Incredibly Early NFL Predictions

AFC East

1. New England Patriots 13-3 (5-1)
2. Buffalo Bills 9-7 (3-3)
3. New York Jets 9-7 (2-4)
4. Miami Dolphins 4-12 (2-4)

A much improved division (from top-to-bottom) leads to a logjam in spots 1-3, as the struggling Dolphins fight for air. In the end, the Patriots pull away with the East, despite a hard charge by the upstart Bills.

AFC North

1. Pittsburgh Steelers 11-5 (5-1)
2. Cincinnati Bengals 10-6 (2-4)
3. Baltimore Ravens 8-8 (4-2)
4. Cleveland Browns 3-13 (1-5)

The Ravens are the intriguing story in the AFC North, as this figures to be a decline year. With an already aging and T-Sizzle – less Raven defense, they will fail to keep pace with the Steelers. The Ravens struggle to play .500 football and the Bengals, led by their young offensive core, beat out the Ravens and earn a play-off spot in a very competitive division, save the re-building Browns.

AFC South

1. Houston Texans 12-4 (6-0)
2. Tennessee Titans 7-9 (3-3)
3. Jacksonville Jaguars 4-12 (2-4)
4. Indianapolis Colts 3-13 (1-5)

The Texans are already a strong team, and with any luck regarding their injury reports, should dominate this very weak division. Each team is shaky at the quarterback position and do not figure to pose any threat to the well-rounded, and now-experienced Texans squad.

AFC West

1. Denver Broncos 10-6 (4-2)
2. Kansas City Chiefs 8-8 (3-3)
3. San Diego Chargers 7-9 (3-3)
4. Oakland Raiders 7-9 (2-4)

The AFC West is an increasingly competitive division that features upstarts, veteran Quarterbacks on their comeback (Manning, Palmer), and the ever-dangerous San Diego Chargers. However, I see the Broncos building on their successes of last year, plugging Manning in, and winning double digit games this year. The AFC West is definitely a division that bears a lot of intrigue; especially the Chiefs, who many say have the best roster.

NFC East

1. Philadelphia Eagles 11-5 (4-2)
2. New York Giants 9-7 (3-3)
3. Dallas Cowboys 9-7 (3-3)
4. Washington Redskins 6-10 (2-4)

Look at the Eagles finish last year and you will see why I am picking them to win the most competitive division in football (HM: NFC South). The Eagles will finally gel as a team and come together to outsmart the defending champs, the talented, yet sensitive Cowboys team, and the ‘Skins. The Giants have proven me wrong in the past, but I look for a bit of a downturn this year following their improbable SB run.

NFC North

1. Green Bay Packers 14-2 (4-2)
2. Chicago Bears 10-6 (4-2)
3. Detroit Lions 9-7 (3-3)
4. Minnesota Vikings 5-11 (1-5)

An early exit from the play-offs last year leads people to forget that the Pack nearly went 16-0 last year. They should handle business and lead the league in wins again. I am seeing the Bears as a sleeper team this year, so long as they can get Matt Forte motivated and healthy. With new toys surrounding Jay Cutler, the Bears offense should get moving this year. The Lions are a nice story, but off-season problems lead to an uninspired 9-win season.

NFC South

1. Atlanta Falcons 13-3 (5-1)
2. New Orleans Saints 12-4 (4-2)
3. Tampa Bay Buccaneers 7-9 (2-4)
4. Carolina Panthers 6-10 (1-5)

This division is scary good, but it eventually comes down to experience. The Falcons and the Saints both have proven QBs, strong leadership and balance. The Saints should be motivated by the naysayers from what has been an overly tumultuous off-season, at least enough to fend off a surprisingly competitive Buccaneers team and the Cam Newton-led Panthers.

NFC West

1. San Francisco 49ers 11-5 (6-0)
2. Arizona Cardinals 7-9 (3-3)
3. Seattle Seahawks 4-12 (3-3)
4. St. Louis Rams 2-14 (0-6)

Yawn. That is all one can say when looking at the NFC West. A lack of intriguing offenses and lackluster defenses (except for the Niners), make this the worst division in football. By far. The 49ers should run away this thing, leaving the Seahawks, Rams and Cardinals jockeying for draft position by the middle of November.

Super Bowl Prediction

Packers over Texans

Aaron Rodgers returns to the Promised Land again; with a focused off-season and more time for the defense to get adjusted, the Packers win Super Bowl XLVII in New Orleans. With a full season from Matt Schaub, Andre Johnson and Arian Foster, the Texans finally go into the play-offs with a fully loaded offense, to go with their stout defense, but are thwarted by Rodgers & Co. in an absolute shoot-out in SB XLVII.

-Silberman