For now, the reigning king and his fu manchu.

As we load up for the first game of the season this evening, might as well put out a few predictions for the season…

Here is what you should know about the upcoming season:

Four NFC teams can reach Super Bowl XLVI in Indy: Philly, Atlanta, Green Bay, and New Orleans…

• Philly – Clearly, the offensive line and Michael Vick’s health are potential problems. There is another massive one for the playoffs. A first year defensive coordinator is one thing; asking a first-year defensive coordinator who did not coach defense in either college or the pros to potentially craft a gameplan that would defeat the Packers, Saints, or Falcons in postseason play is asking a lot. Juan Castillo will have his hands full trying to utilize talent that largely hasn’t played together.
• Atlanta – They do two things well. First, they throw to Roddy White. Secondly, Michael Turner runs downhill effectively. If that carries over to 2011, they will not reach the Super Bowl. They are a bland team of sorts and they need more diversity on both sides of the ball to go deep into the playoffs.
• New Orleans – Best known for its passing game, New Orleans needs to resuscitate their defense and most importantly, their running game to return to the Super Bowl. Oh yeah, Drew Brees needs to stop turning the ball over.
• Green Bay – The team to beat. Not many teams could survive the pounding they took last season and still come out with the Vince Lombardi Trophy.

Now, our friends from the American Football Conference. As I see it, one of these four AFC teams are likely to Super Bowl XLVI: New England, New York, San Diego, Pittsburgh…

• New England – If they ever want to win another Super Bowl, they’ll a defense that can bring it. Ever since the Pats switched to Star Wars football a few seasons ago, the defense finally bottomed out statistically thanks to a big (and much needed) youth infusion. They’ll be better in ’11 but will it be enough?
• New York – The reason why I put the Jets over Baltimore in this spot is that they are better in the areas where Baltimore prided itself on for years: running, defense, and a quarterback who will not lose you games during the playoffs. I still think Sanchez is straight out of the game manager department but he owns playoff wins over Manning and Brady. Not many quarterbacks can say that.
• Pittsburgh – Right now, Pittsburgh looks good on paper despite losing the Super Bowl. However, some sort of terrible calamity falls upon older teams and Super Bowl runner-ups in recent history. The Ben-era Steelers have never suggested that anything different will happen to this team.
• San Diego – This is a vote for Phil Rivers. I still think he is vastly underrated and honestly, Norv Turner is a bit as well. However, the Chargers own a terrible home-field advantage. No one fears going to San Diego for a playoff game. It’s warm, sunny, and the fans aren’t hostile. That sounds like a setting for a Super Bowl and not an intimidating scene to visit.

When we arrive to Super Bowl XLVI, I expect to see Green Bay against New England.

No one could outwork Green Bay in the offseason because of the lockout and they didn’t lose enough for me to panic over their upcoming season. Sure, Philly acquired new talent but will it blend together effectively? I’m guessing no because of lost time over the lockout.

In the AFC, New England has the best team BUT, as we have seen over the past years, the playoffs are about the matchups.

If the Patriots have to go through a Baltimore/NY Jets combo to reach the Super Bowl, it’s going to be awfully dicey for them to get back.

However, I think they’ll find a way behind Brady and what should be an improved defense.

As Ric Flair once said though, to be the man, you have to beat the man.

Right now, “the man” is Green Bay. The Pack will win it again.

SUPER BOWL XLVI: GREEN BAY 30, NEW ENGLAND 27