I didn’t have to watch Sunday’s NFL Hall of Fame Game to get excited about the upcoming NFL season. With last season ending with the Saints super story in their Super Bowl victory, I was left immediately wanting more (especially since my Jets fell short in the AFC Championship Game).

With a potential lockout looming after this year, this season has a chance to be one for the ages. The league is loaded with talent, and with only six playoff spots in each conference, the division races are going to come down to the wire.

So without further ado, here’s a look at my predictions for the playoff seeding in each conference.

AFC

1.       Baltimore Ravens- Say what you want about the “aging” defense, this team has Super Bowl contender written all over it. For the first time in a long time, the Ravens will have a serious threat on the outside in Anquan Boldin. Throw in the big arm of third-year quarterback Joe Flacco and versatile RB Ray Rice, and the Ravens finally have the potent offense to match their stellar defense. Don’t forget second-year left tackle Michael Oher. He may be best known for his incredible story depicted in Michael Lewis’s The Blind Side, but let’s not forget that he was also the runner-up for last year’s AP Offensive Rookie of the Year award. If the veterans can stay healthy (e.g. Ray Lewis and Ed Reed), then look for Baltimore to make a run to at least the AFC Championship.

2.       San Diego Chargers- The West will be the weakest division in the AFC, and the Chargers look like they’re ready to win a fifth straight division title. Phillip Rivers will be an MVP candidate, and rookie RB Ryan Matthews is not only in line to start, but also to be the favorite to take home Offensive Rookie of the Year. Antonio Gates is still the best receiving TE in football, as his brand new contract can attest. Receiver Vincent Jackson, linebacker Shawne Merriman, and tackle  Marcus McNeill are all currently holding out, but the Chargers have enough depth to make up for their absences. One final note about the Chargers is their ability to make a difference in special teams. Darren Sproles is one of the most electric players in football, and Nate Kaeding is at the top of every fantasy ranking when it comes to kickers. Is this the year head coach Norv Turner finally takes San Diego to the promise land?

3.       New York Jets- With the upcoming HBO show Hard Knocks ready to give fans an inside look at the emerging Jets, head coach Rex Ryan has been anything but shy about his team’s potential. With the most loaded roster in football, expectations are higher than ever. Second-year QB Mark Sanchez is surrounded with weapons — Shonn Greene, LT, Braylon Edwards, Santonio Holmes, just to name a few — and also has one of the top offensive lines in football. If he can keep his turnovers down, last year’s top rated defense should provide enough for the Jets to win what appears to be one of the toughest divisions in the NFL. Assuming CB Darelle Revis is there for the start of the season and Kris Jenkins is healthy, this defense has a chance to be really special. The Pats won seven division titles last decade, but with 2010 marking a new era, I see the Jets taking over. The East will be an all out dog fight until the end, and there’s a good chance that they beat each other up to the point where the division champion will be the only one with a record to make the playoffs.

4.       Houston Texans- That is not a misprint; I really am picking the Texans to with the AFC South over the Indianapolis Colts. Since the division’s inception in 2002, the Colts have six of the eight titles, with the Titans winning the remaining two. But after the best season in franchise history last year, the Texans just might be ready to take over the reins. Matt Schaub is one of the most underrated quarterbacks in the league, while Andre Johnson is one of the game’s top receivers — if not the best. TE Owen Daniels is a well-kept secret, while Steve Slaton and Arian Foster should provide a nice one-two punch in the backfield. Defensive end “Super” Mario Williams is a beast off the edge. He’s certainly answered the questions people had when Houston picked him first over Reggie Bush a few years ago. With one of the most explosive offenses in football and a chip on their shoulder, the Texans are going to come out hungry each and every week.

5.       Indianapolis Colts- They don’t need to win the division to still be a Super Bowl contender. Reggie Wayne and Dallas Clark are premiere pass catchers, and slot receiver Anthony Gonzalez will return from injury with high expectations. Oh yeah, and that Manning guy who will be throwing to them is pretty good. Teams have to change offensive game plans because of disruptive defensive end Dwight Freeney, and safety Bob Sanders appears to be healthy for the first time since he won Defensive Player of the Year in 2007. As last season’s AFC champs, the Colts will have a target on their back right out of the gates. But don’t underestimate their determination to avenge last year’s Super Bowl loss.

6.       Cincinnati Bengals- Chad Ochocinco has already said that anything less than a Super Bowl for his team would be a disappointment. And after a beat down first round loss to the Jets last year, you can be sure that this team will have something to prove. While he may be a little past his prime, the addition of T.O. gives QB Carson Palmer a dynamic duo of wide-outs to throw to. First round draft pick Jermaine Gresham should make an immediate impact as a receiving tight end, while Cedric Benson looks to pick up where he left off last season running the ball. Antonio Bryant and Jordan Shipley were also acquired via free agency and the draft respectively, and only add to Cincy’s loaded offensive arsenal. The defense boasts a top-notch secondary with one of the best cornerback tandems in the league (Leon Hall and Johnathan Joseph). Ochocinco may not be the next Nostradamus, but this team certainly does have Super Bowl potential. If all the egos are kept in check, they may even snatch the division from the Ravens. But beware that this team’s worst enemy will definitely be its own reflection.

Missing Out: Patriots, Steelers, Dolphins, Jaguars, Raiders.

NFC

1.       Green Bay Packers- Quick: who’s the only quarterback in NFL history to throw for over 4,000 yards in his first two seasons as a starter? Not Brett Favre. In just his third year as the team’s starter, Aaron Rodgers appears ready to put the Packers on his shoulders. A sure MVP candidate, Rodgers will need help from RB Ryan Grant to open up the play action passing attack. The defense should prove to be one of the top in the NFC, led by last year’s Defensive Player of the Year Charles Woodson at cornerback. With one of the toughest stadiums for visitors to play in, Green Bay is in search of its first Super Bowl birth in the A.F. (After Favre) era.

2.       Dallas Cowboys- The Cowboys have a chance to make history this season. As a preseason Super Bowl hopeful, they could be the only team to ever play a Super Bowl as a true home team. The NFC East is probably the deepest division in the NFL, but the Cowboys appear to be the cream of the crop. A dynamic backfield with Marion Barber and Felix Jones, combined with breakout star Miles Austin, Roy Williams, and TE Jason Witten catching passes from Tony Romo, should make for one of the most entertaining offenses in the NFC.  I didn’t even mention currently injured rookie WR Dez Bryant, who we will probably looked at as the biggest steal in this year’s draft when he’s healthy. With Demarcus Ware leading the defense and Jerry Jones behind the scenes, Dallas will do everything in its power to repeat as division champs.

3.       New Orleans Saints- Last year’s champions may have a tough time getting back to the big game. Their storybook season saw the Saints getting every break and every bounce, but it appears like their adrenaline, crowd, and good fortune may leave them a bit short. QB Drew Brees is one of the most efficient passers the game has ever seen, and the team has an array of offensive weapons, like receiver Marques Colston and RB/return man Reggie Bush. The team’s eight defensive touchdowns last season was twice as many as any other team. And even though safety Darren Sharper remains one of the top defensive playmakers in the game, that will be an impossible statistic to replicate. But if the defense can be more consistent, the Saints will look to bring another miracle to the city they’ve revived.

4.       San Francisco 49ers- The Niners haven’t played a playoff game in over seven years, but this looks like their year to reclaim the NFC West. Former number one pick Alex Smith will get another shot as the full time starting quarterback and will look to take advantage of talented second-year receiver Michael Crabtree. Vernon Davis has gone from a locker room issue to one of the top receiving tight ends in football, and Frank Gore has been a very effective runner since coming into the league in ’05. The o-line features two first round picks: Anthony Davis and Mike Iupati. Davis came in as a “project” but will get the nod at right tackle, while Iupati — who has been one of most impressive rookies of the summer — should start at left guard. Defensive head coach Mike Singletary and All-Pro linebacker Patrick Willis will lead what might be the NFC’s best defense. Super-athlete Taylor Mays has some question marks, but taking him in the second round was a no-brainer. Bottom line: If Smith can be efficient and limit his turnovers, the 49ers have a chance to surprise a lot of people.

5.       Minnesota Vikings- To play or not to play? That is the question. Favre or no Favre, the Vikings will challenge the Packers in the NFC North. RB Adrian Peterson is the best at what he does, and last year’s Heisman runner-up Toby Gerhart should be a good goal line back. No matter who’s throwing the passes, receivers Sydney Rice, Bernard Berrian, and Percy Harvin — who is also one of the best returners in the game — have all proven that they can play. The defense is led by DE Jared Allen and DTs Pat and Kevin Williams. With no solid backup plan, the Favre situation could make or break Minnesota. Or maybe Tarvaris Jackson will come in with a chip on his shoulder and be the playmaker that he was once expected to be. Only time will tell.

6.       Atlanta Falcons- Atlanta missed out on the playoffs last year, but I simply can’t see that happening again. Quarterback Matt Ryan will look to return to his rookie form rather than his slightly less impressive sophomore campaign last year. Michael Turner will be back from injury and look to pick up where he left off, while Roddy White and Tony Gonzalez are quietly one of the top WR/TE combos in the NFC. The offense is probably ahead of the defense at this point, but third year head coach Mike Smith is one of the best when it comes to defensive schemes and game plans. Ryan has the intangibles to be one of the great leaders in the league, and this could be the year he wins his first playoff game.

Missing Out: Eagles, Giants, Bears, Cardinals.

Most websites list the Cowboys, Colts, Chargers and Packers as Super Bowl favorites, with the Saints, Jets, Ravens and Pats close behind. But it’s still August, and we can’t forget that anything can happen on any given Sunday (or Monday, Thursday, and a few Saturdays too).