NFL Preview 2011

Football is back, and even though we didnt miss any regular season games, it kind of feels like we did. Nevertheless, the lockout is over and America is ready for football. WhitSport did poorly predicting last season, picking just 6 out of a total 12 playoff teams correctly, but did well on picking Green Bay to go far at the beginning of the year.

We’ll try and do better this year. First let’s take a look at what to expect in the AFC

EAST:
Patriots 11-5
Jets 9-7
Bills 8-8
Dolphins 4-12
Down a Notch= NY Jets
Better than you think= Buffalo

NORTH:
Steelers 12-4
Ravens 10-6
Bengals7-9
Browns 3-13
Super Bowl Sleepers= Baltimore
Worst of the Worst= Cleveland

SOUTH
Texans 10-6
Titans 8-8
Jaguars 5-11
Colts 4-12
Finally a New Division Champ= Houston
Much worse off than you think= Indianapolis

WEST
Chargers 12-4
Raiders 10-6
Chiefs 7-9
Broncos 6-10
Down a few notches= Kansas City
Not-so-Surprising contenders= Oakland

Not surprisingly, the Pats, Steelers, Ravens and Chargers will all garner playoff spots, but Houston will grab their division for the first time without Manning in town for Indy. Oakland to pip the Jets for that last spot.

Onto the NFC:

EAST
Cowboys 11-5
Eagles 9-7
Giants 7-9
Redskins 5-11
Need a QB= Washington
Not as good as you think= Philly

It'll be tough to repeat come January

NORTH
Packers 13-3
Lions 10-6
Bears 8-8
Vikings 3-13
Class of the League= Green Bay
Good for the 1st time in Forever= Detroit

SOUTH
Falcons 11-5
Saints 10-6
Bucs 6-10
Panthers 4-12
Step down from last season= Tampa Bay
1st round Pick gone wrong= Carolina

WEST
Rams 9-7
49ers 8-8
Cardinals 6-10
Seahawks 4-12
Another sleeper 1st year coach= San Francisco
First to worst= Seattle

That’s right folks, no “Dream Team” in the playoffs! I love the Cowboys in this division and think they’ll lock things up by mid-December. Also very high on the Falcons, Packers and Saints, with the Lions and Rams as my sleeper teams.

As for the top teams, I am looking at the Chargers and Patriots in the AFC, and the Packers and Falcons in the NFC, in fact I think Aaron Rodgers and Philip Rivers will duel to the end in an MVP battle. The Steelers will still be solid, but Ravens could finally eclipse them this year in the AFC North. As for the NFC, the Bucs seem to be a team on the decline, while Tony Romo and the Cowboys may surprise some people in 2011.

The Cowboys and Chargers would be my picks in an All-Sleeper Super Bowl, but I’m not that daring… Here are my picks for the rest of the “awards” that will be handed out this winter:

AFC champion     Ravens
NFC champion     Falcons
Coach of the year     Jim Schwartz
Reg. Season MVP     Aaron Rodgers
Offensive ROY:     Julio Jones
Defensive ROY:     Nick Fairley
First Head Coach Canned:    Tony Sparano

Super Bowl XLVI    Falcons 21 – Ravens 24

That’s all folks, check back every few weeks, where we’ll do regular updates, and see how the preseason picks shape up. Game on!