NFL Prediction Time

Figured I'd give this a shot even though camp has yet to start and 1,000 different things could happen that would impact these predicitions but I had some time on my hand and figured why not?

With parity so rampant in the league it makes it almost impossible to pick (and that's what makes it so great), especially when almost every year a team comes from out of the blue to make a Super Bowl run...see 98 Falcons, 99 Rams, 00 Ravens, 01 Patriots, 03 Panthers.

I looked at the week by week schedule and came up with this...

AFC East: 1. Patriots (13-3), 2. Dolphins (10-6), 3. Jets (6-10), 4. Bills (3-13)
AFC North: 1. Steelers (11-5), 2. Bengals (10-6), 3. Ravens (9-7)), 4. Browns (5-11)
AFC South: 1. Colts (11-5), 2. Jaguars (8-8), 3. Texans (6-10), 4. Titans (4-12)
AFC West: 1. Chiefs (12-4), 2. Broncos (12-4), 3. Chargers (9-7), 4. Raiders (6-10)

NFC East: 1. Cowboys (11-5), 2. Redskins (11-5), 3. Giants (9-7), 4. Eagles (7-9)
NFC North: 1. Bears (9-7), 2. Lions (7-9), 3. Vikings (7-9), 4. Packers (4-12)
NFC South: 1. Panthers (12-4), 2. Buccaneers (10-6), 3. Falcons (9-7), 4. Saints (6-10)
NFC West: 1. Seahawks (12-4), 2. Cardinals (7-9), 3. Rams (6-10), 4. 49ERS (5-11)

AFC Wildcards: No. 6 Bengals over No. 3 Steelers; No. 4 Colts over No. 5 Broncos
NFC Wildcards: No. 3 Cowboys over No. 6 Buccaneers; No. 5 Redskins over No. 4 Bears

AFC Divisional Playoffs: No. 1 Patriots over No. 6 Bengals; No. 4 Colts over No. 2 Chiefs
NFC Divisional Playoffs: No. 1 Panthers over No. 5 Redskins; No. 3 Cowboys over No. 2 Seahawks

AFC Championship: Patriots 24, Colts 10
NFC Championship: Panthers 27, Cowboys 24, OT

Super Bowl XLI: Patriots 23, Panthers 20

Couple of notes: Man, this is really hard. It's such a crapshoot. I think the AFC West and NFC East and South are brutally tough divisions. In the NFC South I think the Saints could give teams fits. I like the Chargers but I'm not high on Brees. If he was still there I might have them going to the title game. I think he's that good and that underrated. The Bengals prospects obviously are riding on Palmer's health but I think after a slow start they will make a run at the end. I think the Bears will take a step back as I think there is dissension in the ranks. I don't trust their offense but I still think they are the best team in a weak division although I think the Lions could be a sleeper and could win that division. It'll be interesting that's for sure because in the NFL the unpredictable is usually the norm.
- posted by Brian @ 8:46 AM