Week 1 of the 2009 NFL season is in the books, and it didn’t disappoint. Weather your team is one of the 16 teams with hopes of an undefeated season, or one of the 16 teams with fears of a Lionsesque 0-16 season, one thing can be said. This was a very exciting first week.

For myself, a lot of the excitement was due to how close some of these games were. There were a lot of teams that were supposed to do well (or do terrible), but ended playing pretty close games.

Some games of note: Jaguars at Colts was a close match up. Looking at seasons past, the Jaguars tend to play the Colts close in Indianapolis, then destroy them in Jacksonville. Go figure. Also of note, the Colts were the only AFC South team to win their opener.

Broncos at Bengals was quite possibly the game of the week. It was a lot closer than most would have guessed. The reason for the close game was Brandon Stokley. A consummate football player, Stokley should tremendous intelligence and perseverance to turn a definite Broncos’ loss into a Broncos’ win. On the other side of the ball, what is wrong with Carson Palmer. Palmer mustered a measly 61.0 QB rating against the Broncos. Going back to 2005 and including the first game of this season, Palmer’s QB ratings has dropped an average of 10 points each season. Not good.

Chiefs at Ravens wasn’t necessarily a close game, but it was a bit of a surprise. The surprise being how close a terrible Chiefs team played a dominate Ravens team. Of course these adjectives were placed in front of their names before the season began, but hardly anyone would have argued. This was a game showcasing excellent QB play. Brodie Croyle had passer rating of 116.1 (really?!), and Joe Flacco had a passer rating of 95.8. Not too shabby.

The 49ers bested the reigning NFC Champs 20-16 in another squeaker. Arizona’s inability to get into the endzone really hurt them. Sounds like the obvious, I know, but the Cardinals kicked three field goals and only got in for six once. Going back to 2004, NFC Champs are a disappointing 2-5 in their season openers. While they may have won the game, San Francisco managed a terrible 0.8 yards per carry on the ground. A disappointing sign for a team looking to pound the ball this season.

Monday night was a night for tight games. The Patriots barely eeked out a win against the hapless Buffalo Bills. Terrel Owes caught the ball twice for 46 yards. An unspectacular start for the eccentric wideout. The closing line for this game was New England by 13. Going back to 2006, New England has been favored by and average of 11.3 points per game for their season opener. In that span, they’ve only covered the spread once.

In other Monday night action, the Raiders showed they do in fact have a pulse. That much can’t be said for their owner, Al Davis. If they were to do a sequel to Weekend at Bernies 2, I think Al Davis would make the perfect Bernie. Track suit up Al! Even the lifeless corpse that is Al Davis can be a bit more optimistic about the Raiders this year. If the Raiders can limit the turnovers, maybe they’ll win a game or two.

You really can’t ask for much more out of the first week of football. There were close games, blowouts, exciting finishes, and plenty to talk about. My hat goes off to the 16 teams that started their seasons off right. My condolenceses to the 16 teams that started their season of on the wrong foot. Don’t worry though, there is plenty of football left to play!

With the start of the NFL season mere hours away, it is time for some hard-hitting, top-notch, right on season predictions. These are the kind of predictions you can take to the bank. These are the kind of predictions that retire and stay retired.

AFC North – Baltimore Ravens

I went with Baltimore because picking Pittsburgh was just too easy. The Steelers and the Ravens had the first and second ranked defenses in the NFL last season. The Ravens were second fiddle because the lacked offensive prowess. Baltimore addressed their shortcomings during the off season by drafting OT Michael Oher. Look for QB Joe Flacco to take his team to the next level and win the division.

AFC East – Miami Dolphins

The Dolphins are in a prime position to establish themselves as top dog in the AFC East. New England was top dog, but I believe their stock has dropped after the loss of so many key defensive players (CB Ellis Hobbs, S Rodney Harrison, LB Tedy Bruschi, DE Richard Seymour). Meanwhile, Miami’s secondary improved immensely with the addition of CB Vontae Davis. The Wildcat just became a lot wilder with the addition of QB Pat White. Look for the Dolphins to continue thier end-of-the-regular-season heroics into the start of this season.

AFC South – Indianapolis Colts

The Colts had a bit of a down season last year. Down in the sense they lost to a terrible San Diego team in the Wild Card Round. Peyton Manning will have his team ready to take the division. He has to be a little tired of being the inferior Manning brother. The Titans will push the Colts, but I just don’t think we’ll see them dominate the way they did last season. Tennessee the number one seed in the AFC still feels like a bad dream. It was like 1999 all over.

AFC West – San Diego Chargers

Assuming a team actually wants to win this division, I think San Diego will take the cake. The other teams in the AFC West (Denver, Oakland, Kansas City) are so putrid that they should be forced to take a hiatus from the NFL. During said hiatus, Rodger Goodell should do a clean sweep of each club. Replace ownership (see ya Al “zheimer’s” Davis), can the coaching staff (Can you really call what Josh McDaniels is doing coaching), and scrap the players (NFLPA be damned). From there, give those clubs a couple compensatory picks in the upcoming draft. With an uncapped 2010 season, things should balance out and the clubs will be reborn.

AFC Wild Cards – Pittsburgh Steelers, Tennessee Titans

These teams were good last year. I have a feeling they’ll make it to the postseason in a fashion befitting my favorite uno card, the wild card (Technically, my favorite uno card is the Draw Four Wild Card, but you get it.)

AFC Champions – Baltimore Ravens

Some would say I’m reaching here, and you’re probably right. I’m going with the Baltimore Ravens to win the AFC. Critics be damned. They’ve done enough to improve their offense. QB Joe Flacco will only improve (A healthy Todd Heap will help.). Their defense will be number one in the NFL this season. That is a winning combination. *swish* Count it!

NFC North – Chicago Bears

DA BEARS. DAAAAAAA BEARS. We will soon find out why Broncos Head Coach Josh McDaniels should have been reading Dale Carnegie’s “How to Win Friends and Influence People” instead of pissing/running all his good players off. McDaniels is a prick. Lovie Smith is not. For that reason alone, the Bears will win the NFC north. If Minnesota cans the gerontology study testing the limits of an 85-year-old, post-menopausal, former NFL great/narcissist, the division might get interesting. If not, to the Bears go the spoils.

NFC East – Philadelphia Eagles

QB Michael Vick will pass for 5,000 yards and 37 touchdowns in his convoluted return to the NFL. Actually, Vick won’t do a damn thing except sit on the sideline and get QB Donovan McNabb a ice-cold Diet Pepsi Max. McNabb is a man, and men get what men want. This division will be one of the more intriguing in the NFL (it always is). I see a close competition between the Eagles and the Giants. By Week 14 we’ll know who the winner is, but I’m betting on the Philly to win this race(Yes, pun intended!).

NFC South – Drew Brees, oops!, New Orleans Saints

While Vick won’t throw for 5,000 yards, ever, Drew Brees will do it, again! First round selection CB Malcolm Jenkins will be starting by Week 3, helping to turn a sorry defense into one that is mediocre. When your offense scores 100 points a game, mediocre is good enough. The Panthers are of no consequence. Tampa Bay is rebuilding sans Chucky. Is Atlanta really an 11-5 team? I say nay. Now I just hope I get Brees in my upcoming Fantasy Draft!

NFC West – Seattle Seahawks

Could one say I’m biased? Yes, one could say that, but here are the facts. The Seahawks were decimated, nay the were obliterated by injuries last season. While 2009 isn’t off to the best start (LT Walter Jones, CB Marcus Trufant, C Chris Spencer, all out), it is a far cry better than how 2008 played out. On top of that tiny fact, Seattle brought in some top-notch talent in WR T.J. Whosyourmama (Houshmandzadeh), LB Arron Curry, and DT Colin Cole. Add a new blocking scheme to the mix (for the run game), and you have a recipe for success. Success, my friends, that will translate into double-digit wins and return to NFC West supremacy. Arizona will falter after Kurt Warner breaks a hip and Matt Lienart has to carry more than his jockstrap. San Francisco cannot sign their first round pick, let alone compete for the NFC West title. And, hmm, I know there is a fourth team in the NFC West. Isn’t there? Oh that’s right. The NFC West only has three teams, special exempt status. What was I thinking?

NFC Wild Cards – New York Giants, Atlanta Falcons.

New York because someone from New York has to make the playoffs or the NFL just cancels the postseason. Atlanta because they were good, and Matt Ryan is too cool for last names. First names only!

NFC Champions – Seattle Seahawks

Arron Curry will be Defensive Rookie of the Year. Matt Hasselbeck will win Offensive Player of the Year. Shaun Alexander will drop from the sky with the winged cleats of Mercury and tote the rock like it’s 2005. No seriously, who else is going to win the NFC? The Bears? The Eagles? Come on, get real.

Super Bowl Champions – Seattle Seahawks

Credibility not withstanding, if the Seahawks can stay healthy (espcially you, Hasselbeck), they can pull this off. My predictions have them pitted against the Ravens. Any team the Seahawks face will have a staunch defense. The Seahawks finally have the tools on offense to overcome any defense thrown their way. It will be a glorious day. The clouds will part, and Seattle will be basked in the diving light radiating from the football gods. All will be well in the world.

Do you think your team got slighted? Well they probably did. Let me know how you think the season will unfold.

Until next time, don’t sit too close to the TV. You’ll go blind and watching football blind is no fun at all.

Can you feel it? It is close, real close. The energy is almost palpable. This is what makes America a glorious nation. That is right folks, I’m talking about the final week of preseason. Okay, I’m not really excited about the final week of preseason, but rather the ending of meaningless games and the start of the real thing. One week from now, people all over the world will be watching intently as the Titans and Steelers play the first meaningful game of the 2009-2010 NFL season. It is going to be a beautiful thing.

While the real thing is always better than make believe, it has been a pretty exciting preseason. With a slew of rookie holdouts (What are you doing Crabtree?), the ongoing saga that is Brett Favre’s 401(k), and the Michael Vick story, it has been a stimulating round of meaningless games. For most fans, your team will be done after tonight, and your team’s chase for the Lombardi Trophy will begin with a week of game film and strategizing that actually means something. Is your team going the distance? By February 7th, 2010 you’ll know (you’ll probably know much sooner your team isn’t going the distance).

With the sad fact there are always more losers (31 teams) than winners (one team), the time for excuses (injuries, off-field distractions, there is always next year) is almost upon us. Some of us have already started (If the Seahawks tank again, it is because Walter Jones is hurt). Whatever solace you find in your myriad of excuses, remember to cherish the moments, no matter how painful. The fact of the matter is no amount of pain during the season can equal the pain that is the offseason. So, one question, are you ready for some football?