Are you ready to talk football?

By Jeff Christian

Published: June 13, 2008

Major League Baseball is in full swing and the College World Series begins today, so let’s talk football.

The National Football League that is.

Lindys’ and Athlon’s annual preseason magazines have hit the stands, as well as the USA Today preseason guide.

One has no clue and the other two are close.

A lot of changes have taken place since the New York Giants shocked the football world by defeating the undefeated New England Patriots in the Super Bowl.

The Washington Redskins have a new head coach, Pacman Jones is back in football, the Oakland Raiders have a running game and the Atlanta Falcons may actually have a quarterback that doesn’t kill dogs.

Fearless prognosticators across the country have laid out their predictions for all to view.

Athlon has the upcoming NFL season going this way…

In the NFC East, Athlon has the Dallas Cowboys as division winners, followed by Green Bay in the North, New Orleans in the South, Seattle in the West and wildcards going to Minnesota and the Giants.

In the AFC, the East will not change with New England taking the crown, followed by Pittsburgh in the North, Indianapolis in the South, San Diego in the West and wildcards to Jacksonville and Tennessee.

The NFC championship game will pit Dallas against Seattle, with the Cowboys winning, while the AFC title game will have San Diego defeating the Patriots.

In the Super Bowl, Athlon has Dallas defeating San Diego.

As for Lindys, it has the NFC East going to the Giants, the North to Minnesota, South to New Orleans, West to Seattle and the wildcards to Dallas and Philadelphia.

In the AFC, the East to New England, North to Cleveland , South to the Colts, West to San Diego and the wildcards to Jacksonville and the Buffalo Bills.

In the NFC title game, Dallas will beat Seattle and in the AFC title game Indianapolis will beat San Diego.

The Super Bowl will have Indy beating Dallas.

This is where it just gets down right predictable.

USA Today has the NFC East going to the Giants, the North to Green Bay, South to New Orleans, West to Seattle and wildcards to Dallas and Philadelphia.

In the AFC, the East will go to the Patriots, the North to Cleveland, the South to Indy, the West to San Diego and the wildcards to Jacksonville and Pittsburgh.

USA Today doesn’t predict the conference title games, but has the Patriots beating the Giants in the Super Bowl.

Not going to happen.

It has been a while since the losing Super Bowl team has even made it back to the playoffs. It will be hard to predict the Patriots as a team that will follow this pattern.

Buffalo will be a lot better this year and should make the playoffs, however, the Bills won’t dethrone the Patriots as AFC East champions.

As for the Washington Redskins fans, has anyone told Jim Zorn the ‘real’ Redskins colors yet?

Washington is looking at a 7-9 season — at best — and will not make the playoffs. Give Zorn some time and Jason Campbell as well, so the young quarterback can learn his new system. The Redskins had a decent draft and could surprise a lot of people.

Next year could very well be a year to remember in D.C., after Zorn has had a year to get his system into place.

Here is how I feel the upcoming football season will go…

In the NFC, the Dallas Cowboys will win the East, while Green Bay, without Brett Favre, will win the North, New Orleans the South, San Francisco the West and the wildcards will go to the New York Giants and the Seattle Seahawks.

In the AFC, the Patriots will win the East, Pittsburgh the North, Indianapolis the South, San Diego the West and the wildcards will go to Buffalo and Jacksonville.

In the NFC title game, Tony Romo and Company will get it done this year by defeating the Green Bay Packers, while in the AFC title game, Peyton Manning and the Colts will beat New England.

This year’s Super Bowl will pit Indianapolis against Dallas, with the Colts taking the coveted title.

Jeff Christian is the assistant sports editor of the News & Messenger. He can be reached at .