2011 NFL Preview

My AFC Favorites

New England- The Patriots are ALWAYS the pick to win the Super Bowl. It wouldn’t matter if Tom Brady said “We aren’t competing this season”, people would still pick them to win. The Patriots added several free agents to their team. It’ll be interesting to see if that will turn into a positive for them.

Ravens- The Ravens added wide receiver Lee Evans to play opposite of Anquin Boldin. The Ravens have a solid team of veterans mixed with a lot of young players. On paper this looks like a great team that has a serious shot at going to the Super Bowl.

Pittsburgh- The defending AFC Champions have not changed a lot since last year. History says that the loser of the Super Bowl struggles their next year. Plus, they play in the same division(AFC North) as the Ravens and it’ll be hard to play better than them.

Chargers- They’re just better than everybody else in the AFC West. Phillip Rivers is considered one of the best quarterbacks in the League but I have never been impressed.

Houston- This the best chance Houston has ever had of making the playoffs. They are led by the three-headed offensive monster of Matt Schaub, Arian Foster, and Andre Johnson.

My NFC Favorites

Packers- These are the defending Super Bowl Champs and they should only be better this season. They have lost a lot of players from the team last year but have retained their best guys.

Eagles- Why even play the season? According to every “expert”, the Eagles and the Patriots will be in the Super Bowl. There is no way that quarterback Michael Vick can run around everywhere like he did last season and stay healthy and there is no way they will make it to the Super Bowl. That doesn’t mean they won’t win the NFC South though.

Saints- The Saints struggled last season but Drew Brees is determined to get back to the Super Bowl. During the offseason he paid, out of his own pocket, to get his teammates together and hold private practices.

Falcons- The Falcons finished with the best record in the NFL last year at 14-2. They then lost their first playoff game. The team was young last year and they have hopefully learned how to handle success. Until they prove that I will consider the Saints the better team in the NFC South.

Lions/Rams/Seahawks/Cardinals- These teams have the capability to become outstanding. They also have the capability of being huge flops.

If Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford can stay healthy the offense will be hard to stop. Then the Lions defensive front, on paper, is an impenetrable wall.

The Rams showed a lot of improvement in 2010 from their 2009 season. Second-year quarterback Sam Bradford should lead this team to the playoffs, esp. considering the weak NFC West. Plus, they have one of the best running back, Steven Jackson.

The Seahawks won that NFC West last year and won a playoff game against the Saints. This is a hard team to judge because you hear little to nothing about them on any media outlet.

The Cardinals are another NFC West team. They have brought in QB Kevin Kolb to solidify a position that has been basically vacant since Kurt Warner retired.

Predictions for 2011 Playoffs

numbers indicate seeding

AFC

#1- Patriots

#2- Ravens

#3- Chargers

#4- Texans

#5-Steelers

#6- Colts

I can’t keep the Colts out, I just can’t. It wouldn’t be right to lose hope on the season already. If they don’t make it I’d put the Jets in.

NFC

#1- Packers

#2- Eagles

#3- Falcons

#4- Rams

#5- Giants

#6- Lions

Packers beat Ravens in the Super Bowl