Over the past two days, I have looked into my crystal ball and made predictions on how the NFC and AFC are going to shake out this season. My picks coming out of the NFC and AFC were Dallas defeating the Giants and San Diego finally getting over the hump and defeating the New England Patriots. In today’s last installment of predictions, I will tell you my Super Bowl winner, and give you my predictions for the NFL awards.
Super Bowl XLIII
San Diego Chargers 31 Dallas Cowboys 17
This game will feature LaDanian Tomlinson finally having the playoff game that people have waited for him to have. Tony Romo’s streak of tremendous playoff games in 2008 will come to an end, as he is picked off three times in the Super Bowl. This game will be highly reminiscent of the Cowboys’ loss to the Giants in the 2007 playoffs, with a little less drama.
NFL MVP
Tony Romo QB Dallas Cowboys
I think this is Romo’s year to shine, and I think he is going to make the most of it. The media makes Romo seem like a superstar, but its obvious that the guy really does want to win. If the Cowboys can somehow pick up a better second receiver then Patrick Crayton, not only will Romo win the MVP, he will throw for more than 40 touchdowns this season.
NFL Offensive Player of the Year
LaDanian Tomlinson RB San Diego Chargers
Like I was saying earlier in the article, as well as in my AFC predictions, LT really has a chip on his back after he decided that he was too hurt to play in the AFC Championship against the Pats. I think he will come out flying and approach the numbers that he had in that magical 2006 season.
NFL Defensive Player of the Year
Justin Tuck DE New York Giants
This is my surprise pick out of all of the awards that will be handed out this year. I think Tuck is going to put the Giants defense on his back, and given the significant losses that this defense has faced over the past year in Osi Umenyiora and Michael Strahan, you would have to figure that Tuck will get a ton of opportunities.
NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year
Darren McFadden RB Oakland Raiders
Even though the Raiders have a log jam at running back right now with Justin Fargas and Michael Bush, I think that they will finally realize that Darren McFadden is their best option in the backfield and will stick with him after week two or three. Think of how Adrian Peterson had his tremendous season last year, and that is what I see happening for McFadden.
NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year
Kenny Phillips DB New York Giants
This guy is going to end up being a total steal for the Giants. He is only starting in nickel coverage right now, but look for him to surpass either Michael Johnson or Sammy Knight on the depth chart before the end of the season. The guy throws the big hits and is also tremendous in coverage as well. By the end of the season. the rest of the NFL will be wondering how Kenny Phillips fell to the Giants with the last pick in the first round.
NFL Coach of the Year
Wade Phillips Dallas Cowboys
When you are working around Jerry Jones in America’s football city, it is never going to be easy. When you are Wade Phillips, not only do you have to worry about those things, but you also have to worry about being a lame duck coach like Tom Coughlin last season, as well as Jason Garrett waiting in the wings to take over for you. Phillips will battle through all of the adversity, and nearly lead this team to a Super Bowl 43 victory. The loss to the Chargers will cost him his job at the end of the season however, and we will have a similar situation to Joe Girardi with the Marlins in 2006.
So that’s it folks. I’m glad football is upon us, and hopefully the Giants can make me look stupid and give us a repeat victory in 2008.
Filed under: NFL - Giants, NFL - Jets, Other, Writer - Christian Chiavetta
