It’s that time of year again where I embarrass myself with my annual football picks. So far, in the five previous years that I’ve made these predictions, I have picked just two Super Bowl contestants correctly and just one Super Bowl winner (the 2006 Colts).

I have no doubt I will be called all sorts of nasty things for my picks. My answer to these critics is simple: create your own blog and post your own predictions. Even my 15-year-old questioned my sanity on some of these picks ("where's Philadelphia? How can you pick against Pittsburgh?"). Well, my answer to him was "Shaddup!"

This year is THE year I get them all right!

NFC East

Dallas Cowboys……….…..…11-5
NY Giants*………………....…….10-6
Philadelphia Eagles…….......…9-7
Washington Redskins....…....6-10

Injuries will deplete the Eagles, while the Cowboys come back from a disappointing season. The talent is still there. The Giants are tough once again.

NFC North

Minnesota Vikings……..…10-6
Chicago Bears*……………......10-6
Green Bay Packers…....…...…8-8
Detroit Lions…………......……3-13

The Viking defense will be enough to win. Add Brett Favre and they only get better. Chicago improves with Cutler and Green Bay needs to much to make it.

NFC South

New Orleans Saints……....10-6
Atlanta Falcons……….…….......9-7
Carolina Panthers…..….......….8-8
Tampa Bay Bucs………......…..4-12

The Saints offense will rule the division, while Atlanta takes a step back. Injuries will hurt the Panthers as Delhomme is getting older.

NFC West

Arizona Cardinals…………10-6
Seattle Seahawks……….......….7-9
San Francisco 49ers….....……6-10
St. Louis Rams…………....……4-12

Arizona is the class of the division. Not much separates the others here. Even if the Cards have to rely on their backup QB, they are still far better than the rest.

AFC East

New England Patriots….…..13-3
Miami Dolphins*……….....……..10-6
Buffalo Bills…………….....….….…7-9
NY Jets…………………….....……..6-10

Brady is back and so are the Patriots. Never underestimate Bill Parcells and while Sanchez is a real find for the Jets, they will need to build a team around him.

AFC North

Baltimore Ravens…….………12-4
Pittsburgh Steelers*……....…….10-6
Cincinnati Bengals……….....……7-9
Cleveland Browns……….....……6-10

Baltimore has a great defense and a young QB too match. The Steelers take a step back, but are still very strong. Quinn will have growing pains.

AFC South

Indianapolis Colts…………..11-5
Tennessee Titans……….....…….9-7
Houston Texans…………....……7-9
Jacksonville Jaguars…....……..5-11

Never bet against Peyton Manning. After an off year, they will win the division again. Tennessee will step back and the Texans have too much competition to compete.

AFC West

San Diego Chargers…..…….11-5
Denver Broncos…………….....…6-10
Oakland Raiders…………....…..6-10
Kansas City Chiefs………....…..6-10

San Diego will benefit from a weak division. Denver and Kansas City have too many questions at QB and Oakland is just as bad as they have been for the last few years.

WILD CARD ROUND:
New Orleans over Chicago, NY Giants over Minnesota
Pittsburgh over San Diego, Indianapolis over Miami

DIVISIONAL PLAYOFFS
Dallas over New Orleans, NY Giants over Arizona
New England over Pittsburgh, Baltimore over Indianapolis

CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP
Dallas over NY Giants
New England over Baltimore

SUPER BOWL XLIV
New England Patriots 34 Dallas Cowboys 28