We’ve finally made it; the NFL season is finally upon us. Here are my divisional, playoff and Super Bowl picks.
AFC East
1.Patriots
2. Dolphins
3.Bills
4.Jets
The Patriots once again are the kings of the division, although this season could be their last. The young and much improved Miami Dolphins are on the verge of becoming a real threat not only in the division but in the conference as well. The Bills will have a top 5 defense but until they develop a better quarterback, they’re nothing more than a.500 team. And it’s looking like another down year for the Jets who can battle the Washington Redskins for the ‘most dysfunctional franchise’ crown.
AFC North:
1.Ravens
2.Steelers
3.Bengals
4.Browns
The Ravens are my pick to win the division although the Steelers are going to make it close all season long. The Ravens are coming back with a strong team and haven’t shown anything during the offseason to make me believe that they aren’t the class of this division. Pittsburgh might have the best offense in the league at seasons end, but I don’t think they have a strong enough defense (at least not yet) to tops in this division. Cincinnati is going to take a step back this year and miss the playoffs for the first time during the Andy Dalton era. They’ve been fortunate over the last few seasons to make the playoffs and I think their luck finally runs out.
AFC South:
1.Colts
2.Titans
3.Texans
4.Jaguars
This is arguably the weakest division in the league and has one of the best Quarterbacks in the game on one team; therefore, the Colts are a no-brainer here. Andrew Luck is going to come out guns blazing this season and has a fighting chance of being an MVP candidate at seasons end. The Titans are going to surprise some teams this year with a revitalized defense and a fresh start at quarterback with the rookie Marcus Mariota. The Texans have quarterback issues that they need to work through before we can take them seriously; and the Jaguars are going to continue to be basements dwellers.
AFC West:
1.Broncos
2.Chargers
3.Chiefs
4.Raiders
Peyton Manning and the Denver Broncos are once again the best team in this division. Manning is still an elite quarterback and the Broncos [as a whole] have what it takes to be a top seed in the AFC. The Chargers and Chiefs are going to battle it out for second place, and I’ll give the edge to San Diego because they have the superior quarterback in Phillip Rivers. The Raiders are going to be a much improved team than they were last year; however they’re still a few seasons away from being true contenders in this division.
NFC East: **The most interesting division**
1.Eagles
2.Giants
3.Cowboys
4.Redskins
There isn’t a coach who has more to prove this season than Chip Kelly, but don’t fret Eagle fans, this team is going to live up to the offseason hype. The Eagles have made some intriguing offseason acquisitions with the signing of Demarco Murray (thank you Jerry Jones) along with quarterback, Sam Bradford. The two of them are going to help put Philadelphia back on the map as an offensive juggernaut. The New York Giants are due to have another run of success and I think it happens this year. For the first time since 2011, the team will make the playoffs thanks in large part to their superstar wide receivers; Odell Beckham Jr and Victor Cruz. The Dallas Cowboys will come back to earth and miss the playoffs this year. The loss of Murray at running back is going to put more pressure on Romo, which will lead to turmoil for Cowboy nation.
Finally, the Washington Redskins are a dysfunctional mess and a disaster. The team will be lucky to win more than 5 games this season.
NFC North:
1.Packers
2.Lions
3.Vikings
4.Bears
Much like my AFC South pick, this is a no-brainer. The best quarterback in the game will lead his team to another division crown. The Lions (who will win a wild-card spot) will make it close, but they don’t have Aaron Rodgers at quarterback. The Vikings are starting to get better and if Bridgewater can continue to develop at QB, this team could be a real contender next season.
*There’s honestly no reason to bring up the Bears until they find themselves a new quarterback.*
NFC South:
1.Falcons
2.Saints
3.Panthers
4.Buccaneers
The worst division in football last year will at least produce a division winner with an above .500 record. The Falcons are going to be the team to beat this year [as long as they stay healthy]. They have arguably the best one-two punch at wide receiver [Roddy White & Julio Jones] in the league, not to mention the underrated Matt Ryan at quarterback. The Saints will rebound slightly after a horrendous season last year while the Panthers and Bucs will fight to stay out of last place.
NFC West:
1.Cardinals
2.Seahawks
3.Rams
4.49ers
No that not’s a typo, I’m picking the Cardinals to win the division. The Seahawks have lost too many pieces on defense and given all the chatter this offseason it looks as if their locker room is beginning to implode. The Cardinals are going to play great football for the second year in a row and if they have a healthy Palmer all season long, you could be seeing them in February.
Meanwhile, the Rams are going have another .500 season; while the 49ers will struggle mightily with their losses on defense not to mention their loss at head coach.
AFC Playoff Seeds:
- Colts
- Broncos
- Patriots
- Ravens
- Steelers
- Dolphins
NFC Playoff Seeds:
- Packers
- Cardinals
- Eagles
- Falcons
- Lions
- Giants
Super Bowl Pick:
Indianapolis Colts vs. Green Bay Packers
Green Bay Packers = Super Bowl Champions
Arguably the two best quarterbacks in the game will faceoff for an offensive showdown for the ages. Green Bay will win a close game (although I’ll be rooting like hell of the Colts) due to their experience and because they have the best quarterback in the game.
Comments from the Sideline 