Ah yes, another football season is upon us once again. From my rocky perch above the first floor window of my apartment in sunny, warm Chicago, Illinois, I look upon the new season with a sense of renewal and hope. Hope that my favorite team, the Dallas Cowboys, will finally return to their playoff-winning ways after not winning a post-season game since 1996 – the longest drought in team history.

Yet, for all my unbridled optimism, I no longer believe that these Cowboys are as good as I originally thought. With the foot injury to DB Terence Newman, as well as the injuries to Greg Ellis and Terry Glenn (not to mention their advancing age, which invariably slows their recovery), I’m quite concerned and no longer comfortable picking them to even win their division.

Of course, I would be happy if they did.

So, even though I picked Dallas to beat Cincinnati last year in the Super Bowl, I present to you my 2007 NFL predictions:

NFC East

Philadelphia………………………………….11-5
Dallas…………………………………...……..10-6*
New York Giants…………………………….7-9
Washington…………………………….……..5-11

NFC North

Chicago……………………………….………12-4
Green Bay…………………………………….8-8
Detroit………………………………………...8-8
Minnesota………………………….……….4-12

NFC South

New Orleans……………………………….10-6
Carolina……………………………………….9-7*
Tampa Bay…………………..………………7-9
Atlanta………………………………………...5-11

NFC West

St. Louis………………………….……………9-7
San Francisco………………….……………8-8
Arizona………………………………………..8-8
Seattle…………………………………………7-9

AFC East

New England……………………………….12-4
Buffalo…………………………………………7-9
New York Jets………………………………7-9
Miami………………………………………….5-11

AFC North

Baltimore……………………………………..10-6
Pittsburgh……………………………………..9-7*
Cincinnati……………………………………..9-7
Cleveland……………………………………...3-13

AFC South

Indianapolis…………………………………12-4
Jacksonville……………………………….…9-7
Houston ……………………………….………7-9
Tennessee …………………………………...6-10

AFC West

San Diego…………………………………….11-5
Denver………………………………………..11-5*
Kansas City………………….……………...6-10
Oakland……………………………………….4-12

First Round NFC: New Orleans over Carolina, Dallas over St. Louis

First Round AFC: San Diego over Pittsburgh, Denver over Baltimore

Divisional Playoffs NFC: Philadelphia over New Orleans, Chicago over Dallas

Divisional Playoffs AFC: Indianapolis over San Diego, New England over Denver

NFC Championship: Chicago over Philadelphia

AFC Championship: New England over Indianapolis

SUPER BOWL XLII: New England 24 Chicago 21

What do you think?