Training Camp has begun and the season comes not long after. Even though football’s off-season has grown shorter and shorter over the last few years, it’s still too long…for football fans, that is. We miss the touchdowns, the field goals, the smashmouth defenses and juggernaut offenses. We miss the Cinderella stories of teams who have no business reaching the playoffs getting hot and riding that momentum all the way to the Super Bowl.
This season, all roads lead to New Orleans and a date with destiny on February 3, 2013 in Super Bowl XLVII (that’s 47 for you non-roman-numeral types.) On that night, the champions of the NFC and AFC will meet in what will likely become the most watched television event of all time…a record no to be topped probably until Super Bowl XLVIII. You see, Super Bowls tend to have the highest viewing audience. Some people watch because they love the game. Some watch because they love the commercials.
So without further ado, let’s slam headlong into the playoff predictions that will surely prove false.
AFC Playoff Teams
The following list contains the teams that the Right Wing predicts will make the playoff for the AFC. Also included are a prediction of record and a synopsis of why we think they’ll make the playoffs.
The #1 Seed: New England Patriots, with a record of 13-3. The Patriots play in the AFC East, and while the Dolphins and the Bill are not yet a threat to them, the jets could possibly put up a fight, but don’t count on it.
The #2 Seed: Houston Texans, with a record of 12-4. The Texans play in a weak division and they’ll make the most of it. If this team had been able to make their playoff run with Matt Schaub last year instead of TJ Yates, we’d probably be talking about the Super Bowl Champion Houston Texans. But injuries are part of the game, so we’ll see how Houston rebounds.
The #3 Seed: Baltimore Ravens, with a record of 12-4. The Ravens play in one of the toughest divisions in the NFL. QB Joe Flacco has progressed well, but the defense has carried this team, and will continue to carry them…at least for this season.
The #4 Seed: Denver Broncos, with a record of 10-6. Denver made the free agent coup of the century, somehow convincing Peyton Manning, he of the potentially fragile neck, to shun a warmer weather team and come to the mile high city. The Broncos have a good cast of young players, and could make some noise in the playoffs.
The #5 Seed (wild card): Pittsburgh Steelers, with a record of 11-5. The Steelers will trade wins with the Ravens this year, and both Steelers and Ravens will sweep the Bengals and Browns. The Steelers have a good QB and a solid, though aging, defense. This could be the last hurrah for the Steelers as currently composed.
The #6 Seed (wild card): San Diego Chargers, with a record of 9-7. The Quarterback class of 2004 lands the top three QBs in the playoffs at the same time. Chargers QB Phillip Rivers is the only member of that Top 3 Class to not win a Super Bowl. The Chargers will be better this year than last, but it won’t translate to playoff success. Added bonus, 15-year-veteran Takeo Spikes is on the Chargers roster. He’s never even played in a playoff game. Let that sink in. He’s been in the league 15 years and never played in a playoff game.
Dark Horse: Kansas City Chiefs, with a record of 9-7. The Chiefs could very well go in over the Chargers. Their biggest issue last year was health. If the Chiefs stay healthy, they could make a playoff run this year.
Dark Horse #2: Buffalo Bills, with a record of 9-7. The Bills finished 6-10 last year, but they started 5-2. Injuries took their toll. But this last offseason the Bills added former #1 overall pick Mario Williams, and their defense looks formidable. If the offense can click, Buffalo will be on the fringe of the playoffs. (See Off The Cuff Predictions below.)
Dropping Out: Cincinnati Bengals, with a record of 8-8. The Bengals will take a step back this year, but they’re getting better, and could really challenge in the North if the roster comes together over the next two or three years.
How the Playoffs Will Play Out:
Wild Card Round: Baltimore over San Diego, Pittsburgh over Denver
Divisional Round: Baltimore over Houston, New England over Pittsburgh
Conference Final: Baltimore over New England
NFC Playoff Teams
The following list details the NFC teams we think will reach the playoffs. Also included are projected record and a synopsis of why they are where we think they are.
The #1 Seed: Green Bay Packers, with a record of 14-2. Green Bay is a machine, and a well-oiled one at that. Aaron Rodgers is one of the best QBs in the game, and the Packer offense is reaching juggernaut status. The only question is the defense, but Green Bay averaged scoring 35 points per game in 2011. Not many teams can hang with that potent an offense.
The #2 Seed: San Francisco 49ers, with a record of 12-4. The 49ers dominated the West last year, and will do much the same this year. QB Alex Smith is out to prove something, as he felt slighted by the team’s pursuit of Peyton Manning. San Francisco will once again win the West.
The #3 Seed: Atlanta Falcons, with a record of 11-5. The Falcons have a chance to wrestle the South Division away from reeling New Orleans, who took a beating from the bounty program allegations. The Falcons are 43-21 since Mike Smith and Matt Ryan came to town, but they’ve yet to win a playoff game. This team is too good for such a trend to continue.
The #4 Seed: New York Giants, with a record of 10-6. The defending Super Bowl champs weren’t a great team last season, but they got hot when it counted. Eli Manning proved he can be a clutch quarterback. The NFC East is a division that can produce two or three playoffs teams as easily as it can produce one that squeaks in.
The #5 Seed (wildcard): Dallas Cowboys, with a record of 9-7. Tony Romo finally guides the Cowboys to the playoffs, though as a wild card team. But don’t look for the surprises to end there. This Cowboys team could make some noise in the postseason.
The #6 Seed (wild card) Detroit Lions, with a record of 9-7. The Lions have to get their roster under control. Far too many players have been arrested, with CB Aaron Berry being arrested for the second time in a month just recently, leading to his release by the team. The Lions have a really good QB and the best WR in the game. Get the roster together and under control, though, and this team could eventually challenge Green Bay for NFC North supremacy.
Dark Horse: Carolina Panthers, with a record of 8-8. I know, a .500 team isn’t usually counted a dark horse, but Carolina may be one of the best .500 teams you’ll see. Cam Newton set records as a rookie and shows every indication that he’ll be better this year. I still think they miss the postseason this year, but watch out in the future.
Dark Horse #2: Seattle Seahawks, with a record of 9-7. Seattle will be the next best team in the NFC West, but they’ll still be three games back of San Fran. The Seahawks brought in Matt Flynn on a 3-year contract, but rookie QB Russell Wilson had the better showing in preseason game 1. If the QB situation is settled as quickly as possible, they could contend for a Wild Card spot. The defense alone is good enough for that.
Dropping Out: New Orleans Saints, with a record of 9-7. The Bountygate scandal proves too much for New Orleans to deal with. Head coach Sean Payton is out for the year on suspensions, and several players and coaches have felt the wrath of Roger Goodell. This year, the NFC South is the Falcons’ for the taking.
How the Playoffs Will Play Out:
Wild Card Round: Atlanta over Seattle, Dallas over New York
Divisional Round: Atlanta over San Francisco, Green Bay over Dallas
Conference Final: Green Bay over Atlanta
Super Bowl: Green Bay over Baltimore
Of-the-Cuff Predictions
Brandon Weeden will start game one of the 2012 season for the Cleveland Browns, barring injury. (NOTE: I’m leaving this one on my list, even though the Browns have already announced this. I wrote that sentence about two weeks before the announcement, and I’ve been delaying this preview edition until week two of the preseason.)
The Carolina Panthers will win 8 games, but none against Atlanta and New Orleans.
Buffalo will hand New England a loss this year.
Mocking the 2013 Draft
Yes, we’re nearly a year away from the 2013 NFL Draft, but if we’re predicting the playoffs that don’t start until January, surely we can take a stab at mocking the top ten picks in the draft. Obviously this is just conjecture. This long offseason between the Super Bowl and the start of preseason play leaves fans wanting for football information. So we make up games like this…
First Pick: Jacksonville Jaguars
Selection: Matt Barkley, QB, USC
Synopsis: Barkley is a solid QB, which Jacksonville needs. Sadly for Jacksonville (the city), Jacksonville (the team) may shortly be on their way to Los Angeles.
Who they should pick: Matt Barkley
Second Pick: Oakland Raiders
Selection: Barkevious Mingo, DE, LSU
Synopsis: Oakland has a tendency to pick the wrong person at the wrong time. Not that Mingo is a bad pick, but given the needs of Oakland…I’m sure the Raiders would say “We’ve got Carson Palmer, so we’re good at QB.” Still, picking a QB at this point might be the better option.
Who they should pick: Tyler Wilson, QB, Arkansas
Third Pick: Miami Dolphins
Selection: Sam Montgomery, DE, LSU
Synopsis: The ends of LSU’s defensive line come off the board in back-to-back fashion. The Dolphins stand in dire need of a football team, but pass rushers is a certain area of importance.
Who they should pick: Sam Montgomery or Barkevious Mingo
Fourth Pick: Indianapolis Colts
Selection: Jarvis Jones, LB, Georgia
Synopsis: Indy begins the defense rebuilding efforts. Don’t look for the Colts to be strong in 2012, meaning a high first rounder, which is where Jones projects. Jarvis Jones is a beast, recording 13.5 sacks and 19 tackles for loss as a linebacker in Georgia’s 3-4 scheme which often saw him stepping up into almost a DE role.
Who they should pick: Jarvis Jones and don’t think twice
Fifth Pick: St Louis Rams
Selection: Robert Woods, WR, USC
Synopsis: The Rams have to get some perimeter help for Sam Bradford. If the Oklahoma QB continues to regress, though, don’t put it past the Rams to reach out and snag another QB right here.
Who they should pick: the best wideout on the board, or Tyler Wilson (QB-Ark) if Bradford falters
Sixth Pick: Minnesota Vikings
Selection: Keenan Allen, WR, California
Synopsis: Minnesota is also a threat to move...or was, before the state came through to keep the team in place. Now, they just have to solve a sick offense that can’t figure out how to score. They have Adrian Peterson, but without a threat on the edge, the running game will be nothing more than two yards and a cloud of dust.
Who they should pick: Robert Woods, if available
Seventh Pick: Arizona Cardinals
Selection: Tyler Wilson, QB, Arkansas
Synopsis: The Cardinals have Kevin Kolb, who has yet to prove his worth in light of his contract. Knowing that, the Cardinals front office decides that Wilson is a good fit, and with receivers like Fitzgerald and newcomer Michael Floyd, he’ll have a perimeter game that may be the best in the league.
Who they should pick: Wilson, or if he’s gone, Logan Thomas (QB-VT)
Eighth Pick: St. Louis Rams (from Washington)
Selection: Star Lotulelei, DT, Utah
Synopsis: The Rams hold Washington’s first round pick thanks to the Robert Griffin trade last draft. The Rams have to at least consider going offense-defense in round one when they have two picks. Lotulelei seems one of the best regarded defensive players in the 2013 class.
Who they should pick: another good option for the Rams would be Manti Te’o (LB-ND)
Ninth Pick: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Selection: Marcus Lattimore, RB, South Carolina
Synopsis: The Bucs have focused on defense lately, but you have to score bunches of points to win in the NFC South. Lattimore is a good value at nine, and gives them a strong running threat.
Who they should pick: if they stay with the defense mentality, David Amerson (CB-NCState) is a good pick here
Tenth Pick: Kansas City Chiefs
Selection: Landry Jones, QB, Oklahoma
Synopsis: The third QB of the 2013 class goes to KC, who is over the Matt Cassel experiment. Jones has had a wonderful career at Oklahoma, and may translate well to the NFL. (Yes, I know I had Kansas City as a dark horse and going 9-7 this year. The middle of the pack will be pretty tight this year.)
Who they should pick: Get the QB while you can.
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