AFC East
1.
New England Patriots
2.
Buffalo Bills
3.
New York Jets
4.
Miami Dolphins
New England has too many offensive weapons and the defense will be improved. I like Buffalo and the way they are going about business. Possible upset in the maing here if the Bills can find a way to beat the Pats. Jets and Dolphins are both done...too much "Tebow" distraction in NY, Sanchez is not committed to playing football and would rather seek female company. Dolphins are rebuilding, again.
New England has too many offensive weapons and the defense will be improved. I like Buffalo and the way they are going about business. Possible upset in the maing here if the Bills can find a way to beat the Pats. Jets and Dolphins are both done...too much "Tebow" distraction in NY, Sanchez is not committed to playing football and would rather seek female company. Dolphins are rebuilding, again.
AFC North
1.
Pittsburgh Steelers
2.
Baltimore Ravens
3.
Cincinnati Bengals
4.
Cleveland Browns
Defense wins this division. Period. And I like the moves the Steelersw have
made on defense. Offensive line could be troublesome but Ben is healthy and
mobile again. Baltimore lost Suggs - that man plays his best games against the
Steelers, so a huge divisional loss. But Flacco has weapons and a great running
back in Rice so I do believe it will come down to who plays the best in the
divisonal games. Slight edge to the Steelers there. Cincinnati is much improved
and will stay close. Cleveland is rebuilding but on the right track I think.
This is the toughest division in the AFC and I believe whichever team avoids
the injuries wins the division.
AFC South
1.
Houston Texans
2.
Jacksonville Jaguars
3.
Tennessee Titans
4.
Indianapolis Colts
Texans will run away with this division. This is the year
that Kubiak makes the deep playoff run. Great defense and an offense that is
methodical and gets it done. Jacksonville and Tennessee both making great moves
in the draft and off-season but this is the Texans year. Colts are rebuilding
this year around Luck, but Luck showed in the preseason that he has the skills –
is he ready for the regular season?
AFC West
1.
San Diego Chargers
2.
Denver Broncos
3.
Oakland Raiders
4.
Kansas City Chiefs
Just too many weapons in San Diego this year. An adequate
defense and a great offense means trouble for the rest of the division. Don’t
rule out the “Manning” factor though. Denver has a good defense and if Manning
stays healthy and produces similar to what he did in Indy, watch out. This is a
division that comes down to who can run the ball well and play defense – edge
to the Chargers but Denver is loaded. I picked Oakland as my surprise 3rd
because even though the fired a coach that went 8-8 last year, the team returns
generally intact. Carson Palmer is there for a full offseason and gets better.
He has some weapons on offense and the defense retains its nastiness. Most
importantly, Oakland learned what it felt like to win. Kansas City is
rebuilding with yet another offensive system. Cassel will not repeat his
4,000-yard season and I’m not convinced the KC running game is up to the
challenge. If they can get going, KC is a threat – but that is a big IF. No
stability in this organization – it’s actually worse than Oakland now.
NFC East
1.
New York Giants
2.
Washington Redskins
3.
Philadelphia Eagles
4.
Dallas Cowboys
The Super Bowl champions simply reloaded and are ready to do
it again. NY Giants are loaded with offense and defense and seem poised to
repeat, but…RGIII might be for real. Skins looking good, can they stay with the
Giants? Vick gets hurt too often, have never been convinced he’s a NFL QB.
Eagles have lots of problems this season and I think this is Andy Reid’s last.
Cowboys just plain stink – worst team since, well that Aikman 2-14 team.
NFC North
1.
Green Bay Packers
2.
Chicago Bears
3.
Detroit Lions
4.
Minnesota Vikings
Packers are still the class of the NFC. Rodgers & Co.
will light up scoreboards again this season, but a 14-2 season is not likely.
Pack wins the division going away. Bears and Lions are dead even except for
defense, edge to Bears. Vikings are in rebuild-mode.
NFC South
1.
New Orleans Saints
2.
Carolina Panthers
3.
Atlanta
Falcons
4.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
I think the Saints should send a “thank you” card to Goddell
– I never agree with bounties on players, but the suspensions and such have
created an “us vs. the world” attitude in New Orleans, which is great for a
football team. Think 1985 Chicago Bears, and many others. New Orleans still has
the offense, and the new defensive scheme will fall into place quickly.
Panthers are much improved and while I don’t think Cam has quite the season he
did last year, he will still excel and keep them competitive. Falcons just have
no real defense, and Ryan’s weapons are diminished. Bucs are reloading.
NFC West
1.
San Francisco 49ers
2.
Seattle Seahawks
3.
Arizona Cardinals
4.
St. Louis Rams
Is this the year? Do the 49ers break through? YES, I think
so. Love the head coach – he knows what makes NFL players WANT to work and win,
and he has the group there to get it done. Alex Smith is much improved and with
that running game he has, look out. Seahawks much improved but still no contest
for 49ers. Ugh on the Cardinals and Rams.
AFC Playoff Teams
Divisional winners: Pats, Steelers, Broncos, Texans (yes, I
know I have Broncos second in my pick, but I sense something special in Denver….)
Wild Card: Buffalo, Baltimore
AFC Champion: Pittsburgh Steelers
NFC Playoff Teams:
Divisional winners: Giants, Packers, Saints, 49ers
Wild Card: Panthers, Bears
NFC Champion: San Francisco 49ers
Super Bowl Champion: Pittsburgh Steelers
