2013 NFC West Predictions

1. San Francisco 49ers
There is a reason that the 49ers were the NFC representative in the Super Bowl last year. They have talent littering both sides of the ball and a successful coaching staff to keep order. They managed to avoid tragic losses of talent, though they are now a little thin at the WR position. If injuries hit the WRs or Kaepernick then this team could be in deep trouble. But that being said, a healthy 49ers team must simply remain constant and carry on where they left off last year.

2. Seattle Seahawks
The Seahawks have a chance to knock the 49ers from the top of the division. Pete Carroll has somehow worked magic and found talent from other teams and through the draft. QB Wilson was the surprise of the year last year, though I expect a little regression as all second year quarterbacks tend to have. Defenses will also be able to defend the read option better after an off-season of study. But the strength of this team is really the defense, especially the secondary. The loss of CB Trufant hurts a little, but the depth here is so great the unit should remain solid with CB Sherman and CB Browner. They have a chance to keep the major quarterbacks of the entire NFC in check.

3. St. Louis Rams
The Rams showed enormous improvement under Jeff Fisher in his first year and expect them to improve even more. Unfortunately, they play in a highly competitive division which will hamper them. Yet, last year they held their own against the big boy 49ers and can expect to again. QB Bradford has his last shot to prove himself this year. The addition of T Jake Long should help this by keeping Bradford on his feet, rather than on his back. The departure of RB Jackson hurts more than anything for this team. Still, look for the whole team to improve in the second year of Fisher's system.

4. Arizona Cardinals
Bruce Arians was the coaching catch off the off-season and the Cardinals landed him. Unfortunately, he doesn't have much to work with besides Larry Fitzgerald. Carson Palmer has come in to sort of help the quarterback situation, but he's aging and hasn't shown true talent since he was with the Bengals. Off season additions have been mostly to sure up the defense -- CBs Arenas, Cason and Power, as well as S Bell and LB Brinkley. Maybe RB Mendenhall will give an offensive boost, but he's had problems with injuries and isn't considered an every down back. Overall, there is future hope for the Cardinals, but not this year. This is the first rebuilding year. 

2013 NFC East Predictions

1. New York Giants
The Giants had everything under control last year, until they fell apart. I'm still not quite sure what happened, but their own failings allowed the Redskins to come up and steal the division from the Cowboys of all people. As always in New York, the talent is there. Eli Manning has proved himself to be a worthy quarterback and I believe is capable of winning another Super Bowl. (Bold prediction, I know.) They have good wideouts in Cruz and Nicks (if he can stay healthy.) They need a running back, with injuries once again plaguing the position already. However, the defense is a concern with major losses including LB Blackburn, LB Boley, DT Canty and DE Umenyiora. The arrival of Cullen Jenkins DT will help, but they need more. The secondary must sure up to in case the pass rush isn't there.

2. Washington Redskins
The RGIII show took off last year, but I'm still not sold. I don't like the way he handles certain things in the media and the second surgery on the knee is a major concern. Also, his lack of desire to play to protect himself, and therefore the team, is a major concern. He is this team. Without him, they are average. Alfred Morris is a good solid running back, but he's not the sort of back that can carry an entire team. RGIII said this season he has 'nothing to prove'. How about a playoff win? How about a conference Championship? How about a Super Bowl? I think he gets none of the above this year.

3. Dallas Cowboys
The Cowboys window has closed. I have always been a supporter of Tony Romo, though he has always under-performed. There have been flashes of brilliance, but overall he has been a disappointment since he burst onto the scene. The talent around him has been there including WR Bryant, TE Witten, and RB Murray. The defense mirrors Romo in the sense of having lots of talent and under-performing; they were ranked 19th last year. The Cowboys can't come together as a team and make it work and this year it will cost Head Coach Garrett his job.

4. Philadelphia Eagles
Welcome to the Chip Kelly era. Where the goal is to recreate Oregon's success on the NFL level. The question remains if this is even possible, but the Eagles have nothing to lose and everything to gain. However, they must protect Michael Vick, who will fit in Kelly's system if he remains on his feet. However, this is a rebuilding year for the whole team and I don't think Kelly can have instant success. He needs to highest level of performances out of his players and I'm not sure if the talent can live up to the hype. They've added a lot of new pieces that need to come together and that always takes time.

2013 NFC South Predictions

1. New Orleans Saints
I'm putting the Saints above the Falcons because of their schedule. They only have four games that could be tricky (Atlanta twice, New England and San Francisco). Plus, the return of Sean Peyton makes a huge difference -- this team missed him last year. New defensive coordinator Rob Ryan has his work cut out for him to improve the unit which held the team back last year. A full year for Jonathan Vilma will bring stablity to the unit as a whole. Look for the Saints to have a bounce back year.

2. Atlanta Falcons
The Falcons have had 13 wins in two of the last seasons and have finally tasted playoff success. Matt Ryan has silenced some of the critics, but not all of them. Especially now that Flacco, his draft mate, has won a Super Bowl, Ryan needs to at least get to one. He has the weapons; WR Jones and TE Gonzalez. The loss of RB Turner hurts, but picking up RB Jackson was brilliant. The defense has reassured itself after the loss DE Abraham. They brought in Osi Umenyiora from the Giants. They must learn to control not only Drew Brees in their own division, but the high powered quarterbacks they will face in the playoffs.

3. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Buccs floundered after some improvement in previous year, but seem to be once again on the up with second year head coach Greg Schiano. QB Freeman must prove himself for real this year, showing that he was not merely a one shot wonder. The muscle hamster, RB Martin proved to be an excellent find for the team to bring another level the offense. The defense was terrible, ranking 29th in the league last year. Improvement here is a must, though they only brought in one 'name' and that's Revis who is coming off an injury. One player doesn't make a defense and improvement will take time.

4. Carolina Panthers
I have never been sold on Cam Newton. And am still not. Sophomore slump hit him hard and he showed a few cracks this year in the public eye. The weapons around him are aging and eventually the will run out of time. The defense seemed to be the only redeeming quality of the team last year, ranking 10th in the NFL. LB Luke Kuechky leads the charge and is the heart and the soul of the defense. But there are not many bright spots on the horizon for the Panthers, who will continue to be mediocre until they can find a real quarterback. Coach Ron Rivera isn't on the hot seat yet, but he's very very close. 

2013 NFC North Predictions

1. Green Bay Packers
The Packers under-performed last year. Yes, they made the playoffs, but they didn't win the division. And they got knocked out by the 49ers. The offense's production fell off and the defense couldn't make a stop when they needed to. Letting San Fran put up 45 points is not good. They haven't had too much player movement, besides the departures of S Woodson, WR Jennings and C Saturday (who was injured much of last season anyway.) However, they also don't have any notable pick ups. The only things this team needs to do is perform up to expectations. But that is easier said than done.

2. Detroit Lions
I put the Lions here last year and they disappointed me. But I've liked what I've seen from them so far in the preseason and have high hopes for them this year. This is another team in the division that far under-performed compared to the level of talent on their roster. Stafford, Johnson and the new addition of Reggie Bush should be a lethal combination. Should be. The defense must improve. The addition of S Quin from Houston should help as well as building through the draft with CB Slay. The Lions lost many games last year either on the final drive or by 7 points or less. If they can find some discipline they can take the league by storm again. Otherwise Schwartz's job might be in question.

3. Minnesota Vikings
It is tough to downplay any team with Adrian Peterson on it. But Christian Ponder has only shown flashes of brilliance and must improve if this team is to have long term success. Losing WR Harvin is a blow, but picking up WR Jennings should give them more stability and less injuries to the position. I just don't think that the Vikings have the ability to compete with the other teams in their division, let alone in the league. They may make playoffs again, though I am doubtful. Defense must improve especially against the pass, which hurt them significantly last year. Lesile Frazier is a defensively minded head coach and he needs to show it.

4. Chicago Bears
The Bears had 10 wins last year, but didn't make playoffs and the result was the firing of their head coach. Now there's a new man in tow, Marc Trestman, from the Canadian football league. I'm not sure if he's prepared for the speed and competition at the NFL level. Cutler has improved and Brandon Marshall has settled down and become a reliable receiver. The offensive line must improve and keep Culter on his feet. Blocking for Matt Forte is also incredibly important, as he can be their strongest offensive weapon. The defense ranked highly last year (5th in the NFL), but it will be interesting to see how they perform without the leadership of LB Brain Urlacher, who left discontented with the team and management. Though he may have been aging, there is no replacement for the leadership. 

AFC West 2013 Predictions

1. Denver Broncos
Though Denver is the easy choice here, it is not like this team hasn't made changes during the off-season. After what one might call a 'lucky' loss to the Ravens in the post season, Denver reloaded...on offense. Bringing in Wes Welker (WR) and Monte Ball (RB) will give Peyton more weapons in an already powerful aresenal. However, the defense has serious problems, including the losses of DE Dumervil, DT Bannan and LB Williams. Also, Von Miller, LB, has been suspended for the first six games of the season, which will do more than hurt. But as always, with Peyton Manning on offense, the team will have enough firepower to compensate for a perhaps lacking defense.

2. Kansas City Chiefs
They are my 'sleeper' pick this year. The Chiefs had plenty of talent last year with six Pro Bowl players on the roster. That talent never materialized and trouble off the field gave the Chiefs some unwanted attention. But with Andy Reid at the helm and Alex Smith to lead the offense, the rest of the talent should fall into line. Reid is notorious for developing QBs and struggling offenses and building consistent success. The Chiefs never lacked weapons -- it was more the execution. Remember, this team won the division in 2010 and can count on seeing major improvement this season.

3. San Diego Chargers
The Chargers are on their last legs. In fact, some people would say that the window for their championship run has closed. I believe this, to a degree. Philip Rivers is not past his prime, but he does not have much talent around him. TE Gates is always consistent, but RB Matthews has under-performed and been injury prone. Unfortunately, they haven't added many offensive pieces, except to grab Danny Woodhead from the Patriots. The defense ranked well last year (9th in the NFL), but lost many key pieces including S Bigby, CB Cason, CB Jammer, LB Phillips and LB Spikes. Only bringing in CB Cox (from W&M!) and drafting LB T'eo doesn't seem to fill those gaps. A new coaching staff is in for a rebuilding year.

4. Oakland Raiders
The Raiders have been out of the playoffs for longer than anyone in Oakland would care to remember. They are seen as a joke of the NFL and never seem to have a feel for building through the draft. Al Davis has been gone for nearly two years now and there is a consistent GM trying to take control. The biggest change here MIGHT be the addition of QB Matt Flynn. Flynn hasn't played in a regular season game since he was with Green Bay and is still at risk of getting edged out by a combination of Pryor and injuries. Until Flynn takes the field, it is impossible to tell if he can replicate his brief success in Green Bay. the defense was middle of the pack last year, but look for it to improve under the second year of DC Jason Traver. The whole team should improve in their head coach's second year, but still won't be able to compete with the others in the division. 

AFC South Predictions

1. Houston Texans
Since starting their upward trend in 2011 by making the playoffs for the first time in franchise history, the Texans have only improved. That being said, I don't think they will beat their win total from last year (12), but I do think they will win the division. Key pieces on offense, including QB Schaub, WR Johnson and RB Foster, all return, somewhat healthy. Losses on defense include LB Barwin, S Demps and S Quin, which will hurt, though the addition of Ed Reed and the return on Brain Cushing will ease the blow. The Texans are still the most complete team in this division, though they will not be a true Super Bowl contender.

2. Indianapolis Colts
After the devastating loss of Peyton Manning, the Colts got "Lucky" once again with a clear franchise quarterback to pick number one in the draft. Luck turned out to be everything advertised, and in many ways more. He will continue to improve in his second year, along with the attention of Pep Hamilton, a familiar face from Stanford, as offensive coordinator. Though there are minor questions at running back, the addition of speed Heyward-Bey will give Luck another weapon. Additions in the secondary of Landry and Toler will attempt to sure up a secondary that struggled last year. The Colts won a lot of game based on emotion and playing for a cause -- they won't have that this year, but they will have improved talent and players.

3. Tennessee Titans
The Titans have been looking for a firm identity and quarterback since the departure of Steve McNair. The further departure of Jeff Fisher didn't help and Mike Munchak hasn't been able to find the magic. I am not sold on QB Locker, and his mediocre receiving core. RB Johnson has under-performed since his record season. The defense must improve to control Luck and Schaub, though bringing in SS Pollard should help bring some physicality to the defense. But it simply won't be enough in this division and certainly not enough to make the playoffs.

4. Jacksonville Jaguars
The Jacksonville Jaguars do not have a single redeeming quality among them. No quarterback, wide receiving cores always in trouble and an aging running back, a defense that ranked 30th last year and a new head coach; all of these things combine to spell disaster for Jacksonville. 1st round pick Luke Joeckel has turned out to be injury prone. Nothing on this team excites me as far as talent. It will be another tough year for Jacksonville.  

AFC East Predictions 2013

1. New England Patriots
Is there any other choice in this division besides the Patriots? Even given their rare off-season problems and drama, the team still has many key pieces. They lost Hernandez, Lloyd, Welker, Woodhead and Chung, and injuries are threatening to hurt them -- especially the one to Gronkowski. Most importantly, they still have Belichick leading them. With Tom Brady, he is the glue that makes the Patriots a force every year. The team is fading, and I don't see a Super Bowl run in their future. I don't see another Super Bowl for the Patriots in the Brady/Belichick era, but they will win the division.

2. Miami Dolphins
I don't have much reason to put the Dolphins here, except for the fact that both the Jets and Bills are in shambles. The Dolphins are on an upward trend and showed promise many times last year. They've made some interesting additions to help Tannehill -- Gibson, Wallace and Keller, though Keller has been knocked out in the preseason. On the defense they added Ellerbe and Grimes, which should help sure it up a little bit, though not enough to control Tom Brady and company. The loss of Bush, Long and Dansby hurts, but some of the important faces, like Wake remain. If Tannehill continues to develop, they should see improvement to at least a .500 record.

3. New York Jets
The New York Jets are a show. That's about it. There is major debate about whether Rex Ryan has already lost control of this team...before the year has even started! I believe he has. With the way the Jets have spiraled down in the last two years, I think he is a coach on the hot seat. There needs to be improvement this year, but there won't be. The losses are heavy, including major hits in the secondary -- Bell, Reviws and Landry. They haven't brought in anyone of note, except for Geno Smith, who has looked mostly lack luster in practice and in games. But now with Sanchez injured, they may not have a choice but to start Smith in the first game. And you all know my feelings on Sanchez anyway, no great loss. Rex Ryan is probably relieved that he doesn't have another decision to screw up.

4. Buffalo Bills
If the Jets quarterback sitution is bad, then the Bills is worse. If that's possible. Kolb has yet another concussion and EJ Manuel, their quarterback of the future just had minor knee surgery. They are left with undrafted free agent Jeff Tuel, though they signed Matt Leinart. If Tuel starts week one, he will make history and be the first undrafted rookie free agent quarterback to start a game on week one. It's not even worth mentioning much more about the Bills team because there's really not much to say, sadly. New head coach Doug Marrone has his work cut out for him. 

AFC North Predictions 2013

1. Baltimore Ravens
Say what you want about the former champs, but they are still the defending champions. They won it all last year through a combination of luck, talent and destiny. Though the talent has changed, it is still there. In today's NFL with free agency and big money, all Super Bowl Champions lose much of their team. But rarely do they get the chance to make pick ups like the Ravens have. Losing big names like Lewis, Reed, Boldin and Kruger hurts, but picking up names like Canty, Huff, Spears, Clark, Stokley and most importantly Dumervil lessens the blow. The important pieces are still there, like Flacco, Rice, Jones, Smith, Suggs and Ngata. The coaching staff remains remarkably intact; this is the first year in three years they haven't had a chance in offensive or defensive coordinator. The Ravens have made the playoffs five years in a row -- don't expect that trend to chance.

2. Cincinnati Bengals
Everyone is high on the Bengals this year. They've made the playoffs the last two years and Marvin Lewis seems to have righted the ship. Under the constancy of Dalton and Green, the offense has performed well. The running back position is a little questionable, because BenJarvus Green-Ellis has never proven that he is an every down back. And other than Green, there receiving corps are limited. The defense flew under the radar last year, but was good, ranking 3rd in the AFC. The addition of James Harrison will aid them, though one player can only do so much. He is also basically the Bengals' only notable addition (in my opinion). They will do well, probably make the playoffs, but not beat the Ravens.

3. Pittsburgh Steelers
I would have put the Steelers above the Bengals, but the preseason has not been kind to them. The team overall hasn't looked good and the offense is struggling. One almost wonders if OC Todd Haley and QB Roethlisberger are still not on the same page, though both insist things are fine. More than anything, their long list of important player losses rings alarm bells. Allen, Harrison, Lewis, Hampton and Pope head the defensive losses, while Colon, Mendenhall and Wallace are the casualties on the offensive side of the ball. The Steelers have been on a downward trend in the last two years and in an increasingly good division they must improve, not take steps backwards.

4. Cleveland Browns
Is there really any other place to put the Browns besides in the bottom of what could be argued as the most competitive division in the AFC, if not the NFL. They haven't won more than five games in any of the last five seasons. The only notable addition is Kruger from Baltimore, while the losses of Cribbs, Watson, Brown and McCoy raise alarm bells. There is no talent to replace them on this team. A new head coach and new staff will do their best to work with what they have, but I'm not sold on Weeden, especially considering how little talent he has around him. Even if the no name defense could improve, this is an offensive league where passing the ball is your most important weapon. As long as the Browns remain incapable of doing so, they will stay in the bottom of the league and division.

AFC West 2012 Predictions

Denver Broncos
Goodbye Tim, Hello Peyton.

Kansas City Chiefs
May the force be with you, Matt Cassel and Jamaal Charles.

San Diego Chargers
Dear Philip, please throw to the team with the same decal on their helmets as you have on yours.

Oakland Raiders
The silver and black will be back on the right track…in a year or two.

AFC South 2012 Predictions

Houston Texans
The Texans finally broke through last year, for a franchise first playoff appearance and win. That success should continue this year, especially with the permanent departure of Peyton from this division. Schaub will be back, hopefully for the whole season. Though I wouldn’t lose faith if T.J Yates had to jump in and start again. After all, he does have the only playoff win in Texans’ history under his belt. Arian Foster must remain healthy, as must Andre Johnson, both of whom had issues last year. And there aren’t that many concerns on the defense—they let Mario Williams, their 1st overall pick, go. J.J Watt and new LB Bradie James, among Brian Cushing, Brooks Reed and Glover Quinn anchor the unit. They were the 2nd ranked defense last year! They’ll sweep through this division and into the playoffs without a problem.

Indy Colts
I believe in Andrew Luck. This is my daring pick for the AFC. They probably won’t make playoffs, but they will have a much better record. He is the real deal. He has good receivers around him, mostly Reggie Wayne. The offensive line is newly composed of new players (Samson Satele, Mike McGlynn and Winston Justice) who will try to protect the Luck. Maybe Donald Brown and Mewelde Moore will put together some form of a running game. The biggest change here will be Chuck Pagano’s arrival because he will improve the defense. Many of the pieces are already there and maybe the new additions of Vontae Davis and Tom Zbikowski in the secondary will help generate more coverage sacks. Except the Colts to surprise this year!

Tennessee Titans 
Chris Johnson’s poor year last year was a major concern and shock to many. What if it continues this year? Have defenses figured him out? Defenses probably won’t have a hard time figuring out Jake Locker as the QB. Britt and Washington are decent receivers, but nothing superb. If Johnson performs as he should, he could make or break Locker’s first season as the starter. The defense has its moments, but will remain in the middle of the pack as they were last year. That pretty much describes the whole Titans team—middle of the pack.

Jacksonville Jaguars
The Jaguars are perhaps the NFL’s most floundering franchise. Blaine Gabbert has not even come close to performing at an NFL level. The return of MDJ will make all the difference for this team, though Rashard Jennings could be a very nice surprise as the year goes on. Justin Blackmon and Laurent Robinson are the new receiving core. Marcedes Lewis could return to the form he had in 2010, but that remains to be seen. The defense (ranked 6th last year, believe it or not) needs to produce more sacks and pressure to contain the quarterbacks and running backs in this division. But William and Mary’s very own Derek Cox leads the secondary, boosted by the arrival of Aaron Ross from New York. Rebuilding isn’t even a good enough term for what’s going to happen to the Jags this year.

AFC East 2012 Predictions

New England Patriots
The Patriots will win this division. I do not believe they will go on to win, or even necessarily play in, the Super Bowl this year. Their offense, full of Brady, Lloyd, Welker and Gronkowski will blow people out of the water. However, I’m concerned about the running game. The leading career rusher on the roster right now is Tom Brady. Who is not a running quarterback. The defense should be better, but not great. It ranked 31st last year—people tend to forget that. There haven’t been too many changes either. Just the additions of Dont’a Hightower (LB) and Steve Gregory (FS). Kyle Arrington is also around, but how much playing time he’ll see is up for debate. A soft schedule should be kind to this unit. Playoffs for sure.

Buffalo Bills
Ryan Fitspatrick needs to return to the form of his first half season last year. The talent around him needs to help him once again rise—they need to be coherent as a unit. However, if Fred Jackson can stay healthy, I believe they have a shot to do just that. I believe in the Bills. I just do, for some reason I can’t even really put into words. A revamped defense, including Mario Williams, should help take some pressure off the offense. Is Mario Williams the Reggie White of today? Can his arrival change the outlook of a whole franchise? He will certainly help them in the division, containing Sanchez, Tebow and Tannehill. It’s the third year in the system—look for the Bills as a whole to put together some more consistent performances.

New York Jets
Honestly, I wish I had the guts to put the Jets in the bottom of this division. I really do, but I won’t. The defense will keep them afloat, in a manner of speaking. Tebow and Sanchez cannot co-exist. That was the one move this off-season that made no sense to me (for the Broncos it did). Sanchez will play badly because he has no receivers and very little running game and then the whole of New York will cry Tebow. Ryan probably won’t cave, but it certainly won’t help Sanchez’s confidence. The defense remains the same, however, with the exceptions of Laron Landry (SS) and Yeremiah Bell (FS) in the secondary. The hope is that second year player Muhammad Wiklerson matures to put some pressure on the opposing QBs. This ship is sinking fast, however.

Miami Dolphins
Can Joe Philbin lead this team back to a place of prominence in a city where the Heat also reside? We’ll see. However, people forget that though he was in the background in Green Bay, the players loved him. And players that love their coach are more likely to put more effort into making him look good. Soft spoken doesn’t always mean poor leadership. Speaking of leadership, Ryan Tannehill must take control of this team. He must instill a sense of hope in the players around him. A revamped offensive line hopes to keep him upright and able to find targets such as Reggie Bush and Davone Bess. The defense is nothing to write home about, but is home to several noteable players, such as Cameron Wake and Karlos Dansby, who might surprise. People hate the term rebuilding year, but this is certainly one for Miami.

AFC North 2012 Predicitions

Baltimore Ravens
The Ravens have been the strongest team in this division since the Harbarugh/Flacco era started five years ago. They were one missed kick away from going to the Super Bowl last year and that playoff game showed how Flacco has matured as a quarterback. The defense will be strong as long as Ray Lewis and Ed Reed are on the field, though the absence of Suggs for most, if not all of the season, will hurt them. Paul Kruger and Jameel McClain are going to have to pick up the slack. A new kicker should almost erase the memories of last year…almost.

Pittsburgh Steelers
The Steelers have had some rare drama this off-season. After getting bummed from the playoffs last year, they endured a lengthy holdout with wideout Mike Wallace and have running back issues. Todd Haley and Roethlisberger have to get on the same page, which has been fairly well documented throughout the off season. The defense is always good under Dick LeBeau, so that isn’t a huge concern, though injuries do. James Harrison is already a “game time decision” for this weekend’s opener. The schedule isn’t too brutal, but they need to put together a new look offense.

Cincinnati Bengals
The sophomore curse is coming after Andy Dalton and A.J Green. And by sophomore curse, I mean a killer schedule. Also, BenJarvis GreenEllis isn’t the back that Cedric Benson was. Last year, they had the advantage of surprise – no one expected them to burst onto the scene. This year, there’s no trickery involved; in other words defenses will be ready for what’s coming. And in this division, that means Baltimore and Pittsburgh are coming. Cincy’s defense itself is pretty good, ranked 7th overall. They didn’t make any huge acquisitions however, so nothing has really changed. Last year was a blip on the radar for these Bengals.

Cleveland Browns
The Browns still don’t know what they want from their team. Who are they? Who do they want to be offensively and defensively? After a failed experiment with Colt McCoy, they went out and drafted 28 year old Brandon Weeden. His age will be an advantage here because of the maturity that comes with it, something this team has lacked for a long time. The larger addition of Trent Richardson is more important for this team to finally find some offense. A good running game can cover a lot of other problems. A revamped DL with John Hughes and Frostee Rucker will attempt to reign in the quarterbacks of this division. However, the rest of the division is just too strong for the poor Browns.

NFC West 2012 Predictions

San Francisco 49ers
This is the team that took everyone by surprise last year. Though they won’t sneak up on anyone this year, they won’t lose a step, especially in a division that is notoriously weak. Harbarugh did what no other coach has been able to do – understand Alex Smith. That made all the difference. Great teams are the ones that understand their strengths and use them to their advantage. The 49ers wrote the book on this last year. Now with the addition of Randy Moss, they have a proven big play receiver besides Vernon Davis. All of the defensive starters return—an unheard of phenomenon in today’s age of free agency. With Patrick Willis in the center, leading this unit, look for them to continue their dominance.

Arizona Cardinals
I’m putting the Cardinals above the Seahawks here because of their schedule. I also believe they’re a huge sleeper team. John Skelton will be the quarterback here—he has earned it. He has Larry Fitzgerald and Todd Heap to throw to, as well as Beanie Wells (RB), who has continued to develop. The defense was middle of the pack—literally, they were ranked 18th. But that doesn’t mean they lack for talent. Darnell Docket, Patrick Peterson, Adrian Wilson, William Gay and Calais Campbell are the heart of this defense. They needed a year to adjust to the 3-4, but should be more confident now. They’re my sleeper pick for the playoffs. Playoffs?!?!

Seattle Seahawks
I have never been sold on Pete Carroll and his methods. I don’t like Russell Wilson, even though he is from Wisconsin, as a rookie starting quarterback, especially over Matt Flynn. We’ll see if he doesn’t get benched for Flynn at some point. This team lacks a big receiver. Yes, they have Sidney Rice, but he hasn’t had a big year since he played with Brett Favre. Marshawn Lynch is a beast but he can’t carry this team through this schedule by himself. The defense is stronger than most people think (ranked 9th last year), but can’t hold up against Green Bay, Carolina, New England, Detroit, Chicago and San Francisco (twice). They’ve got an exceptional pair of CBs but that’s about it on the defensive side.

St. Louis Rams
The poor Rams. Sam Bradford needs to develop, or finish developing. He just kind of stalled last year. Steven Jackson is once again back to help and truly be the offense. They’ve added Steve Smith and tried to bolster the offensive line. They’ve also revamped the defense by adding six new starters, Michael Brockers, Kendall Langford, Mario Haggan, Jo-Lonn Dunbar, Cortland Finnegan and Janoris Jenkins. With Jeff Fisher at the helm now, you never know. My prediction is that in TWO years, the Rams might contend seriously for a division title again. But Fisher was thrown for a little bit of a loop when he lost his defensive coordinator in Greg Williams. But Fisher knows how to turn around bad teams—give him time, he’ll get there with these guys too.

NFC South 2012 Predictions

New Orleans Saints
Yes, “bounty-gate” happened to the Saints. Yes, Sean Payton is gone for the season. But let’s be honest with ourselves here. The Saints are one of those teams that pretty much can handle itself. There’s a reason that Drew Brees is the most prolific quarterback in the league over the last five years he’s been in New Orleans. The offense has all its parts returning. The defense will be improved, with Steve Spagnuolo at the helm. Don’t be fooled by his tough stint in St. Louis – New Orleans is full of much more talent that St. Louis was. Curtis Lofton was brought in to replace Jonathan Vilma—he has the ability to do so. Don’t count New Orleans out – if a team can respond well to adversity, it’s this one.

Atlanta Falcons
Atlanta for me is a team that can get close, but never step through the door. The offense is pretty good, lead by Matt Ryan, who is always consistent. Michael Turner is a good back who has also been consistent. But that’s the thing about Atlanta—they’re consistent, not innovative. Even when they gave up their entire draft for Julio Jones two years ago, they didn’t turn his acquisition into an innovation, or even big plays. All of this doesn’t make Atlanta a bad team, they are to me the definition of a good vanilla team. Which makes them easy for a good coach to take apart, such as Spagnuolo or Tom Coughlin. Asante Samuel gives them a good chance to containing Brees and Newton—they could contend for the title here, but I can’t see them keeping up with New Orleans, though they have a favorable schedule.

Carolina Panthers
I was very vocal last year about how I wasn’t sold on Cam Newton. I’m still not convinced that I was 100% wrong, because only time will really tell how good he can be. But he was good. However, he was almost all of their offense last year. Deangelo Williams didn’t really show up like he has before, but part of that may have been Newton’s own running ability. Steve Smith is a solid receiver and the offense has plenty of firepower potential. What sunk this team last year was the defense. They sucked—28th in the league. The return of injured linebacker, and captain, Jon Beason should help, as well as the first round addition of Luke Kuechly. But I’m not sure they can make the leap to shut down in just a year—even the year before with Beason intact they weren’t stellar. In this division, you’ve got to be able to play defense as well as score points.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Tampa, you’re back to your losing ways. And it looks like you’re going to stay there for a while. While everyone else in your division has strived to make progress, you’ve actually gone backwards. Josh Freeman, after a surprisingly good rookie season, regressed in a major way in his second year. However, I like the replacement of Raheem Morris, who was just too relaxed. Players need some gentle discipline, and Greg Schiano should provide that. If Freeman and Williams can return to form and integrate Vincent Jackson, they might have some offense. But it will take time for the complete mental change that needs to take place here. The defensive line needs to play up to its potential, though the secondary is anchored by Aqib Talib and the ever young Ronde Barber. The team has taken a step in the right direction for the future, but for right now, the going will be slow and rough.

NFC East 2012 Predictions

New York Giants
Please stop discounting the current Super Bowl champions. Yes, we all laughed at Eli last year when he said he was as good as a Tom Brady. Turns out he’s better and that you can’t spell elite without Eli. Victor Cruz set a Giants receiving records last year and shows no signs of slowing down. The running game is a concern, with the departure of Brandon Jacobs. After watching the game tonight I am concerned about the defense, but know they will get it together for the rest of the season.

Philadelphia Eagles
I believe in the Eagles, but I’m not sure they can stay healthy. I think Michael Vick is a good QB, if he can stay healthy. That’s a huge if, even if his back up played well in the preseason. Preseason is not regular season. The receiving core is intact, refocused and was always above average. LeShawn McCoy is a brilliant running back who can handle a full load for the Eagles by himself. Despite the turnover problems that the offense and Vick had, the defense should have been a lot better than it was. Second year coordinator Juan Castillo should have things a little more together this season. Nnamdi Asomugha needs to come back to the form he had in Oakland. They should contend for this division title.

Dallas Cowboys
I’m not sure if I agree about the window for the Cowboys closing –only because I’m not sure how open it ever was. The NFC is much stronger than the AFC, and they play in one of the stronger divisions. Tony Romo is a good quarterback. Miles Austin, Dez Bryant and Jason Witten are good receivers. DeMarco Murray Is a good running back. Health and off the field issues have hurt the offense. Tony Romo getting sacked has hurt the offense. Rob Ryan’s defense proved to be too much for last year’s players. Most of the players are returning, but a few key additions hope to try to shut down Eli and Vick. Those notable additions would be the two CBs, Brandon Carr and rookie Morris Claiborne. We’ll see if Dallas can make that leap to the playoffs, though  I’m not 100% sold on Jason Garrett as a head coach.

Washington Redskins
I do not believe in RGIII. I do not believe in Mike Shanahan. I do not believe in the Redskins. They have no offensive weapons. Santana Moss is old. Can you even name another receiver on that team? They cut Tim Hightower, which I believe was a mistake. Roy Helu at least needs a back-up, though I don’t believe he can carry the load of Mike Shanahan’s run focused offense. The defense has been consistently upper middle of the pack in the league. They just can’t score points. In a such a powerful division, even strong defensive players like London Fletcher, Ryan Kerrigan and Brian Orakpo can’t save this team from the basement.

NFC North Predictions

Green Bay Packers
How can anyone not have the Packers once again leading this division? We all know about the fire powered offense that almost no one could contain last year. All the main pieces are back, supplemented by the new additions of Jeff Saturday (C) and Cedric Benson (RB). What sunk this team last year was a defense that was in the bottom of the league. However, Tramon Williams is back from injury and they added another strong LB in Nick Perry in the draft to take some pressure off of Clay Matthews. They won’t be a top defense in the league, but they will be better.

Detroit Lions
Hey remember that year Matthew Stafford threw for 5,000 yards and didn’t make the Pro Bowl? Oh yeah that was last year. The league will not ignore Matthew Stafford this year. In his first fully healthy year, he proved why he deserved to be a number one overall pick. With Calvin Johnson to throw to, there’s no reason why he shouldn’t be just as productive this year. Look for rookie Mikel Leshoure to possibly help a depleted running game here as well. But as the Packers, what killed this unit last year was the defense. The secondary couldn’t stop anyone. Anyone. Ever. I’m not sure the problem has been solved either. The release of Aaron Berry hurt this unit. We’ll have to see if Bill Benthley, the new rookie CB can help.

Chicago Bears
The Bears finally realized that they had no actual wide receivers. No Devin Hester, you don’t count. So they went out and got Brandon Marshall and drafted Alshon Jeffery. Marshall and Cutler appear to be glad to be back together once again and will help this offense generate more big plays and take some pressure off Matt Forte, who got paid this offseason. The offensive line must product Jay Cutler, though there is no front runner at left tackle. The defense is always pretty good, though hasn’t been notable in the last few years. An injury to Brain Urlacher is a concern, though he claims he’ll be back for the opener against Indy. Look for improvement, but there’s no way they can keep up with the Lions and the Packers. They might sneak into the playoffs as a wild card however.

Minnesota Vikings
Vikings fans, there’s a lot that needs fixing here. Christain Ponder will improve in his second year, there is no doubt of that. It is his first year as the outright starter and all reports from training camp say that he has more confidence and poise, not to mention a greater knowledge of the offense. It helps that Adrian Peterson is back from his torn ACL/MCL and will be in the back field to help him. The addition of Jerome Simpson, best known for his leap in Week 16 last year, will help his awkward receiving core. The defense has been mediocre, middle of the pack, with the exception of Jared Allen who is one of the best defensive players in the league. Still, this division is too high powered for Minnesota to have a chance.

NFC WEST 2011 Predictions

This is the last set of predictions! Which is darn good because the season starts today!! YESSSS. My life is officially once again complete. On that note, I will be posting game by game predictions later today -- probably much closer to kick off time! 

NFC WEST

1)      St. Louis Rams

This is no Greatest Show on Turf, but they can win the division. They almost did last year. Sam Bradford will flourish with Josh McDaniels there. With Jackson still going strong, the run support is there. Remember, this is the worst division in football – defenses will give up big runs. Wide receiver is a wild card here. Mike Sims-Walker could the answer, but the return of Clayton and Avery will doubtless help as well. I think Amendola will breakout Welker-like. At TE Kendricks and Hoomanawanul could create major matchup problems. Defensively, Spagnuolo has a heavy hand in things, but it’s Ken Flajule’s show to run. The rush is solid – a carryover from Spagnuolo’s New York years. Long and Hall are both decent ends that demand attention. Laurinaitis has become the unquestioned leader of this unit, but needs his supporting LBs to, well, support. In the secondary the loss of Oshiomoho Atogwe hurts. But Bartell and Fletcher are decent at the corners. Finding a replacement for Atogwe is key.

Overall, the Rams are on an upward trend.

2)      Arizona Cardinals

Larry Fitzgerald wanted Kevin Kolb so badly  that he put him up in his own house, with his own room, for a few days before he was actually traded there. Larry is on the right track. Warner showed that this team just needs a starting QB to put all the pieces together. At running back Beanie Wells needs to prove himself a little bit. The departure of Hightower puts more pressure on him to perform. The drafting of Ryan Williams (2^nd round) might provide some support here. The defense must improve with new coordinator Ray Horton. Hopefully he will bring a little LeBeau magic to the desert. DL Williams, Dockett and Campbell and are the strength of the unit. No doubt. Don’t know any of the linebackers? No one else does either. Porter and Haggans, the two main starters last year, are old. The other two spots are more of a tossup. Wilson (SS) and Rhodes (FS) and Peterson (CB) will have to rise to the occasion this year. Last year, play fell off here.

Overall, a good QB and defense could push them to 8-8.

3)      San Francisco 49ers

This is the one team I would like to be wrong about. But their preseason hasn’t given me much confidence. Harbaugh must develop Smith. Let me say that again. Harbaugh must develop Smith. If that happens, with Frank Gore’s consistent running game, they could have a passable offense. Dixon, Hunter and Miller (FB) could all see time if Gore gets injured (again). Vernon Davis (TE) is the only productive wide out in this unit. Crabtree, Morgon and Ginn must adapt quickly to the West Coast system. Vic Fangio is a student of Dom Capers and will look to develop the same type of system. Smith (DE) is the stat of the time and a handworker. The line isn’t flashy, but might improve. Patrick Willis is the star here. He will help the transition to a new system. Takeo Spike isn’t a bad LB either. The secondary is the weak link here. Clements and Mays struggle with deep coverage. Expect a lot of rotation here.

Overall, Alex Smith and Harbaugh need to become best friends. Now.

4)      Seattle Seahawks

Seattle was a fluke in many ways last year, including beating a Saints team that just fell apart. Pete Carrol has no idea where he is trying to go. They have talent offensively, in Lynch, Rice (WR), Williams (WR) and Miller (TE). But no QB. Jackson is not the answer. He couldn’t even keep a starting job with AP to carry him. This could be ugly fast. The defense runs a hybrid of 4-3/3-4. The line is above average, but owes most of its style to the categorization of the lineman – “Leo” = pass running. Clemons had 11 sacks as the “Leo” last year. The linebackers are missing Lofa Tatupu. Aaron Curry needs to become the player he was advertised as coming out of college. Maybe a second year in the system will help him? The secondary sucks – let’s not sugar coat it. Earl Thomas (S) is the only playmaker back there and has too much to make up for. Trufant, Jennings , Thurmond and Chancellor have never distinguished themselves in any way.

Overall, Seattle needs to find a direction and a quarterback. 

NFC South 2011 Predictions

Here we go -- a division with three potential playoff teams. However, I have faith in New Orleans here. Really. They bounce back really well. Read Drew Brees' book, any body?

NFC SOUTH

1)      New Orleans Saints

Life will once again be a Brees in New Orleans. People are underrating them – big time. The nucleus of their 2009 Super Bowl team remains and the Saints often have a down year then come back with a vengeance. Helping Brees and Payton on offense are Graham (TE), Colston, Henderson, Moore and Meachem (WRs). But most important are the addition of Mark Ingram and Darren Sproles (RBs) to help Thomas. With Bush gone, this could finally be the Saints’ chance for a real power running game. Run sets up the pass. Defensively, the Saints aren’t bad – they just fell apart in that loss to Seattle. On the defensive line, they added Rogers (FA) and Jordon (1^st round) to help Ellis. Will Smith (DE) needs to find the rhythm he had in 2009 (13 sacks, compared to 5.5 last year.) Vilma is the leader of the defense and an incredible middle linebacker., the people around him remain question marks. Casillas, Arnoux or Wilson? Who knows? The secondary of Jenkins, Greer, Porter and Harper should continue to perform to playoff standards.

Overall, don’t count New Orleans out—they could go far with a real running game.

2)      Atlanta Falcons

I don’t think the addition of one wide out is enough to push the Falcons over the edge. What knocked them out last year wasn’t offense—it was nonexistent defense. Matt Ryan has proven himself a franchise quarterback and leads an efficient passing attack. Gonzalez (TE), White, Jenkins and Jones (WRs) all combine into an elite receiving core. If the running game of Turner, Norwood and Rodgers can have the success they had last year, it should open up Ryan’s throwing even more. A rebuilt offensive line will have to prove they’re up to the test. Defensively, the Falcons remain a 4-3 team, relying on power pass rushers like Abraham to  provide the pressure. However, there’s not star to play alongside him and take some of the double teams. The linebackers are a bunch of unknowns, but that doesn’t mean they can’t play well. Remember the 'No-name’ defense of Miami? A few coming back from injuries (Lofton and Weatherspoon) could make a difference. The secondary got torched by Rodgers. Grimes broke out last year – can he continue to develop and bring the rest of the unit with him?

Overall, the Falcons gave up their souls for a WR- I’m not sold that he’s the answer.

3)      Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The combination of Josh Freeman (QB), Mike Williams (WR) and LeGarrette Blount (RB) shocked the league last year. Freeman will continue to develop this year and his young wide outs will help him. With defense focusing on Williams, Arrelious Been should be open more and therefore see more of Freeman’s throws. While the skill players on this team are built young, the offensive line is full of veterans ready to anchor the unit. They should open holes for Blount and keep Freeman on his feet. The defense has been nicknamed the ‘Tampa 2.1’ for the mixture of fronts, blitzes and coverage that are new. Once again, this is a unit built young. Draft picks from the last two years will fill the line. McCoy, Price, Clayborn and Bowers. Chemistry will be important here. In the line backing department, they have solid but no fearsome players. The secondary has old man Barber, but could lose Jackson and Talib to off-field issues.

Overall, the Bucs aren’t enough to division but could make another wild card push.

4)      Carolina Panthers

I am not on the Cam Newton bandwagon. He reminds me too much of Vince Young, or even a Ryan Leaf. And that’s pretty much as bad as it gets. Pretty much. That being said, I think they will win more than two games this year. Maybe four or five. They are in a killer division. Williams and Stewart will have to carry this team—which they’ve proven they can. Newton should get used to find Smith, Gettis and Shockey to help take some pressure off the running game, due to the prone-ness for injury. This offense is a wild card, but I’m not solid on a one year turn around. Ron Rivera had a good defense in San Diego and Sean McDermott will be ‘running it’ in Carolina. But he doesn’t have a terrible group to work with. Johnson (DE) is the only bright spot on the line, however. There is the potential for talent to emerge here. Jon Beason is one of the most underrated linebackers in the game. If Davis, Williams and Norwood can pick up, this could be a solid group. The secondary has no one to play the corners—that will be problematic in controlling Brees, Ryan and Freeman (six times a year).

Overall, Carolina is headed in the right direction –if Newton pans out.