Key-
#-Indicates division champ
%-Indicates wild card spot
AFC East
1. New England Patriots 12-4 #
2. New York Jets 11-5 %
3. Miami Dolphins 7-9
4. Buffalo Bills 5-11
It's yet another AFC East title for Brady and the Pats. I certainly feel that the Jets and Mark Sanchez are definite contenders. Now with the addition of Braylon Edwards, their passing attack has another big playmaker. Miami is a solid team, but with Pennington down I just don't see January football in the cards. Buffalo has another heartbreaking season, losing multiple contests in the finals seconds.
AFC North
1. Baltimore Ravens 13-3 #
2. Pittsburgh Steelers 10-6 %
3. Cincinnati Bengals 10-6
4. Cleveland Browns 3-13
Through the first four games Baltimore looks like the most balanced team on both sides of the ball in the division, and maybe in the NFL for that matter. Pittsburgh is wearing a target this year, but with a favorable schedule I see the Steelers playing football in the new year. Cincinnati is definitely no fluke. However, I think the ghost of Bengals past will get them late in the season this year. They aren't ready to contend just yet, but they're going in the right direction. And yeah, the Browns they'll be in the cellar of the division. No surprise.
AFC South
1. Indianapolis Colts 13-3 #
2. Houston Texans 10-6
3. Jacksonville Jaguars 8-8
4. Tennessee Titans 6-10
Manning and the Colts will once again be a force to be reckoned with in the AFC. The Texans and Jags seemed to be very evenly matched. I really feel that the Texans organization has taken all of the necessary steps to build a winner from the ground up. Sadly, I see the Texans just barely missing the playoffs this year. The Jaguars will finish up at .500. Even with Nate Washington, the Titans will finish last in the AFC South.
AFC West
1. Denver Broncos 12-4 #
2. San Diego Chargers 9-7
3. Oakland Raiders 5-11
4 Kansas City Chiefs 2-14
A big surprise in the West. The Cutlerless Broncos have opened the entire league's eyes. I believe they are for real and will win the AFC West. Once again San Diego has started slow. I really feel that this organization has some internal issues, and they won't rebound in the second half this year. Well nothing else needs to be said about Oakland and KC.
NFC East
1. New York Giants 13-3 #
2. Philadelphia Eagles 10-6 %
3. Dallas Cowboys 8-8
4. Washington Redskins 6-10
The New York Giants are clearly the beast of the east. Philly has a strong team this year, and with McNabb healthy is capable of beating almost any team in the NFL. Too bad for Jerry Jones, he misses the playoffs at 8-8. I sense some problems looming in the Redskins locker room, I think their season will go in a downward spiral from here.
NFC North
1. Minnesota Vikings 12-4 #
2. Chicago Bears 11-5 %
3. Green Bay Packers 10-6
4. Detroit Lions 5-11
The NFC North has quickly become arguably the toughest division in football. I think the team with the most balance and skill on both sides of the ball is Minnesota. The Vikes will win the division. The Cutler led Bears are quite a surprise. Nevertheless, I believe in this team. The Bears make the playoffs. Aaron Rodgers will sadly be home on his couch in January watching football, just barely missing the postseason at 10-6. The Lions.....improving.
NFC South
1. New Orleans Saints 13-3 #
2. Atlanta Falcons 9-7
3. Carolina Panthers 7-9
4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers 4-12
New Orleans is a great team. There isn't much else that needs to be said. Their offense is head and shoulders above everyone else's in that division. Matt Ryan will miss the playoffs in his sophomore season. Don't fret Falcons fans, in that division Atlanta will have their shot. Carolina just doesn't seem to have it this year. And Tampa Bay is in the midst of a rebuilding project.
NFC West
1. San Francisco 49ers 11-5 #
2. Arizona Cardinals 8-8
3. Seattle Seahawks 7-9
4. St. Louis Rams 3-13
A surprise to some, but not to me. San Fran is for real. This team has the right coach and the right personnel for the right situations. The way that the 49ers are put together, I would not be at all surprised to see them make a trip to the Super Bowl. I honestly didn't expect to see the Cards having a good year. They finish at .500. I thought Seattle was going to be good this year, but they disappointed me. The Rams once again can't get it done in the NFC West.
AFC Playoff Seeds
1. Baltimore Ravens 13-3
2. Indianapolis Colts 13-3
3. New England Patriots 12-4
4. Denver Broncos 12-4
5. New York Jets 11-5
6. Pittsburgh Steelers 10-6
NFC Playoff Seeds
1. New York Giants 13-3
2. New Orleans Saints 13-3
3. Minnesota Vikings 12-4
4. San Francisco 49ers 11-5
5. Chicago Bears 11-5
6. Philadelphia Eagles 10-6
Wild Card Weekend
AFC:
Pittsburgh at New England: New England
New York at Denver: Denver
NFC
Philadelphia at Minnesota: Minnesota
Chicago at San Francisco: Chicago
Divisional Round
AFC
Denver at Baltimore: Baltimore
New England at Indianapolis: Indianapolis
NFC
Chicago at New York: New York
Minnesota at New Orleans: Minnesota
Conference Championship
AFC
Indianapolis at Baltimore: Baltimore
NFC
Minnesota at New York: New York
Super Bowl
New York vs Baltimore: New York
