PICKS AND PANS FOR WEEK ONE OF THE 2008-09 NFL FOOTBALL SEASON

Well here we go with the 2008-09 NFL season.

As usual the first week is the hardest to pick the winners, because the preseason is all about who makes the team and replace starters lost to retirement, free agency and/or injury. Most starters from last year either played very little or not at all, Tom Brady and Peyton Manning are in the latter group.

Because I am a die hard Seattle Seahawk fan, most of my blogs will favor the Seahawks, whether you like it or not. Seattle rested most of their offensive starters the whole preseason, but played most of the defensive starters for longer periods of time in each preseason game. I was a little disappoointed by defensive picks in the draft because I still think Seattle's defense is way ahead of the offense. Seattle weaknesses were in special teams, offensive line and running back. With the acquisition of both Jones and Duckett and a little consistency by Morris maybe that position has been fixed. We will have to wait and see if this happens. The offensive line over a sixteen game season is my biggest worry. A few injuries and we could have major problems opening holes for these three guys. Special teams is another concern at the moment, I don't think Seattle fans will miss Josh Brown because his kick offs were way to short and were returned over the 30 yard line way to many times. With Coutu and Mare, and it looks like Holmgren has both kickers on the roster, it looks like the kicking game will improve. But I see plenty of holes in the kick off coverage and until something is done about that, long kick off will not be much of an advantage unless it is kicked out of the end zone instead of carried into it.

Well here goes with the 2008-09 season predictions. I will leave the weekly picks for later in the week when I have evaluated who has been cut, important injuries and what the finally line ups will be to start the season. But lets have a drum roll, please.

AFC EAST DIVISION

New England Patriots

New York Jets

Buffalo Bills

Miami Dolphins

AFC NORTH DIVISION

Pittsburgh Steelers

Cleveland Browns

Cincinnati Bengals

Baltimore Ravens

AFC SOUTH DIVISION

Jacksonville jaguars

Indianapolis Colts

Houston Texans

Tennessee Titans

AFC WEST DIVISION

San Diego Chargers

Denver Broncos

Oakland Raiders

Kansas City Chiefs

NFC NORTH DIVISION

Minnesota Vikings

Green Bay Packers

Detroit Lions

Chicago Bears

NFC EAST DIVISION

Dallas Cowboys

Philadelphia Eagles

New York Giants

Washington Redskins

NFC SOUTH DIVISION

New Orleans Saints

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Carolina Panthers

Atlanta Falcons

NFC WEST DIVISION

Seattle Seahawks

Arizona Cardinals

San Francisco 49ers

St Louis Rams

Now we all know at the end of the season some of these teams will be wrong due to injuries and pure bad luck. but if the season goes like I think it should, it will be pretty close. I won't predict the playoffs or the Super Bowl until I know how the season is playing out. I think the odds makers have the PIatriots and Cowboys as the favorites but lest see what happens and revisit this on, let's say week ten or eleven.

Now NFL fans lest have some fun and your comments are always welcome good or bad.

Good luck to your team and I hope we all have a good season.