My predictions for the AFC have already been posted, so here
are my NFC Playoff predictions. This post will include my Super Bowl XLVII
prediction.
NFC Postseason
1. Green Bay Packers (13-3) – NFC North
Champion, Home Field Advantage
The Packers stumbled in the playoffs last year in a game I
actually predicted them to lose. But I don’t think that was a foreshadowing of
future troubles for this team. I don’t think they’ll make a long undefeated run
this year, but that may make this an even better 13-3 than their 15-1 record
was last year. They won’t feel the same pressure and they will enter the
postseason much more relaxed. But this team is just as good as they were last
year and the only thing that I see keeping them from the top of this conference
is multiple catastrophic injuries.
2. San Francisco 49ers (12-4) – NFC West
Champion, 1st Round Bye
This team’s defense is what gives me some level of
confidence in this pick. I am a bit nervous about their offense. I liked their
additions of Brandon Jacobs and Mario Manningham this offseason; Jacobs will
give the 49ers a legitimate backup they can turn to in order to keep Frank Gore
well rested, but it remains to be seen how much Manningham will be able to do,
and it has nothing to do with him. Last year Alex Smith was good - not very
good, not great, just good. What he did very well was limit turnovers, but with
the confidence he almost certainly gained from the team’s conference
championship appearance, will he take more chances this year? If he does,
expect more interceptions, and that could keep San Francisco from the number
two spot in the conference. Still, I don’t think any other team in the division
can touch them, so they’ll still get in the playoffs regardless.
3. Philadelphia Eagles (11-5) – NFC East
Champion
They may still consider themselves the ‘Dream Team,’ but
while I do think they’ll make some noise this year, I don’t think they will
sprint away with the division. This is a team full of athleticism. Last year I
saw what I repeatedly called a lack of talent. Clearly every player on the team
knows how to play football, but they could not seem to find a way to play as
one unit until the latter part of the season, and I consider the ability to
work as one with your teammates as the number one indicator of a high level of
football talent. Considering how they closed the season, and the athleticism
present on this team, they should find their way into the postseason.
4. Atlanta Falcons (11-5) – NFC South
Champion
I think the Saints will do well considering what they are
going up against this year, but I also think the Falcons will take advantage of
whatever they can to pull out the division championship. I’m still waiting for
Matt Ryan to ditch the ‘Ice’ moniker, but they still have so much talent on
defense and around Ryan on offense that I really think they can get it done.
5. Detroit Lions (11-5) – 2nd Place NFC
North, Wild Card
This year will be an interesting one for Detroit. With all
the offseason arrests this year, the Lions were hit the hardest. They even cut
a player after being arrested for the second time since the 2011-12 season
ended. What keeps them among the best for me is Jim Schwartz. He has really
brought that team out of the depths of Detroit and into the limelight and I
think that within the next 5 years he should have this franchise making it’s
first ever Super Bowl appearance.
6. New Orleans Saints (9-7) – 2nd Place NFC
South, Wild Card
Picking the Saints actually wasn’t as difficult a decision
as some might think. I certainly was not going to give the Cowboys the nod.
They didn’t really show me anything last season to suggest that they could make
the run this year, so they have a lot to prove to me before I doubt them any
less. I think the Bears could have a nice run, but it is very tough for a third
team in a single division to make the postseason, especially when both of the
other teams win 11+ games and you don’t manage 10. Drew Brees was the NFL
Offensive Player of the Year in 2011 for good reason. I truly felt that he
should have been the MVP last year. There are so many offensive weapons on this
team, and even though Vilma will be gone for at least 8 games if not the full
season, the defense is still good and I am confident that Steve Spagnuolo is
going to be fantastic for that unit.
Rest of the
Conference
I already mentioned the Cowboys and Bears and why I don’t
think they will make it. The Bears have some things going for them, including
Jay Cutler and Matt Forte. The Cowboys could certainly prove me wrong, and they
are my third favorite to do so. I think the Giants are more likely to sneak in
than the Cowboys. They have a very good team, and last year Eli more than
proved that he was not crazy to call himself elite. I love the Redskins, but
they are still at least a year, probably two years, from being a pre-season
contender for a postseason appearance.
The Vikings have Jared Allen, but do we even know for sure
who their starting quarterback will be? I mean, sure everyone assumed Christian
Ponder will be the man, but what about Webb? He certainly seemed to earn some
consideration, but I don’t think either is the man to carry this team to the
next level.
I cannot imagine the Panthers will not improving this year,
but will they claw their way into the playoffs? I don’t think this will be the
season, but they will win a couple more games than they did in 2011. I like the
Bucs’ hire of Greg Schiano from Rutgers but, as with most college coaches, I
think he will struggle more than most rookie players during his first year or
two. The five wins I gave them might even be considered generous by season’s
end.
To call anyone else in the NFC West a serious contender is
ludicrous. The Rams have the best chance assuming Bradford and Jackson stay
healthy, but mostly because of Jeff Fisher. The Seahawks will continue to be
pretenders, but not even good ones this year. As for the Cardinals, Kolb is
going to be feeling that injured rib for the rest of the season, and Skelton will
not be able to take this team anywhere, but then I didn’t think Kolb would be
able to either – after all, I did predict their 5-11 record before the Hall of
Fame Game began.
Preliminary Playoff
Predictions
This is the first year that I have done this. In my last
post I made my preliminary predictions for the AFC Playoffs. This one will have
my predictions for the NFC Playoffs and for the Super Bowl, which will feature
the New England Patriots, who I chose to win the AFC Conference Championship at
the end of my last post.
NFC Wild Card
New Orleans Saints @ Philadelphia
Eagles
It seems that when teams have a family member of an
important person within the organization pass away, their level of play
elevates in the most important games. With Coach Reid’s son passing Sunday
morning, you can bet the season will be dedicated to him and to Andy Reid. The
Saints, meanwhile, will be playing without Sean Payton, which will make a big
difference in a playoff game.
Detroit Lions @ Atlanta
Falcons
The Falcons have been nearly impossible to beat at home the
past two regular seasons, having lost only 3 times over that span – twice to
the Saints and once last year to the 15-1 Green Bay Packers. I don’t think
they’ll do any worse this year and Detroit will lose their postseason opener to
a NFC South opponent for the second year in a row.
NFC Divisional
Playoffs
Atlanta Falcons @ Green
Bay Packers
The Pack have had the Falcons number the past couple
seasons, and playing at home will only greaten their advantage.
Philadelphia Eagles
@ San Francisco 49ers
Ditto on what I said above for the Eagles, and as I also
said above about the 49ers, I could see a few mistakes on chances taken by
their quarterback coming back to haunt them in a game like this.
NFC Championship Game
Philadelphia Eagles @ Green
Bay Packers
I hate to pick the top seed from both conferences to go to the Super Bowl. However, again as I said
before, this could be a Packers team playing with much less pressure on their
shoulders this year. They are no longer the defending Super Bowl Champions;
they also won’t be undefeated for nearly as long this year as they were last
season.
Super Bowl XLVII in New
Orleans, LA
New England Patriots
@ Green Bay Packers
Yes, I know the Packers would not be playing at home, but
the NFC is the designated home team in odd-numbers Super Bowls, so that
explains that.
Part of me really thinks the Packers could pull this one
out, and they really could. But I love NFL history and, though I probably go
back to the leagues history a bit more than is healthy, I have to point out
that Brady has not lost a Conference Championship Game or a Super Bowl against
a team quarterbacked by someone with a last name other than Manning. Of course,
he also has not won a Super Bowl since 2004-05 so maybe I just cannot predict
this game so early. But let’s just go ahead and note that my pre-season Super
Bowl favorite is the Pats over the Pack.
Thanks again to all of you who read this. Hopefully you
thought it was good, and if so be sure to recommend my blog to your friends.
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seeing the links on the side of this page. Enjoy the 2012-13 NFL Season, and be
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