With the 2014 NFL season, less than 48 hours away, here are my regular and post-season predictions for the up-coming season.
AFC East
New England (12-4) Still the Pats division as long as Belichick and Brady are in Foxboro.
Miami (10-6) Tannehill and an improved defense makes the Dolphins, New England’s biggest threat.
New York Jets (7-9) An improved Geno Smith makes Gang Green a team to watch.
Buffalo (3-13) A regressed EJ Manuel, lack of playmakers and a average defense keep the Bills in the cellar.
AFC North
Baltimore (11-5) A revamped offense helps Joe Flacco lead the Ravens to another division crown.
Cincinnati (10-6) Andy Dalton, A.J. Green and Geno Atkins help make the Bengal’s a tough team to handle.
Pittsburgh (8-8) What is unheard of in Pittsburgh are two words, 8-8 and no playoffs for a third consecutive year.
Cleveland (7-9) A retooled defense led by Joe Haden, Carlos Dansby and Donte Whitner help carry a Johnny Manziel-led offense.
AFC South
Indianapolis (12-4) The best young QB in the NFL, Andrew Luck and the Colts are the class of the AFC South.
Houston (9-7) Thanks to J.J. Watt, Jadeveon Clowney, Arien Foster and Ryan Mallett, the Texans emerge out of nowhere to challenge Indy.
Jacksonville (7-9) Quietly building a Seattle-like defense, the Jaguars turn it around, and Blake Bortles takes over at QB.
Tennessee (5-11) Losing Kenny Britt, Chris Johnson in free agency prove more problematic for the Titans in Ken Whisenhunt’s first year.
AFC West
Denver (13-3) Two words: Peyton Manning, that is all.
San Diego (9-7) Philip Rivers continues to show why is one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL once again.
Kansas City (8-8) The Chiefs take a step back this year as Alex Smith fails to live up to his four-year, $68 million extension.
Oakland (6-10) Growing pains abound, Derek Carr shows flashes of promise in solidifying the quarterback position.
AFC Wildcard
Cincinnati
Miami
NFC East
Philadelphia (11-5) Year two of the Chip Kelly-Nick Foles era finds the Eagles setting various offensive records en route to a division crown.
New York Giants (9-7) Eli Manning bounces back in style under new offensive coordinator Ben McAdoo’s West Coast offense.
Washington (7-9) Year three of RG3 in our nation’s capital goes south in rookie head coach Jay Gruden’s debut.
Dallas (3-13) Thanks to a suspect and atrocious defense, Tony Romo becomes the first quarterback to approach 6,000 yards passing in a season.
NFC North
Chicago (12-4) Jay Cutler puts up NFL MVP-like numbers in his second year under Marc Tresman.
Green Bay (10-6) Suspect defense aside, Aaron Rodgers carries an average Packers team.
Minnesota (7-9) The Teddy Bridgewater era comes a little sooner than later for first-year head coach Mike Zimmer.
Detroit (6-10) Megatron can only do so much on a team that has a medicore defense.
NFC South
New Orleans (13-3) Drew Brees continues to show his Hall-of-Fame credentials in throwing for 5,000-plus yards and finding a new weapon in rookie wideout Brandin Cooks.
Carolina (10-6) Despite losing Steve Smith, Brandon LaFell and Ted Ginn Jr, Cam Newton wills the Panthers to a wild card birth.
Atlanta (9-7) Despite the return of Julio Jones, Roddy White and Sam Baker, Matt Ryan discovers how much he misses Tony Gonzalez.
Tampa Bay (7-9) In year one of the Love Smith era, Mike Glennon emerges as the franchise quarterback and rookie wideout Mike Evans makes a name for himself.
NFC West
Seattle (12-4) Led by their defense and timely throws by Russell Wilson, the defending champions will be tough to stop.
Arizona (11-5) The loss of Andre Ellington hurts, but thanks to Carson Palmer, Michael Floyd and Larry Fitzgerald, the Cardinals take the next step in year two of Bruce Arians.
San Francisco (10-6) A step back for the Niners, Colin Kaepernick needs to develop into a consistent passer in 2014.
St Louis (2-14) The loss of Sam Bradford is huge. Despite a tough defense, the lack of a franchise quarterback hurts an otherwise talented Rams squad.
NFC Wildcard
Green Bay
Carolina
Offensive Player of the Year-Drew Brees
Defensive Player of the Year-Patrick Peterson
Offensive Rookie of the Year-Mike Evans
Defensive Player of the Year-Khalil Mack
Comeback Player of the Year-Percy Harvin
MVP-Peyton Manning
Coach of the Year-Mike Zimmer
AFC Champion– New England
NFC Champion– New Orleans
Super Bowl Champion – New England
Super Bowl MVP-Darelle Revis