AFC East ~
The playoff loss to the Jets last season continues to gnaw at the psyche of the Patriots. They will contend again, but their juggernaut days have passed them by.
A strong running game and a great defense will make this team competitive, but a few mistakes by Sanchez and some coaching miscues at critical moments during the season will keep the Jets from winning the division.
The Dolphins have been rebuilding forever, it seems, and this year will feel no different. Adding a superstar third-down back like Reggie Bush will not be the solution to their continuing problems.
The perennial doormat of the AFC East, the Bills will once again play the 2011 season for whatever pride they can muster.
AFC North ~
Consistency during the lockout offseason, more than anything, will help the Steelers maintain their hold on the AFC North and four games against Cleveland And Cincinnati should be good enough to get them a first round bye in the playoffs.
Offensive questions marks and a strong, yet aging defense, will be just enough to keep the Ravens from a division title in 2011.
The Browns have all the potential in the world and would be a division favorite if they played in the NFC West, but in the AFC North the bullies up top of the standings will keep them in their place.
Two wins seems mighty generous for this squad, but I don't have the heart to pick them to finish 0-16.
AFC South ~
Finally, the division is ripe for Houston's taking. Now if they could just seize the day, they might actually feel what it's like to be one-and-done in the playoffs.
A slow start will have people questioning whether Indianapolis is finally done, but a weak division and a resurgent Peyton Manning will propel them into the playoffs as a wild card.
Chris Johnson runs wild, but that's about all that can be said about the 2011 Titans.
The Jaguars are good enough to steal a game from anybody, but are not consistent enough to do it on a regular basis.
AFC West ~
San Diego has a lot to prove this season and Rivers will finally turn his gaudy stat lines into W's.
The Raiders aren't quite for real yet, but the 2011 version is vastly improved over the squads that took to the field for Al Davis the previous decade.
A terrible defense, an interesting, but underachieving offense and a lot of turnover during a lockout offseason are all factors that will contribute to a terrible season in Denver.
NFC East ~
Consistent stability and the lingering frustration at having let the 2010 season slip away from them will motivate the Giants enough to get them back to the top of the NFC East.
The Eagles are trying to prove Dan Snyder wrong. They want to prove that you can, in fact, buy a championship. But lack of chemistry early will prove their undoing as a few early season losses will keep the Eagles from the division title.
The Cowboys will be better this year, but the defense won't make enough of an improvement under Ryan for Dallas to punch their way into the playoffs.
Snyder is hoping beyond all hope that the recent free agent acquisitions in Philadephia propel the Eagles to a sub-par, self-destructive season. Any other result, and his mis-management of the Redskins will become even more obvious to fans.
NFC North ~
Rodgers made every Cheesehead forget about the great Brett Favre. The Packers are primed for back-to-back Super Bowl titles, which would push Rodgers forever ahead of Favre in the pantheon of Packer greats.
Improved offense and declining defense puts the Bears in the middle of the pack once again.
The offense may be a year or two from truly coming into its own, but this defense is about as good as you can get for a non-playoff caliber team.
The Vikings are rebuilding this year. Despite all the hope and promise created by an offseason without any Favre-related drama, this team still has a long way to go before they challenge for an elusive Super Bowl appearance.
NFC South ~
Thursday night against the Packers will show the world whether or not the Saints can reclaim their championship glory of two seasons ago or if their window of opportunity has passed them by.
Youth struggles to find victories and inexperience leads to mistakes that keep this team in their spin cycle.
The Panthers will be better than the Bengals, but that isn't saying very much.
NFC West ~
St. Louis failed to make the playoffs last year, but the division is theirs to lose in 2011. Bradford and company learned a lot during 2010 and all the signs point to them making it into the post-season for the first time since the Greatest Show on Turf.
Kolb could be huge for the Cardinals, a team with almost no running game. Yet is this young gunslinger truly ready to take a team to a winning record over the course of an entire season? The jury is still out, but the Cards will be competitive, regardless of the answer.
The Seahawks are barely better than a .500 squad and at least 8 wins will be required in 2011 to clinch the NFC West title.
The glory days in San Francisco are long gone. Alex Smith is not the answer, but with the lockout, no viable alternative could be found. The 49ers will fall hard into the cellar of the weakest division in the NFL.
Projected AFC Playoff Teams ~
Division Champions
#1
#2
Wild Cards
#5
Wild Card Games ~
#3
#5
Divisional Games ~
#1
#2
AFC Championship Game ~
#1
Projected NFC Playoff Teams ~
Division Champions
#1
#2
#3
#4
Wild Cards
#5
#6
Wild Card Games ~
#6
#5
Divisional Games ~
#1
#2
NFC Championship Game ~
#1
Creative Misfortune's Preseason Super Bowl XLVI favorites ~
San Diego Chargers vs
Tomorrow, Creative Misfortune's Preseason Power Rankings…
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