NFL Division Standings Predictions

[Al B. Sure!]

We need more football talk

Post your prediction for end of year standings and who is making the playoffs.

[SlowwHand]

Saints vs. Dallas
Jets vs. Baltimore

Dallas vs. Jets

Dallas

[Al B. Sure!]

NFC EAST
The Beast, the NFC East is a tough call. Four very good teams who have about an equal chance of taking the division. It's quite likely the two wildcard spots will come from this division. Injuries will likely be the deciding factor in who takes the top spot. The Giant's defense will rebound with a new D-coordinator and look to see Brandon Jacobs have his carries reduced which will only make him more productive as a situational back. The linebackers spot is a huge question mark for this team so don't expect the Giants to be particularly good against the run. This is a team that will try to score points and force opposing teams to play catch up through the air, allowing those fierce pass-rushers to get to the QB. Some might worry about Kevin Kolb taking over for McNabb but there's no reason to expect Kolb to not follow in the footsteps of signal-callers like Rodgers and Rivers who sat out for a few years before inheriting a top flight offense. Desean Jackson will be as productive as ever as will Brent Celek but look for rookie Riley Cooper to emerge this season and remind many of dependable possession receivers like Joe Jurevicious or Ed McCafferty. Lesean McCoy has been oddly under the radar for some time, but he easily fits into the niche vacated by Westbrook. The Redskins have obviously improved with the addition of Donovan McNabb and Mike Shanahan at the helm but questions remain about this offensive line and if McNabb can stay healthy if he takes a beating. The switch to a 3-4 should make Brian Orakpo very relevant in his second year. The Cowboys suck.

NFC EAST
Giants
Eagles (wildcard)
Redskins (wildcard, assuming McNabb is healthy)
Cowboys


NFC SOUTH
The Saints are easily at the top of this division and possibly the conference as long as their most valuable player, Drew Brees, never gets hurt. This is a team with no real weakness. The Falcons will take the #2 spot and be in the wildcard mix though I question if Michael Turner will be productive. The Panthers can win games if they rely on their potent rushing attack and keep Matt Moore as a game-manager but one has to worry about the lack of viable receivers on this team not named Steve Smith. The Panthers have all the makings of an 7-9 team though John Fox is a good coach fighting for his job. The Buccaneers are the bottom dwellers of the conference and really have no names besides Kellen Winslow. This is a team still rebuilding so won't make any surprises.

NFC SOUTH
Saints
Falcons
Panthers
Buccaneers


NFC NORTH
Two very competitive teams, a so-so team, and the Detroit Lions. The statistics are against Brett Favre for repeating his magical season of a year ago but considering these talented and improving receivers, the sky's the limit for Brett in his 20th year. There are some problems with the Vikings, however. The defense is getting older and the offensive line isn't what it used to be and Adrian Peterson's declining averages reflect this fact. The Packers, meanwhile, are young and improving but have possibly the worst offensive line in football. The addition of rookie Bryan Bulaga was a significant pickup but the line is still questionable. Ryan Grant will have another productive year under the radar as one of the few featured backs in the league not playing in a multi-back system. The success of the Bears rests entirely on how Jay Cutler applies the Mike Martz system which is an offense very different than what he excelled under in Denver. The development of receivers Johnny Knox, Devin Aromashadu, and Joaquin Iglesias will have a lot of bearing on how well the Bears make out next season. Don't expect Cutler's interceptions to go down, however. The Lions, well... By Week 17, Stafford will be called a bust and there will be murmurs of Detroit picking up a FA QB in the off-season.

NFC NORTH
Vikings
Packers (wildcard if McNabb is injured and the 'Skins falter)
Bears
Lions


NFC WEST
Alex Smith will continue to impress, especially behind what will emerge as the best offensive line in football. This is a team that across the board, offensive line, receivers, tight end, runningbacks, defense, has all the right pieces for a Super Bowl run. Alex Smith (or really, anyone) will be a good QB under this system. The defense has been a little under the radar lately but has been steadily improving and amassing the pieces to be very good. Possibly the #1 defense in the NFC next year. The Cardinals will falter without Warner and Boldin. Neither Hightower nor Wells are the type of backs to break off big plays and defenses without much fear of Leinart can play 8 or 9 in the box. I would argue despite his attitude with the organization, Boldin would have been a better receiver to keep than Fitzgerald for the type of offense the Cardinals will have to run with Leinart at QB. The Seahawks will surprise this year with a healthy Hasselbeck in his swan song and will be in the wildcard hunt. The Rams have nothing going for them.

NFC WEST
49ers
Seahawks
Cardinals
Rams

A repeat of the Vikes and Saints in the NFC championship seems the most likely but one of these teams will falter and there's always got to be a surprise every year so... Vikings vs. 49ers and Vikings win to head to the Super Bowl.

[Al B. Sure!]

Saints vs. Dallas
Jets vs. Baltimore

Dallas vs. Jets

Dallas

Not happening with Wade Philips.

Actually, here's my real Cowboys analysis... Romo will be productive as usual but Miles Austin will come back to earth. Still, the offense has enough weapons to be potent and there's always the possibility of relying on the running game with Barber, Jones, and Choice. The offensive line is middling and the team really hasn't made any significant improvements to either side of the ball, however, so I wouldn't get too excited about the Cowboys prospects. This is a team that, at best, may make the playoffs but won't get far, which is pretty typical for the Cowboys. Look for them to not make the playoffs this year, however.

[Ben Kenobi]

NFC:

Dallas
Green Bay
Saints
49ers

Wild card:

Giants, Atlanta

AFC

Jets
Ravens
Colts
Denver

Wild card:

Houston, Steelers

[Ben Kenobi]

NFC EAST

Cowboys, 1st.

No significant losses over last year. Miles Austin better this year than last. Retains the division which is far weaker this year than last year.

Giants, 2nd.

Also returning most of their team back, but less talent than the Boys makes it a competitive division. Will miss the division title, but should take the wildcard.

Eagles, 3rd

No McNabb, won't travel anywhere. Should finish under 500.

Redskins. 4th.

McNabb without his line? Rare example of a trade that makes both teams worse. Skins will fight it out with the Eagles for last place in the division.

NFC SOUTH
Saints
Falcons
Panthers
Buccaneers

I agree with Albert's argument, although I believe this division will be the most competitive in the NFC, the only one to have a winning record against the AFC. Falcons should earn the wildcard and the Eagles won't be relevant.

NFC NORTH
Packers.
Bears.
Vikings.
Lions.

Everyone else in the division, with the exception of the Bears will take a step backwards. Bears won't have enough to catch up. Not a very good division with the Bears taking second by default as the Vikings see the end of Farve's streak due to injury and he finally hangs em up.


NFC WEST
49ers
Cardinals
Rams
Seahawks.

I agree with Albert except where the Seahags are concerned. They are a terrible team in a terrible division and will be the worst team in the NFL.

AFC East

NY Jets
Miami
NE Patriots
Buffalo

End of an era as the Pats fall to third against the up and coming Phins and Jets.

AFC North

Ravens
Steelers
Bengals
Browns

Bengals and Browns will have another year of suckitude, giving the Steelers second and the wildcard by default. The Ravens should have no problem dominating the division.

AFC South

Indy
Houston
Titans
Jags

The most competitive division in all of football. Houston finally takes the big leap into the wildcard behind Indy who rides Peyton Manning to yet another division title.

AFC West

Denver
Chargers
KC
Oakland.

Chargers, no LT, no WRs is good enough for second place in one of the weakest divisions in football. Denver finally takes their division back again.

[flash9286]

AFC West
Chargers
Denver
Oakland
KC
AFC South
Indy
Houston
Titans
Jags
AFC East
Jets
Pats
Miami
Buffalo
AFC North
Ravens
Bengals
Steelers
Browns
NFC WEST
Cardinals
49ers
Seahawks
Rams
NFC NORTH
Vikings
Packers
Bears
Lions
NFC East
Cowboys
Eagles
Giants
Redskins
NFC South
Saints
Atlanta
Panthers
Bucs

[Al B. Sure!]

you're missing two divisions there, flash.

I'm not going to do an AFC breakdown but here's my prediction of standings.

AFC EAST
Jets
Dolphins
Patriots
Bills

AFC SOUTH
Colts
Titans
Texans
Jaguars

AFC NORTH
Ravens
Bengals
Steelers
Browns

AFC WEST
Chargers
Broncos
Raiders
Chiefs

It's really hard to pick wildcard teams because there's so much relative parity. Let's go with Dolphins and Titans making the wildcard.

AFC championship will be Ravens vs. Chargers and the Ravens win.

So Super Bowl prediction of Ravens vs. Vikings. You heard it here first.

[flash9286]

you're missing two divisions there, flash.

Fixed, thanks.

[OzzyKP]

NFC:

Cowboys
Packers
Saints
49ers

Wild card:

Vikings, Falcons

AFC

Jets
Ravens
Colts
Broncos

Wild card:

Texans, Patriots

[duke o' york]

AFC East
Patriots
Dolphins
Jets
Bills

AFC North
Steelers
Ravens
Bengals
Browns

AFC South
Colts
Jaguars
Texans
Titans

AFC West
Chargers
Broncos
Raiders
Chiefs

NFC East
Eagles
Cowboys
Giants
Redskins

NFC North
Vikings
Packers
Bears
Lions

NFC South
Saints
Falcons
Buccaneers
Panthers

NFC West
Cardinals
49ers
Rams
Seahawks

[SlowwHand]

AFC West
Chargers
Oakland
Denver
KC

AFC South
Houston
Titans
Indy
Jags

AFC East
Jets
Pats
Miami
Buffalo

AFC North
Ravens
Bengals
Steelers
Browns

NFC WEST
49ers
Cardinals
Seahawks
Rams

NFC NORTH
Vikings
Packers
Bears
Lions

NFC East
Cowboys
Redskins
Giants
Eagles


NFC South
Saints
Atlanta
Panthers
Bucs

[duke o' york]

So far, everyone except Ben thinks that the NFC North is going to go the same way. Why Ben, why?

[Ben Kenobi]

I'm also the one predicting that Favre goes down.

as the Vikings see the end of Farve's streak due to injury and he finally hangs em up.

[Al B. Sure!]

Ben, you'd need Favre AND Adrian Peterson to get hurt to see the Vikings drop to 3rd in the NFC North.

Remember, this is a team that before Favre went 10-6 and lost a close wildcard game to the Eagles. Tarvaris Jackson is good enough that the Vikes are playoff-capable even without Favre (hell, he had a 95.4 QB rating the year before Favre came on board). And, of course, Adrian Peterson virtually guarantees them at least 8 wins a season.

Not to mention Sidney Rice, Percy Harvin, and Bernard Berrian who will be healthy this year. I think the Vikings will be just fine without Favre. Not as good, but still a playoff contender.