AFC East:
Patriots - 10-6
Miami - 9-7
Jets - 6-10
Buffalo - 6-10
New England is back with Brady, and that right there makes them a better squad than last year, who went 11-5 to miss the playoffs with a Quarterback that's last start was back in High School. Still, we don't know how Brady will pan out, since it's a huge gap missing a year of championship football, from a serious season ending injury, esp in Week 1 of the season. Manning's injury wasn't even as close as major to that of Brady's and Manning has admitted it took him and his knee awhile to get accustomed to playing live football again, so there will be a drop off, but nothing huge. I expect N.E to win the division, but also drop some game due to their defense who has many of holes to begin with, esp without veteran leadership. Miami could be a sleeper and win the division again, esp if Pennington plays mistake free football. Plus, their D should be better, since Joey Porter had another breakout season last year sacking the QB. Buffalo and N.Y.J aren't there yet, and won't be for a couple more years. Its New England to lose and should be a nice setup between them and Miami down the stretch.
AFC North:
Pittsburgh Steelers - 12-4
Baltimore Ravens - 9-7
Cincinnati Bengals - 9-7
Cleveland Browns- 5-11
The Steelers schedule looks tougher than advertised. Their next 3 games are by no means gimme's and will be provided as tests. Chicago is a game next week I see as a potential trap game going into unfamiliar territory, tough environment, and going up against another hard nosed defense. Cincinnati should be a better squad, along with San Diego. By no means a cupcake schedule. The Steelers are a team that plays the kind of football that gives teams fits. They are intimidating, and will punch you in the mouth all season long, regardless of who's next. You will be in a dog fight facing Pittsburgh, which is why teams like Cleveland & Cincinnati are unfortunate to play in a division that provide two of the best at doing so. Baltimore's defense, I feel, is on the decline, while their offense is on the uprise. Baltimore is bound to take one from Pittsburgh in one of the two meetings, but Pittsburgh is top dawg.
AFC South:
Indianapolis Colts - 11-5
Tennessee Titans - 9-7
Houston Texans - 9-7
Jacksonville Jaguars -8-8
Besides the NFC North, East & South, this is the hardest division in football. You know what you'll be getting from Peyton Manning and the Colts year in and year out, and this year they are poised to make a fast start compared to last year. They are also a team that wins 12 games every year of their existence. Even though that stat could hold, this division is tough as nails and each team is expected to get better, esp a sleeper in Houston. Tennessee won't be as good offensively, and they very well lose a peg if Houston pans out the way their supposed to. Jacksonville needs to stay healthy, and play better at QB. This division is up for grabs, but Indy prevails.
San Diego Chargers- 10-6
Kansas City Chiefs - 7-9
Oakland Raiders - 6-10
Denver Broncos - 4-12
The worst division I've ever seen, and they've over taken the AFC East from a couple years back as just bad competitors besides one team. I'm not on the Chargers bandwagon, and even though they are a potential SB contender, they are always missing SOMETHING and seem to fold down the stretch, esp. in the post season. They had to battle back and finish 8-8 last season, while Denver pissed away a 3 game lead, and lost their last 3 games last year to hand SD the Division. I expect SD to dominate their division, but not the entire NFL.There are better teams than them in the AFC. Kansas City is in good hands with their new GM who knows to win, along with a great head coach who can spread the field and develop points. We'll now see how good Cassel really is, even though he's out for week one. Oakland and Denver are a MAJOR work in progress. Ask me about them in 3-4 years.
NFC East:
Philadelphia Eagles - 11-5
NY Giants - 11-5
Dallas Cowboys - 8-8
Washington Redskins - 6-10
Again, a very demanding division. You put either of these teams in sub par divisions, and they are either first ballot Wild Card teams, or a top seeded team. I think this is Philly's year they finally reach the Super Bowl and possibly win it. D.M is still a game changer at QB and is underrated in my opinion mentioned this is the best team they've had in years, and they've had great ones, talent wise. NFC CHAMPIONSHIP GAMES are still the concern, and the monkey turned into a GORILLA on their backs. The Giants should make a nice run and could go deep in the Playoffs, but I expect Philly to win a tiebreaker. Dallas is the worst 2nd half team in football, and Romo isn't a guy that can win a football game when faced with adversity and when they need him to step up and make a play for his team in crunch time. He is a choker! Washington's QB situation is pathetic and it will show chemistry wise on the offensive side in the ball with Campbell at QB.
NFC North:
Minnesota Vikings - 11-5
Green Bay Packers - 10-6
Chicago Bears - 8-8
Detroit Lions - 5-11
Minnesota and Green Bay will battle it out all season long, but Minnesota's defense holds strong and will be a tougher team to beat in the latter half of the season because of it. Aaron Rodgers I THINK is a stud, and will put up some nice numbers this season, and will soon be an elite QB in this league. The Bears are vastly over rated. Even though they acquired Cutler, who is a stud, I feel he is immature and relies on his arm strength too much and that isn't a good combo since he has squat to throw to. That city is built on D and they will keep them in the season, but will tail off towards middle season. Detroit will win 5 games this year, losing 16 games in the NFL will light a fire under ANYBODY and that eagerness and pressure to win a game will carry on and provide adrenalin in the Rookie Stafford and coaching staff. They are a 5 win team if they can finish games, which killed them a season ago.
NFC South:
New Orleans Saints: 11-5
Carolina Panthers: 10-6
Atlanta Falcons: 10-6
Tampa Bay Buccaneers - 7-9
The Saints are poised to make a comeback, and that offense can compete with a team like N.E in style points. The jury is still out on Atlanta, and we need to see how Ryan can produce in his sophomore season. They both have defense's that keeps an opponent in the game and the defensive side of the ball will determine how far they could go. Carolina lost a fluke game against Arizona in the divisional round last year, esp Delhomme throwing 5 picks. Their defense was always stout, and that running games makes a defense's chest swell up. They will be right there at the end of the season and will compete. Tampa is in a transition year in all phases of the game.
NFC West:
Seattle Seahawks - 10-6
San Francisco 49'ers - 9-7
Arizona Cardinals - 9-7
St. Louis Rams - 4-12
Seattle will be the most improved team in the league, with Hasselback coming back and having a nice weapon in Houshmenzadah. They will make the playoffs this year and will be back in the record books of having a terrible team the year before, to making the playoffs the next year. San Francisco will be TOUGH in the next couple years, and are heading in the right direction under Singletary. Arizona was a flash in the pan, and Warner will show his age this season. St.Louis has been one of the worst teams in football the last 5 years, and Bulger is a sitting duck back there. St.Louis is in the process of re building their O-Line. They will draft a QB in this years draft to turnaround their franchise.
Tough to make these predictions in Week 1, esp since the NFL works on a Week to Week basis. But it needs to be done!
MVP - Drew Brees
Comeback Player of the year: LaDanian Tomlinson
AFC Championship Game - New England versus Pittsburgh
NFC Championship Game - New Orleans versus Philadelphia
Super Bowl - Pittsburgh Vs Philadelphia or New Orleans Vs New England
Super Bowl Champion - Pittsburgh, Philly or New England
AGAIN, not to pick on John, but this is hilarious!
YoungJRNY wrote:
AFC East:
Patriots - 10-6
You seriously believe that the Patriots will be one game worse with Tom Brady at QB versus Matt Cassel? What are you smoking dude, because I want some! WOW!
John From Boston
and
YoungJRNY wrote: If you would of read on, this is the reason why I predict 10-6 for New England, which isn't far fetched considering how we don't know how Brady will respond.
Dude...I read your reasoning and there is simply NO reasoning on the planet to predict a team is going to become worse with Tom Brady at QB. I don't care if the Patriots lose their entire defense. It's still an ABSURD prediction!
John From Boston
Final verdict: Patriots 10-6.
It's fun though. Hope to see him back soon after he's done pouting. 