The 2011 NFL season - how it's going to go
Published: September 08, 2011 @ 8:47am
NFC North
Green Bay Packers (12-4) - The Packers snuck into the playoffs last year and went on a great run. They are healthy once again, which means no more sneaking in.
Detroit Lions (10-6) - The last time I predicted the Lions would make the playoffs they actually went 0-16. I am giving them one more shot!
Chicago Bears (8-8) - The Bears were a shocker last season, I think they take a little step back in 2011
Minnesota Vikings (5-11) - McNabb's last hurrah, won't end pretty!
NFC South
Atlanta Falcons (11-5) - Still a ton of talent in the ATL. Their division is very tough, which will equate to a few more losses than last year.
Tampa Bay Bucs (10-6) - Tampa got left out last season, but this year there won't be any tiebreakers. They are in!
New Orleans Saints (8-8) - Who dat losing more games this year? The Saints, dat who!
Carolina Panthers (2-14) - And with the first pick in the 2012 NFL Draft the Carolina Panthers select........
NFC East
Philadelphia Eagles (12-4) - Did anyone add more to their team in the short offseason than the Eagles? If Vick stays healthy the sky is the limit!
Dallas Cowboys (9-7) - Romo is back, but the Cowboys won't be back in the playoffs because their defense won't allow that!
New York Giants (7-9) - Long season coming for the G-Men! Too many injuries out of the gates. Coughlin gets fired this year.
Washington Redskins (4-12) - Mike Shanahan, you aren't in Denver anymore!
NFC West
St. Louis Rams (9-7) - Sam Bradford almost took this team to the playoffs in his first year. In year two he will.
Arizona Cardinals (8-8) - The Cardinals will battle right until the final weeks, but will come up just short and I feel we will have the defense to blame!
San Francisco 49ers (6-10) - At some point they will realize that Alex Smith is not an NFL QB.
Seattle Seahawks (5-11) - Tarvaris Jackson??? Enough said!
NFC Playoff teams - Green Bay, Atlanta, Philly, St. Louis, Detroit and Tampa Bay
NFC Championship game - Green Bay vs Philly
NFC Champion - Green Bay
AFC North
Pittsburgh Steelers (11-5) - Same old, same old! Some things never change.
Baltimore Ravens (10-6) - The Ravens aren't getting younger on defense, so this could be their last run.
Cleveland Browns (6-10) - I'm not sure the other Peyton will duplicate last year's success.
Cincinnati Bengals (3-13) - And with the second pick in the 2012 NFL Draft the Bengals select....
AFC South
Houston Texans (10-6) - I think I have picked the Texans to go to the playoffs the last four years. Can you please make me look good once?
Indianapolis Colts (8-8) - No Peyton, No playoffs! Manning is going to miss too many games for the Colts to compete.
Tennessee Titans (6-10) - Hasselbeck will help, but not enough for this team to win more than 6.
Jacksonville Jaguars (5-11) - Maurice Jones-Drew is starting the decline and it could come quickly in J-Ville.
AFC East
New England Patriots (13-3) - The Pats are going to be explosive once again and the additions on defense will make them the favorite in the AFC.
New York Jets (11-5) - The bravado is still there, but at some point the talk needs to end and the results have to happen in the championship game.
Miami Dolphins (6-10) - Chad Henne is not an NFL starting QB!
Buffalo Bills (4-12) - How happy is Lee Evans to be out of Buffalo?
AFC West
San Diego Chargers (11-5) - Chargers were ranked number one in defense and offense last year and didn't make the playoffs. How does that even happen? They will be back this year.
Kansas City Chiefs (9-7) - The Chiefs caught teams by surprise last season. This year they will be the hunted and that will keep them out of the playoffs.
Oakland Raiders (8-8) - The Raiders are getting closer.
Denver Donkeys (5-11) - You know you are in trouble when you have the most popular backup QB in the world!
AFC Playoff Teams - Pittsburgh, Houston, New England, San Diego, NY Jets and Baltimore.
AFC Championship game - New England vs NY Jets
AFC Champion - NY Jets
Super Bowl - Green Bay 24-13 over the Jets