Nate's 2008 NFL Picks

By Nate Sandstrom

Sorry to take most of the week off, but it was my full intention to blog while in North Carolina this weekend. Technical difficulties ensued.

Because its just two hours from the kickoff of the NFL season I'm going to come back to the explanation for these on Friday and Saturday. But here are the predictions in raw form (in cases of ties, NFL tiebreakers determine ranking):

NFC
1. Dallas 13-3
2. New Orleans 10-6
3. Minnesota 9-7
4. Seattle 8-8
5. Washington 10-6
6. Philadelphia 10-6
7. Carolina 9-7
8. St. Louis 8-8
9. Arizona 8-8
10. Green Bay 8-8
11. Chicago 8-8
12. Detroit 8-8
13. San Francisco 7-9
14. Tampa Bay 6-10
15. N.Y. Giants 6-10
16. Atlanta 4-12

AFC
1. New England 14-2
2. San Diego 12-4
3. Indianapolis 11-5
4. Cincinnati 7-9
5. Houston 9-7
6. Jacksonville 9-7
7. Denver 9-7
8. Buffalo 8-8
9. NY Jets 8-8
10. Miami 7-9
11. Tennessee 6-10
12. Cleveland 6-10
13. Pittsburgh 6-10
14. Oakland 5-11
15. Baltimore 4-12
16. Kansas City 3-13

Offensive MVP: Tom Brady, QB, New England
Defensive MVP: Jared Allen, DE, Minnesota
Offensive Rookie of the Year: Dustin Keller, TE, NY Jets
Defensive Rookie of the Year: Chris Long, DE, St. Louis
Coach of the Year: Gary Kubiak, Houston Texans

Wild-card Playoffs
(6) Philadelphia over (3) Minnesota
(4) Seattle over (5) Washington
(6) Jacksonville over (3) Indianapolis
(4) Cincinnati over (5) Houston

Divisional Playoffs
(1) Dallas over (6) Philadelphia
(2) New Orleans over (4) Seattle
(1) New England over (6) Jacksonville
(2) San Diego over (4) Cincinnati

Conference Finals
(2) New Orleans over (1) Dallas
(2) San Diego over (1) New England

Super Bowl
San Diego over New Orleans
Super Bowl MVP: Phil Rivers, QB, San Diego