Tech scored six goals in the first period en route to the 7-3 WCHA victory over the Mavericks. It was the fifth consecutive series split for Minnesota State.
-
Margenthaler delivers sharp message after MSU's latest loss
Matt Margenthaler says jobs are on the line after Minnesota State's loss Saturday to Wayne State.
-
4th-ranked Wayne State drubs MSU women 83-45
From the 12-minute mark of the first half, Wayne State showed why it's the top team in the Northern Sun, rolling the Mavericks 83-45 Saturday at Bresnan Arena.
-
PucKato by Shane Frederick
MSU vs. Michigan Tech live chat
Shane Frederick will provide coverage, commentary and a little back and forth with the fans during tonight's Minnesota State hockey game against Michigan Tech at the Verizon Wireless Center. The puck drops at 7:07 p.m.
- More Sports Headlines
-
