Mikey D

As I'm sure you all remember, Adam and I both picked the Packers to make the Super Bowl on my blog last year during the NFL Picks post. Of course we both had them losing in the Super Bowl, but the fact is we had them there, which makes last year's picks a success compared to previous years. Let's see if we can get both teams in the Super Bowl right, or at least the winner of the big game correct.

NFC

NFC East
1. Philadelphia Eagles
2. Dallas Cowboys (Wild Card)
3. New York Giants
4. Washington Redskins
The Eagles are clearly the cream of the crop of this division. Is it just me, or is this the weakest the NFC East has been in years? Last year was pretty weak, but top to bottom, this division is not very strong. At years end if the Redskins end up finishing second, I'll only be mildly surprised. All of the teams here have flaws, just some more than others. I have yet to buy 100% into the Eagles and their "Dream Team" monicker. Usually superstar teams like this don't pan out like everyone excepts (2004 Lakers, for example). Plus, as great as Vick is, he's still and injury concern and has yet to carry a team to the promised land.

NFC North
1. Green Bay Packers
2. Detroit Lions
3. Chicago Bears
4. Minnesota Vikings
Lions, baby! I love what the Lions are doing on and off the field, and I think they take another step forward this year. It's already kind of unfortunate their entire draft class is hurt (especially LeShoure), but I think there's enough talent coming back we can still jump the Bears and Vikings. Not a big fan of either of those teams, especially Chicago. Last season seems like a mirage. The real Bears show themselves this year- an aging defense, a pourous offensive line, and an average QB in Cutler.

NFC South
1. Atlanta Falcons
2. New Orleans Saints (Wild Card)
3. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
4. Carolina Panthers
This will be the most competitive division in football, hands down. I think every one of these teams improved themselves in some way this off season. Even the Panthers should be halfway decent, with a little health this year, and a new QB (who looked good in his first preseason game). Whichever team can win at a division opponent's place the most will take the South.

NFC West
1. St. Louis Rams
2. Arizona Cardinals
3. San Francisco 49ers
4. Seattle Seahawks
As Colin Cowherd would say, the Seattle Sea Chickens are a dumpster fire. Tavaris Jackson and Charlie Whitehurst? God help them. The 49ers are the same teams as they were the past three years, and will only improve when they get a legit QB. Arizona has improved with a new QB and RB, but there's still defensive questions. Count me all-in on Bradford and the Rams. Upgrades across the board on defense and offense, a new OC in Josh McDaniels, and high expectations for sophomore Sam Bradford. Rams win the division and host a home playoff game, Bradford shines, Rams draft a big-play receiver in the 2012 draft, and Bradford becomes a top-15 fantasy QB next year. Book it.

NFC Playoffs:
Wild Card:
Dallas Cowboys at Green Bay Packers (Green Bay 34, Dallas 17)
New Orleans Saints at St. Louis Rams (St. Louis 27, New Orleans 24)

Divisional:
Green Bay Packers at Atlanta Falcons (Atlanta 20, Green Bay 17)
St. Louis Rams at Philadelphia Eagles (Philadelphia 40, St. Louis 21)

NFC Championship:
Atlanta Falcons at Philadelphia Eagles (Atlanta 24, Philadelphia 23)

NFC Champion: Atlanta Falcons

AFC

AFC East
1. New England Patriots
2. New York Jets (Wild Card)
3. Buffalo Bills
4. Miami Dolphins.
The Dolphins are awful, the Bills are less awful, but still awful. This is a two team race, as usual, between the Pats and Jets. I think the Patriots improved in the off season, bringing in help at the WR, RB, and DL positions, while getting Logan Mankins signed to a long-term deal (plus, with Brady-Hoyer-Mallet, that's gotta be the most talented trio of QBs on any team in the league). The Jets...lost Cotchery, lost Edwards, lost Brad Smith, have LT another year older, and still have Shonne Greene at RB. So how did they improve? Plax? Um, sell. Patriots win this division.

AFC North
1. Pittsburgh Steelers
2. Baltimore Ravens (Wild Card)
3. Cleveland Browns
4. Cincinnati Bengals
Colt McCoy looks like the real deal for the Browns, unfortunately the Ravens and Steelers still own this division. The Browns are still a year or two away from becoming a threat, and the Bengals are about five years from having a chance to be legitimate. Give me the Steelers in this division, as they bring back every starter on both sides of the ball, and most importantly, own the Ravens in recent seasons. Seems like the easiest division to predict.

AFC South
1. Houston Texans
2. Indianapolis Colts
3. Jacksonville Jaguars
4. Tennessee Titans
This is the year for the Texans. Peyton's starting the season a little banged up, and is clearly on the downhill of his career. Couple that with an aging Colt's roster, and now is the time for the Texans to make their move. They get Cushing back at LB, and got Joseph to shore up the CB spot. They are still dynamic on offense, with Arian Foster and Shaub, so now is the time they put it all together. Jacksonville and Tennessee are the epitomy of mediocre, and will probably score and upset or two here and there, but it's tough to seem them as legit threats to win the division or make the playoffs.

AFC West
1. San Diego Chargers
2. Oakland Raiders
3. Kansas City Chiefs
4. Denver Broncos
Love the Chargers this year, now that they have no expectations on them. They get Vincent Jackson back for the full season, still have Floyd and Gates, and stability at running back with Matthews and Tolbert. Oh yeah, and Philip Rivers. The defense- already solid- seems to have been upgraded as well. I think the Chiefs will slide back a bit this year, as I think a lot of their success was based on a soft schedule and catching teams by surprise. Cassell and company regress a bit this year, the Broncos stay a mess, and the Raiders- who went undefeated against AFC West teams last year- come in at #2 by default.

AFC Playoffs:
AFC Wild Card:
New York Jets at Pittsburgh Steelers (Pittsburgh 16, New York 13)
Baltimore Ravens at Houston Texans (Baltimore 30, Houston 27)

AFC Divisional:
Baltimore Ravens at New England Patriots (New England 31, Baltimore 20)
Pittsburgh Steelers at San Diego Chargers (San Diego 24, Pittsburgh 20)

AFC Championship:
San Diego Chargers at New England Patriots (New England 33, San Diego 31)

AFC Champion: New England Patriots

***

Super Bowl: Atlanta Falcons vs. New England Patriots
(Atlanta Falcons 26, New England Patriots 24)

Super Bowl Champions: Atlanta Falcons

~Mikey D