2014 NFL Preview - Playoffs, Awards and Super Bowl Predictions
Summer vacation is over, school is back in session, the energy bill continues to climb due to 100 degree temperatures and I know that sounds like a bad thing, but life is about to get a whole lot better, because the NFL is back!
With another NFL season about to kickoff it's once again time for predictions. I have taken a look at all 32 teams, dissected the rosters, reviewed key additions/departures and examined the schedule for each and have ultimately chosen a Super Bowl XLIX champion.
Who will hoist the Lombardi Trophy on February 1, 2015 in Glendale, AZ? Check out my predictions below to find out.
2014 NFL PREDICTIONS
I don't see many new teams making the playoffs from a year ago, but I do think there could be a few surprises. The teams most likely to make it to the playoffs are Denver, New England, Cincinnati, Indianapolis, Philadelphia, Green Bay, Seattle, San Francisco and New Orleans. That leaves three more playoff spots up for grabs.
The teams to keep an eye on are Tampa Bay, Atlanta, Arizona, Chicago and Baltimore. It would not surprise me at all if some of these teams make the playoffs after missing them last season. Although I don't see any of them winning their respective divisions, it is possible they get in as a wild card.
Now for my predictions on all 32 teams followed by my picks for awards and who I think will win the Super Bowl.
NFC East
Philadelphia Eagles: 10-6
New York Giants: 7-9
Dallas Cowboys: 6-10
Washington Redskins: 5-11
NFC North
Green Bay Packers: 11-5
Chicago Bears: 9-7
Detroit Lions: 7-9
Minnesota Vikings: 4-12
NFC South
New Orleans Saints: 12-4
Atlanta Falcons: 8-8
Carolina Panthers: 8-8
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 7-9
NFC West
Seattle Seahawks: 13-3
San Francisco 49ers: 11-5
Arizona Cardinals: 8-8
St. Louis Rams: 5-11
AFC East
New England Patriots: 12-4
New York Jets: 8-8
Miami Dolphins: 7-9
Buffalo Bills: 5-11
AFC North
Cincinnati Bengals: 10-6
Baltimore Ravens: 9-7
Pittsburgh Steelers: 7-9
Cleveland Browns: 4-12
AFC South
Indianapolis Colts: 11-5
Houston Texans: 7-9
Tennessee Titans: 6-10
Jacksonville Jaguars: 5-11
AFC West
Denver Broncos: 12-4
Kansas City Chiefs: 10-6
San Diego Chargers: 8-8
Oakland Raiders: 4-12
Here are my playoff teams.
NFC
1. Seattle Seahawks
2. New Orleans Saints
3. Green Bay Packers
4. Philadelphia Eagles
5. San Francisco 49ers
6. Chicago Bears
AFC
1. Denver Broncos
2. New England Patriots
3. Indianapolis Colts
4. Cincinnati Bengals
5. Kansas City Chiefs
6. Baltimore Ravens
PLAYOFF PREDICTIONS AND AWARDS
MVP: Drew Brees (Saints)
Offensive POY: Drew Brees (Saints)
Defensive POY: J.J. Watt (Texans)
Coach of the Year: Chip Kelly (Eagles)
Offensive ROY: Brandin Cooks (Saints)
Defensive ROY: Jadeveon Clowney (Texans)
NFC Championship: Packers vs. Saints
AFC Championship: Patriots vs. Broncos
Super Bowl XLIX: Saints vs. Broncos
Going to two straight Super Bowls is tough, in fact; since the 2004 season, only one team has made it to two straight Super Bowls, the New England Patriots. Before them, you have to go back to the John Elway led Denver Broncos who won back-to-back Super Bowls in 1998-99.
So, why do I think Peyton Manning and the Broncos will get back to the Super Bowl? Two words, Peyton Manning.
As hard as it is to believe, Manning's career is coming to an end. Peyton may only have a few years left and we all know how much he wants another Super Bowl ring. Broncos' general manager, John Elway, created a very talented team, one that may be even better than last year's squad that went to the Super Bowl. I think Denver may have the most complete team in the NFL, apart from the team they will face in this year's Super Bowl, the New Orleans Saints.
The Saints were the only team in the NFL last year to have a top five offense and a top five defense. And after looking over the roster, I think the Saints may have gotten even better. Drew Brees has so many weapons on offense -- more than Peyton Manning if that's even possible -- that you can almost guarantee he'll throw for 5,000-yards and 40 plus touchdowns this season.
The difference between Denver and New Orleans though is their defenses. Saints defensive coordinator Rob Ryan did a great job in his first season in New Orleans and with the addition of safety Jarius Byrd; the Saints should have another top five defense this season. Denver will have a much better defense than they had last year as well with the additions of T.J. Ward, Aqib Talib and DeMarcus Ware, but I don't think it will be as good as New Orleans'.
Watching Drew Brees and Peyton Manning air it out in the Super Bowl would be without question be an entertaining game. The only thing better would be if Michael Jackson or the Beatles performed the halftime show. It should be a great Super Bowl and I foresee the Saints hoisting their second Lombardi Trophy. Saints 33, Broncos 30.
Week 1 Picks (Home team in CAPS)
My predictions would not be complete without making picks for Week 1 of the 2014 NFL season.
SEATTLE over Green Bay
Cincinnati over BALTIMORE
New Orleans over ATLANTA
Minnesota over ST. LOUIS
PITTSBURGH over Cleveland
PHILADELPHIA over Jacksonville
NY JETS over Oakland
CHICAGO over Buffalo
HOUSTON over Washington
KANSAS CITY over Tennessee
New England over MIAMI
Carolina over TAMPA BAY
San Francisco over DALLAS
DENVER over Indianapolis
DETROIT over NY Giants
ARIZONA over San Diego
Be sure to catch out my blog each week for my picks and enjoy the first week of the NFL.
With another NFL season about to kickoff it's once again time for predictions. I have taken a look at all 32 teams, dissected the rosters, reviewed key additions/departures and examined the schedule for each and have ultimately chosen a Super Bowl XLIX champion.
Who will hoist the Lombardi Trophy on February 1, 2015 in Glendale, AZ? Check out my predictions below to find out.
2014 NFL PREDICTIONS
I don't see many new teams making the playoffs from a year ago, but I do think there could be a few surprises. The teams most likely to make it to the playoffs are Denver, New England, Cincinnati, Indianapolis, Philadelphia, Green Bay, Seattle, San Francisco and New Orleans. That leaves three more playoff spots up for grabs.
The teams to keep an eye on are Tampa Bay, Atlanta, Arizona, Chicago and Baltimore. It would not surprise me at all if some of these teams make the playoffs after missing them last season. Although I don't see any of them winning their respective divisions, it is possible they get in as a wild card.
Now for my predictions on all 32 teams followed by my picks for awards and who I think will win the Super Bowl.
NFC East
Philadelphia Eagles: 10-6
New York Giants: 7-9
Dallas Cowboys: 6-10
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| As long as Aaron Rodgers stays healthy and out of street clothes, the Packers should win a lot of games this season. (Benny Sieu/USA TODAY Sports) |
NFC North
Green Bay Packers: 11-5
Chicago Bears: 9-7
Detroit Lions: 7-9
Minnesota Vikings: 4-12
NFC South
New Orleans Saints: 12-4
Atlanta Falcons: 8-8
Carolina Panthers: 8-8
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 7-9
NFC West
Seattle Seahawks: 13-3
San Francisco 49ers: 11-5
Arizona Cardinals: 8-8
St. Louis Rams: 5-11
AFC East
New England Patriots: 12-4
New York Jets: 8-8
Miami Dolphins: 7-9
Buffalo Bills: 5-11
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| Andy Dalton got paid like an elite quarterback; now he has to prove that he's worth it by winning a playoff game. (Andy Lyons/Getty Images) |
Cincinnati Bengals: 10-6
Baltimore Ravens: 9-7
Pittsburgh Steelers: 7-9
Cleveland Browns: 4-12
AFC South
Indianapolis Colts: 11-5
Houston Texans: 7-9
Tennessee Titans: 6-10
Jacksonville Jaguars: 5-11
AFC West
Denver Broncos: 12-4
Kansas City Chiefs: 10-6
San Diego Chargers: 8-8
Oakland Raiders: 4-12
Here are my playoff teams.
NFC
1. Seattle Seahawks
2. New Orleans Saints
3. Green Bay Packers
4. Philadelphia Eagles
5. San Francisco 49ers
6. Chicago Bears
AFC
1. Denver Broncos
2. New England Patriots
3. Indianapolis Colts
4. Cincinnati Bengals
5. Kansas City Chiefs
6. Baltimore Ravens
PLAYOFF PREDICTIONS AND AWARDS
MVP: Drew Brees (Saints)
 |
| With the addition of Jadeveon Clowney and a $100 million contract, J.J. Watt is about to have the best season of his career. (Scott Halleran/Getty Images) |
Defensive POY: J.J. Watt (Texans)
Coach of the Year: Chip Kelly (Eagles)
Offensive ROY: Brandin Cooks (Saints)
Defensive ROY: Jadeveon Clowney (Texans)
NFC Championship: Packers vs. Saints
AFC Championship: Patriots vs. Broncos
Super Bowl XLIX: Saints vs. Broncos
Going to two straight Super Bowls is tough, in fact; since the 2004 season, only one team has made it to two straight Super Bowls, the New England Patriots. Before them, you have to go back to the John Elway led Denver Broncos who won back-to-back Super Bowls in 1998-99.
So, why do I think Peyton Manning and the Broncos will get back to the Super Bowl? Two words, Peyton Manning.
As hard as it is to believe, Manning's career is coming to an end. Peyton may only have a few years left and we all know how much he wants another Super Bowl ring. Broncos' general manager, John Elway, created a very talented team, one that may be even better than last year's squad that went to the Super Bowl. I think Denver may have the most complete team in the NFL, apart from the team they will face in this year's Super Bowl, the New Orleans Saints.
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| Defensive coordinator Rob Ryan (left) did a great job in his first year in New Orleans alongside head coach Sean Payton. (Derick E. Hingle/USA TODAY Sports) |
The difference between Denver and New Orleans though is their defenses. Saints defensive coordinator Rob Ryan did a great job in his first season in New Orleans and with the addition of safety Jarius Byrd; the Saints should have another top five defense this season. Denver will have a much better defense than they had last year as well with the additions of T.J. Ward, Aqib Talib and DeMarcus Ware, but I don't think it will be as good as New Orleans'.
Watching Drew Brees and Peyton Manning air it out in the Super Bowl would be without question be an entertaining game. The only thing better would be if Michael Jackson or the Beatles performed the halftime show. It should be a great Super Bowl and I foresee the Saints hoisting their second Lombardi Trophy. Saints 33, Broncos 30.
Week 1 Picks (Home team in CAPS)
My predictions would not be complete without making picks for Week 1 of the 2014 NFL season.
SEATTLE over Green Bay
Cincinnati over BALTIMORE
New Orleans over ATLANTA
Minnesota over ST. LOUIS
PITTSBURGH over Cleveland
PHILADELPHIA over Jacksonville
NY JETS over Oakland
CHICAGO over Buffalo
HOUSTON over Washington
KANSAS CITY over Tennessee
New England over MIAMI
Carolina over TAMPA BAY
San Francisco over DALLAS
DENVER over Indianapolis
DETROIT over NY Giants
ARIZONA over San Diego
Be sure to catch out my blog each week for my picks and enjoy the first week of the NFL.
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