Here are mine:
AFC East: Patriots - 1st
AFC South: Colts - 2nd
AFC North: Steelers - 3rd
AFC West: Chargers - 4th
AFC Wildcard: Jaguars - 5th
AFC Wildcard: Browns - 6th
NFC East: Cowboys - 1st
NFC North: Vikings - 2nd
NFC West: Cardinals - 3rd
NFC South: Saints - 4th
NFC Wildcard: Packers - 5th
NFC Wildcard: Eagles - 6th
The Pats will dominate their division once more but at least we get to see Jett Farve play against them twice a year now. The Colts will pound their way through the toughest division in the AFC with the Jags trailing by 1 game, enough to secure a wildcard spot above the Browns, who will go 10-6. The Steelers will be a consistent team in their division with an 11-5 finish. In the AFC West, Oakland will have visions of the No. 4 playoff spot, and they will actually give San Diego a run for their money, but will eventually falter.
The Cowboys will unquestionably be the top team in the AFC finishing 14-2 above the Vikings by 2 games. Green Bay will have to settle for the wildcard this year as Rodgers performance will fluctuate throughout the season. The Cardinals will finally rise up out of a mediocre division, going to 11-5. The teams of the NFC South will toy with one another and the Saints will claim their title as the best of the worst. Playing in what is probably the most talented division in the entire league, a tattered and torn Philly will squeak into the last wildcard position.
Also:
- The defending champs, the NY Giants, will stumble big-time, losing both games against Dallas and a seemingly weaker Philadelphia. This will cost them.
- The Atlanta Falcons will continue to disappoint, ending the season with only 5 wins.
- Cleveland will pull out some close wins this season but a field goal won't be enough on wildcard weekend against the steady Steelers.
- Tom Brady will choke against Manning and the Colts (again) in the AFC Championship.
- Dallas will go to and win the NFC Championship game. Other than that, the rest of the NFC playoffs could turn out a number of ways.
- As for the Super Bowl, Colts vs. Cowboys will be a great game... But I don't think I can call this one. I'm tempted to go with the experience and reliability: Indianapolis will of course be solid with their precision QB, Manning. But just look at Dallas: Romo and T.O. both set records for Dallas. When Romo wasn't passing for great yardage, Marion Barber ran it for great yardage. Witten is a beast... enough said. Their offense is flat-out loaded and their defense is plenty solid to match. Nick Folk is a clutch kicker, no-doubt after a rookie season that landed him in the Pro Bowl. Now, we can go ahead and throw Pacman Jones into the mix! The only question is how Tony Romo will behave. If he doesn't fix his irrational decision-making he displayed on occasion last year, the Colt's defense will pick him apart any chance they get and Dallas will fall behind. But if he has matured into a true team leader and thinks more rationally, I think Dallas has an excellent chance of topping the Colts. I don't know though, I think this match-up is still too close to call.
What are your predictions? Thoughts? Comments?
Tags: