There’s a feeling that begins to boil over this time every year. Part of it is a hankering for some good buffalo wings — the ones baked then fried before being coated in the right amount of hot sauce. The other is knowing that every week, now through January, one thing to look forward to on Sundays other than dinner at the in-laws is football.

Tonight the 2010 NFL season kicks off as the Minnesota Vikings travel to New Orleans to take on the Saints in a rematch of last season’s NFC Championship game. It’s the perfect matchup to kick off this campaign. We’ll see if the Saints’ high-powered offense looks poised to wreak havoc on opposing defenses once again. We’ll also be able to tell if Brett Favre and the Vikings look ready to roll or if 2009 was that magical season that comes along once every couple of years for teams not named the Patriots or Colts.

Of the 16 players and coaches I’ve spoken with this preseason, all of them can’t wait to get going. The preseason is exciting in Week 1, but then loses its luster game by game until the end. Week 1 of the regular season, however, kicks off 17-plus weeks of nail-biting action. Teams’ futures are on the line tonight going forward, and you, the fans, will sigh or rejoice after each 60 minutes of action.

We all expect Indianapolis and New Orleans to be good again. That same feeling goes for Aaron Rodgers and Chris Johnson. But for every Colts and Saints, there’s a Ravens and Dolphins — teams that don’t get the publicity but have a chance to make the playoffs. For every Rodgers and Johnson, there’s a Shonn Greene and Mike Wallace– players who are about to move into the elite category at their positions. These storylines are what makes fans keep their TVs running all day Sunday, hoping not to miss any of the action.

Here are my predictions for the 2010 NFL season:

MVP Picks:

1) Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay – I’m convinced that this will be a huge third year for the Packers quarterback. No other player at Rodgers’ position has ever thrown back-to-back 4,000-yard seasons to start their career. He’s aiming for a third. With Donald Driver and Greg Jennings on the outside and Jermichael Finley at tight end, Rodgers has the weapons to put together another big season.

2) Drew Brees, New Orleans – Two years ago, many questioned whether Brees should join Peyton Manning and Tom Brady as one of the league’s elite quarterbacks. After bringing home a Super Bowl to New Orleans, there’s no question he transforms that superstar twosome into a threesome. I don’t know if he’ll touch the 5,000 yards mark like 2008, but never say never.

3) Peyton Manning, Indianapolis – I hate putting three quarterbacks here, but this position is way too critical to a team’s success. Manning is someone who will put up great numbers year after year, and as long as his team is successful, he’ll run away with this award. With the always-reliable Reggie Wayne and Dallas Clark back for another season, Pierre Garcon entering his second season after a successful 2009 campaign and Anthony Gonzalez returning from a knee injury, Manning will have plenty of targets to spread the ball around to.

2009 Selections: Tom Brady, Adrian Peterson, Manning
2008 Selections: LaDainian Tomlinson, Brian Westbrook, Tony Romo

Offensive Player of the Year: Chris Johnson, Tennessee - Johnson has his eyes set on two accolades this season: a Super Bowl title and the all-time single season rushing record. Johnson fell 99 yards shy in 2009, busting out for 2,006, fifth behind Eric Dickerson’s 2,105. The odds are against Johnson, who has said he’d like to hit 2,500 yards on the ground this season — that’s over 156 yards a game. No other back has run for more than 2,000 yards in back-to-back campaigns. With the questionable Vince Young behind center, Johnson will get plenty of opportunities.

Defensive Player of the Year: Darrelle Revis, New York – Revis was absolutely robbed of this award last season. He didn’t give up a 50-plus yard game to anyone he covered  and finished with 54 tackles and six interceptions. After signing a new deal early Sunday morning, Revis is out to prove he’s worthy of the millions being deposited into his bank account. The true test will be early on as he goes up against Anquan Boldin (Week 1 vs. Baltimore), Randy Moss (Week 2 vs. New England) and Brandon Marshall (Week 3 vs. Miami).

2009 Selection: Mario Williams

Rookies to Watch:

1) CJ Spiller, Buffalo – Spiller leads what could be a stellar draft class for running backs. The product of Clemson University was taken ninth overall in the 2010, the first of three backs taken in the first round. Spiller was named the Bills starting running back on Wednesday with Fred Jackson and Marshawn Lynch out with injuries. Both are expected to return in a few weeks so Spiller has to show flashes of brilliance early to maintain the starting spot throughout the year.

2) Ryan Mathews, San Diego - It was an impressive preseason for Mathews, who compiled 146 yards on 34 carries (4.29 avg) for the Chargers. He also caught a few passes, which the guy he’s replacing (LaDainian Tomlinson) did a pretty good job of, as well. San Diego’s coaching staff loves Mathews and his running style fits in perfectly with the Chargers’ offense. San Diego doesn’t have a tough schedule this season, which will only help supplant Mathews as one of the AFC’s top backs.

3) Ndamukong Suh, Detroit - Suh, the second-overall pick in the 2010 draft, has the tools to be a dominating tackle. For months, many believed the St. Louis Rams would take Suh with the top pick, only to change their mind and go with the prospective franchise quarterback (Sam Bradford). Suh was an absolute beast in college, playing in 54 games, making 212 tackles and compiling 23 sacks. One of these years the Lions will have a successful draft and Suh looks like that player to change their luck around.

2009 Selections: Percy Harvin, Mark Sanchez, Aaron Curry
2008 Selections: Felix Jones, Jerod Mayo

Comeback Player: Owen Daniels, Houston – Texans quarterback Matt Schaub posted career numbers in 2009 despite his top tight end missing half of the season with an ACL injury. Now that Daniels is healthy once again, expect to see Schaub getting Daniels plenty of action. Daniels had five touchdowns, 519 yards and 40 receptions before going down in Buffalo. Double those numbers and he’d have set career highs in each of the offensive categories.

2009 Selection: Michael Vick

Coach of the Year: Mike Shanahan, Washington – Shanahan will be a shoe-in for the award if he can get the Redskins to 10 wins in the NFC East this season. After finishing 4-12 in 2009, Washington will look to Shanahan and new quarterback Donovan McNabb to lead them back to the playoffs. Getting there isn’t out of the question either. Their division was once considered the toughest in the league, but now there’s too many uncertainties in it to quantify that same statement. Shanahan has three Super Bowl rings (two as a head coach, one as an offensive coordinator) and a 146-98 career record. That type of resume could help the Redskins become the surprise team this year and could eventually lead to some more hardware for the Shanahan household.

2009: Ken Whisenhunt

Team on the Rise: Miami Dolphins – The Dolphins have the unfortunate pleasure of playing in the same division as the Jets and Patriots. Three teams from the same division, however, have made the playoffs in the past. The Dolphins won’t make it this season, but they’re close. A lot of their success rides on second-year quarterback Chad Henne — when does a team’s success not ride on it’s quarterback? In 14 games last season, the former Michigan product tossed 12 touchdowns for 2,878 yards. He also had 14 interceptions. Henne lacked trustworthy receivers last season and now has one of the NFL’s best in Brandon Marshall. Reggie Brown, if healthy, solidifies the Dolphins’ backfield. Defensively, the Dolphins are also an up-and-coming group with Jake Long, Karlos Dansby, Randy Starks and Yeremiah Bell. The ingredients are there. Now it’s just a matter of making sure they mesh well.

2009 Selection: San Francisco 49ers

Team on the Decline: Minnesota Vikings – The Vikings had one shot to get to the Super Bowl under Brett Favre and they failed. Now things are crumbling before our very eyes. Favre’s ankle issue is going to hinder his performance at some point; the Vikings’ receiving corps (Percy Harvin’s migraines and Sidney Rice’s hip) are in shambles; and the team’s defense on the outside is led by Lito Sheppard, a two-time Pro Bowler who did not look good last season with the Jets. Remember, teams were throwing in his direction often with Revis on the other side of the field. Outside of the healthy Adrian Peterson, Visanthe Shiancoe and Jared Allen, Minnesota has an uphill climb after their trip to the AFC Championship game.

2009 Selection: Denver Broncos

Team Close to Becoming Elite: San Francisco 49ers – I don’t know if Alex Smith is the answer at quarterback. He wasn’t in the past, but a maturation process may have occurred on the bench for the better. The 49ers, a team I believe will make the playoffs as a Wild Card entrant, have the components to become very good: RB Frank Gore, QB Alex Smith, WR Michael Crabtree, TE Vernon Davis and one of the top defensive players in the league, Patrick Willis, leading their defense. I don’t think head coach Mike Singletary’s team is Super Bowl-ready, but a first-round win isn’t out of the question. In 2009, I thought the same way about the Ravens, who have clearly established themselves as one of the league’s up-and-comers. I also wrote last season that the 49ers were the team on the rise. I don’t see them going anywhere but up from here.

2009 Selection: Baltimore Ravens

Playoff Picture:

AFC: New York (East), Baltimore (North), Indianapolis (South), San Diego (West), New England (Wild Card), Houston (Wild Card)

NFC: New York (East), Green Bay (North), New Orleans (South), San Francisco (West), Arizona (Wild Card), Dallas (Wild Card)

AFC Championship: Baltimore over San Diego
NFC Championship: Green Bay over New Orleans

Super Bowl: Green Bay over Baltimore

2009 S.B. Selection: San Diego over Green Bay
2008 S.B. Selection: San Diego over Dallas

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