AFC EAST:

New England Patriots  14-2 (1)

New York Jets                 7-9

Miami Dolphins             5-11

Buffalo Bills                    4-12

 

AFC WEST:

Denver Broncos                13-3 (2)

Kansas City Chiefs            12-4 (5)

San Diego Chargers          6-10

Oakland Raiders 1-15

 

AFC NORTH:

Pittsburgh Steelers           10-6 (6)

Baltimore Ravens             11-5 (4)

Cincinnati Bengals           6-10

Cleveland Browns             7-9

 

AFC SOUTH:

Indianapolis Colts             11-5 (3)

Houston Texans                10-6

Tennessee Titans              3-13

Jacksonville Jaguars         2-14

 

 

NFC EAST:

Philadelphia Eagles           7-9

Dallas Cowboys                11-5 (4)

New York Giants               10-6

Washington Redskins       6-10

 

NFC WEST:

Seattle Seahawks             13-3 (2)

San Francisco 49ers         12-4 (5)

Arizona Cardinals              9-7

Saint Louis Rams               2-14

 

NFC NORTH:

Chicago Bears                   13-3 (1)

Green Bay Packers           12-4 (6)

Detroit Lions                      11-5

Minnesota Vikings            2-14

 

NFC SOUTH:

Tampa Bay Buccaneers                  11-5 (3)

New Orleans Saints                         6-10

Carolina Panthers                            5-11

Atlanta Falcons                                4-12

 

The way I see things going is like this:  In the AFC East, Tom Brady has a great team around him this year.  And you simply cannot pick against the Belchick/Brady combo.  It’s unstoppable (accept in the recent playoffs for some reason?).  This year, I think that they are even more dominant.  While I think the Jets will be competitive and Miami is working towards a good team, they are still several steps behind the Patriots. 

In the west, Manning and Denver will pick up right where they left off.  Manning won’t be as ‘superman-esque’ as he was last year, but they still have the best team in the west…But not by much.  The Chiefs have one of the greatest coaches of all time (IMO) and they will be very good as well.  Oakland will be Oakland, and I think the window of opportunity in San Diego has closed.  Rivers needs a new start somewhere.

In the south, the Colts will be very good again.  Captain caveman (Luck) is a winner and the team will be too.  Houston will improve immensely and could shock everyone by being THE dominant team.  Their defensive line is going to be ULTRA impressive and fun to watch.  Tennessee and Jacksonville are nowhere to be found.

In the north, it’s a crap shoot.  I THINK Pittsburgh will have a rebound year, but who knows.  Baltimore is in the same boat, as is Cincinnati.  And in Cleveland, all eyes are on Johnny Football.  There’s no telling what will happen in this division, but I’m going with Baltimore to come out on top.

In the NFC, there are several dominant teams.  In the east, I think the Eagles will prove to be a flash in the pan, and Nick Foles will be a flop.  I don’t anticipate them doing much.  On the other hand, I think Romo finally has his break out year.  The guys puts up great numbers each year, but can’t seem to win.  I think that changes and the Cowboys have a really good year.  New York is falling apart.  I don’t think they’ve done enough to make an impact.  Eli will probably play much better this year, but the team just doesn’t have enough to be a contender.  And Washington will take several steps backwards.  RG3 is quick like a lightning bolt, but I think his impact on the game will also be lightning-like.  That is, it’s over in a flash.  This team will collapse and then so will egos and then the whole think falls apart.

In the west, there are three REALLY good teams.  Unfortunately for Arizona, SF and Seattle are GREAT teams.  If Arizona was in any other division, they’d probably win it.  But in this division, they won’t even make the playoffs.  SF and Seattle will pick up where they left off last year and dominant.  Saint Louis is an after thought.

In the south, the Buccaneers made GREAT moves in the offseason.  Lovie Smith is a tremendous coach who would have eventually won the Bears a SuperBowl.  Now, he brings that defensive genius to Tampa.  If McCown proves to be the real deal (which I think he is), Tampa will automatically become a SuperBowl contender.  New Orleans is on the downslide and Carolina may have been a fluke last year.  And Atlanta…I don’t what happened there, but they just aren’t good anymore.

Now, on to the BEST division in football.  The NFC north.  Three tremendous teams and the Vikings.  The Lions have been on the verge of greatness for the last several seasons.  They have ALL the pieces needed, but they’ve always been missing the leadership to get them over the top.  Unfortunately, I don’t think they have it this year either.  And, as a matter of fact, I think there overall team is slightly less than what it was last year.  But they’ll still be a competitive team all year.  The Packers are an enigma.  I really don’t think that their team is good.  But their QB is great.  REALLY great.  And that makes them competitive at all times.  I think Lacey was a fluke and their run game will depreciate this year, and their defense is sub-par at best.  Still a playoff team though.  As for the Vikings…worst team in football this year.  And that is a SHAME, because they have the BEST PLAYER in football (AP).  HOW ABOUT THEM BEARS??!!!  Man, they had a TREMENDOUS offense last year, EVEN WITH A BACKUP QUARTERBACK!!!  They have the best receivers in all of football, one of the best tight ends, and the second best running back.  With a healthy starting QB, they will be unstoppable.  Then add to that the new defense they are putting out there!!?? It’s going to be a GREAT year to be a Bears fan.

For the playoffs, I’ve got New England and Denver being number 1 and 2 respectively in the AFC.  Followed by the Colts and Ravens winning their divisions.  The wild cards will go to the Chiefs and Steelers, as the Steelers edge out the Texans by virtue of their head to head victory. 

In the NFC, I’ve got Chicago beating out Seattle for the number 1 seed.  That will be based off of strength of victory, as Chicago has a few more easy games then does Seattle.  Then I’ve got Tampa edging out Dallas for the 3 seed, due to their unbeaten division record.  The wild cards will go to San Francisco and Green Bay, with SF getting the 5 seed due to their superior divisional record.

 

 

Wild Card Weekend:

AFC:

(6) Steelers @ (3) Colts

(5) Chiefs @ (4) Ravens

 

NFC:

(6) Packers @ (3) Buccaneers

(5) 49ers @ (4) Cowboys

 

I’ve got the Colts over the Steelers, as I think they have a better overall team.  It will be close though.  Then I’ve got the Chiefs over the Ravens, as the Chiefs are upcoming and the Ravens are on their way down.  I’ve the Packers beating a young and inexperienced Buccaneers team, and a ferocious 49ers team defeating an over-achieving Cowboys team.

Divisional Round:

AFC:

(5) Chiefs @ (1) Patriots

(3) Colts @ (2) Broncos

 

NFC:

(6) Packers @ (1) Bears

(5) 49ers @ (2) Seahawks

 

In the AFC, I love the Chiefs, but I have a feeling the Patriots will dominate this year.  Patriots big in this one.  In the other game, it’s the new rivalry, Luck vs. Manning.  I’ve got to go with youth over experience in this one.  Colts in the upset.  In the NFC, it doesn’t get any bigger.  Two rival games.  The 49ers and Seahawks will be GREAT, but in the end, the home field advantage wins.  And the Bears/Packers is THE rivalry of ALL rivalries.  This will be a tremendously close game that could go either way.  But based on emotion and home field, I’ve got to say the Bears win.

 

Championship Games:

AFC:

(3) Colts @ (1) Patriots

 

NFC:

(2) Seahawks @ (1) Bears

 

In the AFC, Tom Brady wins.  He’s got one of the best teams he’s ever had around him and he’s got home field advantage in the winter time, playing a dome team.  Patriots win.  In the other game, you’ve got the leagues best defense vs. the best offense.  The Bears offense has too many weapons, plus home field advantage, Bears win.

 

SUPER BOWL:

 

Patriots vs. Bears

 

My head says Patriots, my heart says Bears.  I’ll go with my heart.  BEARS WIN and I will weep tears of joy!