We are about a day away from the 2011 NFL Season. And although most have forgotten about the lock out, I for one have not. I am still pissed about the Billionaires and Millionaires fighting over how to split over $9 Billion. Really?!? Really?!? Now that things are settled, there better be some good football and by good football, I mean The Eagles winning the Super Bowl.
Unlike every talking head in the sports world, I am not going to say this team will do this and that player will do that, because no one really knows. If they did, they will be able to see the future and would have warned us about the Economic Meltdown in our Country. Instead, I made my picks based on observation, trends and most importantly, common sense. And yes, I went week by week, game by game to predict each winner that I thought to come up with my predictions.
This is just a guess, so don't go to Vegas based on my picks and don't get mad if I am not right. I am right only 52% of the time. So here are my picks with a little synopsis on how I got them.
AFC West. This division is pretty weak. Last Season, San Diego started off slow and unlike seasons before, they couldn't get out of their early season slump. Mostly due to the Kansas City Chiefs ride of success. This season, things will seem more like 2009. The Chargers run away with the division. Phil Rivers will be league MVP, he will put up Brady-esque like numbers. 2nd year RB, Ryan Matthews will have a breakout season and San Diego Defense with a new Defensive Coordinator will put together a strong campaign. The rest of the division is muddled and unfortunately for the Chiefs, they will also come back to earth this year.
San Diego - 12-4
Oakland - 7-9
Kansas City - 5-11
Denver 3-11
AFC North will be a lot more competitive. No the Bengals will still suck, but they made some nice moves in the offseason/draft that will help them in the future. But the future is a year or two off. Cleveland will make a move to become a solid contender, although I think they are a year off as well. Baltimore is making a run now. With the acquisitions of Lee Evans, Andre Gourode and Steve McKinney, they got older and for their sake more experienced. The Steelers will have a bit of a weaker team this year, O Line is not as good and the Defense is a year older. But, Big Ben is entering the prime of his career and He has a lot of weapons around him.
Pittsburgh - 11-5
Baltimore - 10-6
Cleveland - 8-8
Cincinnati - 2-14
AFC South is confusing. Last season, I thought they would be the most competitive division. This season, I think they will be really bad. With the News Peyton Manning is likely to miss some time, the question remains, how much time and can they win without him? Also, if and when he comes back, what kind of shape will he be in? The latest injury might have been caused by him pushing a little too hard to rehab his neck. Tennessee is a mess, Chris Johnson is good, but how good? $30 Million guaranteed good? Does Matt Hasselbeck have some in the tank? Will Kenny Britt stay out of trouble? And someone explain to me the Jacksonville Jaguars? A week before opening weekend, you cut your starting Quarterback? What a jerk move. If you knew you were going to cut him, which I think they knew early on in the preseason, why didn't you cut him to give him a chance to find another job during the preseason? Seriously? I hope Jack Del Rio has his resume updated, because I don't see him being back next season. Finally, the Houston Texans. This has to be their year? Right? Isn't it the rule of probability?
Houston - 12-4
Indianapolis - 9-7
Jacksonville - 7-9
Tennessee - 5-11
AFC East will be the most fun division to watch. Thank you Rex Ryan. But I still think he is all sizzle and no substance. They are put together ton win regular season games, but what about the playoffs? Mark Sanchez is a cool customer, I am starting to like him, Santonio Holmes is a great receiver, I am starting to like him too. The Patriots seem to be the class of the AFC, at least with Bill Belichik, that's how its perceived. The Dolphins biggest problem was they needed a quarterback, especially because the coach and gm's job is relying on it. They didn't get one. The Bills are upcoming, but I have this strange feeling, by the time they get their, they will be the LA Bills.
New England - 12-4
NY Jets - 10-6
Miami - 8-8
Buffalo - 7-9
Now the NFC. The NFC west is improved from last season, but that's not saying much. The Cardinals have a QB, but I don't think he will be as good as they do, at least he hasn't showed me he can win. St Louis is much improved and they are ready to take the next step back to the playoffs. The 49ers are a mystery, they could run the table or get run. And finally, the Seahawks didn't do enough to improve their division winning team from last season.
Arizona - 9-7
St. Louis - 7-9
San Francisco - 6-10
Seattle - 4-12
The NFC North is very interesting this year. Everyone loves Green Bay, I don't. I think last season was a fluke. Everyone's darling this season is Detroit, they are still a year off. I really like Minnesota. Donovan McNabb has a lot to prove this season and he still has the talent to do so. AP in a contract year, I expect big things. If Percy Harvin stays healthy, All-Pro Season.
Minnesota - 12-4
Green Bay - 9-7
Detroit - 8-8
Chicago - 7-9
The NFC South has 3 legitimate contenders and a team a few players away from being a fourth. New Orleans is good, really good. Solid defense, great offense, good special teams. Losing Reggie Bush should hurt them, but gaining Mark Ingram and Darren Sprowls, will make Bush a thing of the past. Atlanta is making run now, Julio Jones is a stud and Tony Gonzalez's career is winding down. Atlanta was good last season, just not built to win in the playoffs, not sure if they are this year. Tampa Bay didn't do much in the off season. Josh Freeman will get better, but he might have a slight drop off this season. And that's how I sum up the Bucs, they will get better, just not this season. Teams will be prepared for them. Once upon a time, the Panthers were good. Good O-Line, Good Defense, Good receivers and backs. Than Jake Delhomme forgot who he played for and made a habit of throwing the ball to the other team. That killed the franchise from a psychological perspective and they still haven't gotten over it yet. Cam Newton will help, but he is a project. Teams will figure out real fast how to defend him. There will be a lot of pressure on the running back.
New Orleans - 10-6
Atlanta - 10-6
Tampa Bay - 8-8
Carolina - 3-13
Finally the NFC East. Yes the Dream Team's division. Only the talking heads can build a team up and knock them down 3 fold even before a regular season game. But Andy Reid knows talent, he knows how to use the system to his advantage. He may not be the best X's and O's guy, but he is good enough to win it all. Dallas is the polar opposite. Jerry Jones is their personal guy and how well has that worked out in the last decade? For all the talent they have, Jerry Jones doesn't know how to use them. I think the Jason Garrett experiment will end badly. It will ultimately cost Tony Romo and the Cowboys will have to rebuild. The Giants keep winning despite their coach. He won a Superbowl and that's still a mystery to me. Eli Manning is one of the best QBs in the league, but every year, they seem to take away from his offense, can he do it with what he has? The Redskins are going to be so bad, they might actually win a few games from teams taking them lightly. Rex Grossman is their QB, enough said. Mike Shanahan hasn't showed me anything since taking over the Redskins except he has an ego.
Philadelphia - 12-4
Dallas 10-6
NY Giants 8-8
Washington 4-12
Super Bowl Philadelphia over San Diego
League MVP - Phil Rivers
Coach of the Year - Gary Kubiak
Coaching Causalities - Tony Sparano week 5
I will be back tomorrow with my week 1 picks
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