First of all, record predictions are more a result of best-case
scenarios, not built around actual weekly prediction beakdowns. The win/loss
ratio will not add up correctly, so don’t expect it to. This is just based on
what teams SHOULD be able to do, while trying to stick to who finishes where in
their divisions as well. On top of all this, I know it's not even training camp
yet, and players can and will get injured all the way through now and the
regular season kickoff... but assuming in best-case scenarios that they take
teams in healthy and key players don't get hurt, here are my early predictions
for the 2012-13 NFL Season.
AFC:
AFC East:
New England Patriots – The Patriots were in the Super Bowl. They lost. They're
going to be pissed. Tom Brady had as tremendous a year as you can (nevermind
that he threw more INT's than his previous 2 seasons combined) and would have
broken Dan Marino's record had Drew Breesus not broken it the week before.
Defensively, they've got a lot of players returning from injury, and should be
able to make some plays that they couldn't make last year.
Finish: 13-3
Buffalo Bills – They started off as well as any team last year. They played stifling defense, ran the ball extremely well, got good play at QB, and then when their back went down, the team spiraled out of control. It seemed like misfortune of circumstance, so, if they can stay healthy, their best case scenario is much improved from last year.
Finish: 11-5
New York Jets – The Jets crumbled last year. Badly. This year, they're without a sure thing backing up Shonn Green at running back, and the future of their quarterbacks are lost. They've still got targets at WR, but they need a QB who can manage the passing game. I'm interested to see the trick plays with Sanchez & Tebow on the field together. Defensively, they may be better off than last year.
New York Jets – The Jets crumbled last year. Badly. This year, they're without a sure thing backing up Shonn Green at running back, and the future of their quarterbacks are lost. They've still got targets at WR, but they need a QB who can manage the passing game. I'm interested to see the trick plays with Sanchez & Tebow on the field together. Defensively, they may be better off than last year.
Finish: 9-7
Miami Dolphins – The Dolphins haven't done enough anywhere to convince me
of anything. They'll have some targets to throw to, but I'm not sold on their
QB's, especially the young guy. Defensively, they seem worse and worse every
year. I'm not fond of this group at all.
Finish: 4-12
AFC North:
Baltimore Ravens – The Ravens were a Lee Evans dropped pass away from going
to the Super Bowl, where they probably would have beat the New York Giants. But
Lee Evans dropped the pass, and they didn't, and they aren't. This year, the
Ravens are, again, a little better on both sides of the ball. They need a
consistent Flacco for once, like he was in the playoffs. Otherwise, same old
story.
Finish: 13-3
Cincinnati Bengals – I like this young group. They've got a lot of potential.
I doubted them last year, a lot. This year, I see hope. I particularly like
Andy Dalton, who showed he had some poise last year. With a year under his
belt, and his primetime target a year under his? They will make strides.
Finish: 11-5
Pittsburgh Steelers – I feel like the Steelers are getting worse at their own
game. This is a franchise that has always drafted well, no matter who was
running the show. These past couple years, I've been underwhelmed by their
drafts. They started to get it together midseason last year, but then fell
right back into obscurity when the lights were brightest. I don't see them
getting better.
Finish: 8-8
Cleveland Browns – Let Cleveland tell it any way they want to... but
they're in trouble. Sure, they've got a young bull to run the ball, but they
can't have much confidence at the most important position on the field.
Cleveland better pray for a miracle in the form of my predicted Heisman winner
Matt Barkley...
Finish: 2-14
AFC South:
Houston Texans – As far as anyone is concerned, this is Houston's
division to lose for at least another year. With Schaub coming back, and
knowing they've got a somewhat competent backup in T.J. Yates, the team should
be able to shred people through the air again to really help keep Arian Foster
healthy heading into the playoffs. Defensively, they should be strong, but I'm
not ready to crown them scary.
Finish: 12-4
Indianapolis Colts – I think this Colts team will be better than they're going to get credit for until people see them. I like Luck, I like a lot of the talent they added around Luck (a couple familiar faces) and I like that Reggie Wayne stuck around to make the kid's transition a little easier.
Finish: 8-8
Tennessee Titans – I see hope here as well, but they NEED Chris Johnson to return to form if they're going to achieve anything mirroring success. They've got an opportunity in this division to surprise people, but they need to handle the fundamentals.
Finish: 7-9
Jacksonville Jaguars – Blaine Gabbert has a weapon or two, Maurice Jones-Drew
should be healthy again... defensively, are they able to start making plays in
critical moments? That's the huge uncertain that has hindered the Jaguars for
years now.
Finish: 4-12
AFC West:
Denver Broncos – Man, you talk about making a statement. We saw in the
playoffs that their defense might not be as feirce as they wanted to appear,
but that kinda happens when your quarterback is putting you on the field more
and more every game. They now have the smartest quarterback to have ever played
the game, presuming he's 100%, with a better run game by miles than he's ever
had. Denver is now a scary team just because of 18.
Finish: 11-5
Kansas City Chiefs – I think they can get better production this year solely
because they've got a chance to start fresh and get their running game back.
Defensively they need to shore up, a lot, but I like this offense and I like
their chances to still threaten to take this division.
Finish: 9-7
San Diego Chargers – I've never been more underwhelmed by the post-2000 Chargers than I am right now. Philip Rivers played as horrible as he could have played last year (while still managing SOME respectable numbers) and this team is in need of a run game that they still haven't found. Defensively, I wouldn't feel safe with them vs. most college teams.
San Diego Chargers – I've never been more underwhelmed by the post-2000 Chargers than I am right now. Philip Rivers played as horrible as he could have played last year (while still managing SOME respectable numbers) and this team is in need of a run game that they still haven't found. Defensively, I wouldn't feel safe with them vs. most college teams.
Finish: 6-10
Oakland Raiders – I can honestly see Oakland surprising us and doing well,
but something tells me they're not cut out to make a big splash the first full
season after Al Davis' death. I still like their defense, but offensively, they
need to remain healthy. Plus with a coaching change and new direction, it might
be a taxing year in Oakland.
Finish: 5-11
NFC:
NFC East:
Dallas Cowboys – The Cowboys are better defensively, at least the front
9... but when you get back to those safeties, I still dislike the Cowboys.
Offensively, they can put themselves in contention if Romo manages to cut down
on costly turnovers. He played very secure last year when he was on the field,
but the few mistakes he made were all critical (albeit not all his fault). The
one thing outside of the safeties that Dallas should be worried about? Jason
Garrett. He can't screw up anymore calls if he wants to see his team in the
playoffs.
Finish: 10-6
Washington Redskins – The Redskins are better. People fuss about the safeties,
but they had Doughty/Gomes most of the end of the season anyways, and Gomes now
has a year under his belt. Offensively, they hope to cut down on the 20+
turnovers by Grossman and turn some of those into scores with Griffin, who
opens the playbook back up. Still not the most frightening team at WR, but
there's a run game that was pretty successful without consistency from the
O-Line.
Finish: 9-7
New York Giants – This is the most up and down team in the league, imo. If
they get into the playoffs, as I've said time and time again, they can beat
anyone and are probably the most terrifying team to face. But they have to get
to the playoffs, and that means some consistency and luck in the regular
season. Eli is elite though.
Finish: 9-7
Philadelphia Eagles – Mike Vick is talking bigger than Vince Young did last
year, and oddly enough, it was Vick himself who wanted Young silenced. They
will be better with healthy, focused receivers, and a young back who deserves
to be talked about amongst the best in the league. Defensively, if they can
build on what they did the last few weeks last year, they could be a real
threat.
Finish: 9-7
NFC North:
Green Bay Packers – I don't see how the Packers will be much worse, let
alone not be better. If they can get a productive run game back, and get their
receivers to start catching the football, they're infinitely better than they
were offensively last year. Defensively, however, they really need to adjust
and tighten up. Injuries plagued them, so if they're healthy, they should be
near impossible to beat.
Finish: 14-2
Detroit Lions – Blown away, absolutely. Matt Stafford
is everything as advertised and more. It helps when you've got Megatron
catching touchdowns for you, but Stafford threw to way more than just Megatron,
passing for over 5,000 yards. Production in the run-game is needed now, and
defensively, the Lions have to learn to play disciplined and tame (that sounds
familiar >_>).
Finish: 10-6
Chicago Bears – Before going down with injury last year, Jay Cutler
ended up playing some of the best football in the league. Before Matt Forte got
injured, the team was on a high and running the ball as well as anyone in the league.
With healthy receivers and the addition of Brandon Marshall not just as a
go-get-it threat, but a blocker downfield, the Bears offense could be as
ferocious as their defense.
Finish: 10-6
Minnesota Vikings – I like Christian Ponder. He was far from above average
last year, but he's got better than above average potential. Adrian Peterson
returning to this team can really spike their production... they just need
their targets on the outside to mature and become threats.
Finish: 5-11
NFC South:
New Orleans Saints – Even with all the troubles, suspensions, not having
coach Payton, the Saints are still the team to beat in the South. Drew Brees
and his colossal performance, will surely play better, imo. He had some of his
best passing days the few games that Payton was off last year with his ACL
injury, and the team will rely more on Brees to call plays and manage out of
his comfortableness.
Finish: 11-5
Atlanta Falcons – I'm not sold on Atlanta, still. You manage to get a
better weapon in Julio Jones, supposedly all you need. Michael Turner gets
bodied in the box, and Matt Ryan becomes as insufficient a quarterback as the
playoffs have ever seen, and Tim Tebow played a playoff game! The defense still
isn't worth a chance, and until Matt Ryan can show me he can take over a game,
I don't want to hear shit about him.
Finish: 9-7
Carolina Panthers – CAAAAAAAAAAAAM! WHOA CAAAAAAAAAAAM! Cam Newton is
ridiculous! RI-DI-CU-LOUS! Superman incarnate, for sure. He broke Peyton
Manning's rookie passing record... PEYTON MANNING'S! Set the QB rushing TD
record, in his rookie year. Proved he could throw the ball... and he outthrew
receivers which means he's got the arm to ease up a little. His short-passing
game was off, but he buys so much time and space, and he's so young, you have
to believe he'll get much better at it. Defensively, their cog returns to help
them win some of those close games.
Finish: 9-7
Tampa Bay Buccaneers – I was of the belief that this team would get production
last year... my how wrong I was. I like Blounte, as a player, but I question
his desire, which isn't a good thing. At WR, I still don't fear or respect
their corps. Defensively? They need to do something, and do it right.
Otherwise, they're competing for the #1 overall pick.
Finish: 3-13
NFC West:
San Francisco 49ers – They dominated last year on defense. Nobody was
intimidating defensive aside from Baltimore's reputation. Offensively, they ran
hard and forced teams to stop their physicality, most failed. If they can
improve on their offensive play this year, but taking a few more chances
instead of focusing so hard on limiting mistakes, they can be a threat.
Finish: 12-4
St. Louis Rams – I'm skeptical about the Rams. I'm a huge Sam Bradford
fan, I think the kid will be great. He had absolutely no help last year until
acquiring Brandon Lloyd to help catch the ball. Steven Jackson being healthy
and a little lighter should pay off. Defensively, they should mug people with
Jeff Fisher's coaching influence. They could be the turnaround team of 2012,
but for the sake of realistic best-case scenarios?
Finish: 7-9
Seattle Seahawks – The Seahawks played well last year, but not great. They
need consistency and a threat at QB. They signed Matt Flynn, but they have to
hope his underwhelming offseason isn't a sign of things to come, and actually
get production out of him. Marshawn Lynch got in trouble again, and he's on a
short leash as it is. Defensively, they need more discipline vs. the run and
screen.
Finish: 6-10
Arizona Cardinals – Underwhelming, by far. I had no expectations of Kolb,
but I didn't have so poor of an expectation that I saw what happened last year
coming to them. They've got a better option next to Larry Fitzgerald at WR now,
and if they get their backs healthy again, they can improve. But they
absolutely NEED to get solid play from QB.
Finish: 6-10
Most Yards Thrown: Drew Brees
Most Touchdown Passes: Aaron Rodgers
Fewest INT's with 400+ throws: Peyton Manning
Most Yards Rushed: Maurice Jones-Drew
Most Touchdown Rushes: Arian Foster
Most All-Purpose Yards: Darren Sproles
Most Receptions: Wes Welker
Most Yards Receiving: Andre Johnson
Most Touchdown Receptions: Calvin Johnson
Most Sacks: Jared Allen
Most Tackles: London Fletcher
Most Interceptions: Ed Reed
Most Fumble Recoveries: Jason Pierre-Paul
Most Defensive Touchdowns: Ed Reed
Most Yards Thrown: Drew Brees
Most Touchdown Passes: Aaron Rodgers
Fewest INT's with 400+ throws: Peyton Manning
Most Yards Rushed: Maurice Jones-Drew
Most Touchdown Rushes: Arian Foster
Most All-Purpose Yards: Darren Sproles
Most Receptions: Wes Welker
Most Yards Receiving: Andre Johnson
Most Touchdown Receptions: Calvin Johnson
Most Sacks: Jared Allen
Most Tackles: London Fletcher
Most Interceptions: Ed Reed
Most Fumble Recoveries: Jason Pierre-Paul
Most Defensive Touchdowns: Ed Reed
finishing up your picks
ReplyDeleteAFC
1NE
2BAL
3HOU
4DEN
5CIN
6BUF
NFC
1GB
2SF
3NO
4DAL
5DET
6CHI
Wild Card Playoffs
Texans27,Bills13
Broncos31,Bengals14
Bears19,Saints13
Lions23,Cowboys16
Divisional Playoffs
Broncos40,Patriots37 OT
Texans31,Ravens28 OT
Packers24,Bears20
Niners37,Lions24
AFC Championship
Texans 28
Broncos 14
NFC Championship
Niners 9
Packers 3
Super Bowl XLVII
New Orleans,LA
Niners 24
Texans 17
XLVII MVP: Patrick Willis
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