NFL Predictions

The NFL is back! Despite losing appeal in both the rule changes and the conduct of the league's players off the field, the NFL is still the king of pro sports in America. One of the funnest parts of the NFL season is doing predictions that will surely be wrong for the most part.

FYI, I did predict that Baltimore would win the Super Bowl last year and I almost had the entire Super Bowl match-up correct had the Atlanta Falcons won their NFC championship game against the San Francsico 49ers...Oh well.

So I'll do the normal predictions as far as standings go and I'll pick some winners and contenders for the individual awards. So Let's go...

NFC

EAST: NY Giants 10-6...Best Quarterback in the division, good pass rush, best coach = division winners.
Washington 9-7....Can't imagine RG III staying healthy all year, Morris will come back to earth a little bit
Dallas 9-7.....They have all of the talent in the world but I don't like their coach or their qb enough
Philadelphia 6-10..... Rookie coach, terrible o-line, mediocre defense, overrated qb who gets injured a lot

North: Green Bay 11-5...Best qb in the league, great coach, improved running game
Minnesota 9-7...I don't like their qb but AP best overall player in the game, Jennings will help passing game
Detroit 8-8...Defense still isn't good enough, Stafford inconsistent, no running game...Almost there
Chicago 6-10...Look good on paper but new coach, no Urlacher, Jay Cutler = Mr. Inconsistent

South: Atlanta 12-4...Should have been in the Super Bowl last year, actually improved their roster
New Orleans 10-6....Sean Payton = just as important as Drew Brees. He'll get them back to the playoffs
Tampa Bay 8-8....If they had a better qb than Freeman I'd pick them to go to the playoffs for sure
Carolina 6-10...Cam is exciting but they don't have much else....Still far away from the playoffs.

West: San Francisco 12-4....The most complete team in football
Seattle 11-5...Defense should be scary good, top 5 run-game + good upcoming qb
St.Louis 7-9...Going in the right direction but still not enough skill...Sam Bradford not good enough
Arizona 5-11...Carson Palmer?


AFC

East: New England 11-5....Still have Belichick and Tom Brady...Division sucks
Miami 8-8....Defense is legit, decent running game, not sold on 2nd year qb Ryan Tannenhill though
Buffalo 7-9...Big time talent but rookie qb and rookie coach...
NY Jets 4-12....Yikes

North: Cincinnati 11-5...If they were ever going to have a big year this year would be ideal for them
Pittsburgh 9-7...Defense will still be top 5 + a top 5 qb in Big Ben = they have a chance
Baltimore 8-8...Let down year for team that lost a ton of leadership...Tough being defending champs
Cleveland 5-11....If they had a decent qb I'd maybe have them up by 9-7 but man Weeden sucks

South: Houston: 11-5...Most complete team in the AFC..Can Matt Schaub take them to the SB?
Indianapolis 9-7....Andrew Luck will prove himself as the best qb from last year's rookie class
Tennessee 6-10...Just nothing at all impresses me about the team...Chris Johnson = overrated
Jacksonville 3-13...Yikes

West: Denver 11-5...Peyton has so many weapons...Zero pass rush...Defense will be leaky
Kansas City 8-8...Andy Reid will improve the team, lots of talent just not quite enough depth yet
San Diego 6-10...They have Rivers and that's about it.
Oakland 5-11...Yikes

Awards:

Offensive Player of the year: Adrian Peterson....If healthy I don't see any reason why not
Defensive Player of the year: Aldon Smith (49ers) Dude had 19 sacks last year, will be there again
Offensive Rookie of the year: Eddie Lacy (Green Bay) Steelers should have drafted him
Defensive Rookie of the year: Jarivs Jones (Steelers) Homer pick but could do it with 10+ sacks
Coach of the year: Sean Payton...He'll show why he's so damn important
Comeback Player of the year: Darrelle Revis (Tampa Bay)

Playoffs:

Wild Card round:
Green Bay def New Orleans at home..Brees not as good in the elements
NY Giants def Seattle in a close one
Cincinnati def Pittsburgh because FML
New England def Indy because Brady at home vs Luck

Divisional round:

Houston def New England
Denver def Cincinnati

Green Bay def San Francisco
Atlanta def NY Giants

Championship Games:

Houston def Denver
Atlanta def Green Bay

Super Bowl XLVIII
Atlanta def Houston