By Allen Adams edge staff writer aadams@themaineedge.com With all due respect to the classic beauty and tradition of Major League Baseball, this weekend marked the return of the sport that has truly claimed the title of “America’s Pastime.” The NFL is back for five months of hard-hitting surprises, and our Sundays shall once more be consumed with high-profile quarterbacks and hard-hitting linebackers. The NFL has built itself into a model of competitive parity. The truth is that the league is set up to allow teams that make a handful of solid personnel and game plan changes to go from also-rans to playoff teams in the space of one offseason. So much of a team’s success boils down to getting the right players into the right system at the right time. No matter how much you might think you know about the game, with so many variables it’s practically impossible to make accurate league-wide predictions. Sure, there are a few no-brainer choices in there: the Chargers are still good, the Falcons are still bad; that sort of thing. The exceptional teams in the top three or four and the abysmal teams in the bottom three or four are relatively easy to pick out. It’s the 24 or so in the middle that can (and often do) prove difficult to predict. Despite all that, on to the Maine Edge’s 2008 NFL predictions, with division winners and wild-card playoff teams (indicated with an “x”). First up, the AFC: AFC East 1. New England Patriots - 10-6 2. New York Jets - 10-6(x) 3. Buffalo Bills - 8-8 4. Miami Dolphins - 4-12 Up until 1:30 p.m. this past Sunday, the Patriots looked ready to avenge last season’s Super Bowl loss. That all changed with Tom Brady’s knee injury. The road back to the promised land just got a lot more challenging. However, the Pats are still loaded at other spots, with Moss and Welker back and Jabar Gaffney and Lawrence Maroney ready to step up, but it all comes down to what Matt Cassel brings as the starting QB. They’ll likely still win the division - the fallout from the Spygate scandal and defensive back concerns notwithstanding – but it won’t be nearly as easy or as pretty. The Jets were the big winners in the “will he/won’t he” saga of Brett Favre this offseason. With the face of Wrangler jeans behind center, the Jets will see vast improvement in both performance and confidence; Favre brings a swagger that New York has sorely lacked in recent years. The Bills look like they have some weapons, but the linchpin of their offensive line, left tackle Jason Peters, held out through training camp. If the line can still open holes for Marshawn Lynch and protect young QB Trent Edwards, the Bills might surprise, though their “home” game in Toronto could prove to be an obstacle. The Dolphins’ big offseason move was to put Bill Parcells in charge of football operations. Parcells is a winner, sure, but there are far too many question marks here. Their best defensive player, defensive lineman Jason Taylor, is gone, while their QB is Jets castoff Chad Pennington. They’ll improve on last year’s one win, but not by much. AFC North 1. Pittsburgh Steelers - 11-5 2. Cleveland Browns - 9-7 3. Baltimore Ravens - 7-9 4. Cincinnati Bengals - 6-10 With Ben Roethlisberger fully healthy and skilled players like receiver Hines Ward and running backs Willie Parker and rookie Rashard Mendenhall, the Steelers are the class of the North division. Their defense looks fairly solid and the offense will put plenty of points on the board; they’ll do just fine. The Browns have the potential to make a playoff run, but it all boils down to whether or not QB Derek Anderson is really the guy the Browns thought he was when they signed him to a lucrative contract. If he struggles, expect to hear calls for heir apparent Brady Quinn. Their best bet is probably to throw to tight end Kellen Winslow seven or eight times a game. The Ravens are looking to start Joe Flacco, this year’s first-round draft pick, at quarterback this season. Baltimore has had its share of difficulties at the position, but the inexperienced Flacco is unlikely to be the answer, at least initially. Still, the Ravens’ defense remains strong, though it has aged and is beginning to struggle to live up to its reputation. The Bengals have Carson Palmer throwing to Chad Johnson (sorry; Chad Ocho Cinco) and T.J. Houshmandzadah and, well, not much else. The team has had players involved in numerous off-the-field incidents and brushes with the law, not that management seems to care all that much. With an unscrupulous front office and a coach on the hot seat, don’t expect much from the Bengals. AFC South 1. Indianapolis Colts - 12-4 2. Jacksonville Jaguars - 11-5(x) 3. Houston Texans - 8-8 4. Tennessee Titans - 6-10 Predicting the AFC South is tough, because while Indianapolis has been the class of the division over the past few years, Jacksonville has slowly but surely been closing the gap. The Colts still have Peyton Manning, though, so they’ll return to the top of the standings. With Marvin Harrison back and Reggie Wayne ready to expand on his breakout season, the Colts look poised to bring their trademark offensive fireworks to their new stadium. Plus, with guys like Dwight Freeney and Bob Sanders on the defensive side, the Colts look ready to dominate. Still, the Jaguars have a rising star at QB in David Garrard, as well as the monster running back tandem of Fred Taylor and Maurice Jones-Drew. Despite their off-field issues, including the recent shooting of offensive lineman Richard Collier, Jacksonville looks poised to make a run at the division title this season, though they’ll likely make the playoffs regardless. The Texans are a team that looks to be greatly improved; defensive lineman Mario Williams (14 sacks last season) has put to rest the naysayers who questioned his selection as the number one draft pick in 2006. If QB Matt Schaub has enough protection to regularly get the ball to receiver Andre Johnson, Houston may surprise. Tennessee isn’t a bad team, but they have the misfortune of being in a division with three stronger teams. Coach Jeff Fisher has his work cut out for him just to get this team to the break-even point. The pressure rests squarely on the shoulders of talented but erratic quarterback Vince Young; this team can’t afford another 17 interceptions out of him if they want to contend. AFC West 1. San Diego Chargers - 13-3 2. Denver Broncos - 9-7 3. Oakland Raiders - 6-10 4. Kansas City Chiefs - 2-14 San Diego is probably the biggest obstacle between the Patriots and another trip to the Super Bowl. With all-world running back LaDainian Tomlinson and outspoken quarterback Philip Rivers leading the charge, the Chargers look excellent on offense. If the injury to linebacker Shawne Merriman proves less problematic than the team fears, San Diego will march into the playoffs. The Broncos are pinning their hopes on a return to form by QB Jay Cutler. The Vanderbilt product was diagnosed with diabetes last season; he’s got the disease under control, so look for a return to form. The roster looks relatively thin, talent-wise, but it’s never a good idea to count out coach Mike Shanahan. The Raiders have some talented pieces, with quarterback JaMarcus Russell looking to step up and rookie running back Darren McFadden (who sports the awesome nickname of “Run-DMC”) bringing tremendous talent to the field. They’ll win a few they aren’t supposed to, but their lack of depth will keep them from making their way into playoff contention. Kansas City had an excellent draft this year, but with running back Larry Johnson banged up and an inexperienced quarterback under center, it’s looking to be a long season in Arrowhead Stadium. NFC East 1. Dallas Cowboys - 13-3 2. Philadelphia Eagles - 10-6(x) 3. New York Giants - 8-8 4. Washington Redskins - 5-11 The Cowboys look absolutely stacked this season. Tony Romo looks like he’ll be able to handle everything thrown at him (including Jessica Simpson), while Terrell Owens is looking as strong as ever. Their running game is solid and their defense looks like it might wreak some havoc on opponents’ passing games. As long as everybody stays out of trouble (Pac-Man, T.O., I’m looking at you), they’ll cruise into the postseason. The Eagles have weapons (QB Donovan McNabb, RB Brian Westbrook, DB Asante Samuel), but something doesn’t quite smell right. Still, they’ll probably go to the playoffs, and if McNabb can find a few guys to throw to with any consistent success, they might actually win once they get there. The defending Super Bowl champion Giants have lost the two most productive members of their defensive line, the unit that was the main reason they won in the first place. Eli Manning will have a big year throwing the ball, I think, but it won’t be enough to make up for the huge step backward on the defensive side of the ball. The Redskins have a new coach, a new system and no chance of even sniffing the postseason. Jason Campbell might make a good NFL QB someday, but not today. Running back Clinton Portis is getting old. Tight end Chris Cooley is becoming a star, and defensive end Jason Taylor will likely benefit from a change in scenery. Still, Redskins fans can look forward to another January of playoff football without their team. NFC North 1. Minnesota Vikings - 10-6 2. Green Bay Packers - 9-7(x) 3. Chicago Bears - 7-9 4. Detroit Lions - 4-12 The Minnesota Vikings look to be in good shape in most respects. Reigning Rookie of the Year running back Adrian Peterson is among the best in the league. Their defense has become even more formidable with the addition of pass rushing lineman Jared Allen. In fact, there’s only one glaring question. Unfortunately, it’s at quarterback. If Tavaris Jackson manages to play reasonably well, they’ll be really good. The Packers need Aaron Rodgers to work past the Brett Favre debacle and step up. The pressure of replacing a beloved legend might prove too much. Luckily, running back Ryan Grant, receiver Donald Driver and a solid defense will help pick up any slack. The Bears are another team with QB issues; Kyle Orton is not the answer. Their defense is first-rate, and receiver/return man Devin Hester is the most explosive offensive force in the game. However, they’re still going to struggle to stay above .500. The Lions have been bad for a long time, and despite guys like QB Jon Kitna and rejuvenated receiver Calvin Johnson, they are going to continue to be bad. 2008 will prove to be another sad season under the dome at Ford Field. NFC South 1. New Orleans Saints - 9-7 2. Carolina Panthers - 9-7 3. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - 6-10 4. Atlanta Falcons - 3-13 The Saints are looking strong. QB Drew Brees is Pro Bowl-caliber, throwing to new tight end Jeremy Shockey and handing off to Deuce McAllister and Reggie Bush. The defense looks good, too. The only things that might stop this team are issues with management and their relationship with the city of New Orleans. They could be even better than I think. The Panthers welcome back Jake Delhomme to run the offense. DeAngelo Williams and rookie Jonathan Stewart are a nice running back tandem, while Steve Smith is one of the best receivers in the game. If Carolina can keep its players healthy, they’ll be one to watch. The Buccaneers are getting farther and farther removed from their glory days; their once-dominant defense is getting older and slower, as is QB Jeff Garcia. There’s potential for a Tampa Bay revival; their receiving corps looks pretty solid across the board. Alas, the Bucs will once more be on the outside looking in. Atlanta has fallen on hard times; between the incarceration of franchise quarterback Michael Vick and the hasty in-season departure of former coach Bobby Petrino, the Falcons are in a sad, awful place. They’ll be lucky to win the three games I gave them. NFC West 1. Seattle Seahawks - 11-5 2. Arizona Cardinals - 9-7 3. St. Louis Rams - 6-10 4. San Francisco 49ers - 5-11 The Seattle Seahawks are the best NFL team that no one notices. They’re a perennial playoff team, with stars like quarterback Matt Hasselback and linebackers Julian Petersen and Lofa Tatupu. They have a Hall of Fame-type coach in Mike Holmgren and win 10+ games every year. No reason to expect anything but more of the same. Arizona has two great wide receivers (Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin), an okay defense and an erratic and fragile quarterback. Kurt Warner is calling the shots for now, but for the Cardinals to have a chance at the postseason, Matt Leinart has to step up and justify the first round draft pick the team spent on him. In St. Louis, the “Greatest Show on Turf” is a distant memory. RB Stephen Jackson is one of the best all-purpose backs in the league, and Marc Bulger is still a good quarterback, but the cupboard is pretty bare beyond that. If the defense can cohere, the Rams might break even. Speaking of distant memories, the glory days of the 49ers are long gone. RB Frank Gore and an underrated defense are about all the positives this team has going for it. San Francisco probably needs some unexpectedly solid quarterback play out of J.T. O’Sullivan to even perform this well. And then? New England will meet San Diego in the AFC Championship game, while Dallas will host the Vikings for the NFC Championship. New England will then meet Dallas in Super Bowl XLIII (43, for the non-Romans among you), with the Patriots emerging victorious. Of course, any number of things could happen at any number of times that will effectively negate most of these predictions. Oh well. That’s why they play the games, right?