NFL 2012: Playoff Predictions and Week 1 Picks
It's prediction time. So far, I'm 0-0 as the season has yet to begin, but I'm hoping to improve on last year's record of 163-93. Not a bad year, but like the Bengals, I believe I can improve on last year's success.
Picks for Week 1 in the 2012 NFL season are next, followed by my playoff predictions and which team will ultimately hoist the Lombardi Trophy on February 3rd in New Orleans.
Week 1 Picks (Home team in CAPS)
NY GIANTS over Dallas: As has been tradition in the past few seasons, the defending Super Bowl champions will kickoff the new NFL season and this year the New York Football Giants will begin their defense of their Super Bowl crown against the rival Cowboys. The Giants will not only get their Super Bowl rings Wednesday night, but a win as well.
CHICAGO over Indianapolis: The Colts will be improved this season behind rookie quarterback Andrew Luck, but Luck will face a tough test in his first NFL game against a very good Chicago Bears defense.
Philadelphia over CLEVELAND: If Michael Vick stays healthy, the Eagles can have a very successful season and their 2012 campaign gets off to a good start with a win over rookie quarterback Brandon Weeden and the Browns.
New England over TENNESSEE: Jake Locker will get his first NFL start on Sunday for the Titans and although I think he will have a good career in the league, it's going to be hard for him to win his first game when the opposing quarterback is Tom Brady.
Atlanta over KANSAS CITY: Falcons go into a very tough Arrowhead Stadium and defeat the Chiefs to start the season off on the right foot.
MINNESOTA over Jacksonville: Both of these teams are destined to have double digit losses this season in my opinion and the Jaguars take their first step to a losing season with a week one loss to the Vikings.
NEW ORLEANS over Washington: The Saints may be without Sean Payton after the Bountygate fallout, but Drew Brees will lead this team to victory against the Redskins in RG3's NFL debut.
Buffalo vs. NY JETS: The Jets may have gotten the most coverage on ESPN this preseason, but they also scored the fewest touchdowns of any team this preseason with one. And that was with Mark Sanchez and Tim Tebow on the sidelines. "C'mon Man!" No matter how many Wildcat plays Tim Tebow runs, I'm not expecting big things from the Jets. Bills pull off the upset in the Meadowlands.
DETROIT over St. Louis: Megatron and Matthew Stafford pick up right where they left off last season with an impressive offensive display against the Rams.
HOUSTON over Miami: Houston has a very good football team and I expect big things from them this season. Texans win easily against rookie quarterback Ryan Tannehill and the Dolphins.
GREEN BAY over San Francisco: Game of the Week in my opinion, 49ers vs. Packers from Lambeau Field. Aaron Rodgers will lead the Pack to a win a home this week, but I think these two teams are on a collision course for a January matchup in the NFC Championship game.
Seattle over ARIZONA: Rookie quarterback Russell Wilson surprised everyone by beating out Matt Flynn for the starting job and he will surprise the Cardinals with a win in his first NFL game on Sunday.
Carolina over TAMPA BAY: I really like the Panthers chances this season and I'll have more on them in a minute, but Cam Newton and the Carolina offense go off in Tampa for the week one win.
DENVER over Pittsburgh: Peyton Manning returns from his one year absence against the Steelers and shows he's still got it with a win at Mile High.
San Diego over OAKLAND: Chargers get off to a good start with a win over Carson Palmer and the Raiders in game two of a Monday Night doubleheader.
Bengals over RAVENS: Did you really think I would start the season off by picking against the Bengals? It is not going to be an easy game by any means, however. The Ravens gave the Bengals fits last season and going into Baltimore on a Monday night and coming out with a win is about as hard as it gets in the NFL. But Andy Dalton, A.J. Green and all their rowdy friends will be up to the challenge on Monday night. Cincinnati begins the season 1-0 with a 20-17 victory.
Playoff Predictions
AFC
Super Bowl XLVII: Packers vs. Texans. There really is no clear cut favorite to win this year's Super Bowl, yet again when is there? But I think that after going 15-1 and losing in the Divisional round of last year's NFC playoffs, the Green Bay Packers will return to the Super Bowl. They must stay healthy if they are going to get there, but when you have Aaron Rodgers and that receiving core, it's hard not to pick them to go all the way. The defense should play better than it did last season and Rodgers could win his second straight MVP award in 2012.
As for the Texans, they won the AFC South last season, beat the Bengals in the Wild Card round and put up a very good fight in a losing effort to the Ravens in the Divisional round. And they did all of this with T.J. Yates at quarterback after Matt Schaub went down with an injury. RB Arian Foster missed time due to injury last season and so did Pro Bowl WR Andre Johnson. Not to mention their best defensive player, Mario Williams, was also lost for the season. The Texans may have lost Williams to free agency, but their defense is still loaded with talent and Schaub, Foster and Johnson all return on offense.
Two high powered offenses and several Pro Bowlers sprinkled throughout the defenses. A Super Bowl definitely worth watching. In the end though, Aaron Rodgers and Co. win their second Lombardi Trophy in three years. Packers 27, Texans 24.
It should be another great NFL season and like Bart Scott said in the playoffs a few years ago, I, "Can't Wait!" for the season to get under way.
Picks for Week 1 in the 2012 NFL season are next, followed by my playoff predictions and which team will ultimately hoist the Lombardi Trophy on February 3rd in New Orleans.
Week 1 Picks (Home team in CAPS)
NY GIANTS over Dallas: As has been tradition in the past few seasons, the defending Super Bowl champions will kickoff the new NFL season and this year the New York Football Giants will begin their defense of their Super Bowl crown against the rival Cowboys. The Giants will not only get their Super Bowl rings Wednesday night, but a win as well.
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| Andrew Luck has big shoes to fill in Indianapolis, but he will make the Colts a much improved team in 2012. (Joe Robbins/Getty Images) |
CHICAGO over Indianapolis: The Colts will be improved this season behind rookie quarterback Andrew Luck, but Luck will face a tough test in his first NFL game against a very good Chicago Bears defense.
Philadelphia over CLEVELAND: If Michael Vick stays healthy, the Eagles can have a very successful season and their 2012 campaign gets off to a good start with a win over rookie quarterback Brandon Weeden and the Browns.
New England over TENNESSEE: Jake Locker will get his first NFL start on Sunday for the Titans and although I think he will have a good career in the league, it's going to be hard for him to win his first game when the opposing quarterback is Tom Brady.
Atlanta over KANSAS CITY: Falcons go into a very tough Arrowhead Stadium and defeat the Chiefs to start the season off on the right foot.
MINNESOTA over Jacksonville: Both of these teams are destined to have double digit losses this season in my opinion and the Jaguars take their first step to a losing season with a week one loss to the Vikings.
NEW ORLEANS over Washington: The Saints may be without Sean Payton after the Bountygate fallout, but Drew Brees will lead this team to victory against the Redskins in RG3's NFL debut.
Buffalo vs. NY JETS: The Jets may have gotten the most coverage on ESPN this preseason, but they also scored the fewest touchdowns of any team this preseason with one. And that was with Mark Sanchez and Tim Tebow on the sidelines. "C'mon Man!" No matter how many Wildcat plays Tim Tebow runs, I'm not expecting big things from the Jets. Bills pull off the upset in the Meadowlands.
DETROIT over St. Louis: Megatron and Matthew Stafford pick up right where they left off last season with an impressive offensive display against the Rams.
HOUSTON over Miami: Houston has a very good football team and I expect big things from them this season. Texans win easily against rookie quarterback Ryan Tannehill and the Dolphins.
GREEN BAY over San Francisco: Game of the Week in my opinion, 49ers vs. Packers from Lambeau Field. Aaron Rodgers will lead the Pack to a win a home this week, but I think these two teams are on a collision course for a January matchup in the NFC Championship game.
Seattle over ARIZONA: Rookie quarterback Russell Wilson surprised everyone by beating out Matt Flynn for the starting job and he will surprise the Cardinals with a win in his first NFL game on Sunday.
Carolina over TAMPA BAY: I really like the Panthers chances this season and I'll have more on them in a minute, but Cam Newton and the Carolina offense go off in Tampa for the week one win.
DENVER over Pittsburgh: Peyton Manning returns from his one year absence against the Steelers and shows he's still got it with a win at Mile High.
San Diego over OAKLAND: Chargers get off to a good start with a win over Carson Palmer and the Raiders in game two of a Monday Night doubleheader.
Bengals over RAVENS: Did you really think I would start the season off by picking against the Bengals? It is not going to be an easy game by any means, however. The Ravens gave the Bengals fits last season and going into Baltimore on a Monday night and coming out with a win is about as hard as it gets in the NFL. But Andy Dalton, A.J. Green and all their rowdy friends will be up to the challenge on Monday night. Cincinnati begins the season 1-0 with a 20-17 victory.
Playoff Predictions
AFC
West: Denver Broncos
South: Houston Texans
East: New England Patriots
North: Baltimore Ravens
Wild Card: Cincinnati Bengals, San Diego Chargers
Let's begin with the AFC. Peyton Manning will get Denver back to the playoffs if he stays healthy and I think the Chargers will finally play good for an entire season and get back to the playoffs. Tom Brady and the Patriots should have no problem winning the AFC East and the Houston Texans could contend for a Super Bowl if guys like QB Matt Schaub and WR Andre Johnson stay healthy for the entire season.
There are three other teams that have a chance to make the playoffs out of the AFC in my opinion and they are the Pittsburgh Steelers, the Kansas City Chiefs and no it's not the Jets, it's the Buffalo Bills. The Jets have a good defense, but they have no depth at running back, only one real receiver in Santonio Holmes and whether it's Mark Sanchez or Tim Tebow, their quarterbacks are just not very good. Kansas City has a chance if the stay healthy and the Steelers always have a chance, but I think their age will catch up with them this season. Nobody Circle's the Wagon like the Buffalo Bills and with the addition of Mario Williams on defense, the Bills could be a surprise in the AFC.
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| If Cam Newton is as good as he was last year, the Carolina Panthers will be in the playoffs in 2012. (Christian Petersen/Getty Images) |
NFC
West: San Francisco 49ers
South: New Orleans Saints
East: Dallas Cowboys
North: Green Bay Packers
Wild Card: Chicago Bears, Carolina Panthers
Now for the NFC. The 49ers should run away with the NFC West once again and don't be surprised if they get back to the NFC Championship game. Despite head coach Sean Payton getting suspended for the entire season and everything else that happened this offseason with Bountygate, the Saints will return to the playoffs on the arm of Drew Brees and the New Orleans offense.
Green Bay could go 15-1 again with all the talent they have, but watch out for the Bears. QB Jay Cutler has some new weapons to get the ball too, aka Brandon Marshall, so I look for "Da Bears" to possibly challenge the Pack in the NFC North.
Green Bay could go 15-1 again with all the talent they have, but watch out for the Bears. QB Jay Cutler has some new weapons to get the ball too, aka Brandon Marshall, so I look for "Da Bears" to possibly challenge the Pack in the NFC North.
Last year I took a shot on the Detroit Lions to make the playoffs and Megatron and Matthew Stafford delivered. So, this year I'm going out on a limb again and will say that second year quarterback Cam Newton will lead the Carolina Panthers to the playoffs. The Panthers were explosive on offense last season, but the defense prevented them from winning some close games in the fourth quarter. They made improvements on defense in the offseason that I think that will be enough to propel Carolina to the playoffs.
As for the NFC East, I wanted to go with the defending Super Bowl champion New York Giants, but teams that hoist the Lombardi Trophy have a tendency to take a step back the following season. So, I went with the Cowboys. The Eagles are going to have a good team, but until QB Michael Vick shows that he can stay healthy for an entire season, I don't see them making the playoffs. Eli Manning is quite good, so the G-Men still have a chance to return to the playoffs and defend their Super Bowl title.
Now for the greatest event in all of sports, the Super Bowl
Now for the greatest event in all of sports, the Super Bowl
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| For the second time in three seasons, Aaron Rodgers and the Packers will be bringing the Lombardi Trophy home to Green Bay. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey) |
As for the Texans, they won the AFC South last season, beat the Bengals in the Wild Card round and put up a very good fight in a losing effort to the Ravens in the Divisional round. And they did all of this with T.J. Yates at quarterback after Matt Schaub went down with an injury. RB Arian Foster missed time due to injury last season and so did Pro Bowl WR Andre Johnson. Not to mention their best defensive player, Mario Williams, was also lost for the season. The Texans may have lost Williams to free agency, but their defense is still loaded with talent and Schaub, Foster and Johnson all return on offense.
Two high powered offenses and several Pro Bowlers sprinkled throughout the defenses. A Super Bowl definitely worth watching. In the end though, Aaron Rodgers and Co. win their second Lombardi Trophy in three years. Packers 27, Texans 24.
It should be another great NFL season and like Bart Scott said in the playoffs a few years ago, I, "Can't Wait!" for the season to get under way.
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