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rubecube · 08-16-2012, 05:24 PM

Can you tell I'm itching for football? We're less than 3 weeks away from opening kickoff. Let's have some predictions!

NFC East

Philadelphia (11-5)
New York (8-8)
Dallas (8-8)
Washington (6-10)

Analysis: I truly believe the Giants overachieved last year. They got hot and healthy at the right time. That and they had Eli Manning carry them on his back for pretty much the entire season. The offensive line is okay in pass-protection, but they have no ground game to speak of. On paper, the Eagles have the most talent in the division, but we'll see what happens in action.

If Michael Vick plays like 2010 Michael Vick, they're Super Bowl contenders. If he plays like 2011 Michael Vick, they won't make the playoffs.

The Cowboys' offensive line is god-awful. They have poor depth at WR and their safeties are below-average at best. I really don't see them winning more than 8 games

The Skins will be a hard team to play this year, but there's still not enough talent on the offense to get them into the playoffs. Next year will be their breakthrough year.

NFC North

Chicago (12-4)
*Green Bay (11-5)
Detroit (8-8)
Minnesota (5-11)

Analysis: My god, do the Bears have an easy schedule. If they can keep Jay Cutler healthy, they have a good shot at winning the division. A solid defensive line should mask some of their deficiencies in the secondary.

Green Bay has as good a shot as the Bears to win the division, but we need to see a more ferocious pass-rush and better secondary play this year. Also, there needs to be some semblance of a run-game.

Sadly, I think the Lions regressed on defense this year. That secondary, outside of Delmas, is still a mess. Their offense should keep them in almost every game this year but I don't see them getting more than nine wins.

The Vikings are still rebuilding, and are stuck in a tough division to boot. Need to see improvement from Ponder this year before we can say they've turned the corner.

NFC South -

New Orleans (10-6)
*Atlanta (9-7)
Tampa Bay (8-8)
Carolina (6-10)

It's really a coin flip between Atlanta and New Orleans for me. It really depends on which team plays better on the road this season, as both of them seem to enjoy pretty good homefield advantage. I think Tampa will be much better than they were a year ago, under a new coach. Carolina still has a lot of questions on defense.

NFC West

San Francisco (11-5)
Seattle (6-10)
St. Louis (6-10)
Arizona (3-13)

Analysis: San Fran by default? Still the worst division in football by a wide margin. The sad thing is that all of these teams have pretty decent defenses, but the offenses are a trainwreck. St. Louis could surprise if they get decent offensive line play. For Seattle it all depends on what kind of play they get from Matt Flynn. Arizona is a mess.

AFC East -

New England (11-5)
*Buffalo (10-6)
Miami (9-7)
New York Jets (6-10)

Analysis: I don't know if New England is the best team in the division, but they certainly have the best schedule (again). I don't know if I trust Buffalo. They seem to be the cute sleeper pick, which usually doesn't end well, but they have some favourable matchups and a revamped defense. I think Miami could end up being better than everyone expects if they get better secondary play, but they have huge questions at WR. The Jets continue to slide with Sanchez at the helm.

AFC North -

Baltimore (11-5)
*Pittsburgh (10-6)
Cleveland (7-9)
Cincinnati (6-10)

Analyisis: Pittsburgh still hasn't fixed their offensive line issues (or the secondary for that matter) but the offense will keep them in a wildcard spot. I'm expecting better play from Flacco and the Ravens this year, even with the Suggs injury. Marvin Lewis has a history of beating up on easy schedules to inflate his record, and then fading the next year when the schedule gets harder. The Browns should be slightly better than last year.

AFC South -

Houston (12-4)
Tennessee (9-7)
Jacksonville (5-11)
Indianapolis (4-12)

Analysis: This is Houston's division, and they should be the favourites to win the AFC if they stay healthy. Tennessee's defense keeps them out of the playoffs, and could cause them to fall down the division if Blaine Gabbert progresses this season, or gets any help from WRs we've actually heard of. Andrew Luck will be good, but the rest of the Colts won't be.

AFC West:

San Diego (10-6)
Kansas City (9-7)
Denver (8-8)
Oakland (7-9)

Analysis: I think this division is pretty mediocre. The Chargers look the best on paper. I think Carson Palmer is terrible at this point in his career, and the Raiders' secondary is awful. Peyton Manning can't fix the problems with Denver's defense. KC will be better with everyon healthy.

Playoffs -

Wildcard:

San Francisco over Atlanta
New Orleans over Green Bay

San Diego over Pittsburgh
Buffalo over New England

Divisional:

New Orleans over Chicago
Philadelphia over San Francisco

Houston over Buffalo
Baltimore over San Diego

Conference

Houston over San Diego
Philadelphia over New Orleans

Super Bowl

Houston over Philadelphia

Yeah I went homer. Oh well.

League MVP - Drew Brees

Offensive POY - Calvin Johnson

Defensive POY - Patrick Willis

08-16-2012, 05:24 PM	#1
rubecube Franchise Player Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Victoria Exp:	2012 NFL Predictions Thread Can you tell I'm itching for football? We're less than 3 weeks away from opening kickoff. Let's have some predictions! NFC East Philadelphia (11-5) New York (8-8) Dallas (8-8) Washington (6-10) Analysis: I truly believe the Giants overachieved last year. They got hot and healthy at the right time. That and they had Eli Manning carry them on his back for pretty much the entire season. The offensive line is okay in pass-protection, but they have no ground game to speak of. On paper, the Eagles have the most talent in the division, but we'll see what happens in action. If Michael Vick plays like 2010 Michael Vick, they're Super Bowl contenders. If he plays like 2011 Michael Vick, they won't make the playoffs. The Cowboys' offensive line is god-awful. They have poor depth at WR and their safeties are below-average at best. I really don't see them winning more than 8 games The Skins will be a hard team to play this year, but there's still not enough talent on the offense to get them into the playoffs. Next year will be their breakthrough year. NFC North Chicago (12-4) Green Bay (11-5) Detroit (8-8) Minnesota (5-11) Analysis: My god, do the Bears have an easy schedule. If they can keep Jay Cutler healthy, they have a good shot at winning the division. A solid defensive line should mask some of their deficiencies in the secondary. Green Bay has as good a shot as the Bears to win the division, but we need to see a more ferocious pass-rush and better secondary play this year. Also, there needs to be some semblance of a run-game. Sadly, I think the Lions regressed on defense this year. That secondary, outside of Delmas, is still a mess. Their offense should keep them in almost every game this year but I don't see them getting more than nine wins. The Vikings are still rebuilding, and are stuck in a tough division to boot. Need to see improvement from Ponder this year before we can say they've turned the corner. NFC South - New Orleans (10-6) Atlanta (9-7) Tampa Bay (8-8) Carolina (6-10) It's really a coin flip between Atlanta and New Orleans for me. It really depends on which team plays better on the road this season, as both of them seem to enjoy pretty good homefield advantage. I think Tampa will be much better than they were a year ago, under a new coach. Carolina still has a lot of questions on defense. NFC West San Francisco (11-5) Seattle (6-10) St. Louis (6-10) Arizona (3-13) Analysis: San Fran by default? Still the worst division in football by a wide margin. The sad thing is that all of these teams have pretty decent defenses, but the offenses are a trainwreck. St. Louis could surprise if they get decent offensive line play. For Seattle it all depends on what kind of play they get from Matt Flynn. Arizona is a mess. AFC East - New England (11-5) Buffalo (10-6) Miami (9-7) New York Jets (6-10) Analysis: I don't know if New England is the best team in the division, but they certainly have the best schedule (again). I don't know if I trust Buffalo. They seem to be the cute sleeper pick, which usually doesn't end well, but they have some favourable matchups and a revamped defense. I think Miami could end up being better than everyone expects if they get better secondary play, but they have huge questions at WR. The Jets continue to slide with Sanchez at the helm. AFC North - Baltimore (11-5) Pittsburgh (10-6) Cleveland (7-9) Cincinnati (6-10) Analyisis: Pittsburgh still hasn't fixed their offensive line issues (or the secondary for that matter) but the offense will keep them in a wildcard spot. I'm expecting better play from Flacco and the Ravens this year, even with the Suggs injury. Marvin Lewis has a history of beating up on easy schedules to inflate his record, and then fading the next year when the schedule gets harder. The Browns should be slightly better than last year. AFC South - Houston (12-4) Tennessee (9-7) Jacksonville (5-11) Indianapolis (4-12) Analysis: This is Houston's division, and they should be the favourites to win the AFC if they stay healthy. Tennessee's defense keeps them out of the playoffs, and could cause them to fall down the division if Blaine Gabbert progresses this season, or gets any help from WRs we've actually heard of. Andrew Luck will be good, but the rest of the Colts won't be. AFC West: San Diego (10-6) Kansas City (9-7) Denver (8-8) Oakland (7-9) Analysis: I think this division is pretty mediocre. The Chargers look the best on paper. I think Carson Palmer is terrible at this point in his career, and the Raiders' secondary is awful. Peyton Manning can't fix the problems with Denver's defense. KC will be better with everyon healthy. Playoffs - Wildcard: San Francisco over Atlanta New Orleans over Green Bay San Diego over Pittsburgh Buffalo over New England Divisional: New Orleans over Chicago Philadelphia over San Francisco Houston over Buffalo Baltimore over San Diego Conference Houston over San Diego Philadelphia over New Orleans Super Bowl Houston over Philadelphia Yeah I went homer. Oh well. League MVP - Drew Brees Offensive POY - Calvin Johnson Defensive POY - Patrick Willis