Throughout the week, PFW will post the 2009 NFL predictions of its editors, who forecast the order of finish in each division, the outcome of Super Bowl XLIV, and Offensive and Defensive MVPs. In the seventh of these predictions, PFW executive editor Dan Arkush looks into his crystal ball.

AFC East
1. New England: With his sights set on a new deal a la Eli Manning and Philip Rivers, Tom Brady means business in more ways than one.
2. Buffalo: Bills looked sluggish in the preseason, but return of T.O. from toe injury will make them at least respectable.
3. N.Y. Jets: Mark Sanchez looks like he could be the real deal, but it’s going to take some time for Jets to jell under Rex Ryan.
4. Miami: Daunting schedule proves to be a killer, as celebrity part-owners become team’s only noteworthy attraction.

AFC North
1. Pittsburgh: A defense determined to get coordinator Dick LeBeau into Canton spearheads repeat division title.
2. Baltimore: Almost as ravenous on defense as Steelers, but offense could falter with Joe Flacco regressing just a bit in second season.
3. Cincinnati: A lot better with Carson Palmer back under center, but “Hard Knocks” attraction is hardly a contender.
4. Cleveland: Still too many questions everywhere, starting at quarterback.

AFC South
1. Houston: My supersleeper! Texans’ “Triplets” (QB Matt Schaub, RB Steve Slaton, WR Andre Johnson) pave way to surprise division title as Colts, Titans regress.
2. Indianapolis: Tony Dungy will definitely be missed. Bob Sanders’ shaky status makes defense bigger cause for concern.
3. Tennessee: I worry about Kerry Collins holding up under center, and defense being able to continue holding its own up front without Albert Haynesworth. 
4. Jacksonville: Sharp decline last season was not a mirage.

AFC West
1. San Diego: They’ll be one of the league’s top teams from start to finish — for a change. No other team in the division is worth a hoot.
2. Denver: Brandon Marshall distraction and a defense that still sucks put a season-long Rocky Mountain sigh on new head coach Josh McDaniel’s face.
3. Kansas City: If Matt Cassel is hurt seriously, they could finish even lower than the Raiders, which would be pretty hard to do.
4. Oakland: Could be worse than the Lions last season. Team’s only punch is in head coach Tom Cable’s fist.

NFC East
1. Dallas: I know it could prove to be annoying, but something tells me Jerry Jones will be gloating over a lot more than his new billion-dollar playpen in ’09.
2. N.Y. Giants: Hard to see them not making the playoffs, but division rivals in “Big D” shatter Super Bowl hopes.
3. Philadelphia: Easily the most interesting team in the league with Michael Vick on board and “D” hard-pressed to get by without Jim Johnson. But a few too many issues make playoff trip unlikely.
4. Washington: 'Skins seem to be a sizable notch below the rest of the teams in their division.

NFC North
1. Green Bay: Putting too much stock in the preseason could be very dangerous, but the Packers have been near-perfect on both sides of the ball. Guess they’ve turned me into a believer.
2. Minnesota: Brett Favre will run out of gas again, but Adrian Peterson will be outstanding from beginning to end.
3. Chicago: Jay Cutler will add considerable pop to the offense, but shaky pass defense is not just a passing concern.
4. Detroit: Lions will be better, but I see four wins, tops.

NFC South
1. Atlanta: I like the direction this team is going under underrated head coach Mike Smith and emerging star QB Matt Ryan.
2. New Orleans: They’ve got offensive firepower to burn, but defense will continue to have trouble measuring up.
3. Carolina: Early rash of injuries, Jake Delhomme’s ’08 playoff debacle create bad vibe.
4. Tampa Bay: New head coach Raheem Morris should hand the QB keys to rookie Josh Freeman sooner than later, with rebuilding Bucs looking like bottom-feeders.

NFC West
1. Arizona: Seem to have regressed a bit from Super Bowl season but still the best team in nondescript division.
2. Seattle: I liked them to sneak by the Cards and win the division until injuries (Walter Jones, Chris Spencer, Marcus Trufant) started giving me that sinking feeling again.
3. San Francisco: Mike Singletary will make things interesting, but failure to address suspect pass rush, O-line will be their undoing.
4. St. Louis: Rams have too big a hill to climb but should improve enough under Steve Spagnuolo to scratch out at least five wins.

Super Bowl: New England over Dallas

Offensive MVP: RB Adrian Peterson, Minnesota
Defensive MVP: OLB DeMarcus Ware, Dallas

Nolan Nawrocki's predictions | Mike Wilkening's predictions | Eric Edholm's predictions | Dan Parr's predictions | Matt Sohn's predictions | Michael Blunda's predictions

Kickoff is coming! PFW's annual Kickoff Issue is on sale at PFWstore.com and at newsstands and bookstores across the country. Also, be sure to buy copies of the Pro Football Weekly/Yahoo! Sports 2009 NFL preview magazine, as well as the Pro Football Weekly/Yahoo! Sports Fantasy Football Guide 2009, both of which are now available at bookstores, newsstands and retail outlets where magazines are sold. Or order your copies online at PFWStore.com.