NFL Season Preview

Football is back. And you know what? I'm not going to keep you waiting with some long introduction like I did for my baseball preview. I'm going to try to make this article more precise. Also note: while this article is going up today on September 8, 2013, after many of this week's games of have been played, all my picks were made before Thursday night's game but I couldn't get this all up until I finished all my writing. I've been busy starting this whole college thing. And so let's do this thing.

AFC North
The Bengals are winning this division. They are a good, young, up and coming team. Sure, Andy Dalton is the starting quarterback. But this team is real good. With the addition of rookie Giovani Bernard at running back, they could have a much better running game, an area that hasn't been the best in the past. Anything short of a playoff victory this year will be a disappoint for Bengals fans. But if they do that, fans will be ecstatic.The real question in this division, is who can nab a Wild Card spot: the Ravens or the Steelers? The Ravens were a great team last year. Don't get me wrong, they won the Super Bowl. But I think this is going to be a transition year for them. Without Ray Lewis and Ed Reed, they are going to need to create a new defensive identity. They got younger, and they added Elvis Dumervil. There's talent on the defensive side, and I think they'll be very good next year. But again, I think this is going to be transition year and there are going to be some struggles. Think of this year as like the 2009 Pittsburgh Steelers season. The Steelers won the Super Bowl in 2008, but the next year they had the Super Bowl hangover, had their struggles, went 9-7 and missed the playoffs. But then the very next season they won the AFC and came close to winning the Super Bowl. That gets me to my next topic: the 2013 Pittsburgh Steelers. The Steelers are coming off a disappointing 8-8 season plagued by injuries. They didn't get a ton better this offseason. They lost stars Mike Wallace and James Harrison (who the Bengals got on a dime). I really don't know what this Steelers season will hold. I'm still baffled by why they kept Todd Haley. But I think Markus Wheaton could step up and have a nice rookie year at receiver. With the losses the Steelers have had, the big key to this season will be for young role players to step up in to bigger roles; just like another team in Pittsburgh (the Pirates) have done this baseball season. Take for example Cortez Allen. Allen showed good promise at corner at the end of last season when he forced 5 turnovers (two interceptions, three forced fumbles) over the last two games. The biggest question will the the Steelers run game. They cut Jonathan Dwyer this preseason, who I actually thought looked good last season. Rookie Le'Veon Bell is going to need to step up when/if he returns from his injury this fall. If he doesn't, it will be up to Isaac Redman, LaRod Stephens-Howling, or Felix Jones to do so. Yikes. Actually, I wouldn't be shocked if the Steelers and Ravens BOTH miss the playoffs. Yep. You heard it right here. I also feel like I'm forgetting something. I've only talked about three teams in this division. Oh yeah, there's the Browns. Let's just say it's going to be another tough year for them . . .

AFC East
The Patriots lost pro-bowl targets Wes Welker and Aaron Hernandez and will be without beast tight end Rob Gronkowski for a mysterious amount of time. With those gone, and Tom Brady another year older (36), could the Patriots be in danger of letting someone else with the division? Well, I wouldn't be too concerned, considering they play in the same division as the Dolphins, Bills and Jets. So this isn't the year that the Patriots give up the throne (if that ever happens). Keep in mind that Welker and Hernandez came to the Patriots as undervalued gems that other teams passed on. Hernandez was a 4th round pick and Welker went undrafted in the 2004 draft (who was later picked up by the Chargers and Dolphins and the Patriots traded a second round pick for). The Pats saw potential in them, and Tom Brady developed them in to stars. What's to say that there isn't a Wes Welker or Aaron Hernandez on the current Pats roster? Tight end Zach Sudfeld has been called "a baby Gronk". A 6'7 250+ lb. tight end with Tom Brady throwing passes to him? Shyeah. Also keep your eye on Kenbrell Thompkins. And if Gronk comes back fine and Amendola stays healthy, watch out. As for the other teams, the Bills and Jets will be starting rookie quarterbacks. If I had to pick a team to finish second, I'd take the Dolphins. But that isn't saying much.

AFC South
The Texans got this. I don't exactly see the Texans being the top dog in the AFC, but I think they could sneak in there. Wouldn't be surprised if they have a top 2 seed. Also wouldn't be surprised if they lose in the first round of the playoffs. The Titans have potential to be a surprise team. However do I expect them to be one? Nope. Jaguars have another rebuilding season, and Blaine Gabbert fights for his job.

AFC West
The Broncos are going to run away with this division. They'll pick up some free wins from their easy division, however I do think the Chiefs could be a surprise team, and dare I say, perhaps sneak in to the playoffs? Anything short of a Super Bowl win is a disappointment for this Broncos team. They have to win now because Peyton's only gotten so much more time in this league, however at age 37 and after three neck surgeries, he is showing no signs of wear and tear. The past two years I picked the Chiefs to win the division. And they have disappointed me both times. But I'll pick them for a Wild Card this year. Yep, you heard me correct. This team has good upside, and with game manager Alex Smith at quarterback, I think this is the year they could be real. The defense has looked really good in preseason too. In a year where the Steelers and Ravens are very iffy, I'm going to take a surprise team and put them in the playoffs. And this year's surprise is the Kansas City Chiefs. As for the Chargers and Raiders . . . better luck next year.

NFC North
Ah, now we are back in the NFC. This is a tough division. You got the Packers who are sure to win 10-12 games. You got the Vikings who are coming off a playoff appearance with a nice, young core that can only get better. And then you got the Bears, who will look better and stronger than they did last year. The offensive line is tougher and Cutler will actually have time to pass now. BUT their schedule is a lot tougher. And then the Lions are the ultimate mystery. They clearly have talent, and they were a playoff team in 2011, but took a giant step backwards going 4-12. How will they look this year? I'll say the Packers win the division, however I'll hold off on saying my Wild Card picks.

NFC East
This is a division anyone can win. I like the Giants though. The last time they missed the playoffs, they came back and won the Super Bowl the following year. I say they're more motivated this year, and they win the division. Cowboys finish last and toss-up between Eagles/Redskins for who gets that second place (as if it matters).

NFC South
Ladies and gentlemen, Sean Payton is back. And so are the Saints. It's awfully tough to make the playoffs when you are without your coach for an entire season, but the Saints are back. There's been a lot of hype surrounding the Atlanta Falcons entering this season. And you know what? I'm not completely buying it. Panthers and Bucs could also be tougher in this division. There are a lot of good teams in the NFC and a lot of bad teams in the AFC, and that is kind of unfortunate.

NFC West
Ever since this spring, I've been saying that the two best teams in the league could be playing in the same division. And that is the Seahawks and 49ers. I'm going to take the 49ers to win the division. But that's not the end of this battle. I believe in my heart of hearts that we're going to be seeing these two teams slugging it out at some point in the playoffs, which could be the toughest challenge either team will face all year. The Cardinals and Rams have improved and could be surprise teams, but it's going to be tough to snag a playoff spot in the NFC.

NFC Wild Card
Alright so I got to pick two wild card teams? Give me the Seahawks and . . . the Chicago Bears. That's right. In Marc Trestman's first year as head coach, the Bears will survive a tough schedule and nab a playoff spot. It won't be easy, but I'm predicting that it happens.


PLAYOFFS

Wild Card Weekend
4 Cincinnati Bengals OVER 5 Indianapolis Colts
3 Houston Texans OVER 6 Kansas City Chiefs
6 Chicago Bears OVER 3 Green Bay Packers
5 Seattle Seahawks OVER 4 New York Giants

Divisional Round
1 Denver Broncos OVER 4 Cincinnati Bengals
2 New England Patriots OVER 3 Houston Texans
1 San Francisco 49ers OVER 6 Chicago Bears
5 Seattle Seahawks OVER 2 New Orleans Saints

Conference Championships
2 Patriots OVER 1 Broncos- In a classic showdown between Tom Brady and Peyton Manning, I'm taking Brady. I can't bet on Peyton Manning in cold weather playoff games, but this will be the game of the year.
1 49ers OVER 5 Seahawks- Another great game. Russell Wilson vs Colin Kaepernick. What if this becomes this Brady-Manning rivalry of the next generation? Wouldn't be entirely surprised. I'm going 49ers here.

Super Bowl
The past two years, I've picked the Patriots to in it all. They have come very close to doing so. Tom Brady is quite possibly my favorite quarterback in league history, and with one more ring could help his case for greatest quarterback of all-time. I'm not going to pick the same team to win three years in a row, so instead, I'm going to go with the 49ers, with Colin Kaepernick winning Super Bowl MVP, and joining the elite group of quarterbacks in the National Football League. I hope that I'm wrong and I hope Tom Brady wins another Super Bowl, but I like Kaepernick and I think this 9ers team is unstoppable. 49ers 27, Patriots 20