God what a bitch this season is to predict, the league seems more in flux than ever. 1. Patriots 2. Colts 3. Chargers 4. Steelers 5. Broncos 6. Jets 1. Seahawks 2. Saints 3. Packers 4. Cowboys 5. Cardinals 6. Bears Wildcard Round: Chargers/Jets - Chargers Steelers/Broncos - Broncos Packers/Bears - Packers Cowboys/Cardinals - Cowboys Divisional Round: Chargers/Colts - Chargers Patriots/Broncos - Patriots Packers/Saints -Saints Cowboys/Seahawks - Seahawks Championship Round: Patriots/Chargers - Patriots Seahawks/Saints - Seahawks Super Bowl 49 Seahawks/Patriots - Seahawks (27-17)
Cowboys??? Not unless the division champ goes 8-8. The NFC East used to be one of the best divisions (if not the best) in football every year. The division is way down now and Philly should run away with it IMO. None of the other 3 teams even look strong this year. Dallas looks suspect, especially on D.
AFC 1. Broncos (Peyton Manning's teams have led the AFC in wins each of the last two seasons. The defense has gotten better this year. Unless Peyton steps down significantly they're the best team in the AFC right now. In 2015 it's a very different story.) 2. Patriots (If Tom Brady steps down they'll be lucky to go 9-7 but if he plays as well as last season they have a shot at 11 or 12 wins.) 3. Colts (Offensive line woes early in the season are a big issue. Andrew Luck is in the same category as Ben Roethlisberger in terms of his ability to function without a stable line. We'll see which of the two factors plays a major role early on.) Those are the teams that might win 12+ games. I don't think anybody else is in that category at this point. 4. Ravens (Outstanding LB corps and Haloti Ngata make the Ravens likely to be one of the AFC's best defenses this year. Lots of people in the 30-32 range creates the possibility of a big step down on defense. If the defense is there the Ravens will be a team nobody wants to play in January.) 5. Bengals (Great weapons on offense in A.J. Green, Giovanni Bernard, a pair of good TE's in Jermaine Gresham and Tyler Eifert and a bunch of role players. The question is whether Andy Dalton can take the next step and ignite the mix. The defense is very good. If this wasn't the Bengals they'd be #2 on this list.) 6. Chargers (If Antonio Gates steps down so will the Chargers.)
Foles regresses (which is not bold statement because he wont go 27-2 again, just not happening), Dallas's defense plays a tad better, the Cowboys should have won the division last year if Romo played week 17. (not debating this, but it was close). Cowboys break through in a year where no one is picking em.
I have mixed feelings about Denver, I think the offense goes a little backwards. (That might not make a differences though, half their games are blowouts anyway). I think the defense isnt as good, but I believe the most significant aspect is that this year they will be playing the NFC West instead of the NFC East. Last season they swept the NFC East with ease (Cowboy game was the only close one I think). Not a chance Denver sweeps the NFC West imo, they have to go to Seattle and St Loius. They have Arizona and San Fran coming to their building, so all four games will be difficult, including the @St Louis game. I think Denver wins 11-12 games again this year, but not 13.
AFC - Pats , Broncos, Colts , Bengals , Jets , Chargers NFC - Seahawks, Saints, Eagles, Packers, Bears, Falcons Title games - Broncos over Colts . Seahawks over Saints Superbowl - Seahawks over Broncos again.
ESPN's picks: http://espn.go.com/nfl/preview14/story/_/id/11318059/2014-nfl-predictions-national-contributors
1. Patriots 2. Broncos 3. Bengals 4. Colts 5. Chargers 6. Titans 1. Seahawks 2. Saints 3. Packers 4. Eagles 5. 49ers 6. Bears Wildcard Round: Bengals v Titans - Bengals Colts v Chargers - Chargers Packers/Bears - Bears Eagles v 49ers - Eagles Divisional Round: Pats v Chargers - Pats Broncos v Bengals - Bengals Seahawks v Bears - Seahawks Saints v Eagles - Eagles Championship Round: Patriots v Bengals - Patriots Seahawks v Eagles - Seahawks Super Bowl 49 Seahawks v Patriots - Pats 24 - 21
I would love to to see the Seahawks kick a field goal to defeat the Patriots. It would be like a guillotine dropping on the Patriots head, imo Belichick and Brady only have on more run in them, once last chance, and I hope they lose when they get their. That Arizona stadium will officially be the house of horrors, they have yet to return since they last lost there.
AFC : Broncos, Pats, Colts, Bengals ---Ravens, Jets NFC: Seahawks, Saints, Eagles, Packers --- 49'ers, Bears Broncos-Seahawks : Broncos
The only team that can stop Seattle is the Saints, if they can get them in their building. Its not impossible, the Saints look very good from offense to defense.
AFC: Pats, Broncos, Ravens, Colts, Wild Card: Bengals, Chiefs NFC: Hawks, Saints, Eagles, Packers, Wild Card: Bears, Bucs SB: Hawks over Patriots
AFC 1. Broncos 12-4 (h2h w over Pats) 2. Patriots 12-4 3. Colts 11-5 4. Bengals 10-6 5. Steelers 9-7 6. Chargers 9-7 NFC 1. Saints 13-3 2. Packers 12-4 (h2h w over SEA) 3. Seahawks 12-4 4. Eagles 9-7 5. Bears 10-6 6. 49ers 10-6 WC: Chargers @ Colts: 28-24 Colts Steelers @ Bengals: 31-17 Bengals (Dalton finally does it) 49ers @ Seahawks (how fun!): 31-20 Seahawks Bears @ Eagles: 35-30 Bears DIV: Ind @ NE: 31-24 NE Bengals @ Broncos: 38-28 Broncos Seahawks @ Packers: 30-20 Packers Bears @ Saints: 35-28 Saints CONF: NE @ Broncos: 30-27 NE Packers @ Saints: 38-35 Packers (classic game) SB: Packers vs Patriots: 31-24 Packers
And to clarify, the Cowboys had the #32 ranked defense last season and came an orton pick away from winning the division (And would have won the division IMO if Romo had played, it was his time, in his building, everyone said the Eagles would blow em out, that was far from the truth). The defense will suck again but I see this coming down to the wire just like last year. The Giants look awful, the Redskins are starting RG3, enough said with those two. So it will come down to the Cowboys and Eagles. Last year Foles didnt start the whole season, this year he does. Does that mean the Eagles win more games? possibly, but lets be realistic, he wont be 27-2 again. That ratio will shift in a negative way. The Cowboys offense will be lethal this year, the Oline is improved, Dez Bryant is playing for a contract, Demarco Murray is playing for a contract, I expect a lot from the offense. When it all balances itself out I believe the Cowboys get the division finally. No one is really picking them, which is good, because it seems like the favorite has come up short every year. (Cowboys in 2010 when they were hosting the Super Bowl, Eagles dream team in 2011, Giants going for the repeat in 2012, then of course the Redskins last year).
And I might change my stance and remove the Bears and pencil the Eagles into that last spot, I guess I have 24 hours to change that.
