By GREG MENGELT
Greg.Mengelt@newsandtribune.com
> SOUTHERN INDIANA — There is a Super Bowl champion every year. Not all are considered equal.
There are some seasons when NFL teams become synonymous with the season in which they win the championship.
The 1954 and 1955 seasons have become synonymous with the Cleveland Browns. The 1966 season can’t be recalled without a prominent mention of the Green Bay Packers, thanks to their “Ice Bowl” performance. The 1968 season is recalled for the New York Jets and their AFL breakthroughs. The 1972 season will always be remembered for the undefeated Miami Dolphins. I can’t even think of the Chicago Bears or 1985 without thinking of the other.
Unless Peyton Manning goes down with an injury this season, 2010 and the Indianapolis Colts will always be remembered as one and the same.
The Colts aren’t only the Super Bowl XLV favorites — they seemed to be destined for all-time greatness.
Manning at quarterback automatically makes the Colts a contender. Depth at nearly every position — on both offense and defense — makes Indy a contender to be one of the NFL’s all-time great teams.
If the Colts don’t average 30 points per game while giving up less than 20, it will be a disappointing season in Indianapolis.
Here’s how “All Over Indiana” sees the contenders to the Colts’ 2010 assumed crown:
AFC DIVISION CHAMPIONS
• COLTS (14-2): Anything less than a 14-2 regular season and a Super Bowl championship would be a disappointment in Indianapolis.
• SAN DIEGO CHARGERS (11-5): The team of the future in the AFC should dominate a weak West division.
• BALTIMORE RAVENS (11-5): Even without Ed Reed for at least six weeks, the Ravens should win the North.
• NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (10-6): Expect the Patriots to edge out Miami and the Jets in a tight — and overrated — AFC East.
AFC WILD CARD
• HOUSTON TEXANS (12-4): The Texans are in the Colts’ division, but they may be the second-best team in the AFC and the biggest contender to Indy’s assumed conference crown.
• CINCINNATI BENGALS (9-7): With Terrell Owens, the Bengals could be dangerous. With the controversial receiver, there’s a great chance Cincy will underachieve.
AFC PLAYOFF CONTENDERS
• NEW YORK JETS (9-7): The Jets think they are Super Bowl contenders. They’re wrong.
• MIAMI DOLPHINS (9-7): If Chad Henne becomes a serious quarterback, the Dolphins will become serious playoff contenders.
• TENNESSEE TITANS (8-8): The Titans are a quarterback and a strong wide receiver threat — Kenny Britt, anyone? — from being really, really good.
• KANSAS CITY CHIEFS (7-9): If the Chargers falter — which they very well may — the up-and-coming Chiefs could be there to pick up the pieces.
• NO PLAYOFFS: Cleveland Browns 7-9 (good things are starting to happen in Cleveland), Pittsburgh Steelers 6-10 (this team will fall flat), Buffalo Bills 6-10 (A C.J. Spiller Rookie of the Year season won’t make the Bills a playoff contender), Denver Broncos 5-11, Jacksonville Jaguars 5-11, Oakland Raiders 3-13.
NFC DIVISION CHAMPIONS
• GREEN BAY PACKERS (11-5): Green Bay will score a lot of points and give up a lot of points. They’ll score enough to finish the regular season with home-field advantage.
• PHILADELPHIA EAGLES (11-5): If Philly wins in Green Bay in Week 1 — and it easily could — the Eagles will become the unexpected favorites in the NFC. With so many weapons, Kevin Kolb will be an upgrade at quarterback. You heard it first from “All Over Indiana.”
• ATLANTA FALCONS (11-5): Atlanta could be the sleeper in the NFC. A Super Bowl appearance isn’t out of the question for the Falcons.
• SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS (11-5): Someone has to win the NFC West. The most likely candidate is Mike Singletary’s Niners. If Alex Smith performs at quarterback, San Fran could be an NFC sleeper.
NFC WILD CARD• MINNESOTA VIKINGS (10-6): Despite an every man-turned-prima donna quarterback, the Vikings have enough to contend for a division and a conference title.
• DALLAS COWBOYS (10-6): Many “experts” have the Cowboys winning the NFC and playing at home in the Super Bowl. But Wade Phillips is still the Cowboys’ coach, isn’t he?
NFC PLAYOFF CONTENDERS
• NEW ORLEANS SAINTS (10-6). Like most experts, I can’t see the Saints repeating their magic of 2009.
• CHICAGO BEARS (10-6): When Mike Martz is running the offense — and not making critical head coach decisions — his teams are successful. Expect Jay Cutler to thrive under Martz’s offense.
• ARIZONA CARDINALS (10-6): Now that Matt Leinert is out of the way in the desert, Arizona can contend with the 49ers for the West title and a first-round playoff win.
• DETROIT LIONS (8-8): Despite a serious weakness in the defensive backfield, the punching-bag Lions are strong enough everywhere else to seriously contend for a playoff spot.
• CAROLINA PANTHERS (7-9): Carolina may still have the league’s best running game with DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart.
• SEATTLE SEAHAWKS (6-10): If Smith fails, which is a strong possibility, the Seahawks could be in position to steal a division title.
• NO PLAYOFFS: New York Giants 6-10, Tampa Bay Buccaneers 6-10, Washington Redskins 5-11, St. Louis Rams 4-12.
• AFC CHAMPIONSHIP: Colts 37, Ravens 10.
• NFC CHAMPIONSHIP: Eagles 34, Packers 31.
• SUPER BOWL XLV: Colts 31, Eagles 20.
Contact Greg Mengelt at greg.mengelt@newsandtribune.com.
