Preseason is over. The cuts have been made. Each team has 53 players ready to do battle for supremacy in the NFL. The opening game is Thursday with the rest of the teams playing on Sunday and Monday. I am ready for some football.

I have been a Kansas City Chiefs fan since the 1960s. Although I have moved all over the world, I have always followed the Chiefs and did not change teams when I lived in the enemy’s territory. Real fans are like that. I can remember seeing my first professional football game in person. It was a Thursday version of ABC’s Monday Night Football on September 12, 1985 at Arrowhead Stadium with over 72,000 fans watching the Chiefs beat the (Los Angeles) Raiders 36-20. I have attended many games at Arrowhead since then and I was able to take my son to see his first game there. The 2007 version of the Chiefs will have a tough season. I predict they will finish third in the AFC West.

AFC WEST

1. San Diego Chargers*
2. Denver Broncos*
3. Kansas City Chiefs
4. Oakland Raiders
-The team to watch early in the season is the Chargers. They have a new coach. If they falter some, then the Broncos will win the division. The Chiefs will start slow (again), but it may be tough to make the playoffs this year. If the Chargers continue to play well, look for the AFC West to have at least two teams in the playoffs (Chargers and Broncos).

AFC EAST

1. New England Patriots*
2. New York Jets
3. Miami Dolphins
4. Buffalo Bills
-The Patriots may be the best team in the NFL this year and the only AFC East team to make the playoffs.

AFC NORTH

1. Cincinnati Bengals*
2. Baltimore Ravens*
3. Pittsburgh Steelers
4. Cleveland Browns
-It’s a shootout between the Bengals and the Ravens. The Steelers will be better and may contend. Look for both the Bengals and the Ravens to make the playoffs. The AFC North may be the most competitive division in the AFC.

AFC SOUTH

1. Indianapolis Colts*
2. Tennessee Titans
3. Jacksonville Jaguars
4. Houston Texans
-The Colts are not the same this year, but will win the AFC South. Watch out for the Titans this year as Vince Young has some starts under his belt and will be better. But, the Colts will be the only team to make the show.

NFC EAST

1. Philadelphia Eagles*
2. Dallas Cowboys*
3. New York Giants
4. Washington Redskins
-With a healthy Donovan McNabb, the Eagles should win this division, but watch out for the Cowboys. I see these two teams making it to the show.

NFC NORTH

1. Chicago Bears*
2. Green Bay Packers
3. Detroit Lions
4. Minnesota Vikings
-The Bears will be fighting the Saints and the Eagles for the best team in the NFC. The Packers, Lions and Vikings are in the lower half of the NFL. Only one of these three teams will finish 8-8 or better.

NFC SOUTH

1. New Orleans Saints*
2. Carolina Panthers
3. Atlanta Falcons
4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
-The Saints, Bears and Eagles are the best teams in the NFC. It would be nice to see the Falcons do well.

NFC WEST

1. St. Louis Rams*
2. Seattle Seahawks*
3. San Francisco 49ers
4. Arizona Cardinals
-This division will be the most competitive in the NFC as they will beat each other up. The 49ers may be the sleeper. If Marc Bulger stays healthy, the Rams may take it. If not, look for the Seahawks to grab the NFC West title.

*2007 Playoff Teams