First of all, let me pat myself on the back. Last year I picked the Saints to beat the Patriots to win Super Bowl XLIV. I am so wrong so often that I am going to gloat when I actually pick something right. Now on to this year.

Will the Saints repeat? Hell, will they even be the first team to make back to back Super Bowl appearances since the Patriots in 2003 and 2004? Chances look good. They return the same high octane offense that marched through the record books last year. No one was able to stop them. I think the AFC is wide open, however. The Cowboys, Packers, Vikings and 49ers will give them trouble. In fact, I have the Packers beating them in the second round. Green Bay has the offensive firepower to keep up in a shootout. What a game that could be. Not quite the 51-45 loss they were involved in last year, but close.

Everyone seems to have the sleeper Super Bowl matchup as the Ravens vs. Packers. Offensive stars vs. offensive stars. I had to agree with that. I think the 49ers are a very serious dark horse candidate to do what the Super Bowl Cardinals squad did a couple years ago. I was tempted to pick them to make the Super Bowl but I don't think Alex Smith quite has what it takes to lead this team to the big game. Teams almost always need great QB play to make the big dance. I'm running out of adjectives to describe the Super Bowl.

So I have Baltimore, with the additions of Anquan Boldin and TJ Houshmanzadeh, hoisting the trophy for Super Bowl XLV.

AFC East

1. New York Jets, 11-5
2. New England Patriots, 9-7
3. Miami Dolphins, 9-7
4. Buffalo Bills, 2-14

AFC North 

1. Baltimore Ravens, 12-4
2. Pittsburgh Steelers, 10-6
3. Cincinnati Bengals, 9-7
4. Cleveland Browns, 3-13


AFC South

1. Indianapolis Colts, 12-4
2. Tennessee Titans, 10-6
3. Houston Texans, 7-9
4. Jacksonville Jaguars, 6-10


AFC South


1. San Diego Chargers, 11-5
2. Oakland Raiders, 8-8
3. Kansas City Chiefs, 6-10
4. Denver Broncos, 4-12

AFC Playoff Standings

1. Indianapolis Colts
2. Baltimore Ravens
3. New York Jets
4. San Diego Chargers
5. Tennessee Titans
6. Pittsburgh Steelers

Wild Card

Titans over Chargers
Steelers over Jets

Divisional

Steelers over Colts
Ravens over Titans

AFC Championship

Ravens over Steelers


NFC East

1. Dallas Cowboys, 13-3
2. Philadelphia Eagles, 9-7
3. Washington Redskins, 8-8
4. New York Giants, 7-9


NFC North

1. Green Bay Packers 13-3
2. Minnesota Vikings, 11-5
3. Chicago Bears, 5-11
4. Detroit Lions, 4-12


NFC South

1. New Orleans Saints, 12-4
2. Atlanta Falcons, 10-6
3. Carolina Panthers, 6-10
4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 4-12




NFC West

1. San Francisco 49ers, 10-6
2. Arizona Cardinals, 7-9
3. Seattle Seahawks, 5-11
4. St. Louis Rams, 3-13


NFC Playoff Seedings

1. Dallas Cowboys
2. Green Bay Packers
3. New Orleans Saints
4. San Francisco 49ers
5. Minnesota Vikings
6. Atlanta Falcons

Wild Card

Saints over Falcons
49ers over Vikings

Divisional

49ers over Cowboys
Packers over Saints

NFC Championship

Packers over 49ers

Super Bowl XLV: Ravens over Packers