So this year, like last year, we are going to do things a little differently. What I am going to do here is look at each division, project where each team will finish, what the records are going to be, as well as wild card winners and the Super Bowl teams. So instead of wasting time by getting into super details, lets jump in and start predicting the divisions. So we are going to get the ball rolling with the AFC and NFC West.
NFC West
This division produced two playoff teams a season ago,one of whom made it all the way to the Super Bowl. Looks like it could be the same story again this season. Here's how this division plays out
San Francisco 49ers: 13-3
At the end of last year Colin Kaepernick took the starting job and ran with it, due to the injury to Alex Smith. Now, in his first full season as the #1 QB, it will be interesting to see how well he handles it. Michael Crabtree's season-ending injury will hurt, but the 49ers still have to be considered one of the favorites to win the Super Bowl. They still have an outstanding defense, which got better with adding depth in the secondary.Adding Anquan Boldin to replace the injured Crabtree fills that hole, so the offense should pick up where it left off at the end of the 2012 season. San Fran is a shoe in for the playoffs.
Seattle Seahawks: 11-5*
The Seahwaks are a good team that is on the verge of becoming a great team. Seattle didn't really lose much of anything in the offseason, and added a big weapon in Percy Harvin, although Harvin is hurt at the moment. When he comes back healthy, it leaves Quarterback Russel Wilson with a solid collection of targets to throw to. Seattle still has a very solid defense, and will still be an upper level defense this season. Seattle is very very good, and will get into the playoffs, but Seattle has never made it past the second round of the playoffs, so expecting an inexperienced group to go the distance could be too much to ask.
St Louis Rams: 7-9
The Rams are a tough team. They went 7-8-1 last season, but fought hard, losing by more than 10 points on just three occasions. The Rams lost quite a bit of talent on offense from a year ago, but Sam Braadford still has quite a bit of talent to work with on offense. St Louis could be a contending team, but the 49ers and Seahawks have also improved. St. Louis would have a decent shot at a playoff berth in another division, but life is much more difficult in the NFC West.
Arizona Cardnials: 5-11
Larry Fitzgerald has to be a very happy man right now. After coming off a bad year last year, he has a good quarterback throwing to him this season. The Cardinals will be much more competitive than they were in 2012 because they'll actually have a competent quarterback at the helm. Unfortunately, they're not quite good enough to pose a legitimate challenge to the 49ers and Seahawks just yet. Factoring in their brutal schedule, they'll likely win anywhere between five and eight games.
AFC West
This division is a little different from its counterpart. This division, as far as I can tell, has one great team, one average team, one slightly below average team, and one bad team. Here's how it plays out
Denver Broncos: 14-2
Despite a lack luster running game, The Broncos have zero competition in the AFC West. So barring a Peyton Manning injury, they should be able to claim the division quite easily. The question is whether they can make a Super Bowl run. Given that the Patriots, their main competition, lost some personnel this offseason, they definitely should be able to. Von Miller's absence on Defense will hurt the Broncos a bit, but they are good enough to cover it for now till he gets back.
Kansas City Cheifs: 8-8
The Chiefs have gotten a little better from a year ago, but it still won't be good enough. The team is thin at some positions so if anybody gets hurt they are screwed. The Chiefs would be a Super Bowl contender if they had a very good quarterback. Alex Smith does not qualify as one, unfortunately. Still, he and Andy Reid are both superior to the Matt Cassel-Romeo Crennel combination, so they'll be better than they were in 2012. They won't have a chance to win the division unless Peyton Manning gets hurt, but they'll be in contention for a wild card spot.
San Diego Chargers: 6-10
The Chargers are always perceived to be better than they are because they have big names like Philip Rivers, Antonio Gates and Ryan Mathews. There are so many holes on this team, however, that they can't possibly contend for the division. They have a good core on offense, with the names just mentioned, but they haven't built a solid enough team around it yet. Whether Rivers bounces back or not will determine if San Diego is one of the five worst teams in the NFL.
Oakland Raiders: 1-15
The Raiders have one of the worst rosters the NFL has seen in decades. Their quarterbacks are terrible, their running back is always hurt, their receivers drop tons of passes, their offensive line isn't very good, their defensive line can't get to the quarterback, their linebackers have never played together, and their cornerbacks can't cover. Oakland has a legitimate shot to go 0-16 this season.
NFC South
This is going to be a fun division to watch this season.
New Orleans Saints: 11-5
The Saints are definitely a bounce-back candidate. Drew Brees is still as sharp as ever, while some positive changes were made on defense. Most importantly, Sean Payton has returned. New Orleans absolutely could overtake the Falcons as NFC South champions again and make a run at another Super Bowl.
Atlanta Falcons: 10-6*
The Falcons will always be competitive as long as Matt Ryan is under center, but this team is definitely worse than last year's version because of its declining defense. Atlanta has one of the worst stop units in the NFL, and that may ultimately cost them the division now that the Saints have their head coach back on the sidelines. Yes its nice to be able to score at will, like the Falcons can do. the problem here is they look like they may have trouble stopping teams. Wild Card spot for the Falcons for sure.
Carolina Panthers: 8-8
Cam Newton and the Panthers made some great progress toward the end of the 2012 season, but it's fair to wonder if their momentum won't carry over to 2013 with a new offensive coordinator. Newton's mentality has such a big impact on how the team does, so the new coaching situation could help derail Carolina this season. Having said that, Carolina will be competitive enough to fight for a playoff spot. Newton still has a decent team around him, but its not good enough to really make a push in this talent heavy a division.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 5-11
The Bucs have one of the tougher schedules in the NFL to deal with this season. Playing against a lot of top tier teams, and not having much of an offense to work with, really leaves Tampa in a pickle. The Bucs got more talent on both sides of the ball, but don't have a stabel quarterback under center. The Buccaneers will continue to be the worst team in the NFC South as long as they're the only franchise in the division that doesn't have its quarterback situation figured out. Josh Freeman has just one more chance to turn things around, but things aren't very optimistic in that regard.
AFC South
Another division that is going to be a decent one to look out for.
Houston Texans: 11-5
Houston still has the best set of running backs in all of the league, but that's really it on offense that can be looked at as elite. Houston has a decent chance to claim the AFC South again. The Colts will definitely provide some fierce competition, but the Texans still have to be considered the favorite. However, they haven't done enough to overtake the two elite teams in the conference. It's likely that Houston will have another second-round playoff exit.
Indianapolis Colts: 11-5*
Many expect the Colts to regress this season because they were really lucky at times last year, pulling victories out of nowhere and riding the Chuck Pagano-related wave. However, Andrew Luck could just as easily take a huge step forward and lead his team to the playoffs again. He has enough talent around him to make a playoff push again this year, but still not enough to get past Houston. Luck doesn't have the talent to take Indianapolis deep into the playoffs just yet, but the team will definitely contend for a postseason spot.
Tennessee Titans: 6-10
This is another example of a team having a bit of a tough schedule. The Titans have gotten better this year. They will be a contending team, but sadly for them, it won't be for a few years. Their record may not show it because they lucked into some victories last year, but the Titans will definitely be better this season than they were in 2012. What ultimately has to happen though is Jake Locker improving enough to lead the team into the playoffs. He has the physical ability to do this, but the mental part of his game just isn't there yet. It needs to develop quickly before he, along with everyone on the coaching staff and front office, loses their job.
Jacksonville Jaguars: 1-15
I'm sorry but this is just a bad team. Blaine Gabbert and Chad Henne are the quarterbacks, showing how sad the Jags are at that position. This version of Jacksonville looks to be even worse. Gene Smith completely decimated this roster, so it's going to take time to rebuild it. It's not looking promising, however, with David Caldwell rambling on about building around Blaine Gabbert. That's a disaster waiting to happen. This team could very easily go winless.
NFC North
This is going to be the best division in football to watch this year.
Green Bay Packers: 12-4
The Packers are still the class of this division, despite having one of the tougher schedules in the league. Green Bay lost some decent weapons on offense, leaving Aaron Rogers with a little less to work with this year. Sure Jordy Nelson is going to be the top target at receiver, but losing Greg Jennings leavs Rogers a little short. The running game for the Pack won't be as good, but there's still enough talent to work with and win with this year. Packers should win the division with somewhat ease. It all really depends on the health of Aaron Rogers.
Chicago Bears: 9-7
Chicago got a better offensive line, which has to make Jay Cutler very happy. Chicago still has a solid running game with Matt Forte, but the receiving core is still a little thin. Jay Cutler is going to find a way to make it work. The Bears Defense, despite the loss of Brian Urlacher to retierment, is still one of the best in all of football, which will make them a tough team to play against. The Bears seem poised to overtake the Vikings as the second-place team in the NFC North, but they don't have enough to unseat the Packers just yet. However, they'll definitely contend for a playoff spot, so they may get a third shot against hated Green Bay in January again.
Minnesota Vikings: 8-8
Minnesota lost their best receiver in Percy Harvin, and replaced him with Greg Jennings, that's it as far as major offseason moves go. The Vikings barely clawed their way into the playoffs last year despite seeing their star player have one of the all-time great seasons. Adrian Peterson will need to duplicate that feat unless Christian Ponder improves by a decent amount and the schedule proves itself to not be as tough as it's perceived to be. Given all of that, it's unlikely that Minnesota will be in the playoffs again this year.
Detroit Lions: 8-8
The Lions have plenty of talent on their roster, but that was the case last year when they went 4-12. Detroit still has the best receiver in the game in Calvin Johnson, and Matthew Stafford is getting much better as a quarterback. The running game in Detroit has gotten better with the addition of Reggie Bush. The defense still leaves a little something to be desired, which is going to hurt the Lions playoff potential. They're a team that has tons of potential, but the lack of discipline and a losing mentality constantly derails their chances. Detroit has been expected to grow up for years. It's never happened, and there's no reason to think this season will be any different, especially with the amount of questions they have on their offensive line.
AFC North
This will be one division that's always tough to play in and against. This year will be much of the same, and with a bit of a change up in seeding from years past.
Baltimore Ravens: 11-5
Yes the Ravens are the defending Super Bowl Champions, but as long as they can overcome the distractions that come with winning a Super Bowl - and considering how many players left, that shouldn't be a huge issue - they'll once again contend for a playoff spot and hope to recapture their postseason magic. The Ravens still have a solid running game with Ray Rice and of course there's Joe Flacco. The receiver crop took a hit with the injury to Dennis Pita, and the departure of their best receiver from a year ago Anquan Boldin. The same thing happened with the defense, with Ed Reed signing with another team and Ray Lewis retiring. They lost some key veterans, but they made shrewd moves during the offseason and still happen to be one of the top teams in the AFC.
Cincinnati Bengals: 10-6*
The Bengals figure to be better this season than they were in 2012, but a ridiculously tough schedule, mainly in the first half of the year, could thwart their playoff chances. They'll still definitely be in contention for the AFC North crown, but Baltimore regrouping quickly and Pittsburgh bouncing back will make things very difficult. The Bengals have more for Andy Dalton to work with, as AJ Green will be a big target, and BenJarvis Greene-Elis taking the bulk of the carries this season. One of the troubles the Bengals had last year was their pass rush, and this year addressed it having one of the better front four in the league. The Bengals have a tough schedule but should be able to snag the other wild card.
Pittsburgh Steelers: 10-6
The Steelers will likely bounce back this season. They got rid of some offensive slackers, added a devastating pass-rusher and saw some of their key defenders train incredibly hard this spring. Ben Rothlisberger doesn't really have the big names to throw to this year, so the Pittsburgh passing game could be in question. Same thing with the running game.Issac Redman doesn't scare me, so the Steelers running game is going to be tough. The Offense will put up some points but they won't be breaking any records. The defense got a lot better. The linebacker core in Pittsburgh is intimidating, and will be a big help for this ball club. The Pittsburgh veterans have to be mad about not making the playoffs last year, so they'll be out to prove themselves in 2013.
Cleveland Browns: 3-13
The Browns showed progress last year. They were actually competitive, which was quite shocking for their fans. Unfortunately, Michael Lombardi appears to have sabotaged any progress they have made. This might be for the greater, long-term good, but Cleveland is going to be dreadful for quite a while.
NFC East
Last year the East came right down to the wire. The way things shaped up this offseason, looks like it could happen again this year.
New York Giants: 10-6
The Giants looked like they were going to run away with the division last year when they started 6-2, but multiple things, including Washington's ascent, derailed their chances late in the season. Considering the uncertainty with Robert Griffin, New York definitely has a better shot to reclaim the NFC East. I know the Giants lost Bradshaw, but they still have a decent back in David Wilson. Eli Manning still has his full complement of receivers to toss to, so he's not worried about the passing game. The defense and secondary leaves me scratching my head a bit but they are still a good enough team to take the division this season.
Washington Redskins: 9-7
The Redskins' 2013 season solely depends on Robert Griffin. If he can make it back on time and stay healthy for most of the year, Washington will probably be in the playoffs. If, however, Griffin is constantly in and out of the lineup, it's likely that some other team will win the division. Unfortunately, it doesn't seem like there's a good chance that Griffin will make it through the 2013 campaign unscathed. Even when he's healthy he doesn't have much to work with. Think about it. Sure he has a very good back to hand the ball to in Alfred Morris, but the passing game isn't all that great. It has the potential to be good, with Pierre Garcon, and maybe Santana Moss, but they aren't much of a threat. And the Skins defense is about average at best.
Dallas Cowboys: 7-9
Something always seems to go wrong with the Cowboys. They botch a hold. They ice their own kicker. Their quarterback gets hurt in a must-win game. They whiff on a potential game-winning field goal. It has always been something, and it'll always continue to be something as long as Jason Garrett and Tony Romo are paired together. This Dallas team will likely win anywhere between six and nine games in 2013, all while choking at the end of the year, of course. Romo has a good set of receivers to throw to, so the passing game won't be a worry. The running game is a bit of a question. DeMarcco Murry is OK but that's about it. dallas has no pass rush on defense and that could hurt them this year.
Philadelphia Eagles: 5-11
The Eagles have more questions than any other team in the league. Who will be the starting quarterback? What type of offense will Chip Kelly run? Will Kelly's new gimmicks even work in the NFL? What sort of defense will they play? Can all of the new starters in the secondary gel quickly together? Philadelphia will probably be better than it was last year, but the team figures to endure a ton of growing pains in 2013.
AFC East
Sadly this may be the weakest division in the league at the moment.
New England Patriots: 12-4
Hands down the best team in this division. The Aaron Hernandez situation would be enough to derail any NFL team's chances, but if there's one organization that can overcome something like this, it's the Patriots. Most thought they would capsize after the Spygate ramifications, but they turned that into a positive and thrived. They could easily duplicate that feat in 2013. Besides, the Patriots will always be a Super Bowl contender as long as Tom Brady is healthy. The receiving crop on the Patriots is a little thin, but still knowing Tom Brady, he will find a way to put up good, solid numbers with the targets he has. The Patriots defense is still very good.
Miami Dolphins: 8-8
Big free-agent spending sprees can be treacherous. On one hand, Miami's roster has definitely improved with the additions that Jeff Ireland made. On the other hand, the new players will have to gel together, all while expectations are sky high. Big expectations from an untested team usually means big failure, as the 2011 Philadelphia Eagles learned. There's a chance the Dolphins could make the playoffs this season, but it's more likely that they'll choke under this new pressure.
New York Jets: 5-11
The Jets aren't as bad as everyone thinks they are, but they still aren't very good... if that makes any sort of sense. Some consider them to be the worst team in the league, but they're not. They still have a solid defense that will keep them in games. Unfortunately, their offense will make sure their win total is ultimately six or fewer.
Buffalo Bills: 3-13
The Bills have a new quarterback, a new receiving corps and a new defensive formation. New tends to be good more often than not, but not in football. E.J. Manuel is super raw, the receivers are almost all inexperienced, while the current players may not be good fits for Mike Pettine's system. Buffalo is once again one of the worst teams in the league. However, this season is all about building for the future, so the primary focus will be developing Manuel and his wideouts.
OK so with all of that being said here are my final predictions. Below are the teams I have making the playoffs as well as my picks for the Super Bowl:
NFC:
San Francisco 49ers
New Orleans Saints
Green bay Packers
New York Giants
Wild Card: Atlanta Falcons
Wild Card: Seattle Seahawks
AFC:
Denver Broncos
Houston Texans
Cincinnati Bengals
New England Patriots
Wild Card: Indianapolis Colts
Wild Card: Baltimore Ravens
Super Bowl:
Denver Broncos vs San Francisco 49ers!
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