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Johnson's NFL Predictions - 2013

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cambyspree99

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Posted: Sep. 1, 2013 - 10:39 AM ET #51

Andre brown is easily replaceable if they sign a guy like jonathan dwyer. Stevie brown had 1 year of playmaking but also got beat in coverage way 2 often so i dont see that as a that huge a loss.

ELI NICKS CRUZ RANDLE WILSON MYERS MURPHY

Dline very deep cb very deep. Best team in the division. If we win week 1 which i believe we do we will be 11-5

CMJohnson1

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Posted: Sep. 1, 2013 - 11:34 AM ET #52

From a non-biased point of view...the d-line is not very deep and the secondary is not very deep. There are solid players...but if JPP or Tuck goes down with an injury there is nothing to fill in.

alboxer

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Posted: Sep. 1, 2013 - 12:18 PM ET #53

Ilike all the pics except San Diego Denver even with their schedule wins by 2 games the AFC west Also if RG3 stays healthy the SKINS will take the east

rg3skins

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Posted: Sep. 1, 2013 - 1:41 PM ET #54

Love your write-ups and all but I think you've made some questionable picks. The biggest being the Chargers. They are one of the worst teams in the NFL this year. Philip Rivers has been on a steady decline for the last few years.

There is also no way the Rams go 4-12. They have gotten much, much better.

rock40237

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Posted: Sep. 1, 2013 - 10:16 PM ET #55

Quote Originally Posted by CMJohnson1:

Earl Bennett returning that is a stat they need to get going. Their defensive line is not much to talk about,

Interesting read, and I wish you luck, but this comment was a huge red flag for me. Bears DLine is probably top 3 in the league, arguabably #1.

Football-Dude

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Posted: Sep. 1, 2013 - 11:04 PM ET #56

The chargers have a terrible offensive line. They won't do anything

CMJohnson1

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Posted: Sep. 2, 2013 - 2:09 AM ET #57

Well...if the Chargers show up this year, I guess I'll be a freakin genius

dmoose10

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Posted: Sep. 2, 2013 - 3:09 AM ET #58

Quote Originally Posted by rock40237:

Interesting read, and I wish you luck, but this comment was a huge red flag for me. Bears DLine is probably top 3 in the league, arguabably #1.

Agreed. Overall pretty good read and insight. Not a fan of the Chargers pick, as well and Bears and NFC North. NFC north is really a tossup..IMO the best division and BY FAR the most evenly matched. Can never count of Vikings although they got rid of percy harvin which will severely hurt them, Jennings should be solid for them along with AP being a beast, solid defense, and Ponder wont win you any games and he may lose ya one or two, but he doesn't make too many mistakes where he will hold them back too much.. Lions should be improved on defense and if they actually play disciplined can be one of the better ones in the league at that..Reggie Bush is a HUGE upgrade for them giving them a ground threat as well as catching balls out of the backfield, Stafford will throw for 4500 again but probably almost half of that to megatron is the problem. Green Bay has the best O in the league especially if Lacy is "WHO WE THOUGHT HE WAS(IS)" problem is they have a bad oline and no depth there..They have clay Matthews and bj raji on defense who are both one of the best in the league at given postions along with Aj hawk who is a solid LB, secondary is avg and maybe worse than that without woodson. They have absolutely no outside rush besides Matthews which you shouldn't want to have your best pass rusher as a LB. Overall a solid team and ya cant bet against them as they didn't have a great defense when won the SB a few years ago, that's enough Pack talk for me, and now onto THE..... Chicago Bears..my hometown, my team..Ill try to explain without bias but with information..Urlacher left and that hurts not necessarily bc of play but leadership and playcalling (which now falls to briggs and will make transition easier). Most Chicagoans will admit in his latter years he was a step slower and not as quick to get to sideline to sideline which made him the HOF player he will be. Bostic seems to be a pretty solid replacement, although he is not at this time 1/2 the lb urlacher was. He has shown to have the knack to play right away effectively although he might be a little overhyped for that hit on that poor receiver in preseason LOL. Our D-line is where u went wrong. As rock stated above we have a top 5 dline maybe top 3.. Our secondary returns two probowl DB's and the safety position looks promising..Our defense overall should still be top 3-7 in the league.. As far as our offense..New OC, new coach blah blah blah new year same story. Although trestman's offensive knowledge does intrigue me and I am optimistic ...I think..But in all seriousness, Martellus Bennet at TE is a big addition as in years past Chicago has had shopping carts for that position, couldn't run a route, catch a ball, or block. Bennet should give them a threat down the middle..Alshon Jeffrey should have a good yr if healthy big WR with avg speed and good routerunner while having a offseason working with Bmarshall. Cutler marshall connection should be as good if not better than last year..With Bennett and Jeffrey, and earl maybe jay wont throw his way every other passing play..Devin hester is now only returning kicks..He hasn't returned for TDs in bulk in years, but now that hes soley returning, he will be the best in the league that is if he isn't running backwards or in circles..Special teams should be at the top of the league again..Robbie good and gould is the best in the biz...yes I did just talk about special teams..sorry for the ramble.

Quote Originally Posted by rock40237:

Interesting read, and I wish you luck, but this comment was a huge red flag for me. Bears DLine is probably top 3 in the league, arguabably #1.

Robrad8

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Posted: Sep. 2, 2013 - 3:27 AM ET #59

The Seattle Seahawks enjoyed a pretty successful campaing last season by going 11-5 in the regular season, while enjoying a perfect 8-0 home record which made them clinch the wild card spot in the NFC West right behind the predicted favorites San Francisco 49ers. Sadly for the Seahawks, after the impressive regular season lasy year, they ended up facing another strong team in Atlanta Falcons who ended their regular season campaign with 13-3 and eventually beat the Seahawks in a close 30-28 victory.

Now, this upcoming season which is about to start, expers are trying to predict the season outcomes, it's always exciting. There is a special feel behind this Seattle Seahawks team this season and they are mentioned to be a strong force.

Personally, I am ready to say they are Super Bowl material, and I will use this pick to explain why. This team probably has the strongest roster, from top to bottom of the field and in my opinion they will surely be battling with the 49ers once again in the NFC West. Another interesting point to take into account is the schedule, and the Seahawks can get a really good start of the season and build themseleves a good advantage early on because their beginning 9 first weeks consists of 9 teams, whereof 6 of these finished below .500 last season. I believe they can get off a good start here. Moreover, Seattle Seahawks surely has the biggest home-field advantage in the NFL and an interesting factor appears when we look at week 2 - Seattle play the 49ers at home. Schedule wise, Seattle should be alright here. You may wonder, why is the schedule important? Well the NFL season is short, only 16 matches, which means every win is very essential. I predict the Seahawks to end up somewhere around 11-12 wins.

How about the team itself? Well, starting with the key position, the quarterback. Russell Wilson had a stellar season last year and put the bar really high for himself to perform on the same level again. No doubt, he is very talented and has great vision and can decide these close games with just a play, he is that smart. If you look at the defence, you simply don't find any weaknesses that can ruin their games, they are such a complete team all over the field. On another note, the Seattle wide reciever Percy Harvin is expected to be back around November/December so that will add more strenght to an already complete roster in the important weeks for those months.

What did the Seahawks added compared to last season and what impact will it have? I already mentioned Percy Harvin, who will be an asset for them in the passing game as he is an exceptional playmaker. Moreover some other additions to note is Cliff Avril and Michael Bennett, and these two guys will be important in terms of depht and quality since the Seahawks will miss Chris Clemons and Bruce Irvin in the start of the season. Defensively this team is spot on to me, as they even allowed the fewest points in the NFL last year to confirm that statement, and with these additions they will be even more solid for sure.

I have mentioned Russell Wilson, but another player worth mentioning is Marshawn Lynch, who was a strong factor to why the Seahawks finished among ethe top teams in rushing last year. This guy can run, and he is a beast and definitely one of the best in the league in my eyes in the category. Moreover, already having a solid passing attack will just be a boost for this talented team.

I see two factors the Seahawks need to handle in order to be a successful team throughout the entire season. The first factor is the road games. We all know that the Seahawks are rock hard at their own stadium, 8-0 last year speaks for itself. But they have 8 away games to play too, and if they can handle the road games well enough by winning more than .500 on the road, I think they will be an intimidating opponent in the very long run. The other factor is the traveling. No other team travels the distances like the Seattle Seahawks do. This is of course an disadvantage which is related to road games. These guys are humans and they need time to recover and handle the physical and mental aspects. In spite of the long journeys, I think these guys are stellar enough to enjoy something big.

I find it spectacular for a team, who came up big last year to have the ability to strenghten so many aspects of their game and with a quarterback of Wilsons standards who is an unbelievable sportsman in my eyes, we could already see a hint of something big coming up after they got knocked out by the Flacons last year when Wilson said he is already looking forward to this season. Expectations are pretty big on the Seahawks, but the public are rolling with the usual favorites like Patriots, Green Bay & Denver. I see the Seahawks as a valuable underdog side. People may say the 49ers are gonna dominate because they went to the Super Bowl last year, but to put things in perspective that favorites are not always the way to go, the Giants won the Super Bowl 2 years ago and missed the playoffs last year - things change fast.

My prediction with this analysis is that the Seahawks can cruise to the Super Bowl and will be lifting the trophy as we summarize the season. They are the most complete team in terms of quality, and just like all the other teams, keeping a healthy roster is the key. For Seattle, I think this is their year.

ljay10

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Posted: Sep. 2, 2013 - 4:36 PM ET #60

CMJohnson1

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Posted: Sep. 3, 2013 - 12:10 PM ET #61

Thanks for the thoughts guys...always love hearing local guys talk about their teams because obviously it's not something that every fan has knowledge of.

Personally with the Bears, I don't think Trestman can just come in and lead them to a division title. Cutler can be very moody obviously and with two new coaches to deal with, it could be tough. But I do like their offensive situation.

The Seahawks are one of the better teams in the league no doubt...but a little too cocky on defense for me. They went into last year with no expectations. Russell Wilson came out of nowhere. Now they have the target on their backs...and I'm not sure Pete Carroll can handle the frontrunner pressure.

CMJohnson1

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Posted: Jan. 10, 2014 - 7:14 PM ET #62

Quote Originally Posted by CMJohnson1:

AFC EAST

1. New England Patriots 11-5 (12-4 in 2012)

Bumping them down one win from last year. Their offense will take a step backwards without Hernandez and Welker, and without Gronk for at least the first couple weeks of the season. However, the biggest problem last year was their defense. With another year of experience and no major losses on that side of the ball, I have to believe they will be much improved. Bringing in Adrian Wilson I believe is a wonderful addition...veteran experience and incredible versatility. Schedule as usual is generous being in the worst division in the NFL...they don't have to travel basically at all in the month of September, they have Denver and Pittsburgh coming into Foxboro. Should be able to cruise to another division title.

2. Miami Dolphins 8-8 (7-9 in 2012)

Would have considered putting them at 9-7 and possibly contending for a playoff spot, but the loss of Dustin Keller severely limits this offense, which was bad at best last year. The good thing is that their offensive line is very good, and their defense is solid. If Tannehill can improve upon last year's performance I see no reason why this team won't be a formidable opponent all year long. Biggest worry for me on the Dolphins this season is their first month's schedule...if they slip up Week 1 @ Cleveland, they could be 0-5. Absolutely have to improve upon the 18 points per game they put up last year.

3. Buffalo Bills 5-11 (6-10 last year)

Would prefer to see EJ Manuel start at the QB position, as I believe that getting the rookies thrown into the fire as soon as possible has the most benefit. Unfortunately they don't have an incredibly easy schedule, they don't have great receivers, teams are going to key in on Spiller or Jackson on just about every play. Brought over Manny Lawson from Cincy to help them hopefully stop the run...as they were 2nd worst in the league last year. Dareus, Williams, and Williams need to step up. Mario Williams was once considered possibly the best defensive end/hybrid player out there, and now he might not even be top 15 or 20. That's what one bad year can do, and he better step up.

4. New York Jets 4-12 (6-10 in 2012)

Didn't even want to put them at 4 wins to be honest. The QB situation is obviously well known but it doesn't matter who they put in there. The running backs are well below average, the wide receivers are just flat out bad, and they don't have a solid tight end as a safety valve. In years past they could at least lay claim to a stout defense...but losing Revis ends that real quick. They don't have a dominant play maker on either side of the ball. I really think they might be lucky to get to 4 wins this year, and hopefully it will be the end of Rex Ryan's pathetic coaching career and Mark Sanchez's pathetic quarterback career.

Nailed the Patriots, Bills, and Dolphins record-wise and was 4 wins off on the Jets. How the hell the Jets won 8 games despite having a -97 point differential for the season is mind-boggling. 7th worst in the league? Either way, I was very close on this division all the way through. Tannehill improved, Manuel got hurt which limited the Bills this season despite a fantastic defensive effort.

CMJohnson1

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Posted: Jan. 10, 2014 - 7:18 PM ET #63

Quote Originally Posted by CMJohnson1:

AFC NORTH

1. Cincinnati Bengals 12-4 (10-6 in 2012)

Playoff team last year, and I saw them improve in just about every key category. They were middle of the pack in passing and rushing offense last year, so they draft Gio Bernard and Tyler Eiffert in the first two rounds...fantastic selections. Dalton and Green have another year of experience under their belt and should be able to put up more great numbers. Biggest reason for me picking them as the North champions is their defense. One of the best in the league, if not the best. Not an incredibly difficult road schedule should mean a successful season for the Bengals.

2. Baltimore Ravens 9-7 (10-6 in 2012)

I just cannot see a scenario where they match the success they had last season. Their offense should be fine as they return just about everybody. Biggest question there would be if Flacco decides to be less focused after receiving his ridiculously high contract. The problem with the Ravens that I see is that you can definitely pass on this team now without Ed Reed. I think he masked a lot of the inabilities of the secondary for the past ten years. Going up against Green Bay and Detroit in the NFC North as well as two games against the Bengals probably won't help that cause. They won't be terrible by any stretch, and will certainly still be in the playoff hunt...but when you lose two of the best defensive players of all-time in the same offseason, there is going to be a learning curve.

3. Pittsburgh Steelers 8-8 (8-8 in 2012)

Keeping the Steelers at the same level as they were last year. They desperately needed to improve their offense, and I didn't see enough out of free agency or the draft to say they will be better than last year. The offensive line is decent, but nothing that will ensure Big Ben's health throughout the year. The wide receivers are good at the top level with Sanders and Brown, but that's really about it and if there is an injury to one of them it could be trouble. I'm also not crazy about the running back situation, especially having to go up against the teams that they have on their schedule. One of my biggest factors in these predictions is looking at the weaknesses of the year before and asking myself if they improved, stayed the same, or got worse. I don't see anything out of the Steelers to show they get better.

4. Cleveland Browns 6-10 (5-11 in 2012)

Another year of experience playing together has to mean a win at least for the combo of Weeden and Richardson. Unfortunately 5 of their 8 road games are against playoff teams from last season. Their biggest weakness was time of possession and 3rd down possession. As long as Weeden continues to progress as it seems like he will based on preseason performance those should improve a little bit. Can't see them being a true contender yet simply because of their schedule...6 wins is a generous prediction.

Absolutely nailed this division as well!!

Bengals were 1 win off my projection, as were the Ravens.

Only 1 of the Ravens 8 wins came against a playoff team. They were in the playoff mix, but missed out. I predicted you could pass on them, they actually did alright @ 12th vs the pass.

Browns traded away Richardson and Weeden got hurt which is probably why they only got to 4 wins. I predicted a tough road record...they went 1-7.

Steelers didn't get better at all...nothing more to say there.

CMJohnson1

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Posted: Jan. 10, 2014 - 7:22 PM ET #64

Quote Originally Posted by CMJohnson1:

AFC SOUTH

1. Houston Texans 11-5 (12-4 in 2012)

Thought they overachieved a little bit last year. What I feel is their biggest downfall heading into this year is their offensive line and lack of depth at wide receiver. DeAndre Hopkins has looked very solid in preseason but is already seeing a few nagging injury problems. Once Ed Reed can get on the football field, it should give them the added seniority this club needed. JJ Watt is obviously a top tier defensive playmaker...and along with Joseph, Manning, Reed, and Cushing they have legitimate strength at every defensive position. Their schedule didn't do them any favors this year as their first three road games are San Diego, Baltimore, and San Francisco.

2. Indianapolis Colts 9-7 (11-5 in 2012)

Absolutely have to drop them down a few wins from last year's incredible season. I really like what they did on the offensive side of the ball in free agency getting Bradshaw and Hewyard-Bey...that will give them some veteran depth that they didn't really have last year. The reason why I'm dropping them down a couple of wins is that they won't have the emotional boost that Chuck Strong gave them last year, and the biggest reason is that the defensive line is just absolutely bad. They were 29th in the league last year guarding the run...and I don't think that will improve one bit. When you have to go up against Arian Foster, Chris Johnson, and Maurice Jones-Drew for 6 games...and also McFadden and Lynch this year it's going to be a lot more difficult to get their offense on the field. The good news is that their road schedule really isn't that difficult.

3. Tennessee Titans 8-8 (6-10 in 2012)

This team intrigues me, and I can't figure out why. I think Jake Locker has potential to be a mid-level quarterback. I think Chris Johnson can put up 1600 yards and 15 touchdowns again. I think their young wide receivers might be ready for a breakout year. I think the addition of Bernard Pollard on defense will give them the toughness they were lacking last year. The counter argument to that is the fact that Locker has had injury issues and has had one solid game in his career against Detroit, the worst pass defense in the league. Chris Johnson has seen his carries and touchdowns decline, while his fumbles have increased. The Titans are a tough one this year.

4. Jacksonville Jaguars 2-14 (2-14 in 2012)

I generally hate picking a team to be flat out terrible two years in a row, and picking them to win only 2 games once again. I mean, Joeckel will help solidify the offensive line that was 3rd to last in protecting the quarterback last year. But is Gabbert really a quarterback that you WANT to protect? I don't think he's good enough to lead this team...even though he has a stud running back and an up and coming stud receiver. Geno Hayes and Posluzny are solid players for the defense, but I just don't see enough gamebreakers to make it worth it for the Jags. Their schedule is relatively tame, so they might make it up to 4 wins.

Alllllrighty....there's my biggest mistake of all.

Thought the Texans were ready to make the next step, and they weren't. They could have, and probably SHOULD have gone 0-16 as the first two wins were extremely lucky.

Colts surprsied me a little bit...despite the injuries they had, Andrew Luck just absolutely willed them into a few victories. Said their road schedule wasn't tough...they went 5-3.

Was pretty close on the Titans...pretty far off on Chris Johnson with the 1600 yards and 15 touchdowns...Locker got hurt.

Jaguars schedule was tame heading into the final month...and they made it to the four wins which I said they might. Nailed that team.

CMJohnson1

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Posted: Jan. 10, 2014 - 7:25 PM ET #65

Quote Originally Posted by CMJohnson1:

AFC WEST

1. San Diego Chargers 10-6 (7-9 in 2012)

Yep...taking the Chargers to win the division. I like the additions they made in the offseason. King Dunlap and Fluker will give immediate help to a shaky offensive line. Danny Woodhead will give them running back flexibility. Their defense was very solid last year, and Dwight Freeney might still have a little bit in the tank...at the very least be a good teacher to Teo. Their defensive line is the biggest worry I have, as they are not big names...but I still see the Chargers taking the division.

2. Denver Broncos 9-7 (13-3 in 2012)

Doesn't matter how many times I look at this team, I am absolutely not convinced that this is the Super Bowl frontrunners. Yes, Welker is a great target for Manning, they will have great chemistry. But Manning is old, Welker is old, and they are both extremely fragile at this point in their career. As usual in Denver it will be a running back by committee situation, as it has been for the past ten years, but Ball, Moreno, or Hillman don't scare me. Their offensive line is average at best. When it's all said and done however, the offense should be overall pretty good. Their defense however, is where the issue lies. Last year they were great...but this year they don't have Dumervil, and probably won't have Von Miller for a while as well. Champ Bailey is hurt right now, and is not the Champ Bailey of 6 years ago. I could very easily see Denver going 2-6 or 3-5 on the road...as the only "easy" games they have on the road are the two division games against the Raiders and Chiefs. Not sold.

3. Kansas City Chiefs 5-11 (2-14 in 2012)

They needed to find a passing game, and they went out and tried to fix that. They got a quarterback that has proven that he can play in the NFL at a consistent level. They got an offensive linemen in the draft who should be a stud. They still have a stud running back who as long as he can stay healthy can do some big damage. They got a proven NFL coach as well...and hopefully a fresh start for Reid is what he needed. They should be much improved this year.

4. Oakland Raiders 5-11 (4-12 in 2012)

Another team that I see improving upon last year's numbers. I just don't like their quarterback situation enough. 5 wins might be a stretch. Not too much else to say!!

Nailed the Chargers...and they should have had 10 wins easily with the tough couple losses at the start of the season. Woodhead was a great free agent pickup.

The Broncos I was pretty far off on because I forgot about the fact that the NFL is now a video game league and they put together a video game lineup. Will be interesting to see if Peyton crumbles in the cold playoffs again.

Not sure why I gave the Chiefs that much praise...but didn't give them any wins to show for it? Jamaal Charles was amazing all season long...but their schedule ended up being terrible.

Nailed the Raiders as well...2nd straight 4-12 season and a terrible QB situation.

CMJohnson1

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Posted: Jan. 10, 2014 - 7:26 PM ET #66

Quote Originally Posted by CMJohnson1:

AFC PLAYOFFS

1. Cincinnati Bengals   12-4

2. New England Patriots     11-5

3. Houston Texans       11-5

4. San Diego Chargers     10-6

5. Indianapolis Colts       9-7

6. Denver Broncos           9-7

WILD CARD ROUND
#5 Indianapolis   def   #4 San Diego
#3 Houston    def    #6 Denver

DIVISIONAL ROUND
#1 Cincinnati   def   #5 Indianapolis
#3 Houston   def   #2 New England

AFC CHAMPIONSHIP
#3 Houston   def   #1 Cincinnati

5 out of 6 playoff teams!!

Pretty damn solid, let's just ignore the predictions that I had for the AFC Championship however.

CMJohnson1

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Posted: Jan. 10, 2014 - 7:30 PM ET #67

Quote Originally Posted by CMJohnson1:

NFC EAST

1. Dallas Cowboys 9-7 (8-8 in 2012)

Everybody and their mother believes that this will be a crash and burn season for the Cowboys and lead to the firing of Jason Garrett. My view is that the Cowboys never ever do things the easy way...so why not make the decision that much more difficult by winning the division, not going anywhere in the playoffs, and lead to all those questions once again? They were terrible on defense last year. I don't like them getting rid of Felix Jones as running back insurance. But out of everyone in the NFC East, they have the easiest road schedule, and 5-3 on the road is where they should be. If they can't go 4-4 at home, I would be very surprised. That is usually the deciding factor in this division, as it has gone in order of road record the past three years.

2. Washington Redskins 9-7 (10-6 in 2012)

I am trying really hard to love this team, but I just can't see them matching the magic of last season. They are the most talented team in the NFC East in my mind, but when you have trips to Green Bay, Denver, Minnesota, and Atlanta on your schedule, it's going to be a tough road. That's why I have to put them just behind the Cowboys. RG3 will be very interesting to watch this year...to see if he calms down his running and recklessness or if he still plays balls to the wall.

3. Philadelphia Eagles 7-9 (4-12 in 2012)

Might be the most enjoyable team to watch in the NFL this season. Chip Kelly and Michael Vick together have all the potential in the world. But I do still see Vick reverting back to his old ways in a few games. Also, as we have seen from college coaches making the jump to the NFL, there is a big time learning curve in gameplanning and challenges and all that. Their statistics were solid for the most part last season...just need to limit mistakes.

4. New York Giants 7-9 (9-7 last year)

Struggled last year because of their horrible defensive play...got healthy this year up until this past weekend where their big play guy in the secondary Stevie Brown went down for the year. Their line is solid with JPP and Tuck and Cullen Jenkins. I just see their passing defense being as bad if not worse than what it was last year. With Green Bay, Denver, Detroit, and San Diego (primarily passing teams) on the schedule...I see four potential losses right there. Somewhat of a rebuilding season this year, and I wouldn't be surprised to see Tom Coughlin on the hot seat once again.

Pretty close on the NFC East...

Cowboys were in contention for the division...but they weren't able to get it done on the road which cost them.

Eagles were exciting to watch most of the time, but I couldn't have predicted the huge success that Nick Foles was.

Redskins certainly didn't match the magic of last season...was interesting to watch RG3 because he looked like he had no idea whether to run or throw.

Giants were flat out terrible, which I almost predicted. Coughlin should be on the hot seat IMO.

CMJohnson1

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Posted: Jan. 10, 2014 - 7:33 PM ET #68

Quote Originally Posted by CMJohnson1:

NFC NORTH

1. Green Bay Packers 11-5 (11-5 in 2012)

Clearly still the class of this division, and one of the better teams in the NFL...but their schedule is absolutely brutal. Early bye week, and a finishing stretch that has them traveling from Green Bay to New York to Green Bay to Detroit to Green Bay to Dallas to Green Bay to Chicago in the last 8 weeks of the year. Hard to believe there won't be a few stumbles in that stretch, as well as the week 1 start @ San Fran. Too good of a team to not be at the top however.

2. Detroit Lions 9-7 (4-12 in 2012)

Most improved team in the NFL. Not so much in the roster category, but looking at the schedules for the Vikings and the Bears, I believe the Lions have the best chance in the North to challenge the Packers. They could very easily be 4-0 or 5-1 to start the season, enough to maintain the rest of the season. Stafford and Megatron are unstoppable...Bush is a nice addition that will add a new aspect to the game...Ansah is another explosive defensive player for this team to add to Suh and Fairley and Glover and Tulloch and Levy. They were middle of the pack in defense last year and should improve.

3. Chicago Bears 7-9 (10-6 in 2012)

Do or die year for Jay Cutler in my mind...they were terrible last year in passing and with Brandon Marshall, Alshon Jeffrey and Earl Bennett returning that is a stat they need to get going. Their defensive line is not much to talk about, and it will be very interesting to see how they move forward in the linebacking corps without Urlacher. They have a tough start to the season and could be behind the 8-ball already when they have to end the year 4 out of 6 weeks on the road.

4. Minnesota Vikings 6-10 (10-6 last year)

They picked up a fantastic weapon for Christian Ponder with Greg Jennings, but they have the absolute hardest road schedule in the division...their opponents put up a 73-55 record (.570) last year. Ponder is clearly not a top level quarterback, with or without Jennings and Peterson. Their defense is good enough by far to contend in most games, but I cannot see them winning more than 2 games on the road, and they might be in the first two weeks. Just too difficult for them this year.

Pretty close on this one as well...

Packers won the division, despite a ton of injuries that nearly crippled them. If it wasn't for those injuries, we would still be watching them this weekend.

Lions improved, but as usual stumbled towards the end of the year like they do every single freakin year.

Cutler had an alright year, got his big contract, Jeffrey/Marshall might be the best WR duo in the league. Defense was what injured this team big time.

Pretty solid on the Vikings as well...said they had a brutal road schedule, and they were winless on the road this season.

CMJohnson1

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Posted: Jan. 10, 2014 - 7:37 PM ET #69

Quote Originally Posted by CMJohnson1:

NFC SOUTH

1. Atlanta Falcons 13-3 (13-3 in 2012)

Probably could have even bumped them up another win as they were very good last year, and still improved coming into this year. Got a beast running back to lighten the load of Matt Ryan. Picked up Osi Umenyiora to strengthen to defensive line that ranked in the bottom of the league in sacks last year. Just an absolutely stacked team in almost every way.

2. Tampa Bay Buccaneers 10-6 (7-9 in 2012)

This is my so-called sleeper team of the year, and I am VERY big on Bucs this year. They ranked in the top 15 in just about every statistical category last year except 1...passing defense. So what do they do? Go out on get Dashon Goldson and Darrelle Revis. Josh Freeman is as steady and consistent a quarterback you are going to get. They have one of the best offensive lines in the league to protect him. Doug Martin showed last year that he can be special. I like this team this year.

3. New Orleans Saints 9-7 (7-9 in 2012)

Offense is spectacular in most areas, defense is lackluster in most areas. When you have Drew Brees and Marques Colston and Jimmy Graham on offense you want to believe that this team is something special and contenders and all that...but there just isn't enough substance in a tough division and with a tough schedule to warrant a better record. Ranked last in the NFL in defense last year, and what have they done to make you say that they will change that?

4. Carolina Panthers 6-10 (7-9 in 2012)

Have to drop them down a win from last year's total because the division has improved so much. Would have liked to see them strongly pursue another wide receiver to give Cam Newton a reason to stay in the pocket a little more and take some of the attention away from Steve Smith. The best thing going for this team is that up the middle on defense they might be the best in the league. They won't be blown out of any games simply because of that fact, and if Newton dedicates himself to ball possession and limiting turnovers, their win total will grow. I just don't see it happening yet.

I meant to flip this division upside down...in that case I nailed it!!

Falcons were crippled by the injury bug...never recovered...got bad karma...the end. Thought they would improve in the sack department...nope, still finished 30th

Josh Freeman proved me wrong in a huge way...Doug Martin got hurt...coach got fired. I wasn't close.

Thought the Saints defense would be terrible...it was actually top 10 this season. Rob Ryan is the better coaching brother for sure.

Wasn't too far off on what I said about the Panthers, but this defense was the best in the league...Newton beyond limited his turnovers and they are a contender.

CMJohnson1

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Joined: Oct, 2007

Posts: 36739

Posted: Jan. 10, 2014 - 7:42 PM ET #70

Quote Originally Posted by CMJohnson1:

NFC WEST

1. San Francisco 49ers 14-2   (11-4-1 in 2012)

Lost a few games last year because of quarterback controversies in my opinion. This year there is no controversy, Kaepernik is the guy...and he has some new toys this year. This team is absolutely stacked from head to toe, most importantly on the defensive side of the ball. I don't see much competition in this division.

2. Seattle Seahawks   10-6   (11-5 in 2012)

Yeah, they are good...but I still think they overachieved last year...including the win/loss game against Green Bay. They also had some lucky breaks late against the Patriots. They are a playoff caliber team, the running back is great, wide receivers are very solid, offensive and defensive lines are above average. I just see a few of those lucky breaks going in a different direction this year.

3. Arizona Cardinals 6-10   (5-11 in 2012)

Gonna increase their win total by one because I think that's how much Carson Palmer will bring to this team. He's not an incredible upgrade by any stretch, but he's a competitor and a veteran presence. Larry Fitzgerald should have a fantastic season. Not really sure about the running back situation....could be decent, could be terrible. Very convinced about this defense however...they are loaded with playmakers and the addition of Tyronn Matheiu is great. Unfortunately I see them losing a lot of close games.

4. St. Louis Rams 4-12 (7-8-1 in 2012)

I'm gonna eliminate their great wins/tie against the 49ers last year for starters. I don't like the switch for Tavon Austin instead of Stephen Jackson however. Sam Bradford has been given a lot of opportunities to succeed in this system, and without a true running back behind him he better figure it out quick. I just don't see it happening. Not enough offense to keep up with teams this year. Atlanta, Dallas, San Fran x2, Houston, Indy, and New Orleans. All pretty high powered offenses that should breeze by the Rams this year.

Pretty close overall....

49ers weren't as good as I thought...but still with 12 wins and a playoff win.

Seahawks were better than I thought...lucky breaks didn't need to go their way as they blew teams out quite often. Wilson is a phenomenal QB

Cardinals improved quite a bit...Carson Palmer gave them some veteran leadership, and their defense was a lot better than what I thought. Dominated the AFC...just stumbled a little bit against their own division which is understandable.

Rams were a weird team this year...great defensive line kept them in a lot of games...Bradford got hurt which limited them a little bit...Zac Stacy came out of nowhere to have a nice year

CMJohnson1

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Joined: Oct, 2007

Posts: 36739

Posted: Jan. 10, 2014 - 7:43 PM ET #71

Quote Originally Posted by CMJohnson1:

NFC PLAYOFFS

1. San Francisco 49ers   14-2

2. Atlanta Falcons   13-3

3. Green Bay Packers    11-5

4. Dallas Cowboys    9-7

5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers    10-6

6. Seattle Seahawks    10-6

WILD CARD ROUND
#3 Green Bay def #6 Seattle
#5 Tampa Bay def #4 Dallas

DIVISIONAL ROUND
#1 San Fran def #5 Tampa Bay
#2 Atlanta def #3 Green Bay

NFC CHAMPIONSHIP
#1 San Fran def #2 Atlanta

Only 3 out of 6 NFC Playoff teams...gave WAYYYYY too much credit to the wrong teams in the South.

CMJohnson1

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Joined: Oct, 2007

Posts: 36739

Posted: Jan. 10, 2014 - 7:46 PM ET #72

Quote Originally Posted by cambyspree99:

how do u have us at 7-9 and your patriots at 11-5?

so were the third worst team in the nfc. hELL NAW THAT WONT HAPPEN!

Sorry CambySpree....

You were the 5th worst team in the NFC...and lucky to be there.

Oh...and the Pats went 12-4 and all the losses could have easily been wins.

CMJohnson1

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Joined: Oct, 2007

Posts: 36739

Posted: Jan. 10, 2014 - 7:47 PM ET #73

Quote Originally Posted by dibcompany:

Denver going 9-7 San diego going 10-6 and Rams going 4-12 are just ridiculous predictions.

I believe there is less than 1% chance these predictions come true. Most likely closer to 0 than 1%

GL anyway

Wasn't that far off in the end...

I knew I took a flier in the Chargers...but they came through for me

CMJohnson1

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Joined: Oct, 2007

Posts: 36739

Posted: Jan. 10, 2014 - 7:48 PM ET #74

Quote Originally Posted by rg3skins:

Love your write-ups and all but I think you've made some questionable picks. The biggest being the Chargers. They are one of the worst teams in the NFL this year. Philip Rivers has been on a steady decline for the last few years.

There is also no way the Rams go 4-12. They have gotten much, much better.

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