NFL Preview 2012 and Playoff Predictions

Are you ready for some football? My preview for the 2012 NFL season

American Football Conference (AFC)

AFC North:
1. Baltimore Ravens
Notes: Just like last season the Ravens finish in first place, might be for the last time though with Reed, Lewis getting towards their end and the Cincinatti Bengals are clearly on the rise.
2. Cincinatti Bengals
Notes: Despite losing first round draft pick CB Dre Kirkpatrick, they added insurance with CB Terrence Newman, with 2nd year QB Dalton and 2nd year WR Green as one of the best young QB-WR tandems (besides Stafford-Johnson) the Bengals may be ready to fly.
3. Pittsburgh Steelers
Notes: The Steelers really have not made any moves besides improving their offensive line with first round pick G David DeCastro and are threatened by the holdout of their star WR Mike Wallace.
4. Cleveland Browns
Notes: Cleveland improved by drafting top draft pick RB Trent Richardson who could right away be a star, at 28 years old QB Brandon Weeden might have to start right away meaning Colt McCoy's days are numbered the only thing missing in Cleveland now is a primetime WR.  If they do that they will be ready to take off and fly high especially with establishing already one of the best young defenses in the league (allowed 19.2 points a game, tied for 5th in the NFL).

AFC South:
1. Houston Texans
Notes: It's a strong possibility that if last season Houston had a healthy Matt Schaub the Texans could have gotten past the Ravens into the AFC Championship game to face the Patriots, Schaub-Johnson is another lethal connection, don't forget this.
2. Tennessee Titans
Notes: Depending on the health of WR Kenny Britt, QB Hasselbeck could have one last run in him before Locker takes over.
3. Jacksonville Jaguars
Notes: I am not sold on QB Blaine Gabbert, however perhaps the draft addition of top pick WR Justin Blackmon will help and with a not too shabby defense (allowing 20.6 ppg for 11th best in the NFL) the Jags will improve this year.
4. Indianapolis Colts
Notes: QB Andrew Luck could be really good some day but like the other rookie QBs (esp Peyton when he was a rookie) he is most likely to struggle, especially having to be able to fill Peyton Manning's shoes..those are very big shoes to fill.

AFC East:
1. New England Patriots
Notes: Surprise, surprise the Patriots finish back in 1st in the division and the move they made might be totally under the radar as they acquired WR Brandon Lloyd a deep threat for the offense that it might have lacked.  Not to mention the Pats may have well improved their 15th best defense in the league (21.4 points allowed per game) by adding LB Donta Hightower out of Alabama.
2. New York Jets
Notes: With the Jets dominating headlines since the acquisition of QB Tim Tebow, the draft moves of DE Quinton Coples and WR Stephen Hill might go under the radar especially with Sanchez who threw a career best 26 TDs last season, even though him and the Jets have been missing a deep threat since Braylon Edwards last played there whom averaged 17.1 yards a catch.
3. Buffalo Bills
Notes: The Bills started off hot last season and then finished 6-10, one of these years they'll be more consistent perhaps it will be this year.
4. Miami Dolphins
Notes: It'll be interesting to see how the Fins look without Marshall and how long Moore will be QB till Tannehill takes over, especially since their only main acquisition might be Pats reject WR Chad Ocho Cinco (now again known as Chad Johnson).

AFC West:
1. Denver Broncos
Notes: The Broncos shall repeat as division winners with the acquisition for an even better QB in Peyton Manning, even though Tebow's wins were like magic, if the Broncos are given a healthy Peyton Manning for the season, more magic could possibly happen as Manning could have a couple more great years left in him.
2. San Diego Chargers
Notes: Rivers had a very disappointing season last year, perhaps this year he bounces back and the Chargers end up with a wild card spot.
3. Oakland Raiders
Notes: The Raiders after last season sure looked like they were on the rise despite only finishing 8-8, they are a talented squad, however the firing of 1st year head coach Hue Jackson could cost them, I thought he did a good job last year.
4. Kansas City Chiefs
Notes: With a healthy Cassel, Charles, Bowe and Baldwin the offense could flourish but the loss of CB Brandon Carr might hurt more than anything else, even though they still have CB Brandon Flowers. Between the Chargers, Raiders and Chiefs the 2nd spot for the division is up for grabs at least in my opinion.

National Football Conference (NFC)

NFC North:
1. Green Bay Packers
Notes: One reason the Packers weren't able to repeat as Super Bowl champions was the same reason they weren't able to beat the now defending Super Bowl champion Giants, their pass rush especially on their line but they might have now addressed them with the additions of their draft picks LB/DE Nick Perry and DT Jerel Worthy.
2. Chicago Bears
Notes: For all the talk about Jay Cutler not having any targets, that changed this season with the additions of newly reunited teammate Brandon Marshall and even draft pick Alshon Jeffery might make an impact away.
3. Detroit Lions
Notes: I can see them winning as many games as they did last season however it's a tough division, of course if they have a healthy Stafford and Johnson that would be enough to win some games right there, especially since I see a breakout season from Suh. If it was up to me the Lions would be division champs but the truth is the Packers are really good right now and I think the Bears will be now that Cutler has some weapons, it's a tough division, then again maybe anything can happen.
4. Minnesota Vikings
Notes: A healthy Adrian Peterson is one reason to not take the Vikings for granted and their defense isn't that bad either, the question here will be how much improvement they see from 2nd year QB Christian Ponder.

NFC South:
1. New Orleans Saints
Notes: Despite Bountygate, and unless players get suspended for a year for this they are still a dangerous football team especially as long as Brees remains QB.
2. Carolina Panthers
Notes: Yes you read this right I have the Panthers finishing in 2nd in this division, I just get the feeling Cam Newton is going to get better and better and with Steve Smith as his right hand man and the addition of LB Luke Kuechly in the draft, he gets more help to start making the Panthers a better football team.
3. Atlanta Falcons
Notes: Despite the explosive duo of WRs Roddy White and Julio Jones, the concern of Matt Ryan still not being able to win a playoff game (the next Romo?) is major especially with it's very poor showing vs the Giants in the Wild Card round. I see them taking a step back despite the addition of CB Asante Samuel from Philadelphia.
4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Notes: Everything fell apart for them last season (especially with Coach Raheem Morris getting the boot) and truth is it might not get any better for Josh Freeman and company in as tough as a division as this is now.

NFC East:
1. New York Giants
Notes: Despite the losses of key players in WR Mario Manningham (spectacular grab in the Super Bowl) and RB Brandon Jacobs, you still have to respect the Giants for not only being defending NFC East champions but defending Super Bowl champions as well, you can no longer take Eli for granted, I certainly won't, they are the champs till defeated.
2. Philadelphia Eagles
Notes: I think they bounce back this season especially on the defensive end with the addition of DeMeco Ryans, perhaps Vick putting up a career best in passing numbers this year as well.
3. Dallas Cowboys
Notes: Tony Romo is a good QB not a great QB though and he fails to perform in the big moments so despite the addition of CB Brandon Carr in FA and CB Morris Claiborne through the draft to help their defense, until he is (if he is) they won't be able to go far.
4. Washington Redskins
Notes: Believe it or not RG3 has less pressure on him this season than Andrew Luck since Washington hasn't had a good QB since maybe Doug Williams while Luck has to try to fill Manning's shoes. It'll be interesting to see if RG3 can make an impact right away this season the way Cam did last season.

NFC West:
1. San Francisco 49ers
Notes: Many key additions this season in WRs Randy Moss (brought him out of retirement and Mario Manningham (might be an underrated move compared to Moss) and RB Brandon Jacobs and WR AJ Jenkins and RB LaMichael James in the draft.  It'll be interesting to see what Moss looks like on the field especially if Smith can utilize him well, I think he can since I believe he had his breakout game vs the Saints in the NFC Divisional Playoff game with the GW TD to Davis.
2. Seattle Seahawks
Notes: With the additions of WR Antonio Bryant and former Browns in Braylon Edwards and Kellen Winslow being reunited.  The question here is, could Matt Flynn be their guys? Or did my Lions make him look better than he actually was with their poor secondary? If he is their guy and deep threat WRs like Sidney Rice and Braylon Edwards can stay healthy (Edwards wasn't able to last season with the Niners) along with Winslow watch out for the Seahawks.
3. St. Louis Rams
Notes: Is this the year Sam Bradford finally breaks out? Or do we find out this year he's not as good as we thought he would be? The Rams could have an impact on their defense with CBs Cortland Finnegan and even risky draft pick CB Janoris Jenkins to at least be better than what they were last season.
4. Arizona Cardinals
Notes: CB Patrick Peterson could make an impact in his 2nd season not just as a punt/kick returner but as a CB this year, draft pick WR Michael Floyd could flourish next to one of the best WRs in the NFL in Larry Fitzgerald. However my question is who is going to throw to them? I'm still not sold on Kolb (wasted trade) or Skelton, 6th round draft pick Lindley? Unless he's the 2nd coming of Tom Brady no, I think they'll need to draft one next season in the 1st round, perhaps they'll land Barkley.

Playoff Predictions:
American Football Conference (AFC)
1. New England Patriots
2. Houston Texans
3. Denver Broncos
4. Baltimore Ravens
WC. Cincinatti Bengals
WC. San Diego Chargers

Wild Card game: Bengals vs Ravens. Winner: Bengals
Wild Card game: Chargers vs Broncos. Winner: Broncos
AFC Divisional game: Bengals vs Texans. Winner: Texans
AFC Divisional game: Broncos vs Patriots. Winner: Patriots
AFC Championship Game: Texans vs Patriots. Winner: Patriots

National Football Conference (NFC)
1. Green Bay Packers
2. San Francisco 49ers
3. New York Giants
4. New Orleans Saints
WC Chicago Bears
WC Philadelphia Eagles

Wild Card game: Bears vs Saints. Winner: Saints
Wild Card game: Eagles vs Giants. Winner: Giants
NFC Divisional game: Saints vs Packers. Winner: Packers
NFC Divisional game: Giants vs 49ers. Winner: 49ers
NFC Championship game: 49ers vs Packers. Winner: Packers

Super Bowl XLVII
Patriots vs Packers
Winner: Patriots

Last season I predicted the Patriots to win the Super Bowl and was just one Tom Brady missed pass from getting it right, lets hope the 2nd time is the charm and Brady gets his 4th so he and the Pats can be a Super Bowl before their window totally closes.