Hope is everywhere, but Oakland

Hope springs eternal today.

And why not? The NFL season kicks off tonight as the Super Bowl Champion Indianapolis Colts host last year’s Cinderella story the New Orleans Saints.

More importantly fans everywhere (minus Oakland) have reason to believe their team can be better, that their team can make the playoffs.

As always the same usual suspects will be back and good. I’m talking about the Colts, New England Patriots, Chicago Bears and Seattle Seahawks. But, over the past three seasons nearly three-quarters of the league has made the playoffs at least once.

That’s right, since 2004, the NFC has seen 13 different teams visit the postseason with only four teams making multiple appearances. The AFC has seen a bit more consistency from its teams, as only 10 have made it with six teams making repeat appearances.

Just last season half of the NFC finished with an 8-8 record or better with all of those teams having a chance of making the playoffs.

Football by far is the most entertaining of all the professional sports thanks in part to its strict salary cap and league-wide revenue sharing from huge television contracts. This has created unheralded parity in the league, allowing smaller market teams like Green Bay, not just to stay afloat but to compete for titles. That gives the NFL a huge edge.

The league could stand to loose that edge if they continue to push their own, NFL Network. Last season, the seven games covered by the NFL Network averaged only 3.1 million viewers and included such thrilling games as Green Bay’s 9-7 field goal fest over Minnesota and an unimpressive 20-9 victory by Kansas City a few days later. Cable television contracts did not make the league wildly popular and is not the answer for insuring future fans.

Regardless of what happens to the NFL Network, football is back tonight. And it’s stronger than ever.

FPS FEARLESS PREDICTIONS

NFC playoff teams: Philadelphia, New Orleans, Chicago, Seattle, Wild Cards: Dallas, San Francisco*

AFC playoff teams: New England, Indianapolis, Cincinnati, San Diego, Wild Cards: Denver, Jacksonville*

Super Bowl Pick: Chargers over Saints

Blogger’s Note: *Predictions were made in no particular order. Indianapolis Colt's QB Peyton Manning, pictured, won a Super Bowl last year. However, things will be infinitely different during the 2007 season, as every team will be gunning for Manning and the Colts. Photo courtesy of Indianapolis Colts - AJ Macht.