Going out on the limb and it's shaky

As of right now, everybody is 0-0.

The 2009 regular season for the National Football League season officially begins Thursday evening, when the Tennessee Titans travel to Pittsburgh to face the Steelers.

Once again, Sundays will be filled with football, football, football.

And I have to admit, I am ready.

For several years now, the start of NFL football has helped me forget about the summer sport I once loved.

But, it gets tiresome knowing your favorite team (Cincinnati Reds) can't find a way to compete.

So, Reds fans (and a host of other MLB fans) toss their eggs into the football basket, eagerly waiting that first September Sunday when the NFL rules televisions sets across the nation.

My favorite team, the Minnesota Vikings, have been pegged for a big year.

Typically, that means disaster.

But this season could be different.

The Vikings finally went out and signed Brett Favre and many "experts" are calling them the team to beat in the NFC.

There are 16 teams in the NFC, and at the moment, all of them sport a 0-0 record.

There are 16 teams in the AFC, and all of those squads, are also 0-0.

But which teams have what it takes to make the playoffs?

Who knows.

But it's still fun to analyze until your face turns blue. Until you've ran out of ink in the pen. Until you can't take looking at the statistics again.

Still, I enjoy predictions, and I'm sure many others do a well.

So, I'm going to put myself on the broken limb here and give my predictions for the 2009 NFL season.

Let's start with the AFC:

* AFC East -- New England was the proverbial favorite until the weekend trade of Richard Seymour. That trade makes me wonder if they have decided to start reloading for the future. Still, the Patriots have too much fire power on offense for any other team to over take them. Look for the Pats to win the division.

* AFC South -- Tennessee won the division title last year, but the Indianapolis Colts will claw their way back to the top of the heap. Don't be surprised if Houston makes some noise in this division, though.

* AFC North -- Pittsburgh. The Steelers won the Super Bowl. It's hard to argue against that.

* AFC West -- Denver and Kansas City have new quarterbacks and coaches. Oakland is Oakland. San Diego wins this division in a route.

* Division Winners -- New England, Indianapolis, Pittsburgh, San Diego

* Wildcard teams -- Tennessee, Baltimore

* AFC Winner -- San Diego

Now for the NFC

* NFC East -- Several "experts" believe Philadelphia now owns this division. I'm going with the New York Giants. The Giants have something to prove and have a very good running game. Scratch Dallas and Washington out.

* NFC South -- I think New Orleans has a very good shot at winning this division. Drew Brees is one of the best -- if not the best -- quarterback in the game right now. Atlanta will push, but I think the Saints win it.

* NFC North -- Sure, Minnesota has Favre and the best running back in the game. But the Chicago Bears traded for Jay Cutler in the offseason and have Matt Forte. Still, the Vikings' defense will prevail.

* NFC West -- Arguably the worst division in football, Arizona did advance to the Super Bowl last year. The Cardinals have something left in the tank.

* Division Winners -- New York Giants, New Orleans, Minnesota, Arizona

* Wildcard teams -- Atlanta, Chicago

* NFC Winner -- Minnesota.

The Chargers against the Vikings in the Super Bowl? Sure, why not.

And perhaps the Vikings can finally lay claim to the Lombardi Trophy.

Hey, I can dream right.

After all, all 32 NFL teams are 0-0 right now.

Anything can happen.

And that's the beauty of the National Football League.