Reggie Roberts: With the 2012 NFL regular season beginning on Wednesday, give us your take on who are your playoffs teams from both the AFC and the NFC.
Pete Prisco: Here are my playoff teams: NFC: Division winners — Giants, Falcons, Packers, 49ers. Wildcard teams: Cowboys, Eagles. AFC: Division winners — Patriots, Texans, Bengals, Broncos. Wildcard teams: Steelers, Chargers.
RR: There are varying opinions regarding how good the New Orleans Saints will be this season without head coach Sean Payton. How will Payton's loss affect the Saints?
PP: I think the Saints will feel Payton's loss more than they think. The day-to-day stuff will be fine. But his gameday decisions will be missed. His ability to adjust offensively during games will be missed. And I think his ability to offer some checks-and-balances for Drew Brees will be missed.
RR: You spent some time in Flowery Branch this summer during your training camp visits. What do you like about the 2012 Falcons and do you think they have enough to win the NFC South Division this season?
PP:I think the Falcons will win the NFC South. I love the move to a more up-tempo, wide-open offense. I've said this a lot lately, but I mean it: They were a fast team on a fast track that played slow. Now they are a fast team that will play fast. I love that. Matt Ryan will have a huge season.
RR: You live in Jacksonville and closely followed the training camp holdout of Jaguars RB Maurice Jones-Drew. Now that MJD is in camp, are things OK with the Pro Bowl running back and the club?
PP:I wouldn't say they are good, since he didn't get a new deal, but he understands the business. The team welcomed him back and all will be forgotten once he carries the football. But MJD is a stubborn man, and he won't soon forget some of the comments owner Shad Khan made about him.
RR:Let's switch back to the Falcons, who should be pretty good offensively this season. Can new defensive coordinator Mike Nolan make the defense better this season?
PP:I think Mike Nolan's aggressive style will help the Falcons get more pressure. I see a much more complex style in terms of rushing the quarterback, which was needed. Sean Weatherspoon will flourish in this new system. I also like Asante Samuel being added. He brings a cockiness the team needed.
RR: What is the most interesting NFL storyline you are following this week?
PP:I am in New Orleans for two reasons: To see the debut of RGIII, but also to see how the Saints start the first coach-less season.
RR: Give us your Super Bowl prediction?
PP: Packers over Patriots. It's a quarterback league, so I go with the two best.
