Mikey D

I'm 110% sure this is how all the divisions will shake out at the end of the year.

NFC

NFC East:
1. Dallas Cowboys
2. New York Giants (Wild Card)
3. Washington Redskins
4. Philadelphia Eagles
Dallas is the most complete team of the four, so by default they get to be first...I kind of like the Giants, now that they're healthy, got a couple of guys into their secondary, and are recommitted to the run...The Redskins will finish 9-7, just on the outside of the playoffs...The Eagles are too young for me (Kolb, McCoy, Maclin, Jackson) and their defense was a letdown last year, they need to go through some growing pains.

NFC North:
1. Green Bay Packers
2. Minnesota Vikings
3. Detroit Lions
4. Chicago Bears
The Packers addressed their one weakness, offensive line, through the draft...I don't like the Vikings as much because I don't think Favre repeats last year, Rice and Harvin are injury concerns, and their schedule is pretty tough...Yes, the Lions top the Bears! Gotta start somewhere, from 4th to 3rd this year...Excuse me for not believing in a lame-duck coach in Smith, Mike Martz's offense, Jay "INT Machine" Cutler, the lackluster Matt Forte, an aging defense, and the non-existent offensive line.

NFC South:
1. New Orleans Saints
2. Atlanta Falcons (Wild Card)
3. Tampa Bay Buccanneers
4. Carolina Panthers
I will give the nod to the Champs, although I wouldn't be surprised if Atlanta overtook them...Now that Turner is back and healthy and the team is refocused and less hyped, watch out as Matt Ryan heads into his 3rd year...I like Tampa Bay, they're a fun young team and could pull off a couple upsets like they did last year against Green Bay and New Orleans...I just hate Carolina's QBs and they lost their best player in Peppers. Steve Smith isn't getting younger, so really what you have is a superb running game, but not much else.

NFC West:
1. San Francisco 49ers
2. Arizona Cardinals
3. Seattle Seahawks
4. St. Louis Rams
I hate all the teams in this division, but San Francisco is mediocre instead of awful, so they get to be first...Matt Leinart will make the Cardinals choose a QB in next year's draft, mark my words...Matt Hasselback can't do it anymore, the offensive line is a mess, and their receivers are old. They should be a last-place team, but...St. Louis is in their division. Train wreck.

NFC Playoffs:
Wild Card:
Atlanta at Dallas (Cowboys 24, Atlanta 14)
New York Giants at San Francisco (New York Giants 21, San Francisco 20)

Divisional:
Dallas at New Orleans (Cowboys 34, New Orleans 31)
New York Giants at Green Bay (Packers 38, New York 17)

NFC Championship:
Dallas at Green Bay (Packers 27, Cowboys 21)

NFC Champion: Green Bay Packers

AFC

AFC East:
1. New England Patriots
2. New York Jets (Wild Card)
3. Miami Dolphins
4. Buffalo Bills
The Patriots are still pretty much the same team as last year, and oh yeah, they finished first in their division...Too much hype on the Jets. I actually considered putting them 3rd. Sanchez has more growing to do, and their are too many personalities on this team. Plus they're not sneaking up on anybody this year. And no Revis (as of yet)!...Like the Dolphins, if they can stay healthy at RB and WR,and if Henne can become the man, but that's one too many 'ifs' for my liking...Wow, I watched the Bills first preseason game and I have to say, they might be worse than the Rams.

AFC North:
1. Baltimore Ravens
2. Pittsburgh Steelers
3. Cincinnati Bengals
4. Cleveland Browns
Baltimore wins one of the most competitive divisions in football with their nasty defense and improved offense...They trade Holmes, lose a starting offensive lineman and are without Big Ben for at least four games. Oh, and they will probably lose Troy P. to some sort of season ending injury at some point. Not a lot going for this team, yet they are always in the thick of things...I think the Bengals regress. Their schedule is tougher and I'm not sold on Palmer as a legit stud QB...I like the Browns. They have a good offensive line and will run the ball well I think. Watch out in a year or two.

AFC South:
1. Indianapolis Colts
2. Tennessee Titans (Wild Card)
3. Houston Texans
4. Jacksonville Jaguars
Peyton Manning plays for the Colts. Enough said...I like Vince this year as a starter for the whole year. He may not be a stat sheet stuffer, but he wins football games. It helps that Chris Johnson is on the team, too...There's something about Houston that just rubs me the wrong way. Schaub was great last year, but has only done it for one year. The expectations are high (much like Atlanta last year) and I just think the pressure will be too much...Jacksonville might be a bottom-5 team, even with MJD on it. I don't like their defense and David Garrard is going backwards in his development as a QB. He's a backup on pretty much every other team.

AFC West:
1. San Diego Chargers
2. Oakland Raiders
3. Kansas City Chiefs
4. Denver Broncos
San Diego will definitely take a step back this year, but they are still talented. They might not win their division by a lot, but they'll win it...Love the Raiiiiiderrrrrrrs this year. Good offensive line, better QB, a solid defense, and a weak division. That's a recipe for some surprise success...Like Kansas City too, but not as much. That defense is still missing some players, and I don't know if I trust Cassell that much...No me gusta Denver. No receivers, hurt RBs, porous offensive line, undersized defensive line, Kyle Orton at QB...eek.

AFC Playoffs:
Wild Card:
Tennessee at New England (New England 35, Tennessee 13)
New York Jets at San Diego (San Diego 13, New York Jets 10)

Divisional Playoffs:
San Diego at Indianapolis (Indianapolis 27, San Diego 14)
New England at Baltimore (Baltimore 23, New England 17)

AFC Championship:
Baltimore at Indianapolis (Indianapolis 26, Baltimore 24)

AFC Champion: Indianapolis Colts

***
Super Bowl: Green Bay Packers vs. Indianapolis Colts (Indianapolis 30, Green Bay 23)

Super Bowl Champion: Indianapolis Colts

~Mikey D