Originally Published: September 7, 2009
Our experts' predictions for 2009
Our experts have predicted the 2009 division winners, wild cards, individual award winners, conference champions and Super Bowl titlist.
| John Banks, ESPN.com |
Jeffri Chadiha, ESPN.com |
John Clayton, ESPN.com |
Tim Graham, ESPN.com |
|
| AFC East | New England | New England | New England | New England |
| AFC North | Baltimore | Pittsburgh | Pittsburgh | Pittsburgh |
| AFC South | Houston | Tennessee | Indianapolis | Indianapolis |
| AFC West | San Diego | San Diego | San Diego | San Diego |
| AFC wild cards | Pittsburgh, Indianapolis | Indianapolis, Baltimore | Tennessee, Baltimore | Tennessee, Baltimore |
| NFC East | Philadelphia | Philadelphia | NY Giants | Philadelphia |
| NFC North | Green Bay | Minnesota | Minnesota | Minnesota |
| NFC South | Atlanta | Carolina | Atlanta | Atlanta |
| NFC West | Seattle | Arizona | Arizona | Arizona |
| NFC wild cards | NY Giants, Minnesota | NY Giants, Dallas | Green Bay, Philadelphia | Green Bay, NY Giants |
| AFC champion | San Diego | Pittsburgh | Pittsburgh | Pittsburgh |
| NFC champion | Philadelphia | Philadelphia | NY Giants | Philadelphia |
| SUPER BOWL CHAMPION | San Diego | Pittsburgh | Pittsburgh | Pittsburgh |
| Coach of the year | Norv Turner, San Diego | Mike Tomlin, Pittsburgh | Mike McCarthy, Green Bay | Andy Reid, Philadelphia |
| MVP | Philip Rivers, San Diego | Adrian Peterson, Minnesota | Adrian Peterson, Minnesota | Adrian Peterson, Minnesota |
| Offensive player of the year | Adrian Peterson, Minnesota | Adrian Peterson, Minnesota | Drew Brees, New Orleans | Adrian Peterson, Minnesota |
| Defensive player of the year | James Harrison, Pittsburgh | Ed Reed, Baltimore | DeMarcus Ware, Dallas | DeMarcus Ware, Dallas |
| Offensive ROY | Percy Harvin, Minnesota | Beanie Wells, Arizona | Mark Sanchez, NY Jets | Percy Harvin, Minnesota |
| Defensive ROY | Evander Hood, Pittsburgh | Aaron Curry, Seattle | Brian Orakpo, Washington | B.J. Raji, Green Bay |
| Jeremy Green, ESPN.com |
Paul Kuharsky, ESPN.com |
Matt Mosley, ESPN.com |
Len Pasquarelli, ESPN.com |
|
| AFC East | New England | New England | New England | New England |
| AFC North | Pittsburgh | Baltimore | Pittsburgh | Baltimore |
| AFC South | Tennessee | Tennessee | Indianapolis | Tennessee |
| AFC West | San Diego | San Diego | San Diego | San Diego |
| AFC wild cards | Baltimore, Indianapolis | Indianapolis, Pittsburgh | Baltimore, Miami | Pittsburgh, Indianapolis |
| NFC East | NY Giants | NY Giants | NY Giants | NY Giants |
| NFC North | Minnesota | Green Bay | Green Bay | Minnesota |
| NFC South | New Orleans | Atlanta | Atlanta | Atlanta |
| NFC West | Arizona | Seattle | Arizona | Seattle |
| NFC wild cards | Philadelphia, Atlanta | Philadelphia, New Orleans | Philadelphia, Minnesota | Dallas, New Orleans |
| AFC champion | Pittsburgh | New England | New England | San Diego |
| NFC champion | New Orleans | Atlanta | NY Giants | NY Giants |
| SUPER BOWL CHAMPION | Pittsburgh | New England | New England | San Diego |
| Coach of the year | Sean Payton, New Orleans | Mike McCarthy, Green Bay | Bill Belichick, New England | Jeff Fisher, Tennessee |
| MVP | Drew Brees, New Orleans | Tom Brady, New England | Tom Brady, New England | Philip Rivers, San Diego |
| Offensive player of the year | Adrian Peterson, Minnesota | Tom Brady, New England | Adrian Peterson, Minnesota | Drew Brees, New Orleans |
| Defensive player of the year | Jared Allen, Minnesota | Haloti Ngata, Baltimore | Justin Tuck, NY Giants | DeMarcus Ware, Dallas |
| Offensive ROY | Mark Sanchez, NY Jets | LeSean McCoy, Philadelphia | Hakeem Nicks, NY Giants | Percy Harvin, Minnesota |
| Defensive ROY | Aaron Curry, Seattle | James Laurinaitis, St. Louis | Aaron Curry, Seattle | Brian Orakpo, Washington |
| Mike Sando, ESPN.com |
Adam Schefter, ESPN.com |
Kevin Seifert, ESPN.com |
James Walker, ESPN.com |
|
| AFC East | New England | New England | New England | New England |
| AFC North | Pittsburgh | Pittsburgh | Pittsburgh | Pittsburgh |
| AFC South | Indianapolis | Indianapolis | Tennessee | Indianapolis |
| AFC West | San Diego | San Diego | San Diego | San Diego |
| AFC wild cards | Tennessee, Baltimore | Houston, Cincinnati | Baltimore, Indianapolis | Baltimore, Tennessee |
| NFC East | NY Giants | Dallas | Philadelphia | Philadelphia |
| NFC North | Green Bay | Green Bay | Minnesota | Minnesota |
| NFC South | Atlanta | Atlanta | Atlanta | Atlanta |
| NFC West | Arizona | San Francisco | Seattle | Arizona |
| NFC wild cards | Philadelphia, Chicago | NY Giants, Philadelphia | Green Bay, Chicago | NY Giants, Carolina |
| AFC champion | New England | San Diego | Pittsburgh | Pittsburgh |
| NFC champion | Green Bay | Green Bay | Philadelphia | Philadelphia |
| SUPER BOWL CHAMPION | New England | San Diego | Pittsburgh | Pittsburgh |
| Coach of the year | Mike McCarthy, Green Bay | Mike Singletary, San Francisco | Mike McCarthy, Green Bay | Andy Reid, Philadelphia |
| MVP | Tom Brady, New England | Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay | Adrian Peterson, Minnesota | Tom Brady, New England |
| Offensive player of the year | Adrian Peterson, Minnesota | Adrian Peterson, Minnesota | Drew Brees, New Orleans | Tom Brady, New England |
| Defensive player of the year | DeMarcus Ware, Dallas | DeMarcus Ware, Dallas | Mario Williams, Houston | DeMarcus Ware, Dallas |
| Offensive ROY | Mark Sanchez, NY Jets | Mark Sanchez, NY Jets | Knowshon Moreno, Denver | Mark Sanchez, NY Jets |
| Defensive ROY | Brian Orakpo, Washington | Brian Orakpo, Washington | Aaron Curry, Seattle | Aaron Curry, Seattle |
| Seth Wickersham, ESPN The Mag |
Bill Williamson, ESPN.com |
Matt Williamson, Scouts Inc. |
Pat Yasinskas, ESPN.com |
|
| AFC East | New England | New England | New England | New England |
| AFC North | Pittsburgh | Pittsburgh | Pittsburgh | Pittsburgh |
| AFC South | Jacksonville | Indianapolis | Indianapolis | Indianapolis |
| AFC West | San Diego | San Diego | San Diego | San Diego |
| AFC wild cards | Indianapolis, Cincinnati | Tennessee, Buffalo | Baltimore, Tennessee | Baltimore, Tennessee |
| NFC East | Dallas | New York | Philadelphia | Dallas |
| NFC North | Green Bay | Minnesota | Chicago | Green Bay |
| NFC South | Atlanta | Atlanta | Atlanta | Atlanta |
| NFC West | San Francisco | San Francisco | Seattle | Arizona |
| NFC wild cards | Philadelphia, NY Giants | Carolina, Philadelphia | New Orleans, NY Giants | Carolina, Philadelphia |
| AFC champion | San Diego | New England | Pittsburgh | New England |
| NFC champion | Dallas | Atlanta | Atlanta | Dallas |
| SUPER BOWL CHAMPION | San Diego | New England | Pittsburgh | New England |
| Coach of the year | Mike Singletary, San Francisco | Mike Singletary, San Francisco | Mike Smith, Atlanta | Bill Belichick, New England |
| MVP | Philip Rivers, San Diego | Tom Brady, New England | Matt Ryan, Atlanta | Tom Brady, New England |
| Offensive player of the year | Randy Moss, New England | Matt Ryan, Atlanta | Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay | Drew Brees, New Orleans |
| Defensive player of the year | Patrick Willis, San Francisco | Jared Allen, Minnesota | DeMarcus Ware, Dallas | Jared Allen, Minnesota |
| Offensive ROY | Jeremy Maclin, Philadelphia | Mark Sanchez, NY Jets | Percy Harvin, Minnesota | Mark Sanchez, NY Jets |
| Defensive ROY | Rey Maualuga, Cincinnati | Larry English, San Diego | Aaron Curry, Seattle | Aaron Curry, Seattle |
2009 NFL PREVIEW
POWER RANKINGS
COMMENTARY/BLOGS
TEAM PREVIEWS
- NFC North: Chicago | Detroit | G.B. | Minn.
- NFC South: Atlanta | Caro. | N.O. | Tampa
- NFC East: Dallas | New York | Phil. | Wash.
- NFC West: Ariz. | Seattle | S.F. | St. Louis
- AFC North: Balt. | Cincy | Cleveland | Pitt.
- AFC South: Houston | Indy | Jax. | Tenn.
- AFC East: Buffalo | Miami | N.E. | New York
- AFC West: Denver | K.C. | Oakland | S.D.
BACKUP QB PLANS
- Monday, Aug. 31: A team's fortunes can change in an instant if it doesn't have the right backup QB. Jeffri Chadiha
- Outsiders: Backup QB cap analysis
- SportsNation: Rank backup QBs
- Tuesday, Sept. 1: The NFL Blog Network evaluates every team's backup QB situation. Analysis
- Scouts Inc.: Ranking the backup QBs
- Clayton: Who's the next Matt Cassel?
- Graham: Belichick's comfort zone
RANKING TODAY'S QBs
- Wednesday, Sept. 2: We turned to a former Super Bowl-winning QB to provide a unique take on today's bunch. Trent Dilfer
HOW THEY DO IT
- Thursday, Sept. 3: Breaking down AFC offensive, defensive philosophies. Scouts
- Friday, Sept 4: Breaking down NFC offensive, defensive philosophies. Scouts
PREDICTIONS
- Tuesday, Sept. 8: Experts' forecasts
- Friday, Sept. 4: Gene Wojciechowski
10 BIG QUESTIONS
- Monday, Sept. 7: John Clayton's answers
EMERGING STARS
- Timmons: Steelers' LB to be unleashed
- Brown: Texans' tackle ready to be fixture
- Miller: Raider gets team's TE legacy
- Meriweather: Pats safety an all-around force
- Morgan: WR gives Niners good option
- Meachem: Saints' WR ready to deliver
- Olsen: Bears TE meshing with Cutler
- Phillips: Giants safety rising quickly
ESPN THE MAGAZINE (INSIDER)
- Team previews: We like the Bolts!
- Interactive O-line glossary (Cool!)
- Inside Manning-Saturday pairing
- Cutler: Savior or destroyer?
PAGE 2
- Schefter: Charlie Weis... to Buffalo?
- Rumors: 2010 Boldin trade gaining steam
- Tools: PickCenter | Game Predictor
- Draft: Mel's Big Board (11/18) | NFL draft blog
