2009 NFL Season Preview

The regular season is just around the corner, so FanHouse is ready to unveil its 2009 NFL season preview. Starting Monday afternoon with the AFC East and continuing each weekday until Sept. 9, we will break down every division, team-by-team.

Each squad will be rated on a 50-point scale -- which we call the Heat Index -- that will assign a score of 1-to-10 in five key categories: Offense, Defense, Special Teams, Coaching and Intangibles.

Whichever teams tally the highest Heat Index scores are your favorites, while those at the other end of the spectrum can be considered heavy underdogs. Check back to see every division's predicted standings, as well as additional opinion and analysis as we build up to the Tennessee-Pittsburgh season opener on Sept. 10.

Team Previews (In order of projected finish, click team name for full preview)

AFC East
1. New England Patriots -- Heat Index: 44
2. Miami Dolphins -- Heat Index: 34
3. New York Jets -- Heat Index: 32
4. Buffalo Bills -- Heat Index: 22

NFC East
1. New York Giants -- Heat Index: 39
2. Philadelphia Eagles -- Heat Index: 38
3 (tie). Dallas Cowboys -- Heat Index: 32
3 (tie). Washington Redskins -- Heat Index: 32

AFC North
1. Pittsburgh Steelers -- Heat Index: 44
2. Baltimore Ravens -- Heat Index: 37
3. Cincinnati Bengals -- Heat Index: 31
4. Cleveland Browns -- Heat Index: 30

NFC North
1. Chicago Bears -- Heat Index: 38
2. Green Bay Packers -- Heat Index: 37
3. Minnesota Vikings -- Heat Index: 34
4. Detroit Lions -- Heat Index: 23

AFC South
1. Indianapolis Colts -- Heat Index: 38
2. Tennessee Titans -- Heat Index: 37
3. Houston Texans -- Heat Index: 33
4. Jacksonville Jaguars -- Heat Index: 26

NFC South
1 (tie). Atlanta Falcons -- Heat Index: 39
1 (tie). New Orleans Saints -- Heat Index: 39
3. Carolina Panthers -- Heat Index: 37
4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers -- Heat Index: 29

AFC West
1. San Diego Chargers -- Heat Index: 44
2. Oakland Raiders -- Heat Index: 27
3. Denver Broncos -- Heat Index: 24
4. Kansas City Chiefs -- Heat Index: 22

NFC West
1 (tie). Arizona Cardinals -- Heat Index: 30
1 (tie). San Francisco 49ers -- Heat Index: 30
3. Seattle Seahawks -- Heat Index: 29
4. St. Louis Rams -- Heat Index: 24

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