NFL Season Predictions

The NFL season kicks off tomorrow night with a rematch of last year’s NFC Championship. I know the anticipation for the NFL season is always unbelievably high as people are eager to start their fantasy seasons, their suicide pools and to root for their favorite teams. Before the season kicks off, however, it’s time to get my almighty predictions on the record. Last week’s power rankings probably gave some indication of who I like, but we all know how little it takes for a team’s fortunes to change. So here we go, a quick division by division look at how I see the 2010 NFL season playing out.

AFC East
New England Patriots – 11-5
New York Jets – 9-7
Miami Dolphins – 8-8
Buffalo Bills – 4-12

The return of Darrelle Revis makes the top of this division a whole lot more interesting but I still favor Tom Brady and company. The Jets defense should be enough to earn them a playoff spot but expect Miami to be nipping at their heels throughout the season.

AFC North
Baltimore Ravens – 11-5
Pittsburgh Steelers – 11-5
Cincinnati Bengals – 9-7
Cleveland Browns – 4-12

Baltimore looks on paper like the team to beat in this division, especially if the secondary can get healthy as the season goes on. I think Pittsburgh survives Roethlisberger’s absence and becomes legitimate Super Bowl contenders with a healthy defense. Cincinnati’s season should be interesting, to say the least, but I just don’t see the same Carson Palmer as a few years back. Cleveland is, well Cleveland is Cleveland.

AFC South
Indianapolis Colts – 13-3
Tennessee Titans – 8-8
Houston Texans – 8-8
Jacksonville Jaguars – 5-11

Peyton Manning hasn’t had this many weapons on offense since Edge and Marvin Harrison were in their primes. Expect Indy to make it eight straight seasons with 12 or more wins. Tennessee and Houston will both be battling for one of the coveted wild card spots but ultimately I see both falling just short. In Jacksonville, I suspect this could be the final season for head coach Jack Del Rio.

AFC West
San Diego Chargers – 11-5
Denver Broncos – 7-9
Oakland Raiders – 6-10
Kansas City Chiefs – 6-10

The Chargers are once again the class of the AFC West despite the loss of LaDainian Tomlinson and the absence of Vincent Jackson. The Broncos could be in some serious trouble after trading away Brandon Marshall and losing Elvis Dumervil to an injury. I do expect marked improvement from the Chiefs and Raiders, but not enough just yet to truly compete for a playoff berth.

NFC East
Dallas Cowboys – 11-5
New York Giants – 10-6
Philadelphia Eagles – 8-8
Washington Redskins – 7-9

This division should be the most competitive top to bottom in the National Football League. I expect two teams from the “NFC Beast” to find their way into the playoffs, and those two teams could very well be whichever ones can stay the healthiest during the season.

NFC North
Minnesota Vikings – 11-5
Green Bay Packers – 10-6
Chicago Bears – 6-10
Detroit Lions – 4-12

The NFC North should be a great race between Favre and his old team in Green Bay. Many are giving the Packers the preseason edge especially after the hip surgery underwent by Sidney Rice. I look at these rosters and still see a better defense, better o-line and better running back in Minnesota no matter how much I love Aaron Rodgers.

NFC South
New Orleans Saints – 10-6
Atlanta Falcons – 9-7
Carolina Panthers – 7-9
Tampa Bay Buccaneers – 4-12

I do not think Drew Brees and the Saints will be as good as they were a year ago. Between the Super Bowl hangover, their knack for causing turnovers a tough thing to duplicate and their relatively healthy season last year, I just see a bit of a drop off. I do expect their explosive offense to be enough to hold off the Atlanta Falcons, however, who are looking for bounce back years from Matt Ryan and Michael Turner. If Carolina can get a bounce or two, they could very well find themselves back in the playoff hunt as well with their dynamic backfield duo. The Bucs - not so much.

NFC West
San Francisco 49ers – 10-6
Arizona Cardinals – 7-9
Seattle Seahawks – 6-10
St. Louis Rams – 5-11

The 49ers should win the worst division in football going away this year with just too many questions facing each of the Cardinals, Seahawks and Rams. I do really like rookie QB Sam Bradford, who gives St. Louis’ fans some hope once again.

Regular Season Awards
MVP – Aaron Rodgers
Offensive Player of the Year – Adrian Peterson
Defensive Player of the Year – Patrick Willis
Offensive Rookie of the Year – Sam Bradford
Defensive Rookie of the Year – Earl Thomas
Coach of the Year – Mike Singletary

Playoffs
New England over New York, Pittsburgh over San Diego
New York over San Francisco, Green Bay over New Orleans

Indianapolis over Pittsburgh, New England over Baltimore
Dallas over New York, Minnesota over Green Bay

Indianapolis over New England, Dallas over Minnesota

Super Bowl XLV
Indianapolis over Dallas