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Each year in the National Football League players emerge, veteran superstars fade and injuries occur. It all helps shapes the standings. It is the reason half of the playoff teams from the previous year miss out the next season. Peyton Manning is the constant that keeps the Indianapolis Colts favorites to win the AFC South, but each division has variables that shape the Super Bowl winning season.
The Saints knew Drew Brees was going to lead a super size offense, barring an injury, but safety Darren Sharper was the game changer by turning New Orleans' defense into a turnover machine.
Without any further adieu, here are my 2010 NFL Predictions with and the Game-changer in each Division.
NFC EAST
1. Dallas Cowboys *
2. New York Giants
3. Philadelphia Eagles
4. Washington Redskins
GAME-CHANGER: Antrel Rolle (NYG) - The defensive back comes to the G-Men way of the Arizona Cardinals with the job description of shutting down some big time deep threats in the division. Miles Austin (DAL), Desean Jackson (PHI) and Santana Moss will help their teams put up points and if the Giants want to compete for a playoff spot they will need Rolle to help the secondary improve from a year ago.
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| NYG Antrel Rolle |
NFC WEST
1 San Francisco 49ers *
2. Arizona Cardinals
3. Seattle Seahawks
4. St. Louis Rams
GAME-CHANGER: Derek Anderson (ARI) - With Matt Leinart (HOU) no longer in the picture Arizona's head coach Ken Whisenhunt has put his confidence in the former Brown pro-bowler. If Anderson can connect with Larry Fitzgerald and Steve Breaston more times than his opponent's corner backs, the Cardinals may be able to retain the top spot in the West.
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| ARI Derek Anderson |
NFC NORTH
1. Green Bay Packers *
2. Minnesota Vikings*
3. Detroit Lions
4. Chicago Bears
GAME-CHANGER: Ndamukong Sugh (DET) - The second overall pick in last April's Draft has a chance to give the Lions some kind of resemblance of a run defense. If they can induce more punts and less scores the Lions could have a whole new look. It will be tough to overtake the Packers and Vikings for the division, but they could be fighting for a wild-card spot late into the season.
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| DET Ndamukong Suh |
NFC SOUTH
1. New Orleans Saints *
2. Atlanta Falcons *
3. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
4. Carolina Panthers
GAME-CHANGER: Michael Turner (ATL) - When Turner is on the field eating clock and picking up over four yards per rush the Falcons have a much more calmer quarterback under center. Matt Ryan needs his punisher in the back field to illeviate some pressure from his shoulders. If Matty Ice and the DirtyBirds want to return to their playoff form from 2008 when Turner was unstoppable and Ryan looked like a future hall-of-famer as a rookie, the run game needs to be the key cog.
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| ATL Michael Turner |
AFC EAST.
1. New England Patriots *
2. Miami Dolphins *
3. New York Jets
4. Buffalo Bills
GAME-CHANGER: Jerod Mayo (NE) - There is no question in my mind Tom Brady, Randy Moss and Wes Welker will be able to lead the Pats' offense to a top five unit in the league. Contract situations and past injuries do not scare, but their defense does. The Patriots defense looks very suspect and they will need Jerod Mayo to take the next step and become one of the best in the game if they want to win one more for Tom and hold of the Jets and Phins.
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| NE Jerod Mayo |
AFC WEST
1. San Diego Chargers *
2. Oakland Raiders
3. Denver Broncos
4. Kansas City Chiefs
GAME-CHANGER: Darren McFaddden (OAK) - Felix Jones (DAL) has been the better Arkansas Razorback to this point in the former tandem's NFL careers, but with Michael Bush already hurt to start the season, the Raiders need to count on McFadden more than ever. The defense has always been respectable and Jason Campbell is big step up from JaMarcus Rusell, but a run game needs to be establish to contend.
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| OAK Darren McFadden |
AFC NORTH
1. Baltimore Ravens *
2. Cincinnati Bengals
3. Pittsburgh Steelers
4. Cleveland Browns
GAME-CHANGER: Anquan Boldin (BAL) - A team known for its defense and run game for the past decade has a chance to have a whole-new philosophy in 2010. Delaware's Joe Flacco has the arm to stretch the field and now he has the receivers in Boldin, TJ Houshmandzedah, and Derrick Mason to let it fly.
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| BAL Anquan Boldin |
AFC SOUTH
1. Indianapolis Colts*
2. Houston Texans *
3. Tennessee Titans
4. Jacksonville Jaguars
GAME-CHANGER: Amobi Okoye (HOU) - After using their first and second round picks on defensive players for a few years in a row the unit now has a chance to be its strength. Mario Williams is the freak coming off the end making plays in the backfield, Demeco Ryan is one of the best linebackers in the game never mentioned, and Amobi Okoye has a chance to stuff runners like Chris Johnson (TEN), Joe Addai (IND), and Maurice Jones-Drew (JAX). Okoye was drafted in the first round at 19 years old and now a veteran in the NFL before he can get into a bar, the Houston front seven has a chance to be great.
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| HOU Amobi Okoye |
AFC Championship
Ravens over Colts
NFC Championship
Packers over Falcons
Super Bowl XLV
Packers over Ravens
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| Green Bay's Aaron Rodgers ready for MVP season and a Super Bowl Ring |
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