Vick's eagles will get patted down by Brady

For starters, let's go straight to the finish.

The New England Patriots will beat the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl XLIV.

If not the Eagles, then the Minnesota Vikings will serve as the Patriots' patsy.

That's not really so Favre-fetched, is it?

How can anybody pick against Tom Brady and Bill Belichick?

You can't.

Unless you're a towel-waving fan of the Pittsburgh Stillers.

Or unless you think a dark horse will emerge from the AFC. It might, but to overtake the Patriots or Steelers, it would have to be Secretariat.

The Houston Texans are a trendy choice to make a few ripples. The prediction is based on former Virginia quarterback Matt Schaub remaining healthy the entire season. Al Groh will coach in the Rose Bowl before that happens.

It's more likely the San Diego Chargers can live up to expectations long enough for Norv Turner to lose another AFC championship game.

In the meantime, we've got at least two games between Pittsburgh and Baltimore to look forward to.

Facing higher expectations than a year ago, what will the Ravens look like now that Joe Flacco's training wheels have been removed? Baltimore still lacks a great receiver, but in preseason, Flacco was airing it out.

Steelers vs. Ravens has developed into a riveting rivalry. The opinion of blindered Redskins fans aside, it's got a lot more vitality to it than that cobwebby trip down memory lane called Skins vs. Cowboys.

Speaking of the Redskins, it's a toss-up as to who faces more scrutiny - Jim Zorn or Jason Campbell. Both have the unmistakable look of scapegoats-in-waiting.

The Redskins open Sunday at the New York Giants, but after that, four of their next five opponents are bottom feeders.

A fast start is crucial, because the finish to the schedule will be taxing: at Dallas, at Philadelphia, New Orleans, Giants, Dallas, at San Diego.

There's little chance that an upstart can make a huge impact in the AFC, but the Arizona Cardinals' run to last season's Super Bowl provides hope in the more wide-open NFC for any number of teams.

The Bears, Packers and Giants - even the Cowboys - leap to mind as serious contenders, too. They're all better than the Cardinals, who were erratic during the 2008 regular season before changing personality in the playoffs. The makeover is unlikely to last over an entire season.

Among the overlooked, the Saints are the better pick to move up.

With Drew Brees at quarterback, New Orleans doesn't lack for offense. And the arrival of defensive coordinator Gregg Williams should shore up the Saints' biggest weakness.

The NFC East might be the preferred obsession around here, but the NFC North offers just as much, if not more, in the way of glamour at the quarterback position, with Brett Favre, the Bears' Jay Cutler and the Packers' Aaron Rodgers. Not to mention that Vikings running back Adrian Peterson is the popular pick to be the league's MVP.

Even with Peterson and rookie flash Percy Harvin on offense, Minnesota management doubted the Vikings could reach the Super Bowl without Favre, but the Eagles had the look of a leading contender before they took on Michael Vick and all his baggage.

After enjoying their most productive offensive season with Donovan McNabb, the Eagles selected three skill players with their first three draft choices. The last thing they seemed to need was a wildcard operating out of the Wildcat, but who knows what edge Vick might provide come the playoffs.

It's Brady's return, though, more than Vick's or Favre's more sensational comebacks, that will determine the balance of power.

Brady's presence and the array of offensive talent around him make New England the favorite from start to finish.

Bob Molinaro, (757) 446-2373, bob.molinaro@pilotonline.com