2014 NFL Wild Card Predictions

Chiefs @ Colts: After beating the Buffalo Bills in a Week 9 matchup, the Kansas City Chiefs were 9-0 going into their Week 10 bye; however, since Week 10, the Chiefs are 2-5, putting them at 11-5 on the year. One of those losses came against the Indianapolis Colts, where Andrew Luck and the Colts marched into Kansas City and won by a score of 23-7. In the last six games, Justin Houston, outside linebacker for Kansas City (seen on the right), has been watching from the sidelines, but in the 11 games that he played, he recorded 11.0 sacks with a forced fumble. Houston is expected to return in Saturday's game against Indy, along with outside linebacker Tamba Hali, who sat out last Sunday's game as well. The Colts' offensive line is ranked 6th in the league this season, so Kansas City's defense needs all the help it can get. Offensively, both teams have their key weapons that will need to play well in order for them to advance into the next round of the playoffs. Running back Jamaal Charles of Kansas City acquired 1,287 rushing yards with 19 total touchdowns this year, and the Colts have struggled at times when defending the run. Despite their inconsistency, Andrew Luck and the Colts are my pick to win on Saturday.
Colts over Chiefs 17-13

Saints @ Eagles: When playing at home, the New Orleans Saints as a team can be compared to Superman: indestructible, intimidating, and capable of disrupting any type of opposition. But just like Superman, the Saints have their kryptonite: road games. New Orleans has yet to lose a home game in 2013, which means all 5 of their losses this season came on the road. Saturday's game will be played in Philadelphia, and following a snow storm projected to hit Pennsylvania by Friday, the conditions will be very poor come Saturday. Poor conditions will mean it will be difficult to throw the ball, which clearly gives Philadelphia the advantage seeing that their running back, LeSean McCoy, is superior to any running back on the Saints roster. McCoy won the rushing title in 2013, as he rushed for 1,607 yards on 314 carries. With the temperature close to freezing on Saturday, Chip Kelly will likely avoid throwing the ball and give McCoy at least 25 carries against the Saints. In the event that both teams will be passing the ball a lot, Philly will still be able to keep up with the Saints' high-flying passing attack. In games where Foles had 15 attempts or more, the Eagles are 9-2, and seeing that Foles has a 119.2 passer rating, New Orleans' defense will have their hands full throughout the game.
Eagles over Saints 20-14

Chargers @ Bengals: The San Diego Chargers were able to make the playoffs following an overtime victory over the Kansas City Chiefs, even though the NFL released a statement saying there should have been a penalty against the Chargers during Kansas City's potentially game winning field goal that they missed. Had there been a penalty on the play, Ryan Succop of the Chiefs would have likely made the easier kick, causing the Chargers to miss the playoffs all together; however, this did not happen, and Chargers will go up against the heavily favored Bengals on the road. Cincinnati is undefeated at home this season, where their offense averages 37.3 points per game, and their defense allows just 16.8 per game. San Diego quarterback Philip Rivers has improved in every major statistical category compared to his 2012 numbers, as he has thrown for 4,478 yards and 32 touchdowns for a passer rating of 105.5 in 2013. Even Ryan Matthews improved in 2013, where he was finally able to play in all 16 games for the first time in his 4 year career. The Chargers were 4-4 on the road this season, and quarterback Philip Rivers is 3-4 in the postseason. We predict the Bengals to win this one with ease.
Bengals over Chargers 27-10

49ers @ Packers: Sunday afternoon's game between the San Francisco 49ers and Green Bay Packers will be the best game that the Wild Card Round has to offer. The Green Bay Packers will look for revenge following San Francisco's dominant win over the Pack in in last year's playoffs. Last week, Aaron Rodgers returned to the starting lineup for the first time since November 4th, as he led Green Bay past Chicago in order to earn the fourth seed in the playoffs. Both teams are coming off of emotional victories, and this upcoming game will be a testament of their resilience following their emotionally draining victories in Week 17. The San Francisco 49ers are on a six game winning streak, where three of those wins came on the road. In the past three games, Colin Kaepernick has thrown five touchdown passes with no interceptions and an average of 236 passing yards per game. On the other hand, running back Frank Gore is coming off of his worst game of the season, where on thirteen carries he rushed for 14 yards with no touchdowns against the Cardinals. The Niners have relied heavily on their running game, and even though Gore was limited in the final game of the season, he can not be averaging 1.08 yards per carry in the playoffs. The last time these two teams played, the 49ers beat Green Bay in Week 1. We believe the same thing will happen this Sunday
49ers over Packers 30-23 (OT)

NFL Week 17 Power Rankings

1. Denver Broncos: After the Seahawks lost at home in a Week 16 matchup, the Denver Broncos are now number one in the power rankings. Peyton Manning threw his 51st touchdown pass in 2013 against the Houston Texans last weekend, breaking Tom Brady's record of 50. Manning and the Broncos offense is clearly the best in the league, but Von Miller's ACL injury will cause Miller to miss the rest of the season, a huge loss to the Broncos defense.

2. Seattle Seahawks: For the first time since 2011, the Seattle Seahawks lost in their own stadium, this time it was against the Arizona Cardinals in a Week 16 matchup. The game was low scoring, and it appeared that the Seahawks would be able to tie it within the final two minutes, but a costly interception cost them the game. This loss at home may shake the Seahawks' confidence at home, maybe planting a seed of doubt into their minds.

3. Carolina Panthers: Following their home win against the New Orleans Saints, all the Carolina Panthers need in order to clinch a first round bye is to win their Week 17 matchup against the Falcons on the road. Carolina's defense particularly, the run defense, has been absolutely superb so far in 2013, and with soon-to-be Defensive Player of the Year Luke Kuechly leading the way, the Panthers are very likely to win the NFC South.

4. New England Patriots: The Patriots are unable to create any type of consistency in 2013, especially due to all of the devastating injuries; however, their dominant win over the Baltimore Ravnes on the road proves they are still a powerhouse in the NFL, especially with quarterback Tom Brady leading the way. The team played well on both sides of the ball, and they still have a shot at clinching home field advantage throughout the playoffs despite all of the challenges they have faced.

5. San Francisco 49ers: Sure, Monday Night's game between the Niners and the Falcons was exciting to watch, but considering the Falcons were 4-10 going into this game, the Niners should have won by a larger margin. The Niners are on a five game winning streak, with a 10-2 record in their last 12 games. The defense as a whole carrying this time, and offensively a dominant running game allows the Niners to be in contention for a spot in the playoffs.

6. Kansas City Chiefs: After starting the season at 9-0, the Kansas City Chiefs have lost four of their last seven, proving that the Chiefs may not be a powerhouse in this league after all. The Chiefs defense is not nearly as stingy as they were at the start of the season. In their first 9 games, the Chiefs defense allowed an average of 12.3 points per game, whereas their defense is allowing nearly 24 points per game in the last seven. The number don't lie.

7. New Orleans Saints: The Saints' loss to the Carolina Panthers last weekend clearly shows New Orleans' terrible weakness when playing on the road. The Saints may be undefeated so far this season when playing in the safety of the Superdome, but on the road, they are 3-5, a clear weakness for the Saints. Peyton Manning is receiving all of the spotlight, but Drew Brees is also having yet another great season in 2013.

8. Arizona Cardinals: Many assumed that Arizona's two game winning streak would be snapped once they travelled to Seattle, but instead, Arizona handed the Seahawks their first loss at home since December of 2011. The Cardinals might just be the hottest team in the NFL right now, even though they have yet to be guaranteed a spot in the playoffs.

9. Cincinnati Bengals: Originally, the Cincinnati Bengals offense struggled due to the inconsistent passing game under quarterback Andy Dalton. Wide receiver AJ Green is truly the centerpiece of this offense, as he ranks within the top 5 in the entire National Football League in receptions, receiving yards, and touchdowns. The defense is clearly the core of this team as a whole, but AJ Green is the superstar of the team.

10. Indianapolis Colts: The Colts are obviously the most inconsistent team of 2013. This season, the Colts have beaten the 49ers, Seahawks, Broncos, and Chiefs (combined record of 46-14), but have lost to inferior teams such as the Chargers, Dolphins, and Rams. Quarterback Andrew Luck has shown signs of progress since his rookie season, but his future performance in the playoffs several weeks from now is unpredictable to say the least.

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11. Philadelphia Eagles

12. San Diego Chargers

13. Philadelphia Steelers

14. Chicago Bears

15. Baltimore Ravens

16. Dallas Cowboys

17. Green Bay Packers

18. Miami Dolphins

19. St Louis Rams

20. New York Jets

21. Detroit Lions

22. New York Giants

23. Buffalo Bills

24. Tennessee Titans

25. Minnesota Vikings

26. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

27. Jacksonville Jaguars

28. Atlanta Falcons

29. Cleveland Browns

30. Washington Redskins

31. Oakland Raiders

32. Houston Texans

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%)

NFL Power Rankings Week 11

1. Kansas City Chiefs: The Kansas City Chiefs' Week 10 Bye came at a perfect time, as they will be playing the Denver Broncos in Week 11. The Chiefs may be 9-0, but their first game against Denver in 2013 will truly separate the men from the boys.

2. Denver Broncos: The San Diego Chargers are a mediocre team at best, and yet the Denver Broncos were a touchdown away from going into overtime. Luckily, Peyton Manning's four touchdowns were enough to give Denver the win on the road. This week's game against Kansas City will be the biggest regular season game of the year without a doubt.

3. Seattle Seahawks: I have my doubts about this Seattle Seahawks team. They may have beaten Atlanta Falcons on the road, but the Falcons are struggling in 2013, especially due to Matt Ryan's terrible turnover numbers. The previous week, Seattle almost lost to Tampa Bay who, at the time, was winless! The 9-1 record is great, but I bet they lose two or three more by the end of the year.

4. New Orleans Saints: A dominant win over the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday Night Football shows the resilience of this football team, especially after an ugly loss to the Jets the previous week. Drew Brees looks spectacular, and we expect this team to be a powerhouse throughout the playoffs.

5. New England Patriots: Who would have guessed that the New England Patriots would be 7-2 going into their Week 9 Bye? New England's Bye will allow a team that is riddled with injuries to have several key players grow stronger, therefore improving the team as a whole.

6. Indianapolis Colts: Despite beating some of the most talented teams in the NFL so far this season, the Colts were utterly annihilated by the St. Louis Rams last weekend. Andrew Luck turned the ball over a whopping four times, almost resembling Michael Vick and his turnover troubles. Every team has at least one terrible game during the regular season, so even though the Colts dropped pretty drastically in the power rankings, they should be able to bounce back quickly.

7. Carolina Panthers: It is about time that people start taking this Carolina Panthers team seriously. At 6-3, the Panthers are coming off of a victory over the San Francisco 49ers, limiting the powerhouse offense to just 9 points. The Carolina Panthers offense may have scored only 10 points, but the defense proved they are capable of stopping the best of the best. The Panthers are clearly a threat come playoff time.

8. San Francisco 49ers: In a loss against the streaking Carolina Panthers, the defense looked great, but the offense was a mess. Colin Kaepernick has not turned into the elite quarterback that many were hoping for, as he threw for just 91 yards and an interception against the Panthers.

9. Cincinnati Bengals: The Cincinnati Bengals managed to pull off the impossible; a last second hail marry pass in order to send the game into overtime. The Bengals lost the game to Baltimore in overtime, putting their record at 6-4. The offense needs to find its groove once again, especially when passing the football.

10. Detroit Lions: The NFC North is riddled with injuries and inconsistent play, so it was only time for the Detroit Lions to step up their game and gain control of the NFC North. Detroit's passing game ranks third overall in the league, and with a guy like Calvin Johnson at wide receiver, that should come as no surprise. 

NFL Power Rankings Week 10

1. Kansas City Chiefs: The Kansas City Chiefs are the only perfect team remaining this season, and even though their Week 10 Bye gives them time to prepare for Denver in Week 11, it is unlikely that they can beat the Broncos. We expect there to be a new team at number one in the power rankings in two weeks time.

2. Denver Broncos: In my mind, the Denver Broncos are by far the best team in the National Football League, but there is some unwritten rule where the undefeated team must be number one in power rankings; otherwise, I would have Denver at number one in a heartbeat. So far, quarterback Peyton Manning is the clear favorite to win Most Valuable Player.

3. Indianapolis Colts: Thanks to a field goal shank in overtime by Houston's kicker, the Indianapolis Colt's narrowly squeaked by the Houston Texans. Nevertheless, Andrew Luck led the tenth game-winning drive of his career, proving that the Colts are extremely dangerous in close match ups.

4. San Francisco 49ers: This week's game against the Carolina Panthers is a dangerous game for the San Francisco 49ers, where the Panthers have maintained a 5-3 record entering Week 10. Ever since scoring a combined 10 points in Weeks 2 and 3, San Francisco's offense is averaging 34.8 points per game. The 49ers offense, particularly the running game, looks very dangerous, and I can see them at number one in the power rankings by the end of the regular season.

5. Seattle Seahawks: Similarly to Indianapolis, the Seattle Seahawks almost lost in Week 9, the only difference being the Seattle Seahawks were playing at home. Everyone knows the Seahawks at home is just like Popeye on spinach; once they have their secret weapon, good luck beating them. Yet the Seahawks were playing Tampa Bay, who have yet to win so far in 2013. This narrow victory definitely hurts their stock in the power rankings.

6. New England Patriots: FINALLY. Quarterback Tom Brady seems to have found his groove, especially with a healthy Gronk and Amendola in the starting lineup. If Brady is able to continue with this incredible hot streak, then the New England Patriots will shoot up the power rankings faster than a healthy CJ Spiller.

exposay.com

7. New Orleans Saints: Who would have thought that the New York Jets would take control of their game against the New Orleans Saints. Coach Rex Ryan remains undefeated in games against brother Rob, the Saints' defensive coordinator. Looking forward, the Saints have several big games, and there is little doubt in my mind that the Saints will lose at least three more games before the end of the season.

8. Cincinnati Bengals: After upsetting teams such as San Francisco and New England, the Cincinnati Bengals lost to the Miami Dolphins in one of the ugliest games of the season last Thursday. Now that Cincinnati has that terrible performance out of their system, we expect nothing but the best from the Bengals.

9. Detroit Lions: Coming off of a Bye in Week 9, the Detroit Lions must play Chicago on the road. This game has the potential to be a blowout for the Lions offense, especially if Jay Cutler is not playing on Sunday. Calvin Johnson is healthy once again, causing defensive coordinators to panic in preparation for this offensive weapon.

10. Chicago Bears: Yes, the Chicago Bears beat the Packers on Monday Night while Green Bay was missing Aaron Rodgers, but Chicago was also missing their starting quarterback due to injury. Does this mean Chicago would still have won if both quarterbacks were healthy? That is unclear. What we do know is that Matt Forte is a complete stud, quite possibly the best running back of the 2013 season. 

2014 NFL Predictions (AFC)

1. Denver Broncos (12-4): Denver has the easiest schedule in the NFL, one that is very pass friendly. Peyton Manning has all the tools around him that he needs on offense, but the defense lost two great pass rushers in Von Miller and Elvis Dumervil. The loss of these two players (Von Miller suspended for 6 games) will have more of an impact on the Broncos than people may think.

2. Houston Texans (12-4): Similar to the Denver Broncos, Houston will face little competition in their division, and with such an easy schedule, they should be able to lock up the number two seed. Defensive Player of the Year JJ Watt will only become more dominant with time, which is absolutely horrifying if you were a quarterback in the AFC South. The passing game should see an improvement after the drafting of wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins.

3. New England Patriots (11-5): Though it was only a preseason game, the blowout that took place against the Detroit Lions (40-9 lost) may be a horrible sign of things to come for this offense. Down near the goal line, one of the fill-ins for Rob Gronkowski fumbled the ball, costing Tom Brady and the Patriots a shot at a touchdown. We know Tom Brady is capable of winning games, but the talent that surrounds him at wide receiver is not enough for Brady to win his fourth Super Bowl.

4. Cincinnati Bengals (11-5): Andy Dalton and AJ Green resurrected Cincinnati's offense, where as the defense is becoming a dangerous force in the National Football League. All-Pro defensive tackle Geno Atkins is the leader of a fearsome defensive line, and it would not come as a surprise if Cincinnati won the division title in 2013.

5. Baltimore Ravens (11-5): The Super Bowl champions lost many key veterans on defense, including linebacker Ray Lewis and Paul Kruger, as well as safety Ed Reed; however, quarterback Joe Flacco is capable of leading this offense in make-or-break situations, as seen in the 2012 playoffs. The offensive weapons that surround him make the Ravens a team to be reckoned with when it's time for the playoffs.

6. Kansas City Chiefs (10-6): The Kansas City Chiefs win our made-up award for the best offseason of 2012. New head coach Andy Reid surrounded himself with an incredible coaching staff, as he will have Alex Smith at quarterback. This team is just too talented to miss out on the playoffs.

NFL Report Update: Alex Smith

Breaking News: Quarterback Alex Smith, originally a starting quarterback for the San Francisco 49ers, has been traded to the Kansas City Chiefs. In return, San Francisco will be rewarded with two draft picks in the next two drafts. Smith led San Francisco to the NFC Championship game in 2011, but was replaced by Colin Kaepernick halfway through the following regular season.

Playoff Predictions: Wild Card

AFC:
Texans over Chargers: Unfortunately for the Houston Texans, Matt Schaub was not able to play in the playoffs due to injury, the main reason why they didn't defeat Baltimore in the divisional round. His health is vital, but Arian Foster and Andre Johnson would be able to pick up the slack in 2012. San Diego is not quite as well rounded as the Houston Texans, and therefore will not be able to beat them on the road.

Bengals over Chiefs: Both teams are extremely inexperienced, but the Bengals are more talented on offense and defense. AJ Green is entering his sophomore season in the NFL, and has great chemistry with Andy Dalton. The defense did well in 2011, and drafted corner back Dre Kirkpatrick to enhance their pass defense. This battle of inexperience will be a good one, but Cincinnati will defeat the Chiefs on the road.

NFC:
Lions over Falcons: Historically, the Lions have won just one playoff game in their 50-year history, but this is Detroit's year. However, it all depends on whether or not Stafford can stay healthy. Calvin Johnson is un defend able, especially when Stafford is throwing to him. Atlanta never crosses my mind as a team who can make it all the way to the Super Bowl. The biggest upset for the first round of the playoffs.

Eagles over Bears: Philadelphia's Dream Team is bound to succeed in 2012, and home field advantage gives them the upper hand over Chicago. Michael Vick is injury prone, and he is the difference maker in these playoffs. Jay Cutler does not have the clutch factor necessary to succeed in the post season.

AFC Final Predictions

1. New England Patriots (14-2): Talented players added to an already talented roster makes New England a serious threat to win back-to-back AFC titles.

2. Baltimore Ravens (11-5): The injury to Terrell Suggs is a catastrophic loss, but they are still an AFC powerhouse.

3. Houston Texans (11-5): Even though they are without their star linebacker Mario Williams, players like Arian Foster, Matt Schaub, and Andre Johnson will lead the Texans back into the playoffs.

4. Kansas City Chiefs (10-6): Injuries kept Kansas City out of the postseason, but now that they have their stars back, the Chiefs will dethrone Denver for the number one spot in the AFC West.

5. Cincinnati Bengals (10-6): A roster loaded with youth sets up a hit-or-miss situation, depending heavily on the offensive duo between quarterback Andy Dalton and wide receiver AJ Green.

6. San Diego Chargers (10-6): In a conference dominated by offense, it will be even more important for quarterback Philip Rivers and his young running back in Ryan Mathews to stay healthy in 2012.

2012 NFL Predictions (AFC West)

1. Kansas City Chiefs (10-6): If not for several injuries to key players in 2011, the Chiefs would have had a chance at making the playoffs for the second year in a row. Stars Eric Berry and Jamaal Charles return from season ending injuries, and will only help the Chiefs record in 2012. On paper, Kansas City has one of the best teams in the NFL, and will dominate the not-so-talented AFC West.

Jamaal Charles

Week 1: Falcons @ Chiefs L

Week 2: Bills @ Chiefs L

Week 3: Chiefs @ Saints L

Week 4: Chargers @ Chiefs W

Week 5: Ravens @ Chiefs W

Week 6: Chiefs @ Buccaneers W

Week 7: BYE

Week 8: Raiders @ Chiefs W

Week 9: Chiefs @ Chargers L

Week 10: Chiefs @ Steelers L

Week 11: Bengals @ Chiefs W

Week 12: Chiefs @ Broncos W

Week 13: Panthers @ Chiefs W

Week 14: Chiefs @ Browns W

Week 15: Chiefs @ Raiders W

Week 16: Colts @ Chiefs W

Week 17: Chiefs @ Broncos L

2. San Diego Chargers (10-6): After winning the divisional championship four years in a row ('06-'09), the Chargers missed a spot in the playoffs for the second consecutive season. Philip Rivers had a disappointing 2011 run (by his standards), passing for a career-high 20 interceptions as well as unable to lead his team into the playoffs. Now that his favorite target in Vincent Jackson has left for sunny Tampa, Rivers is left with Malcolm Floyd, Robert Meachem, and Eddie Royal (still a great receiving corp). The Chargers drafted linebacker Melvin Ingram in order to enhance their all round defense. Head coach Norv Turner is on the hot seat, and yet another unsuccessful season would not be good for his job.

Ryan Mathews

Week 1: Chargers @ Raiders L

Week 2: Titans @ Chargers W

Week 3: Falcons @ Chargers L

Week 4: Chargers @ Chiefs L

Week 5: Chargers @ Saints L

Week 6: Broncos @ Chargers W

Week 7: BYE

Week 8: Chargers @ Browns W

Week 9: Chiefs @ Chargers W

Week 10: Chargers @ Buccaneers W

Week 11: Chargers @ Broncos L

Week 12: Ravens @ Chargers W

Week 13: Bengals @ Chargers L

Week 14: Chargers @ Steelers W

Week 15: Panthers @ Chargers W

Week 16: Chargers @ Jets W

Week 17: Raiders @ Chargers W

3. Denver Broncos (8-8): Possibly the biggest question entering Week 1 is how Peyton Manning will play with one year removed from the NFL. According to Manning, the neck is not feeling 100%, something the Broncos are not happy to here from their million-dollar-man. In 2010, he may have put up obscene statistics, but the Colts went just 10-6. It would be hard to convince me that a neck injury at age 36 will help improve his play dramatically enough to make the playoffs once again. The defense has its stars, but overall would not be considered a top 10 squad. Denver: Manning will not be able to solve all of your problems.   

Von Miller

Week 1: Steelers @ Broncos W

Week 2: Broncos @ Falcons L

Week 3: Texans @ Broncos W

Week 4: Raiders @ Broncos W

Week 5: Broncos @ Patriots L

Week 6: Broncos @ Chargers L

Week 7: BYE

Week 8: Saints @ Broncos W

Week 9: Broncos @ Bengals L

Week 10: Broncos @ Panthers L

Week 11: Chargers @ Broncos W

Week 12: Broncos @ Chiefs L

Week 13: Buccaneers @ Broncos W

Week 14: Broncos @ Raiders L

Week 15: Broncos @ Ravens L

Week 16: Browns @ Broncos W

Week 17: Chiefs @ Broncos W

4. Oakland Raiders (6-10): If only Darren McFadden could just stay HEALTHY! In the seven games in which he played last season, McFadden averaged 5.4 yards per carry before suffering a Lisfranc fracture in Week 7. Oakland also lost their longtime GM AL Davis, who died at age 82 from heart complications. The Raiders organization is not quite stable enough to make a deep playoff run, especially if their defense and passing game do not improve.

Shane Lechler

Week 1: Chargers @ Raiders W
Week 2: Raiders @ Dolphins L
Week 3: Steelers @ Raiders L
Week 4: Raiders @ Broncos L
Week 5: BYE
Week 6: Raiders @ Falcons L
Week 7: Jaguars @ Raiders W
Week 8: Raiders @ Chiefs L
Week 9: Buccaneers @ Raiders W
Week 10: Raiders @ Ravens L
Week 11: Saints @ Raiders W
Week 12: Raiders @ Bengals L
Week 13: Browns @ Raiders W
Week 14: Broncos @ Raiders W
Week 15: Chiefs @ Raiders L
Week 16: Raiders @ Panthers L
Week 17: Raiders @ Chargers L

Preseason: Players to Watch (AFC West)

Denver Broncos: QB Peyton Manning: Quite possibly the most dominant quarterback of the 21st century is no longer a member of the Indianapolis Colts, but instead a Denver Bronco. It will be odd to see Manning wearing orange and blue on Sundays, after 14 years of playing under the Lucas Oil lights. Peyton missed all of 2011 due to a neck injury, and though he feels 100%, we will not be sure until Manning plays in a few preseason games. Nearly 41,000 fans showed up to watch Manning scrimmage, so clearly he is on every one's mind in Denver. It will be interesting to see how Manning plays in the final three competitions.

Peyton Manning (Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images) 

San Diego Chargers: LB Melvin Ingram: The 18th overall pick is in my top 5 for the most talented defensive players coming out of the 2012 draft, and the San Diego Chargers are lucky to have him on their roster. San Diego was smart in moving him to the linebacker position over defensive end, for he has size identical to Patrick Willis and Ray Lewis. At DE, Ingram's height and weight would put him at a disadvantage when squaring off against a 6'5", 300 pound offensive lineman. Ingram set the school record for the most sacks in a single season while a Gamecock, and should improve San Diego's struggling pass rush. I have high hopes for Ingram in 2012, and I recommend keeping an eye out for this future star.

Kansas City Chiefs: NT Dontari Poe: Many, including myself, were skeptical about nose tackle Dontari Poe. Out of Memphis, Poe was not expected to be taken ahead of the third round, let alone the first 32 picks. However, after a monster draft combine, he got scouts everywhere in a tizzy. Kansas City were the buyers of Poe's draft day stock, and were later disappointed by his mediocre play. Head coach Romoeo Crennel said about Poe, "He needs to work on technique, he needs to work on understanding the system, he needs to get the calls correct all the time. He's got a ways to go." Dontari Poe isn't even a starter entering the regular season, unless he is able to change that in the preseason games.

Oakland Raiders: RB Darren McFadden: The raiders running back has had extreme difficulty staying healthy throughout the duration of a season. McFadden averaged 5.4 yards per carry in 2011, on track to get 1,403 rushing yards and 9 rushing TDs, both career highs. At age 24, McFadden has the potential to be one of the league’s best backs. All four of his season’s spent in the NFL were incomplete due to injury, and the preseason will show if he has enough in the tank to play all 16 games.

Top 10 Helmet Designs: Kansas City Chiefs

4. Kansas City Chiefs: Kansas City's helmet may not be as exciting as their jersey (for The NFL Report's Top 10 Jerseys, click here), but the Chiefs still have one of the better helmets in the NFL. My one critic for this head protector is the lack of stripes; two yellow stripes down the middle would improve Kansas City's helmet tremendously. The helmet we know today has been around since 1974, and manages to crack the top ten by nabbing our number four spot.

NFL Report Update: Dontari Poe

Breaking News: Along with rookie Matt Kalil, Dontari Poe was signed by the team who drafted him, Kansas City. Dontari Poe is the 29th first round pick to sign with a team. The only players left are Justin Blackmon, Ryan Tannehill, and Kendall Wright.