Dear NFL Fans

Dear fans,

I know there are only 2 of you, but I still get to type fans in plural, so that’s very exciting for me.  My apologies for being gone so long, but this was obviously my busiest December of all time what with the kids and everything. I still got to watch football though, and it probably was one of the most exciting seasons in recent memory.  Except for the disappointing Pittsburgh Steelers and New York Giants.  I thought that perhaps that would be a Super Bowl preview, instead both of those organizations are already golfing this off-season. 

I'll try and keep this blog post short and beautiful.  A recap of my predictions for the year and how I fared, followed by a playoff preview.  First record will be my prediction, followed by the real thing.  Let’s hope I got some right!

AFC East

1. Patriots 13-3    1. Patriots 12-4. 

2. Bills 9-7           2. Dolphins 7-9

3. Jets 7-9            3. Bills 6-10

4. Dolphins 5-11  4. Jets 6-10

Not to far off.  I obviously didn’t think the Patriots could lose to Arizona, they proved me wrong.  Dolphins defense held up better than I thought, and I didn’t see Revis going out for the whole season.  Pretty predictable division, however.

AFC North

1. Steelers 12-4            1. Ravens 10-6

2. Ravens 11-5            2. Bengals 10-6

3. Bengals 9-7              3. Steelers 8-8

4. Browns 3-13            4. Browns 5-11

Weeden was a little better than I expected, and I didn’t think Ben would miss a game.  The Ravens & Bengals would’ve been exactly right if the Ravens didn’t sit the entire team in the final game of the year.  I’ll call this a push.

AFC South

1. Texans 11-5             1. Texans 12-4

2. Titans 6-10               2. Colts 11-5

3. Colts 5-11                3. Titans 6-10

4. Jaguars 1-15            4. Jaguars 2-14.

Didn’t give the Jaguars enough credit.  Shame, shame.  Also, I love Andrew Luck.  I want my 3 boys to be like Andrew Luck.  But not in my wildest dreams did I think he’d win 11 and get to the playoffs.  Simply astounding. Yay on Texans and Titans.

AFC West

1. Chiefs 11-5              1. Broncos 13-3

2. Broncos 8-8             2. Chargers 7-9

3. Raiders 7-9              3. Raiders 4-12

4. Chargers 7-9            4. Chiefs 2-14

According to my predictions, everyone in Kansas City should have been fired for that debacle.  Well, my guess is that this will be the last time anyone offers a one-year wonder a 30 million dollar contract to play quarterback.  Nope, Seattle did it to.  Anyway, I thought Peyton would miss 8 games, Peyton thought that I meant win 8 games at home.  Missed by 1, Peyton.

NFC East

1. Giants 11-5              1. Redskins 10-6

2. Eagles 11-5              2. Giants 9-7

3. Cowboys 6-10         3. Cowboys 8-8

4. Redskins 6-10          4. Eagles 4-12

No one can claim victory on the Philadelphia Eagles; I saw no predictions of them winning less than 8 games.  I also didn’t see anyone pick Washington to win this division.  I think I gave them more wins than most as I said, “Washington will win a few upsets, but they really have it all to do to win 8+ games in this division.” They did it all.

NFC North

1. Packers 11-5           1. Packers 11-5

2. Lions 11-5               2. Vikings 10-6

3. Bears 10-6               3. Bears 10-6

4. Vikings 5-11            4. Lions 4-12

By Lions I meant Vikings, and by Vikings I meant Lions.  Seriously, if AP had just told me that he was a better runner after his devastating injury, I probably would’ve considered this.  But I never imagined that he’d hit 2,000.  Packers and Bears exactly right, and I only missed one exact game on both of them. (Colts/Texans; Seahawks/Lions)

NFC South

1. Falcons 13-3            1. Falcons 13-3

2. Saints 9-7                 2. Saints 7-9    

3. Panthers 6-10           3. Panthers 7-9

4. Bucs 6-10                4. Bucs 7-9

Whoo hoo!  Only missed it by 4 total games!  I thought the Saints would push for the playoffs, but that 0-4 start killed them.  Carolina’s schedule was one of the league’s toughest, but I think they are on the right track.  Cam didn’t struggle too much against some of the NFL’s best pass defenses (Giants, Broncos, Cowboys)

NFC West

1. 49ers 12-4               1. 49ers 11-4-1

2. Seahawks 7-9          2. Seahawks 11-5

3. Cardinals 5-11         3. Rams 7-8-1

4. Rams 2-14               4. Cardinals 5-11 (4-0; 1-11)

Really underestimated the defensive talent in this division.  Almost predicted Arizona exactly right, “I could see the Cardinals running off 4 straight wins before cooling off.”  I just didn’t think they would beat the Patriots, and then lose to the Rams twice.  Damn 49ers tie really screwed me.  But I did see Seattle’s potential which I am proud of.  I did have Bradford missing 12+ games though...

AFC playoff teams correct: Baltimore, New England, Houston.

NFC playoff teams correct: Atlanta, S.F, Green Bay

Yuck.  6/12.  Should’ve put Cincy over Buffalo, and Denver...ahhhh!!!! NFC 3 were extremely difficult to predict, as the Vikings, Redskins and Seahawks won all of 15 games combined in 2011.

Super Bowl: Baltimore vs San Francisco.  Still have a shot, I suppose.  Wouldn’t spend my hard earned dollars betting on it though.

Injuries: The only one I got right was Matt Cassel. 

Surprises: Thank you very much on the Julio Jones.  Probably one of top 3 receivers in the NFL now.  Dashon Goldson I hit on too.  Missed on Ashlon Jeffery and DeMeco Ryans, although DeMeco was pretty solid for the Eagles. 

Not bad, but I really wish I could’ve had the Peyton and Sammy Bradford injuries back.  Really think I get close on my picks then.  Outside of Indy, Washington and Kansas City of course. 

Playoffs!?!?  You wanna talk about playoffs?!?!  You kidding me??

GM 1: Cincinnati at Houston. 

This sets up really well for the Bengals.  Houston really doesn’t want to be here, as their final two games indicated.  They had 2 beautiful chances to lock up the #1 seed, and missed badly.  That being said, they are a really tough match-up for most teams, and I think they could keep Dalton and A.J. Green off the field.  Look for the two running games to try and establish some clock control.  I’ll give it to Houston, but I really don’t like this pick. 

Texans by 4

GM 2: Minnesota at Green Bay.

Probably the toughest to pick of all the weekend games.  Minnesota is one of the two hottest teams in football, in my opinion.  They won on the road in Houston, and then beat the Packers at home to finish off the year.  The running game is the best in the league, and Ponder isn’t turning the ball over. That being said, all the Packers horses are coming back in time for this game.  If Woodson, Matthews, Cobb, Nelson and Jennings show no lingering effects, it should be enough to neutralize the AP factor.

Packers by 6

GM 3: Indy at Baltimore

Andrew Luck and Chuck Pagano are a great story for the NFL this year.  I wouldn’t guess that the ride would be over, and they could continue in their early quest toward another Super Bowl run.  However, the Ravens are playing off of full emotion right now, and they are a tough team to beat at home.  It is likely Ray Lewis’s last season (do you believe him), plus Ed Reed and some others are losing tread.  I think that Ray Rice is the key factor, and finally has a big game for one of the few times this season.  No Billy Cundiff to mess things up either.

Ravens by 10

GM 4: Seattle at Washington.

The other two hot teams in the league.  I don’t really consider the Washington Redskins to be a hot team, but they understand how to win in the close games.  This is actually a really tough match-up for the Seahawks as their defense can't just rush to the ball.  They are really all about pursue, pursue, pursue.  Washington does a great job blocking for their backfield, and they run a lot of misdirections and interesting options.  Look for the turnover battle and the special teams to decide this one, and I think Russell Wilson continues to shine.  Both #1 and #2 picks fall early.

Seahawks by 3