by Jonny B » Sat Aug 31, 2013 11:41 pm
My predictions:
AFC EAST
New England Patriots
AFC EAST:
1. New England Patriots: 10-6
2. Miami Dolphins: 6-10
3. Buffalo Bills: 4-12
4. N.Y Jets: 1-15
Leave it to me to make the Bills the trendy pick, and curse them with injuries galore to the QB position. I'm backing out of that one and saving the trendy pick for next year. The Pats will likely win this division by default, but I'm worried about turnovers at the WR position. Even if Tebow did somehow become the starter due to injuries to Brady and Mallett, the teams below the Pats are so terrible that they'll make him look like a winner again.
AFC NORTH:
1. Baltimore Ravens: 10-6 (Win division on tiebreaker)
2. Cincinnati Bengals: 10-6
3. Cleveland Browns: 10-6
4. Pittsburgh Steelers: 5-11
Yes, the defending Super Bowl champs had a complete salary cap overhaul, but they did pick up some good pieces. It will be the toughest division in the AFC. Watch out for the Browns. Brandon Weeden looked excellent this preseason and they're looking like the most improved team. Steelers are gonna have a difficult year if they don't find a running game.
AFC SOUTH:
1. Houston Texans: 11-5
2. Indianapolis Colts: 10-6
3. Tennessee Titans: 4-12
4. Jacksonville Jaguars: 3-13
Yes, the Texans have improved steadily each year, but they almost coughed up the division last year and I feel like the same could happen this year. The division race between the Colts and Texans will be close. It's never gonna get old...saying the Colts will rely on Luck, year after year....
AFC WEST:
1. Kansas City Chiefs: 11-5 (Win division on Tiebreaker)
1. Denver Broncos: 11-5
3. San Diego Chargers: 5-11
4. Oakland Raiders: 4-12
This is my upset pick of the AFC. Several factors: Von Miller's 6 game Suspension, failure to resign Elvis Dumervil, and they made no effort to fix their vulnerability to the deep ball. Also, Peyton Manning in the last few seasons that he's started, has been slow coming out of the gate. They could very well start 2-4, and Manning will have to outscore the opposition. The Chiefs though, tons of Pro Bowlers in spite of having the worst NFL record last year. Now they have an adequate QB in Alex Smith that won't turn the ball over.
AFC SEEDING:
1. Houston Texans
2. Kansas City Chiefs
3. Baltimore Ravens
4. New England Patriots
5. Denver Broncos
6. Cincinnati Bengals
AFC CHAMPIONSHIP:
Denver Broncos defeat the Houston Texans
In spite of all the issues on defense, the Broncos find a way to spark a run to the Super Bowl. Texans take a baby step every year, which means they make the AFC title game before taking the fall.
NFC
NFC EAST:
1. Washington Redskins: 10-6
2. Philadelphia Eagles: 9-7
3. Dallas Cowboys: 8-8
4. N.Y. Giants: 8-8
I think Chip Kelly's hurry-up offense has merit, but I fear this will hurt the defense, as they won't have time to recover from each series. The Redskins are set at QB. If RGIII goes down again, Kirk Cousins is more than capable of leading the team. The Giants can't go year after year not playing to their skill level then kicking it in when their backs are against the wall. The Cowboys...I've done it every year, I say they've gotten over their turnovers, and they they turn the ball over. Not doing that again this year.
NFC NORTH:
1. Green Bay Packers 10-6
2. Chicago Bears: 6-10
3. Minnesota Vikings: 6-10
4. Detroit Lions: 4-12
I can't make heads or tails of this division. All I know is the Packers is the best of the bunch. Adrian Petersen can't carry the Vikings to another division title by himself, can he? Matthew Stafford has looked like a pathetic 3rd String QB without Megatron this preseason. The X Factor is Chicago. Will a new coach help get Jay Cutler over the hump or will they regress? Either way, The Packers will take it.
NFC SOUTH:
1. Atlanta Falcons: 9-7
2. New Orleans Saints: 8-8
3. Carolina Panthers: 8-8
4. Tampa Bay Bucs: 4-12
The Falcons weren't flashy with their wins, so I wonder if this is just an average team that happened to perform enough to win games? They 'should' win the division, but it will be much closer, as I expect improvements from Cam Newton and also to the Saints who got their coach back this year.
NFC WEST:
1. Seattle Seahawks: 13-3
2. San Francisco 49ers: 13-3
3. Arizona Cardinals: 6-10
4. St.Louis Rams: 5-11
So every year, I have some outrageous predictions, so here's one for this year: There will be a 13-3 wild card team! Yes, the Seahawks and 49ers will be that good. Each will go 5-1 in the division, splitting one against each other and sweeping the other teams. They will crush opposition with strong team defense, and gobs of offensive weapons powered by up-and-coming QBs Colin Kapraenick and Russell Wilson.
NFC SEEDING:
1. Seattle Seahawks
2. Washington Redskins
3. Green Bay Packers
4. Atlanta Falcons
5. San Francisco 49ers
6. Philadelphia Eagles
NFC CHAMPIONSHIP:
Seattle Seahawks defeat the Washington Redskins
It's gonna be a QB option-fest. In the end, Seahawks win on strong running game
SUPER BOWL XLVIII:
Seattle Seahawks defeat the Denver Broncos
Russell Wilson is no Rex Grossman....Peyton Manning will not get his second title on a silver platter.
"I once had an understanding that everything would go my way. But now we’ve come too far along for me to hold on to my own beliefs" -- Delain