Sportswriter for The Lansdale Reporter
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Let's break it down.
The NFL is one the hardest sports to predict, but it certainly does not stop me from laying out my Super Bowl guesses. I could give you a scenario for every team on how they could reach the playoffs (though some scenarios are a stretch) and I will do that in this blog. I'll give you a predicted win-loss records, my playoffs winners, as well as my awards winner.
Let's get down and dirty like Jamaal Anderson
**denotes playoff team
NFC SOUTH
New Orleans Saints (11-5)** Rob Ryan finds a way to give the defense some respectability and having Sean Payton back for the year gives Brees and the Saints the season they have learned to expect every year. Brees is still in his prime and on his way to a Hall of Fame career.
Atlanta Falcons (11-5)** Tony Gonzalez did not come back to be on a loser. It's pretty much the same team as last season, but now with Steven Jackson who has a little more left in the tank than Michael Turner did. It's Super Bowl or bust in Hot-lanta.
Carolina Panthers (10-6) The defense continues to improve as does Cam Newton. He becomes more of a pocket passer and let's DeAngelo Willams and Michael Tolbert do the dirty at the goal line. They compete for a playoff spot all season in a tough competitive conference.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (6-10) Josh Freeman may not be the second coming of Steve Young, but he is loaded with talented weapons around him. Doug Martin proves his rookie year was no fluke and the tandem of Vincent Jackson and Mike Willams both eclipse 1,000 yards receiving.
DIVSION GAME CHANGERS: Kenny Vaccaro (NO), Steven Jackson (ATL), Jon Beason (CAR), Darrelle Revis (TB)
NFC EAST
New York Giants (10-6)** I'm sure they will hit a four-game losing streak somewhere, but somehow they will find a way to win their 9 or 10 games and flirt with the division title. Maybe Eli and Coughlin aren't that bad after all.
Washington Redskins (9-7) Even coming off major surgery Robert Griffin III finds a way to play all 16 games and makes everybody better around him. Skill players like Aldrick Robinson and Fred Davis have career years and Alfred Morris manages another double-digit touchdown season.
Dallas Cowboys (7-9) They finally save the drama for Jerry Jones' mama and just play some sound football. Tony Romo improves his fourth quarter decision making skills and Dez Bryant grows up and gets big. They start off hot with a win over the G-Men in Week One and never look back.
Philadelphia Eagles (6-10) Chip Kelly implements schemes the NFL is not ready for and the running attack led by Lesean McCoy is impossible to stop. Sure, they win a fair share of shootouts, but their offense is the best in the league.
DIVISION GAME CHANGERS: David Wilson (NYG), RG3 (WAS), Demarco Murray (DAL), Fletcher Cox (PHI)
NFC NORTH
Green Bay Packers (11-5)** The Pack sure up their defense enough and Aaron Rodgers rocks another MVP season. It is amazing what a serviceable running game (Eddie Lacy) can do for a team. That, and being able to get off the field on third down.
Detroit Lions (10-6)** The ups-and-downs of last season are gone and its all ups with this young, dynamic team. Reggie Bush was the perfect fit on offense and Suh and the defense grow up and just play football.
Chicago Bears (7-9) One may think the loss of Brian Urlacher hurts just as much off the field than it does on
the field, but Julius Peppers and Lance Briggs are still playing at a very high level. Jay Cutler and Brandon Marshall connect more times for touchdowns than any other duo, including their rivals in the Motor City.
Minnesota Vikings (5-11) Adrian Peterson calls for Eric Dickerson's record and gets its, but they are even better than 2012 because Christian Ponder finds some respectability and a passing game with the additions of Greg Jennings and Coradelle Patterson.
DIVISION GAME CHANGERS: Eddie Lacy (GB), Ziggy Ansah (DET), Alshon Jeffrey (CHI), Christian Ponder (MIN)
NFC WEST
San Francisco 49ers (11-5)**Becoming a year-in and year-out lock for the postseason as Kaepernick continues to improve and no matter what 11 line up for the 49ers on defense they get to the quarterback and quiet the best run games in the conference.
Seattle Seahawks (10-6) Once a no-name defense playing well, now a defense full of all-pro ballers. Richard Sherman, Red Bryant, Kam Chancellor, and Earl Thomas make this unit one of the stingiest in the entire NFL.
St. Louis Rams (6-10) All Sam Bradford needed to live up to his number one overall selection was a few playmakers around him and he finally has them. Tavon Austin and Chris Givens are 50 yard TDs waiting to happen and Daryl Richardson emerges as a talented option out of the backfield. They are nearly impossible to beat on the turf in the Lou.
Arizona Cardinals (5-11) With an improved offensive line Carson Palmer gets enough time to let Larry Fitzgerald do his thing. The defense remains solid, but not flashy, but Palmer and Mendenhall make people realize just how bad Kevin Kolb and Beanie Wells were.
DIVISION GAME CHANGERS: Ahmad Brooks (SF), Golden Tate (SEA), Tavon Austin (STL), Carson Palmer (ARI)
DIVISION GAME CHANGERS: Ahmad Brooks (SF), Golden Tate (SEA), Tavon Austin (STL), Carson Palmer (ARI)
AFC SOUTH
Indianapolis Colts (11-5)**It's only year two, but the kid under center find a way to make people say,
Houston Texans (9-7)**There is a trio of injury riddle players here that can take this club from seven wins to 11 if they can play on a weekly basis. Matt Schaub, Andre Johnson, Brian Cushing hold the cards for the Texans. Arian Foster is an injury concern too, but Ben Tate has proven he can fill in admirably.
Tennessee Titans (6-10) As the offensive line continues to improve so does the play of Jake Locker and Chris Johnson. Teams can no longer pack the box on CJ2K as Locker connects regularly with his constantly improving corp of receivers of Nate Washington, Kenny Britt, and Kendall Wright.
Jacksonville Jaguars (3-13) After brushing off the suspension Justin Blackmon chills on the off-the-issues and shows people why he was taken so high in the first round two years ago, The combo of Cecil Shorts III and J.B. give Jones-Drew some running room and Gus Bradley gets the defense playing up to its potential. They are certainly no cake-walk.
DIVISION GAME CHANGERS: Ahmad Bradshaw (IND), DeAndre Hopkins (HOU), Kenny Britt (TEN), Justin Blackmon (JAX)
AFC EAST
New England Patriots (12-4)**I think you can purchase your AFC East champions T-Shirt and playoff tickets now. I don't care who is catching passes, as long as Brady is upright and Bellichick has a hoody on, the Pats will be in the postseason.
Miami Dolphins (5-11) Way to bring the Hard Knocks cameras into a locker room with a new coach and a rookie quarterback. Now that nobody is paying attention to Ryan Tannehill he can relax and sneak up on defenses in the AFC. It is amazing what having a real threat (Mike Wallace) in the passing game can do for a young signal caller.
New York Jets (4-12) Just when you think you miss the mediocre days of Chad Pennington in comes Geno Smith to shock the world. His play-making ability allows Chris Ivory to emerge and Jeremy Kerley to catch on. A Week One win over the Tampa Bay was all they needed to gain confidence and head in the right direction.
Buffalo Bills (3-13) The same thing could be said about the Jets. EJ Manuel makes moves and makes plays, Stevie Johnson gets serious and CJ Spiller is the best back in football. Not to mention the defensive line gels quick and leads the NFL in sacks, including sack leader Mario Williams.
DIVISION GAME CHANGERS: Danny Amendola (NE), Mike Wallace (MIA), Geno Smith (NYJ), Marcel Darius (BUF)
AFC NORTH
Baltimore Ravens (10-6)**Just because the Ray Lewis and Ed Reed Era is over does not mean the Ravens are going to fall into obscurity. Ozzie Newsome is the best GM in the game and guys like Terrell Suggs and
Cincinatti Bengals (10-6)**The defensive continues to become one of the leagues best and a little spark plug like Giovanni Bernard is just what this team needed to take the next step. Dalton to Green wrecks defenses and the Bengals are one of the best teams in the league all season.
Pittsburgh Steelers (8-8) It's a new look Steelers, but the same philosophy that has been working since 1970 continues to produce wins. The line keeps Big Ben healthy and the running game gets its swag back behind the combo of Ike Redman and Le'Veon Bell.
Cleveland Browns (5-11) Brandon Weeden made really, really bad throws in his rookie year and it has left Cleveland as a second thought as 2013 gets under way. But Weeden corrects his mistakes, and by correcting his mistakes, I mean he begins to turn around and give it to Trent Richardson as often as possible.
DIVISION GAME CHANGERS: Daryl Smith (BAL), Gio Bernard (CIN), Troy Polomalu (PIT), Brandon Weeden (CLE)
AFC WEST
Denver Broncos (13-3)**Von Miller missing the first six games is an afterthought after the Broncos realize they play in the AFC West. Nine wins may be enough to win this division, but the Broncos have Peyton Manning and the best reciever group in the game. Anything less than 11 wins would be a shock.
San Diego Chargers (7-9) Phillip Rivers still sends I'm sorry texts to Vincent Jackson every day. He sure does miss a viable option in the passing game, but with Norv Turner out of the picture they actually win a few close games and let the running game of Ryan Mathews and Danny Woodhead take some pressure off of Rivers' sore shoulder.
Kansas City Chiefs (7-9) They may have had the worst record in the league, but they still sent six to Hawaii for the Pro Bowl. If they can all stay healthy at once it could be a quick turn around with Andy Reid and Alex Smith in the fold. Alex Smith is no Joe Montana, but at least his name is not Matt Cassell.
Oakland Raiders (3-13) Stop thinking how bad can Matt Flynn be if Tyrelle Pryor is going to get the start. Flynn is not awful, but just like last season in Seattle with Russell Wilson, Pryor's playmaking ability is just too good to keep on the bench.
DIVISION GAME CHANGERS: Wes Welker (DEN), Antonio Gates (SD), Eric Berry (KC), Tyrelle Pryor (OAK)
MVP: Drew Brees (New Orleans)
Defensive Player of the Year: Luke Keuchly (Carolina)
Rookie of the Year: DeAndre Hopkins (Houston)
Defensive Rookie of the Year: Ziggy Ansah (Detroit)
Coach of the Year: Ron Rivera (Carolina)
Comeback Player of the Year: Rob Gronkowski (New England)
POSTSEASON PREDICTIONS
TEXANS over Colts
BENGALS over Ravens
PACKERS over Lions
FALCONS over Giants
BRONCOS over Texans
PATRIOTS over Bengals
SAINTS over 49ers
FALCONS over Packers
BRONCOS over Patriots
FALCONS over Saints
Super Bowl XLVIII
FALCONS over Broncos
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