NFL Preview

With the Sox struggling to make the playoffs and football season about a week away, it is time for the Just My Opinion NFL Preview show! We're going to out line the surprises and "Not so surprising" for each division, along with my expected playoff set up and Super Bowl winner. (If you don't want to read each division, there's a quick version at the bottom.)

NFC East (Giants, Cowboys, Eagles, Redskins)
With Eli entering his second year as a starter, TO joining the Cowboys, and all the additions to the Redskins, this division may be the most contested in the NFC. You wouldn't have heard me predicting this two years ago when this was one of the weakest divisions in the NFL and we all knew the Eagles would run away with it. Well, this year I believe the Eagles will land in last place. I don't think the Giants will make the playoffs. Eli is still just too young. There is wild card potential from this division.

Winner: Dallas

NFC West (Cardinals, 49ers, Seahawks, St. Louis)
This division should just take the year off. Seattle has lost too many players to have a repeat appearance in the Super Bowl but there's nobody who is going to beat them from the NFC West! Arizona will improve vastly, but you can't win games without a defense. Their aging veterans will win more than the 5 games they won last year but they won't make it to the post season. St. Louis is going to have to acclimate to the new coach and the Niners might win more than the 4 they won last year. Seattle runs away with this one.

Winner: Seattle

NFC North (Vikings, Bears, Lions, Packers)
This is another cake pick. The Lions blew up their offense in an attempt to get better. If I were to compare them to another Detroit team: they are the Tigers of two years ago working their way to the Tigers of this season. They will be good, but not this year. The Packers have already dug their own grave by allowing Favre to decide whether or not he's returning (and then allowing him to play). I think he'll have a 1:2 TD:INT ratio this year. The Vikings are still recovering from last year's debacle and the Bear's D is unstoppable! Expect the Bear's maul the competition.

Winner: Chicago

NFC South (Panthers, Falcons, Saints, Buccaneers)
This one's not so cut and dry. The Panthers should take it, but they are the only team who didn't significant improve in the off season and with their injury prone superstars it may be a crap shoot. Here's what to watch: Can Vick complete more than 50% of his passes? Will the double barrel running game of Bush and McAllister rocket the Saints to victory? Is Sims ready to be a top rate passer rather than the dink and dunker that he's been? Watch for a wild card to come out of this division.

Winner: Carolina

NFC Wild Cards: Tampa Bay and Washington

AFC East (Dolphins, Jets, Patriots, Bills)
While the Dolphins have improved and are the popular pick for the national media, they still won't win this division. The Jets managed to get worse in the off season and the Bills have remained terrible. With the third easiest schedule in the NFL, the Patriots will run away with the playoff spot from the East. Watch for a fishy wild card team, though.

Winner: New England

AFC West (Raiders, Broncos, Chargers, Chiefs)
Somehow the Broncos managed to make it to the post season last year. I hope they enjoyed it, because they won't be back. They've lost too much and failed to acquire the talent to replace it. The Chargers should have been their last year and will be able to power through this year. The Chiefs still need defense! The Raiders? They might finish third in the division.

Winner: San Diego

AFC North (Bengals, Ravens, Browns, Steelers)
This division was shaping up to be a dogfight. A damaged Palmer vs a damaged Big Ben with a surging Browns and a contending Ravens! Now Ben's in the hospital, Palmer's looking less damaged than before the hit, the Browns are smoke and mirrors and the Ravens are hopeful but unlikely playoff contenders. The Bengals should run away with the AFC North. There may be a wild card team coming out of this division.

Winner: Cincinnati

AFC South (Texans, Jaguars, Colts, Titans)
It pains me to say it, so I'll get it out of the way: The Colts will again win this division. Without the Edge, Manning no longer has the same run threat so double covering Harrison will be much easier. Watch for Wayne to have a career year because of this. Also, Pittsburgh offered the NFL a toutorial on how to defeat the Colts in the playoffs last year (They took notes from all of the Indy/NE games.) The problem is, no one else in this division can beat them. Will they go far in the post season? No, but they'll get there. The Jaguars are their biggest competition, but watch for some surprise wins from Houston. Maybe a wild card team as well.

Winner:Indianapolis

AFC Wild Card: Miami and Pittsburgh

Quick Break Down:
NFC
East: Dallas (Bye)
West: Seattle
North: Chicago
South: Carolina (Bye)
Wild Card: Tampa Bay, Washington

AFC
East: New England (Bye)
West: San Diego
North: Cincinnati (Bye)
South: Indianapolis
Wild Card: Miami and Pittsburgh

Second Round teams:
NFC
Dallas
Carolina
Seattle
Chicago

AFC
New England
Cincinnati
San Diego
Pittsburgh

Championship game:
NFC
Dallas
Carolina

AFC
New England
Cincinnati

Super Bowl
New England vs Dallas

Champion
New England

Don't forget to check back in January to see how I did with my predictions. Don't put any money on these picks, though, because they are (after all) just my opinion.