2015 AFC Playoff Seeding Predictions

1. Indianapolis Colts (13-3): The Colts had one of the busiest offseasons of any team in the league, adding plenty of talented veterans such as receiver Andre Johnson, running back Frank Gore, safety Mike Adams, and outside linebacker Trent Cole. Meanwhile, Andrew Luck enters his fourth season, where over the past three years, his completion percentage, touchdown percentage, and passer rating have all increased. Next year, don't be surprised if Luck is able to snatch the Most Valuable Player Award away from Aaron Rodgers.

2. New England Patriots (12-4): While the New England Patriots are almost guaranteed to earn a spot in the playoffs next season, their exact seeding depends on how many games Tom Brady will be able to play in 2015 due to his suspension. The Patriots certainly lost plenty of talented players this past offseason--Darrelle Revis, Brandon Browner, Vince Wilfork, Shane Vereen--but if there is any coach in the league capable of creating a Championship caliber team with a reduced amount of talent, it is six time Super Bowl champion Bill Belichick. Moreover, Tom Brady seems to play his best when the critics and doubters are at their absolute loudest.

3. Denver Broncos (11-5): After suffering a torn right quadriceps, posting a passer rating of 76.8 in the month of December, and having his team lose in their first playoff game, Peyton Manning appears to be nearing the end of his career (or so they say). The truth is, Manning likely has one or two more years left to compete for a Super Bowl, and taking into account Manning's age and the loss of Eric Decker and Julius Thomas the past two seasons, Denver will likely need to rely more on running back CJ Anderson. Anderson became the starter for the Broncos in the final few weeks, and in games where the he had twenty or more attempts, the Broncos went 4-0. A reduced workload for Manning may result in another division title for Manning and the Broncos, but the Chargers are certainly talented enough to regain control of the division.

4. Baltimore Ravens (10-6): The Ravens passing game took a pretty sizable hit this past offseason by losing receivers Torrey Smith and Jacoby Jones. Thus, more pressure will be put on "Cool Joe" Flacco offensively, as well as running back Justin Forsett, one of last year's breakout stars. Meanwhile, Baltimore's defense ranked sixth last season in terms of points allowed, fourth in rushing yards allowed, but just 23rd in passing yards allowed. Hopefully, the signing of cornerback Kyle Arrington will be able to help Baltimore's pass defense.

5. San Diego Chargers (11-5): The San Diego Chargers easily have the talent necessary to dethrone the broncos from atop the AFC West. First, quarterback Phillip Rivers is entering the last year of his contract, and will be looking to produce the same numbers he had at the start of the 2014 season. Second, the additions of rookie running back Melvin Gordon through the draft and wide receiver Jacoby Jones through free agency will add versatility to this offense that was not present last season. Don't be surprised if the Chargers make a run at one of the higher seeds in the playoffs this postseason.

6. Buffalo Bills (10-6): The Buffalo Bills are most definitely going to be a hit or miss team in 2015 with new head coach Rex Ryan at the helm. This Bills team is a slightly better version of the New York Jets team that went 4-12 last season: solid running game, talented defensive line, but no quarterback. The Bills managed to acquire All-Pro caliber running back LeSean McCoy who can hopefully take some pressure off of quarterbacks Matt Cassel and EJ Manuel.

Teams On the Bubble
Cincinnati Bengals: Have made the playoffs for four straight seasons, but the organization's confidence in quarterback Andy Dalton is beginning to fade

New York Jets: A great defensive line become even better with rookie Leonard Williams and a new head coach. But one can not put too much confidence in Geno Smith

Pittsburgh Steelers: Big Ben is now one year older, and the rookies that Pittsburgh drafted are unlikely to improve a relatively weak secondary.

Season tickets are almost in the mail. Camp opens in 12 days!

— Jim Irsay (@JimIrsay) July 20, 2015

Julian Edelman says Tom Brady 'ticked off' awaiting ruling. Tom Brady angry is not good for the NFL. pic.twitter.com/dHCduCKliQ

— Martin Brian Ansah (@DaAnsahonSports) July 21, 2015

Baltimore Ravens, Cleveland Browns and New Orleans Saints' rookies report to training camp Wednesday. Here we go...

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) July 21, 2015

OFFICIAL: #Broncos sign @DemaryiusT to 5-year deal: http://t.co/mh6PkvTVf1 pic.twitter.com/M5WsaZgRG8

— Denver Broncos (@Broncos) July 15, 2015

NFL Week 5 Predictions

Packers over Vikings (Correct): If Teddy Bridgewater had been healthy for this Week 5 matchup, the Thursday night game would have been a lot more interesting. Instead, the Packers offense, particularly Eddie Lacy, dominated the Vikings defense throughout the game, giving Green Bay an easy win at home.

Bears over Panthers: In the past two games for Carolina, the Panthers have been outscored 75-29, a horrible statistic seeing how the defense is supposed to be one of Carolina's strengths. Cam Newton is not playing like his former self since injuring his rib in the offseason, whereas the Bears have defeated both the 49ers and Jets on the road. Chicago looks like the early favorite.

Cowboys over Texans: While the Cowboys certainly receive plenty of criticism from football fans, there is no denying that their 38-17 victory over the New Orleans Saints is impressive. Among running backs with more than 50 attempts, Murray leads the league in rushing yards, rushing touchdowns, yards per attempt, yards per game, and 1st downs. Plus, only giving up 17 points to the mighty New Orleans Saints is a sign of improvement on defense. The Texans should not be a problem.

Lions over Bills: The Lions have beaten both the Packers and the Jets within the past two weeks. Even though Calvin Johnson has struggled thus far, Matthew Stafford and the Lions offense have had no problem putting points on the board. The Buffalo Bills pass rush is pretty talented, but not enough to derail the Lions offense.

Colts over Ravens: Quarterback Andrew Luck is certainly deserving of the Most Valuable Player Award as of Week 4, seeing how he leads the league in both passing yards and touchdowns, as well as recording a 3-1 record. The Ravens are coming off of a dominant victory over the Carolina Panthers, where receiver Steve Smith played like his former self in Carolina. This game is sure to be a shoot-out, but the Colts have home-field advantage, thus giving them a slight edge over Baltimore.

Andrew Luck's NFL-high 13 TD passes are most in Super Bowl era by QB age 25 or younger thru 4 games #QuarterbackSCenter
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) October 1, 2014

Steelers over Jaguars: The Jacksonville Jaguars are undoubtedly the worst team in the NFL, whereas the Pittsburgh Steelers are playing well enough to earn a spot in the playoffs. Antonio Brown is worthy of a position on the All-Pro team through these past 4 games, and even with a loss against Tampa Bay last week, the Steelers are guaranteed to bounce back against Jacksonville.

Saints over Buccaneers: At 1-3, the New Orleans Saints did not start off the 2014 season the way they would have liked, but with a chance to be tied for second in the division, Drew Brees and the Saints look to beat Tampa Bay, a division rival. Tampa Bay beat Pittsburgh thanks to a last minute score, but after that emotional victory, the Bucs are bound to lose at the Superdome.

Rafael Bush RT @iTerrence @Saints who's going to start at the other safely since Byrd is out?
— New Orleans Saints (@Saints) October 3, 2014

Giants over Falcons: The New York Giants are one of the more difficult teams to predict, but based on what we saw last week, it looks like Eli Manning is adjusting well to the West Coast offensive scheme. Atlanta just lost on the road to a rookie quarterback, and their road trip continues into New York. If Manning is able to play well, the Giants will beat the Atlanta Falcons.

Eagles over Rams: The Philadelphia Eagles were undefeated entering San Francisco last week, but in a close game, they were handed their first loss of the season. Meanwhile, the Rams remain winless on the year, and I don't see them earning the win on the road this week.

Browns over Titans: The Cleveland Browns are 1-2 thus far with Brian Hoyer as quarterback, where all three games were decided by three points or less against legitimate playoff contenders. The Titans have home field advantage, but the Browns have more talent on both sides of the ball.

Broncos over Cardinals: Not many people guessed at the start of the year that one of the only remaining undefeated teams by Week 5 would be the Arizona Cardinals; however, that is the case for this season. The Denver Broncos now have the best opportunity to give Arizona the first loss of the season. Even though Arizona's defense has been one of the best in the league within the past two seasons, they will be no match for the best offense in all of football.

Chargers over Jets (OT): This game is a classic example of offense vs. defense, as Philip Rivers and the high-flying San Diego offense takes on the young, talented defensive line of the New York Jets. Sunday's game will be very close, but the deciding factor will be Geno Smith's continuing struggles on offense.

49ers over Chiefs: Last week served as a must-win game for the San Francisco 49ers against the Philadelphia Eagles, and after the Week 4 win, the Niners are just two games out of first place in the division. Kansas City trounced a struggling New England Patriots last week, but if anyone can suppress the now-healthy Jamaal Charles, it would be the 49ers.

Bengals over Patriots: The New England Patriots are coming off one of their worst performances during the Brady-era. While Brady's statistics have dropped, the contributing factor has been a horrible offensive line that is not giving their quarterback enough time in the pocket. The Cincinnati Bengals are an incredible force on the defensive side of the ball, and while the Patriots should have cornerback Brandon Browner return from his suspension, the Bengals look like the all-around better team in this matchup.

Seahawks over Redskins: Kirk Cousins and the Washington Redskins lost in an embarrassing performance against the New York Giants on Thursday Night Football, and even though the Redskins are at home against Seattle, the superior talent on the Seahawks roster will help give Seattle an easy win.

Marking his cleats. RT @allygirrl221: Emmanuel Acho #51 pic.twitter.com/CuAIAHkH9P
— Philadelphia Eagles (@Eagles) October 5, 2014

#Texans won’t have 1st pick Jadeveon Clowney today. Sources tell me his target return date from his torn meniscus is Oct. 20 vs. #Steelers
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) October 5, 2014

#ThisIsOurHouse #CINvsNE https://t.co/zHFT9l5ygr
— New England Patriots (@Patriots) October 4, 2014

NFL Week 3 Predictions

Falcons over Buccaneers: This victory for the Atlanta Falcons came as no surprise, yet the final score may have shocked many people. Atlanta played incredibly well on both sides of the ball, and with Julio Jones healthy, the Falcons could very well have the best passing game in all of football.

Bills over Chargers: The San Diego Chargers are coming off of an incredible upset over the Seattle Seahawks last week, yet in a typical trap game, they will have to fly to the east coast for a game against Buffalo. The Bills are 2-0 this season, and second year quarterback EJ Manuel has done really well with rookie wide receiver Sammy Watkins on offense. Plus, the Bills defensive line continues to get better and better.

Bengals over Titans: The Cincinnati Bengals held the Falcons offense to just 10 points last week, which should come as no surprise seeing how dominant the Bengals are at home. Tennessee will be playing Cincy on the road, so in the mortal lock of the week, we pick the Bengals to beat Tennessee pretty handily.

Ravens over Browns: Since 2000, the Browns have had 19 different starting quarterbacks, but Brian Hoyer is the only one with a winning record (4-1). The Ravens will certainly be tough to beat, even if the game is to be played in Cleveland.

Packers over Lions: The Green Bay Packers are coming off of an epic comeback against the New York Jets on the road, where Jordy Nelson went for 209 yards and a touchdown. The Detroit Lions lost to Carolina on the road in Week 2, where it seemed like Matthew Stafford tried to force WAY too many passes to star receiver Calvin Johnson instead of looking for other options.

Colts over Jaguars: Even with Jacksonville at home, the Jaguars really don't stand a chance to Andrew Luck and the Indianapolis Colts. In just two games, Andrew Luck has already thrown for more than 500 yards and 5 touchdowns, and with the Luck-Wayne connection stronger than ever, the Colts are likely to dominate on the road.

Patriots over Raiders: After their atrocious start to the season in Miami, the New England Patriots responded by trouncing the Minnesota Vikings, even though they were without Adrian Peterson. The Raiders are a slightly more talented team than Minnesota without All-Day, but Oakland will still struggle on either side of the ball.

Saints over Vikings: Last week, we saw how important Adrian Peterson is to this Minnesota Vikings offense, where his absence led to just 7 points on offense against the Patriots. Peterson will not be playing once again, and it doesn't help that the Vikings are set to play the Saints in New Orleans. There is no doubt in my mind that New Orleans will beat the Vikings at home.

Giants over Texans: The New York Giants have yet to win a football game in the 2014 regular season, mostly because they are struggling to put points on the board. Eli Manning has improved his completion percentage from last season, but he is still on track for 32 interceptions if he continues to throw 2 interceptions per game. The Texans are also not faring well at quarterback, and with the game being played in New York, the Giants should be able to get their first win of the season.

Eagles over Redskins: After RGIII left the game with an ankle injury, back-up quarterback Kirk Cousins stepped in against Jacksonville, leading his team to victory. The Eagles will be a much more difficult opponent, especially with the matchup being played in Philly. Plus, Philly's running game has been nearly unstoppable as of late due to the combination of Darren Sproles and LeSean McCoy.

Spartan Nation: A great day for former MSU QBs! Drew Stanton, Kirk Cousins and Brian Hoyer all led their teams to good wins today!
— Earvin Magic Johnson (@MagicJohnson) September 14, 2014

Cowboys over Rams: Ever since Sam Bradford suffered his season ending injury in the offseason, the Rams have been frantically looking for a solid replacement. Back-up quarterback Sean Hill ended up getting injured in the season opener as well, meaning Austin Davis will be the man to step in and hopefully win games for the St. Louis Rams. This matchup against Dallas does not look good for Rams fans, and I expect the Cowboys to win on the road.

49ers over Cardinals: The Arizona Cardinals experienced a shocking development this past week, where running back Jonathan Dwyer was accused of abusing his wife and infant son. These distractions may have gotten in the way of their preparations for the San Francisco 49ers, and I predict the Niners to trounce Arizona, even though the Niners are on the road.

Dolphins over Chiefs: The Kansas City Chiefs have not played well in 2014, which is surprising seeing how Andy Reid managed to send this team into the playoffs last season. Running back Jamaal Charles did not look like himself in Week 1, and the high ankle sprain he suffered in Week 2 will likely mean he is not 100% for the Miami game. As of right now, it looks like the Dolphins are the odds on favorite to win.

Game of the Week: Seahawks over Broncos: In what might be the regular season game of the year, the Denver Broncos look to avenge their blowout loss to the Seattle Seahawks in this Super Bowl rematch. The Denver Broncos might have Wes Welker return from his suspension, as he will join offensive threats like Demaryius Thomas and Julius Thomas. The Seahawks are coming off of an atrocious performance against the San Diego Chargers, and they look to respond by beating the Broncos once again, this time at home. The Seahawks managed to beat Peyton and the Broncos in a neutral location last season, so it will be even harder for Denver to win in the most difficult away stadium in all of football.
Seahawks over Broncos 23-21

Panthers over Steelers: Even with Cam Newton playing in his first game since suffering a rib injury during the offseason, the Panthers managed to beat the Detroit Lions in Week 2. The Steelers will be a slightly easier opponent, and I expect to see a similar result as last week.

Bears over Jets: The Chicago Bears pulled off quite possibly the best comeback of the season thus far, as they beat the San Francisco 49ers in the first game at Levi's Stadium. Chicago will now be playing their second straight road game, this time against the New York Jets, who were the victims of a comeback victory by the Green Bay Packers. The Chicago Bears have plenty of offensive weapons, enough to beat this young, talented defense in New York.

#Broncos WR @WesWelker talks return, @Seahawks, Sunday availability: http://t.co/mLm94MT0dS http://t.co/uEq8SkBaI2
— Denver Broncos (@Broncos) September 17, 2014

Cardinals place Jonathan Dwyer on reserve, non-football illness list, ending his season.
— Around The NFL (@AroundTheNFL) September 18, 2014

'Gotta make sure we stay level headed' - @MelvinIngram on the win over Seahawks.
— San Diego Chargers (@Chargers) September 15, 2014

Great effort today! Gotta fix some things and get ready for Denver.
— Richard Sherman (@RSherman_25) September 14, 2014

NFL Week 2 Predictions

Last week: We went 9-7 with our prediction from last week, which amounts to a 56.25% win percentage. Clearly, we are hoping to do much better this week.

Ravens over Steelers: For the second straight week in a row, we correctly predicted the winner of the Thursday Night Football game. Our prediction to win the AFC North, the Baltimore Ravens, will be tied for first place in the division if Cincinnati loses their Week 2 game against Atlanta.

Bills over Dolphins: The Miami Dolphins managed to dethrone the New England Patriots last weekend from atop the AFC East by winning at home in a relatively dominant fashion. Yet the Buffalo Bills should not be taken lightly after defeating the Chicago Bears in Week 1.

Lions over Panthers: The Detroit Lions managed to thrash the New York Giants on Monday Night Football last game through the air, and will likely do the same this week against Carolina. While Carolina’s defense is much more talented, Detroit just has too many offensive weapons, and Detroit’s defensive line will also be able to pressure injured quarterback Cam Newton playing in his first game of the season.

Bengals over Falcons: Yes, the Falcons managed to beat their division rivals in Week 1, the New Orleans Saints, but now they will be travelling into Cincinnati, a place where the Bengals did not lose during the regular season in 2013. The Bengals have a much better defense than New Orleans, and the combination of Andy Dalton and AJ Green will be tough to beat.

Saints over Browns: Both teams lost in relatively close games during Week 1, but there is not doubt in my mind that the New Orleans Saints will be the better team on Sunday. Expect Drew Brees and Jimmy Graham to have big games.

Patriots over Vikings: Without star running back Adrian Peterson, this Vikings team will certainly have trouble getting anything going on offense. While the Patriots looked horrible in their season opener, I expect them to win this game in a dominant fashion. Mortal lock of the week.

#Vikings RB Adrian Peterson won’t be with the team today. Team brass is gathering info, working with the NFL, they have heard his side.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) September 14, 2014

Cardinals over Giants: The Arizona Cardinals managed to beat the San Diego Chargers, a playoff team last season, whereas the New York Giants looked horrendous offensively and defensively against the Lions. The Cardinals are one of the more underrated teams in football, and I expect them to win this game.

Cowboys over Titans: The Dallas Cowboys certainly looked bad in their season opener against San Francisco, but if Dez Bryant is able to play in the entire game this weekend, Dallas’ offense is sure to fair well against Tennessee; however, don’t take the Titans lightly, who defeated Kansas City in Week 1.

Redskins over Jaguars: After a poor showing against a strong pass rush in Houston, RGIII has a chance to prove himself against the Jacksonville Jaguars, a team not known for their defense. RGIII could very well have a great game.

Seahawks over Chargers: The San Diego Chargers have a very well rounded offense, but the Seattle Seahawks are possibly the most well-rounded team of the past 5 years. The Legion of Boom will likely be able to suppress Phillip Rivers and the San Diego passing game.

Buccaneers over Rams: Both teams have a massive hole to fill at quarterback, where St Louis’ second-string quarterback, Shaun Hill, is marked as questionable for Sunday’s game. This will be a tough game to predict, but I believe Tampa Bay has a reasonable amount of talent on this roster, enough to earn them the win.

Broncos over Chiefs: The Kansas City Chiefs looked horrendous in their season opener against the Titans, while the Denver Broncos played like Super Bowl contenders yet again. Plus, Wes Welker is set to return for Sunday’s game. Advantage Denver.

Packers over Jets: While the Jets managed to squeak by the Oakland Raiders in Week 1, they will be facing a much more talented team this week in Green Bay. Aaron Rodgers and Eddie Lacy both struggled on offense against Seattle, but I believe the will both bounce back to have above-average games.

Texans over Raiders: The Texans suffered an enormous loss last weekend in their victory over Washington, where defensive end Jadeveon Clowney is now expected to miss 6-8 weeks due to injury. Yet with Arian Foster back from his season ending injury, I believe they will be able to beat Oakland on the road.

49ers over Bears: The San Francisco offense was clicking on all cylinders last weekend against the Dallas Cowboys defense, and things are bound to continue into Week 2 with Chicago coming to town. Chicago did not play their best football against Tennessee last weekend, but even if they have a better performance against San Fran, it will be tough to defeat this 49ers team.

Colts over Eagles: While Peyton Manning and the Broncos got off to an early lead last Sunday Night, the Colts almost gave them a run for their money at the end, but to no avail. This week will be different, as Indy will dominate the Philadelphia Eagles defense throughout the majority of the game.

Last Week: 9-7 (56.25%)

Thursday Night Football earned rating/share of 13.7/23, +108% from last year’s comparable game on NFL Network.
— Sam Farmer (@LATimesfarmer) September 12, 2014

@ESPNNFL #SundaySelfie pic.twitter.com/KDwr5xxFR1
— Alshon Jeffery (@TheJefferyShow) September 7, 2014

Rams will test QB Shaun Hill's shoulder in per-game warmups, but team is preparing as if QB Austin Davis will start today vs. Tampa.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) September 14, 2014

Alshon Jeffery returned to practice, but is questionable for Sun, along with Brandon Marshall: http://t.co/Up7uWdqBi7 pic.twitter.com/nolJJqPkTz
— Bears Insider (@bears_insider) September 12, 2014

Browns TE Jordan Cameron not expected to play vs Saints due to a shoulder injury, per league source.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) September 14, 2014

NFL Week 1 Predictions

Seahawks over Packers: Even though this game already happened, our original prediction for the Seahawks-Packers was a Seattle victory by a score of 14-13. While we got the score wrong, getting the first game right is a great way to start off the season.

Falcons over Saints: Even though the Falcons are coming off of an off-season (which might be an understatement), games against the Saints are aways a different story. Julio Jones is returning from his season-ending injury, so expect the Falcons' passing game to be in full form to start off the season.

Ravens over Bengals: The Baltimore Ravens have many new weapons at receiver for quarterback Joe Flacco, and while Rice may be suspended at running back, receiver Steve Smith and tight end Dennis Pitta are sure to add a new dimension to this offense.

Bears over Bills: The Chicago Bears have an excellent passing game thanks to receivers Alshon Jeffrey and Brandon Marshall, while they are also able to offset the pass thanks to Matt Forte at running back. Also, their defense has many big names on the roster. Mortal lock of the week.

Redskins over Texans: While the Texans may have a lot of great talent on their defensive line, the offense has too many question marks for me to give them the win over RGIII and the Redskins. Washington has many offensive weapons, which leads me to believe that they will start off the season on a high note.

Chiefs over Titans: The Kansas City Chiefs are certainly the more talented teams, and seeing how they are at home, there is no way the Tennessee Titans can march into Kansas City and beat Alex Smith and the Chiefs.

Patriots over Dolphins: The New England Patriots' offense almost always starts off the season slowly, and away games in Miami can also be a trap game for the Patriots, yet I believe the Patriots have so much talent on this roster that they will manage to get the W to start off the year.

Patriots QB Tom Brady and TE Rob Gronkowski are officially active.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) September 7, 2014

Jets over Raiders: The New York Jets have a young but extremely talented defensive line that can push around rookie quarterback David Carr. Geno Smith is not a great starting QB, but he has several weapons that can make him be a relatively above-average quarterback.

Steelers over Browns: Ben Roethlisbereger and the Pittsburgh Steelers did not have the start they would have liked last year, but they are most definitely going to get the victory over Brian Hoyer and the Browns. By the end of the game, Cleveland fans will be yelling for Johnny Football to be put in.

Eagles over Jaguars: Quarterback Nick Foles had a sensational season last year when he threw for 27 touchdowns with just 2 interceptions. The Eagles managed to win the NFC East, in stark contrast to the Jacksonville Jaguars, who missed out on playoff contention yet again.

Rams over Vikings: While the Rams took a big hit at quarterback this offseason by losing Sam Bradford, they were still in the hunt for a wild card sport last season without him. The defensive line will do a decent job shutting down AP, but they will most certainly bump around Matt Cassel in the pocket.

49ers over Cowboys: The 49ers did not play well during the preseason, which has led some people to doubt this team entering Week 1; however, they clearly have more talent on their depth chart than the Cowboys, so I expect Kaepernick and the 49ers offense to thrash Dallas' defense.

Panthers over Buccaneers: The Carolina Panthers may very well be without Cam Newton in today's game, so if in fact he does not play, I predict the Tampa Buccaneers to get the win. Yet if Newton is playing, Carolina's superior offense and defense will earn them the victory over Tampa.

Broncos over Colts: While Andrew Luck and the Colts managed to beat the Broncos last season, the Broncos are tough to beat at home due to the higher altitude. Just look at last season: the defending Super Bowl champion Baltimore Ravens let Peyton Manning score 7 touchdowns on opening night.

Lions over Giants: The Detroit Lions will likely have the best passing game in all of football this season thanks to weapons like Calvin Johnson, Eric Ebron, Golden Tate, and Reggie Bush at running back. The Giants have been implementing a new offense, so it will certainly take a few games to get used to.

Chargers over Cardinals: The Chargers have a ton of weapons of offense, with quarterback Phillip Rivers, running back Ryan Matthews, and receivers Keenan Allen and Antonio Gates. The Cardinals are certainly this year's sleeper team, but I think San Diego gets the W.

Your To Do List today. pic.twitter.com/H2VDP5EXx4
— ESPN (@espn) September 7, 2014

Matt Ryan getting warmed up. #NOvsATL pic.twitter.com/osglgBAvWe
— Atlanta_Falcons (@Atlanta_Falcons) September 7, 2014

Here's the Chuck Noll decals players will be wearing on their helmets this season. pic.twitter.com/gTTAxyUb2v
— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) September 7, 2014

#Redskins DE Kedric Golston gets the boys ready. Are you? #WASvsHOU #HTTR https://t.co/66iL8OtmRA
— Washington Redskins (@Redskins) September 7, 2014

2015 Super Bowl Prediction

In our previous post, we stated that the New England Patriots and the San Francisco 49ers are the two teams that we think will play in the upcoming Super Bowl. Recently, the two teams have near identical track records in the postseason, where both New England and San Francisco have played in three consecutive AFC and NFC Championship Games, respectively. Both quarterbacks Tom Brady and Colin Kaepernick have played in a Super Bowl before, but while Kaep lost to the Ravens in his first and only appearance, Brady is 3-2 in the Super Bowl throughout his accomplished career. In an effort to provide a complete breakdown of this matchup, we will compare each aspect of the two teams' game, and giving the advantage to the superior team. By the end, we will give a prediction for the score of this game, thus crowning a champion of the 2014-2015 NFL season.

Comparisons

Quarterback: Colin Kaepernick is one of the most talented quarterbacks in all of football, and his incredible running ability adds a whole other dimension to his game; however, Tom Brady is a veteran in the NFL with plenty of experience in the postseason.
Advantage: New England Patriots

Running Back(s): The New England Patriots tend to rotate their young, inexperienced running backs throughout the season, so it is difficult to tell at this point in time who their starting running back will be in the Super Bowl. The 49ers have 31-year old running back Frank Gore behind quarterback Colin Kaepernick, but they also have rookie Carlos Hyde and speedy Oregon-alum LaMichael James who can be used in different situations.
Advantage: San Francisco 49ers  

Receiving Corp: Tom Brady struggled to grow accustomed to his relatively young, inexperienced group of receivers last season, a group that was also impacted by injuries. Tight end Rob Gronkowski is an absolute game changer for this Patriots' offense, and receivers Julian Edelman and Danny Amendola are able to catch plenty of short passes throughout any given game. Yet the San Francisco 49ers have a plethora of receivers, with names like Michael Crabtree, Vernon Davis, Brandon Lloyd, and Anquan Boldin on their depth chart.
Advantage: San Francisco 49ers

Offensive Line: New England's recent trade that sent All-Pro guard Logan Mankins left many fans scratching their heads, seeing how Mankins was a veteran blocker who had excellent chemistry with Tom Brady. While there is still other talent on this offensive line, it does not really compare to San Francisco group of O-linemen, quite possibly the best group in all of football.
Advantage: San Francisco 49ers

Front Seven: There is no doubt in my mind about which team has a superior front seven on defense. By the time the Super Bowl rolls around, five out of the seven defenders in San Francisco's front seven will have been named to an All-Pro team at some point in their careers. The Patriots can not match that accomplishment.
Advantage: San Francisco 49ers

Secondary: The New England Patriots now have one of the best cornerback duos in all of football after signing both Brandon Browner and Darrelle Revis during this past offseason. San Francisco's two starting cornerbacks both played in all 16 games last season, but can not match the backfield seen in New England.
Advantage: New England Patriots

Coaching: Jim Harbaugh is 5-3 in the postseason since joining the San Francisco coaching staff three years ago, but his track record is nowhere near the likes of Bill Belichick. Belichick ranks third all time among coaches in both playoff games and playoff wins. There's a reason why the Patriots are always in the Super Bowl. Bill Belichick is that reason.
Advantage: New England Patriots

Prediction

In the end, this game is certainly going to come down to the wire. The recent additions of Revis and Browner for New England leads me to believe that San Francisco's passing game will struggle early on; however, the Patriots have struggled historically to contain mobile quarterbacks, as we saw most recently when the Patriots lost to Cam Newton and the Panthers last year, but also relatively recent losses to Russell Wilson and the Seahawks, as well as Kaepernick and the 49ers two years ago. The running game may chip away at New England's defense over the course of the game. As we have seen before, though, Tom Brady and the Patriots' offense always seem to respond, especially if Rob Gronkowski is healthy. Coach Belichick and quarterback Tom Brady have been working together for more than 14 years, and the strong connection that these two men have formed over time is unlike anything else in football. They are now beyond driven to win this franchise its fourth Super Bowl in franchise history, which leads me to believe that New England will beat San Francisco this February in Super Bowl XLIX.
Patriots over 49ers 24-23

Complete 2015 NFL Playoff Predictions

Wild Card Round

(3) Colts over (6) Jets: Andrew Luck, unlike New York's quarterback duo of Geno Smith and Michael Vick, has proven himself as a winner in the postseason with his comeback victory over the Chiefs. The Jets team as a whole is too young to beat Indy and this incredible passing game.

(4) Ravens over (5) Bengals: Just two years ago, Joe Flacco caught fire in the postseason to lead his team over the 49ers in the Super Bowl. Baltimore's passing game may have trouble early against a relatively stingy Bengals defense, but Cincy's horrendous record in the postseason under Marvin Lewis will continue into 2015.

(6) Packers over (3) Bears: Aaron Rodgers, a Super Bowl winning quarterback, has repeatedly proven himself when it comes to clutch situations, as seen when he defeated Chicago in Week 17 of the 2013 regular season. Ironically, we have them playing Chicago once again with the same result.

(5) 49ers over (4) Eagles: The 49ers have made it to three straight NFC Championship Games, and are quite possibly the most talented wild card team of the past 5 years. Philadelphia doesn't stand a chance, even with home field advantage.

Divisional Round

(3) Colts over (2) Broncos: The third year for quarterbacks is almost always a breakout year in the NFL. With Reggie Wayne coming back from injury, and Hakeem Knicks arriving from New York, Luck has the offensive weapons  needed to knock off the Denver Broncos in January.

(1) Patriots over (4) Ravens: The Patriots and Ravens by now are used to playing each other in the postseason, but the Patriots are clearly far more talented than the Ravens, especially with their two new cornerbacks in Brandon Browner and Darrelle Revis. Tom Brady is bound for yet another AFC Championship Game.

(1) Seahawks over (6) Packers: In a neutral location, I believe the Green Bay Packers would be capable of beating Seattle during the postseason; however, seeing how the game is in Seattle, it will be extremely difficult for Aaron Rodgers to overpower the Legion of Boom on the road. Russell Wilson and the Seahawks offense will be able to put up plenty of points against a mediocre Packers defense.

(5) 49ers over (2) Saints: Colin Kaepernick is surrounded by plenty of weapons on offense, including Anquan Boldin, Frank Gore, and Vernon Davis. Jim Harbaugh will find a way to quell the damage done by Drew Brees and New Orleans' passing game, and the 49ers will be playing in their fourth straight NFC Championship Game.

Championship Round

(1) Patriots over (3) Colts: The New England Patriots remain undefeated against Andrew Luck during his time in Indy, yet with Luck bound to improve during the regular season, these games are going to get a whole lot more competitive. With Revis and Browner both on the Patriots' roster, Luck will have more difficulty finding his three most talented targets--Knicks, Hilton, Wayne--but as we've seen, this quarterback can find a way. Tom Brady is becoming more experienced with his young wide receivers, and hopefully, Rob Gronkowski will be healthy for playoffs. The Logan Menkins trade left some people scratching their heads, but the aging offensive lineman was traded for a draft pick and a little-known tight end Tim Wright. Wright had 54 catches as an undrafted rookie, so this could be one of Brady's favorite targets later in the year. In the end, we have Tom Brady advancing to the sixth Super Bowl of his career.

(5) 49ers over (1) Seahawks: These two teams are coming out of the same division, yet clearly, they are the NFC's most talented teams. A rivalry has been born recently between San Francisco and Seattle, seeing how they have two of the league's most stifling defenses and battle within the same division. Luckily, the San Francisco 49ers are expecting to get linebacker NaVorro Bowman by Week 7, so he will be in midseason form just before the postseason. Seattle's offseason losses will have a bigger impact on this team than people seem to think, where receiver Golden Tate has left for Detroit, while Red Bryant and Chris Clemons have left for Jacksonville. Jim Harbaugh will be on the hot seat if San Francisco is unable to make the Super Bowl yet again, but luckily for 49ers fans, we see San Francisco topping their division rivals for a spot in the "Big Game."

Prediction for the Super Bowl will arrive within the next few days

2014 AFC North Predictions

1. Baltimore Ravens (11-5): The main storyline for the Ravens this offseason has been Ray Rice's suspension (or lack there of) where he has been suspended for just two games after physically abusing his wife in a video released by TMZ. Rice was a key part in Baltimore's Super Bowl run two years ago, yet the running back had an off year in 2013 (660 rushing yards, 4 TDs). After being signed to a monster contract in the 2013 offseason, Joe Flacco threw the most interceptions of his career with 22 in 2014, and also recorded the worst passer rating while playing in the NFL after posting a 73.1. Luckily, the Ravens' receiving corp will be one of the best in all of football next season, seeing how they added veteran Steve Smith, while tight end Dennis Pitta will return from a season ending injury that he suffered in 2013 to rejoin receivers Torrey Smith and Jacoby Jones. Defensively, Haloti Ngata, Terrell Suggs, and Elvis Dumervill are all former All-Pros, yet the three defenders are at least 30 years of age, meaning the best days of football are now behind them. This means youngsters like linebacker C.J. Mosley, outside linebacker Courtney Upshaw (both Alabama alums) and short safety Matt Elam will have the opportunity to shine in 2014. If Flacco is able to improve from last year, the Ravens could make a run in the playoffs.

2. Cincinnati Bengals (9-7): Cincinnati's offense revolves around star wide receiver AJ Green, who has caught for more than 95 receptions in each of the past two seasons, and also eclipsed 1,000 receiving yards every year, including his rookie season. Running back Giovani Bernard had an impressive rookie season, and you can expect him to obtain more carries in 2014. Quarterback Andy Dalton may be improving statistically over the course of the past three seasons, but he remains winless in the postseason throughout his career. The defense lost their star defensive tackle Geno Atkins to an ACL injury last year, and he has just recently been taken off of the PUP list. As of right now, Cincinnati's best defensive player is linebacker Vontaze Burfict, who was named to the Pro-Bowl team in just his second season in the league. The AFC North is becoming more competitive with young talent, so I doubt the Bengals will be able to win the division for a second straight year

3. Pittsburgh Steelers (7-9): Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger is now 32 years old, and seeing how his significant size made him a feared passer during his prime, it comes as no surprise that Roethlisberger is becoming more inconsistent as his body begins to wear down. Not having receivers Mike Wallace or Hines Ward has clearly affected Pittsburgh's passing game, but now Antonio Brown has transformed into the star of this offense. Running back Le'Veon Bell has the potential to be a star in the near future, seeing how he rushed for 860 yards with 8 touchdowns in his rookie season. On defense, 8 projected starters are 27 years old or less, which means defensively, the team is very different from the one who defeated Arizona in the Super Bowl six years ago. Second year linebacker Jarvis Jones had just one sack in his rookie season, so hopefully, he will be able to have a more successful sophomore season. Pittsburgh drafted All-American linebacker Ryan Shazier out of Ohio State, as well as defensive end Stephon Tuitt from Notre Dame. With Pittsburgh's new look on both offense and defense, the Steelers should be hoping to reach the .500 mark, not a spot in the playoffs.

4. Cleveland Browns (5-11): The Cleveland Browns have gained more media attention than any other team in football because of the drafting of Heisman-winning quarterback Johnny Manziel, as well as All-Pro wide receiver Josh Gordon's looming suspension. Luckily, the Browns also signed receivers Nate Burleson and Miles Austin, along with running back Ben Tate in order to provide their young quarterback--who has yet to win the starting job--with more offensive weapons. The defense has several big names on their roster, including cornerback Joe Haden, linebacker Paul Kruger, and rookie cornerback Justin Gilbert. The Cleveland Browns are taking steps in the right direction, but are still several years away from competing for a spot in the playoffs. 

2014 AFC East Predictions

1. New England Patriots (13-3): The biggest offseason signing by the New England Patriots is clearly the addition of cornerbak Darrelle Revis. Revis made a name for himself on the New York Jets, when he made three All-Pro teams and was considered to be the best cornerback in the league. Revis suffered an off-year last season coming off of ACL surgery, and he then signed a one-year deal with the Pats who are looking to replace Aqib Talib. Revis is bound to improve in 2014, and may even return to his original form as the league's best cornerback. The Pats signed Seahawks corner Brandon Browner right before the Revis signing, yet he will be forced to miss the first four games of the season; however, once he returns, the Patriots may have the best cornerback-duo in the league. The Pats also drafted an injury-prone defensive tackle Dominique Easley, who tore his ACL twice in two years, but clearly is a talented defensive prospect. On offense, star quarterback Tom Brady will look to avoid a slow start like last season due to his relatively inexperienced receiving corp, but if tight end Rob Gronkowski manages to play for the majority of the season, the Patriots could have the best record in the AFC.

2. New York Jets (9-7): The New York Jets signed three big names on offense in the offseason, which could drastically help or hurt this team. Four-time Pro-Bowler Michael Vick is an incredible talent with great arm strength and the ability to run the ball. Although the Jets signed him, he is second behind Geno Smith on the depth chart, which may change after training camp. The Jets also added speedy running back Chris Johnson, as well as wide receiver Eric Decker to improve the entire offense. The Jets defensive line is young and talented, consisting of Defensive Rookie of the Year Sheldon Richardson, Muhammad Wilkerson, and Damon Harrison (deemed "Sons of Anarchy"). The Jets managed to finish 8-8 last season, and with even more talent on this roster, they can make a run at a spot in the playoffs. I believe if Michael Vick manages to start in more than 12 games, the Jets will make the postseason.

3. Buffalo Bills (8-8): In my opinion, the Buffalo Bills managed to sign the best prospect from this past NFL Draft in wide receiver Sammy Watkins, which will surely help second-year quarterback EJ Manuel. Manuel's first season was less than stellar, seeing how he threw just 11 touchdowns with 9 interceptions. Buffalo's receiving corp has a lot of young talent, with guys like Watkins, Robert Woods, and Mike Williams from Tampa Bay, yet they also have a running back duo of CJ Spiller and Fred Jackson to take some pressure off of Manuel. On defense, defensive end Mario Williams has played all 32 games within the past two seasons, as he has obtained 23.5 sacks while on the Bills. Williams is one of the main reasons why the Bills ranked second in the league in sacks last season, enough to keep this defense afloat. Hopefully, the pass rush can continue their dominance into 2014, enough to give Buffalo a shot at the postseason.

4. Miami Dolphins (6-10): 2014 will likely be Ryan Tannehill's last season as a starter in Miami if the Dolphins' record fails to improve. While the Dolphins managed to reach a .500 record for the first time since 2009, the Dolphins added some pressure on Tannehill by signing Matt Moore from the Carolina Panthers. Wide receiver Mike Wallace is the clear star of this offense, even though he had the lowest touchdown total of his career, and also failed to eclipse 1,000 receiving yards. Miami's pass rush managed to do relatively well thanks to All-Pro defensive end Cameron Wake, as well as Pro-Bowl defensive tackle Randy Starks. Thanks to recent acquisitions, the Dolphins may have one of the best cornerback duos in the league thanks to Brent Grimes on one side, and now, Cortland Finnegan out of St. Louis on the other. The Dolphins do not have enough talent or experience on this roster though, especially on offense, to contend for a spot in the playoffs. 

2014 NFL Predictions

With training camp officially underway, and pre-season football just around the corner, we will now begin predicting the results of the 2014-15 NFL season. Many interesting storylines have taken place over the course of the offseason, such as Ray Rice's two-game suspension, huge free agent signings by the two best teams in the AFC, and a quest for the repeat by the defending champions. The 2014 NFL Draft has also brought in many of college football's biggest stars, such as Jadeveon Clowney to the Texans, Sammy Watkins to the Bills, and Johnny Manziel to the Browns. We can not wait for the return of football. Let the games begin.

Week 17 Predictions

Abridged Version

Bengals over Ravens

Steelers over Browns

Panthers over Falcons (OT)

Lions over Vikings

Titans over Texans

Colts over Jaguars

Jets over Dolphins

Giants over Redskins

Bills over Patriots

Packers over Bears

Broncos over Raiders

Chargers over Chiefs

Saints over Buccaneers

Seahawks over Rams

49ers over Cardinals

Eagles over Cowboys

NFL Week 11 Predictions

Game of the Week: Chiefs @ Broncos: I taking a risk by saying that the Kansas City Chiefs will beat the Broncos tommorrow on Sunday Night Football. Yes, you read that correctly. Alex Smith and the Kansas City Chiefs will beat Peyton Manning and the Denver Broncos. Peyton Manning and Denver's high-powered offense will go up against the best defense in the league, who have allowed just 12.3 points per game, ranking 1st overall in the NFL. Kansas City also ranks first in the league in sacks, which is an extremely helpful statistic considering how immobile Peyton Manning is at this point in time. Manning did not practice on Thursday, but we all know that Manning desperately wants to play in tomorrow's game. The key for Denver will be to give Manning time in the pocket, as they do not want their hobbled quarterback avoiding defenders all game. If Manning was completely healthy, I would say the Broncos would win with no doubt in my mind; however, the Chiefs' pass rush will ruin Peyton Manning's tempo throughout the game. It is Kansas City's time to prove that they are the real deal.
Chiefs over Broncos 26-20

Stand Out Performance: QB Russell Wilson: Luckily for Seattle's offense, the offensive line may have three injured starters returning to the starting lineup in a Week 11 game against the Minnesota Vikings. Russell Wilson has been very consistent over the last few weeks, and with an improved offensive line, we can see him having a monster game against Minnesota. Percy Harvin might in uniform tomorrow as well, so one can say this is a perfect storm for success. The Vikings are having a hard time stopping the passing game so far in 2013, so we predict Russell Wilson to throw for three touchdowns tomorrow afternoon.
QB Russell Wilson: 305 passing yards, 3 TDs

Player to Watch: QB Alex Smith: Tomorrow's game against the Broncos will be Alex Smith's first truly big game as a member of the Chiefs' offense. Smith has a reputation of making few mistakes on the field, and with just 5 total turnovers this year, Alex Smith is a very consistent quarterback that you can count on. His numbers are not mind boggling, as he has just 9 passing touchdowns and a passer rating close to 85.0. Jamaal Charles really is the core of Kansas City's offense, and Alex Smith is there to provide a consistent passing game to bail this offense out on third down. Smith will have a mediocre game against Denver, where Kansas City's defense will be the true MVP in Sunday Night's game.
QB Alex Smith: 200 passing yards, 1 TD

Week 11 Predictions:

Colts over Titans (Correct)

Jets over Bills

Ravens over Bears

Bengals over Browns

Texans over Raiders

Cardinals over Jaguars

Eagles over Redskins

Steelers over Lions

Falcons over Buccaneers

Chargers over Dolphins

Saints over 49ers

Giants over Packers

Seahawks over Vikings

Chiefs over Broncos

Patriots over Panthers

Last Week: 9-5

2013 Season: 101-46 (68.7%)

Week 8 Predictions

Game to Watch: Redskins @ Broncos: The Denver Broncos were handed their first loss of 2013 season by the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday Night Football, and now they have a chance to redeem themselves this week at home against Washington. The Washington Redskins (soon to be the Washington Bravehearts??) are 2-5, and a key factor of Washington's poor play is that quarterback Robert Griffin III does not look the same since his injury in the 2012 NFL Playoffs. Luckily for Redskins fans, RGIII is coming off of a dominant performance in Week 7, as  Washington's offense scored 45 points in a win over the Bears. The Denver Broncos incredible offense will create problems for Washington's struggling defense, as this game is sure to be high scoring.
Broncos over Redskins 34-23

Stand Out Performance: RB Jamaal Charles: The Kansas City Chiefs are 7-0, as they look to be 8-0 for the first time since 2003. The success of the Chief's offense relies heavily on running back Jamaal Charles, who is just one rushing touchdown away from tying his career high . At this rate, Charles is on pace to rush for 1,280 yards with 14 rushing touchdowns in 2013. Tomorrow, Charles and the Chiefs will play the Cleveland Browns, a defense that has struggled to stop the run. Charles is going to make his fantasy owners very happy with this Sunday's performance.
RB Jamaal Charles: 120 yards, 2 total TDs

Player to Watch: TE Rob Gronkowski: The New England Patriots have been missing a healthy Rob Gronkowski from their lineup for almost a full year. Gronk made his return last week against the New York Jets, as he recorded 114 receiving yards in an overtime loss to the Jets. The Patriots will try to successfully incorporate Gronkowski into their lineup so that the Patriots may return to their winning form. Once Belicheck and the coaching staff are able to figure out their plans with Gronk, the Patriots offense has the potential to be one of the best in the league once again.
TE Rob Gronkowski: 105 receiving yards, 1 receiving TD

Week 8 Predictions:

Panthers over Buccaneers

49ers over Jaguars

Chiefs over Browns

Patriots over Dolphins

Lions over Cowboys

Saints over Bills

Eagles over Giants

Bengals over Jets

Steelers over Raiders

Cardinals over Falcons

Broncos over Redskins

Packers over Vikings

Seahawks over Rams

Last Week: 9-6

2013 Season: 71-35 (66.9%)

Week 1 Predictions

     The NFL season is underway! Last Wednesday's game starring New York and Dallas shocked everyone, for the Cowboys were able to defeat the reigning champions. Many teams have undergone big changes, and several stars from around the league are in new cities. The free agency shipped players such as Peyton Manning, Tim Tebow, and Vincent Jackson across the country. Upsets, injuries, and thrillers shape the game we know, and are sure to take place in Week 1. The opening week of football is bound to have exciting endings, and The NFL Report has everything you need to know!

Justin Smith (Kyle Terada/US Presswire)

Game to Watch: 49ers @ Packers: What better way to start off Week 1 than to watch Green Bay take on San Francisco? Two of the most accomplished franchises in NFL history will start their season's at historic Lambeau Field. Tomorrow's game will be a battle between offense and defense, where it will most likely come down to the final seconds. The 49ers added Randy Moss, Mario Manningham, and Brandon Jacobs in order to enhance their offense, where as the Packers signed running back Cedric Benson. These two teams are the preseason favorites to win the NFC Championship, and rightfully so. Aaron Rodgers is coming off an MVP season, where as the 49ers fell short of the Super Bowl when losing to New York in an overtime thriller. However, it will be too difficult for San Francisco to march into Wisconsin and steal a win from the Green Bay Packers.
Packers over 49ers 24-13


Stand Out Performance: QB Cam Newton: The Carolina Panthers did not know what to expect from Cam Newton when they drafted him first overall, but in no way did he disappoint. Newton now holds 27 different records, all of which in just his first NFL season. In Week 1, the Carolina Panthers will face-off against the Tampa Buccaneers, the worst scoring defense in the league. In 2011, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers allowed a league high 26 rushing touchdowns, as well as 30 passing touchdowns. Cam Newton is capable of throwing a deep ball down field, and rushing for a big gain.Thanks to his exceptional capabilities, Newton's Week 1 will be a fantasy football gem.
Cam Newton: 375 passing yards, 3 passing TDs, 1 rushing TD


Player to Watch: QB Peyton Manning: A neck injury kept Peyton Manning, one of the greatest quarterbacks of all time, from playing all of the 2011 season. The Indianapolis Colts were unable to keep their quarterback, who ended up signing with John Elway and the Denver Broncos. Now, we will see if Manning's neck will restrain him from playing like his former self, or if the injury is just a thing of the past. He will not have the same receiving corp as he did during his prime (Marvin Harrison, Reggie Wayne, Dallas Clark), but Manning has a way of making the players around him better. Can Manning bear the burden of Denver's organization, or will it be all too much? We will find out tomorrow...
Peyton Manning: 295 passing yards, 2 passing TDs, 1 INT


Week 1 Predictions:

Giants over Cowboys

Bears over Colts

Eagles over Browns

Lions over Rams

Texans over Dolphins

Chiefs over Falcons

Vikings over Jaguars

Saints over Redskins

Jets over Bills

Patriots over Titans

Seahawks over Cardinals

Packers over 49ers

Panthers over Buccaneers

Broncos over Steelers

Ravens over Bengals OT

Chargers over Raiders

2012 NFL Predictions (NFC West)

1. San Francisco 49ers (13-3): The 49ers may not have spent bug bucks on a lone offensive weapon this past off season, but instead stocked up on three new additions for the same price. Randy Moss and Mario Manningham are meant to give quarterback Alex Smith more weapons besides Ted Ginn and Michael Crabtree. The running game recently acquired ex-Giants running back Brandon Jacobs, a back-up to Frank Gore. The defense has the best front seven in the NFL, led by stars such as Justin Smith and Patrick Willis. It was impossible to run over this defense last season, but the pass defense isn't any easier from an offensive standpoint. Alex Smith will need to be the Smith who showed up to play in the NFC Championship Game, and not the one we have seen for the past six years.

Week 1: 49ers @ Packers L
Week 2: Lions @ 49ers W
Week 3: 49ers @ Vikings W
Week 4: 49ers @ Jets W
Week 5: Bills @ 49ers W
Week 6: Giants @ 49ers L
Week 7: Seahawks @ 49ers W
Week 8: 49ers @ Cardinals W
Week 9: BYE
Week 10: Rams @ 49ers W
Week 11: Bears @ 49ers W
Week 12: 49ers @ Saints L
Week 13: 49ers @ Rams W
Week 14: Dolphins @ 49ers W
Week 15: 49ers @ Patriots L
Week 16: 49ers @ Seahawks W
Week 17: Cardinals @ 49ers W



2. Seattle Seahawks (7-9): Even though the Seahawks took the chance in signing Matt Flynn, coach Pete Carroll announced that Russell Wilson will be the Week 1 starter against the Cardinals. This comes as a surprise, for Wilson is just a third-round rookie, and the organization appears to be basing too much of their decision off of the preseason games. The running game will fare well if Marshawn Lynch can stay healthy. Seattle did a complete 180 when it came to their defense, and by the end of 2011, their lineup was ruled one of the best in the league. However, I do not agree with Seattle's first round pick, selecting defensive end Bruce Irvin when many more talented players were still available. The Seahawks are extremely close to another playoff appearance, but the quarterback situation needs to be more stable.

Week 1: Seahawks @ Cardinals L
Week 2: Cowboys @ Seahawks L
Week 3: Packers @ Seahawks L
Week 4: Seahawks @ Rams W
Week 5: Seahawks @ Panthers L
Week 6: Patriots @ Seahawks L
Week 7: Seahawks @ 49ers L
Week 8: Seahawks @ lions L
Week 9: Vikings @ Seahawks W
Week 10: Jets @ Seahawks W
Week 11: BYE
Week 12: Seahawks @ Dolphins W
Week 13: Seahawks @ Bears L
Week 14: Cardinals @ Seahawks W
Week 15: Seahawks @ Bills W
Week 16: 49ers @ Seahawks L
Week 17: Rams @ Seahawks W


3. Arizona Cardinals (5-11): In last April's draft, the Arizona Cardinals spent their first round pick on wide receiver Michael Floyd. Though Floyd's selection was smart in taking away the triple team from Larry Fitzgerald, in no way will it ever be able to fix their problems at quarterback. Ever since Kolb moved to Arizona and suffered from yet another concussion, he has been playing scared, always making a bad decision so he will not have to take the hit. John Skelton on the other hand did not do well throughout the duration of the preseason, not playing to his full capability. The defense struggled at certain points in the season, and I doubt things will change in 2012. Arizona's offense will rely heavily on how their quarterback(s), and whether or not they can be clutch in close situations.

Week 1: Seahawks @ Cardinals W

Week 2: Cardinals @ Patriots L

Week 3: Eagles @ Cardinals L

Week 4: Dolphins @ Cardinals W

Week 5: Cardinals @ Rams L

Week 6: Bills @ Cardinals W

Week 7: Cardinals @ Vikings W

Week 8: 49ers @ Cardinals L

Week 9: Cardinals @ Packers L

Week 10: BYE

Week 11: Cardinals @ Falcons L

Week 12: Rams @ Cardinals W

Week 13: Cardinals @ Jets L

Week 14: Cardinals @ Seahawks L

Week 15: Lions @ Cardinals L

Week 16: Bears @ Cardinals L

Week 17: Cardinals @ 49ers L

4. St. Louis Rams (1-15): Sam Bradford has not quite lived up to his number overall pick, where as the other quarterback capable of number one (Matthew Stafford, Cam Newton), have gone above and beyond. The Rams attempted to add a weapon to this offense by acquiring Brandon Lloyd, but their decision was unsuccessful. The draft did not go well either, when they missed out on two of college football's best receiver prospects. Steven Jackson will not be able to put the offense on his back, and Bradford has yet to prove he can guide his team to success. The defense is nothing special, and it will take a while for this team to have a remote chance at the playoffs. St Louis fans; hopefully Robert Woods will be available by the time it is St Louis' time to pick in next year's draft. 

Week 1: Rams @ Lions L

Week 2: Redskins @ Rams L

Week 3: Rams @ Bears L

Week 4: Seahawks @ Rams L

Week 5: Cardinals @ Rams W

Week 6: Rams @ Dolphins L

Week 7: Packers @ Rams L

Week 8: Patriots @ Rams L

Week 9: BYE

Week 10: Rams @ 49ers L

Week 11: Jets @ Rams L

Week 12: Rams @ Cardinals L

Week 13: 49ers @ Rams L

Week 14: Rams @ Bills L

Week 15: Vikings @ Rams L

Week 16: Rams @ Buccaneers L

Week 17: Rams @ Seahawks L

2012 NFL Predictions (NFC South)

1. Atlanta Falcons (13-3): The Atlanta Falcons will likely take advantage of the Saints crumbling franchise, and based on how much talent they have on their roster, they clearly deserve the number one spot in the division. Michael Turner is 30 years old, old for any running bad. Luckily, Turner has been playing like he's 20 for the past few seasons, and even if his statistics were to drop off slightly, the running game will be fine. Matt Ryan on the other hand is entering the prime of his career, and he has the option of throwing to Roddy White, Tony Gonzalez, and the up and coming wide receiver in Julio Jones. Offense will be key, but the defense still has it's stars that can be the difference between a win and a loss. Corner back Asante Samuel was added in the off season, and should be able to improve a mediocre pass defense. This is Atlanta's time to win their division, and maybe Matt Ryan will be able to win his first championship.

Roddy White (Eliot Kamenitz/The Times-Picayune)

Week 1: Falcons @ Chiefs W
Week 2: Broncos @ Falcons W
Week 3: Falcons @ Chargers W
Week 4: Panthers @ Falcons W
Week 5: Falcons @ Redskins W
Week 6: Raiders @ Falcons W
Week 7: BYE
Week 8: Falcons @ Eagles L
Week 9: Cowboys @ Falcons W
Week 10: Falcons @ Saints L
Week 11: Cardinals @ Falcons W
Week 12: Falcons @ Buccaneers W
Week 13: Saints @ Falcons W
Week 14: Falcons @ Panthers W
Week 15: Giants @ Falcons W
Week 16: Falcons @ Lions L
Week 17: Buccaneers @ Falcons W



2. New Orleans Saints (9-7): If you haven't heard already, the New Orleans Saints were caught by the NFL holding a bounty program, run by their defensive coordinator Greg Williams. The fines not only removed their head coach, several defenders, and the GM for half a season, but the bounty will shake-up this organization for years to come. Drew Brees and his elite wide receiver corp will keep them in the hunt for a playoff spot, but it is the defense that will hurt most. Newly added linebacker Curtis Lofton missed the final preseason game, and might even miss the season opener against Washington. Brees' leadership will be tested, but if the franchise can do without Sean Payton, then maybe New Orleans remains a threat for the Super Bowl.

Jimmy Graham (Sam Greenwood/Getty Images)

Week 1: Redskins @ Saints W
Week 2: Saints @ Panthers L
Week 3: Chiefs @ Saints W
Week 4: Saints @ Packers L
Week 5: Chargers @ Saints W
Week 6: BYE
Week 7: Saints @ Buccaneers L
Week 8: Saints @ Broncos L
Week 9: Eagles @ Saints W
Week 10: Falcons @ Saints W
Week 11: Saints @ Raiders W
Week 12: 49ers @ Saints W
Week 13: Saints @ Falcons L
Week 14: Saints @ Giants L
Week 15: Buccaneers @ Saints W
Week 16: Saints @ Cowboys L
Week 17: Panthers @ Saints W



3. Carolina Panthers (7-9): Cam Newton shocked the world last season by putting up unseen numbers. Keep in mind; he was a rookie! As a sophomore quarterback in the NFL, this will be his second biggest test to see if he can handle the pressure. Him and wide receiver Steve Smith got along quite well, but Smith began to fade once the double coverage came. Carolina now has the best running game in football with Mike Tolbert, DeAngelo Williams, and obviously Cam Newton. The NFC South is an offense-heavy division, and Carolina's defense struggled last season. That is why the panthers went out and drafted linebacker Luke Kuechly, in my book the best defender to come out of last April's draft. There is just the right amount of youth and experience on this team, which is why I believe the Carolina Panthers have a legitimate shot at the playoffs.

DeAngelo Williams (Kim Klement/Getty Images)

Week 1: Panthers @ Buccaneers L
Week 2: Saints @ Panthers W
Week 3: Giants @ Panthers W
Week 4: Panthers @ Falcons L
Week 5: Seahawks @ Panthers W
Week 6: BYE
Week 7: Cowboys @ Panthers W
Week 8: Panthers @ Bears L
Week 9: Panthers @ Redskins L
Week 10: Broncos @ Panthers W
Week 11: Buccaneers @ Panthers W
Week 12: Panthers @ Eagles L
Week 13: Panthers @ Chiefs L
Week 14: Falcons @ Panthers L
Week 15: Panthers @ Chargers L
Week 16: Raiders @ Panthers W
Week 17: Panthers @ Saints L


4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-12): A disappointing 2011 led to Tampa signing two big offensive names; wide receiver Vincent Jackson and guard Jahri Evans. Josh Freeman now has an all-star receiver to throw to, but will it be enough? The running duo of LaGarrette Blount and Doug Martin will do well against the weak NFC South defenses, and Josh Freeman will have to cut down on the interceptions if they wish to win close games. Besides the drafting of safety Mark Barron, however, they did nothing to fix their absolutely atrocious defense, which ranked dead last in several major defensive categories. I'm not sure what their approach will be, but unless the defense pulls off a miraculous turn around, the Bucs will remain at the bottom of the food chain once again.

Vincent Jackson (Dave Martin/AP Photo)

Week 1: Panthers @ Buccaneers W
Week 2: Buccaneers @ Giants L
Week 3: Buccaneers @ Cowboys L
Week 4: Redskins @ Buccaneers L
Week 5: BYE
Week 6: Chiefs @ Buccaneers L
Week 7: Saints @ Buccaneers W
Week 8: Buccaneers @ Vikings W
Week 9: Buccaneers @ Raiders L
Week 10: Chargers @ Buccaneers L
Week 11: Buccaneers @ Panthers L
Week 12: Falcons @ Buccaneers L
Week 13: Buccaneers @ Broncos L
Week 14: Eagles @ Buccaneers L
Week 15: Buccaneers @ Saints L
Week 16: Rams @ Buccaneers W
Week 17: Buccaneers @ Falcons L