Unfortunately, I don’t have time for a long column, but I wanted to get my picks on “paper”, just to see how I do at the end of the year:
AFC:
Division Champs - Patriots (12-4), Ravens (11-5), Colts (13-3), Broncos (11-5)
Wild Cards - Steelers (11-5), Chargers (10-6)
NFC:
Division Champs - Cowboys (11-5), Packers (12-4), Saints (9-7), Seahawks (12-4)
Wild Cards - Eagles (10-6), Lions (10-6)
Playoffs Wildcard Round - Ravens over Steelers, Chargers over Broncos, Cowboys over Lions, Eagles over Saints
Playoffs Divisional Round - Colts over Chargers, Ravens over Patriots, Packers over Eagles, Cowboys over Seahawks
Championship Games - Ravens over Colts, Packers over Cowboys
Super Bowl - Packers over Ravens
MVP - Aaron Rodgers - he’ll make the likes of Davante Adams and Ty Montgomery look like Hall of Famers
Teams to watch (outside of the playoffs) - Texans & Giants (Texans great D but lackluster offense will carry them to a playoff run... same for the Giants, except reverse... Giants may end up with the best offense in the league, but just miss the playoffs... in Chip we trust). Vikings D will look impressive too and may make things interesting in the North if Teddy B can make a jump in his sophomore year.
Patriots big difference this year is Malcom Butler and CB-by-committee vs. Darrelle Revis and Brandon Browner from last year. That’ll be the undoing in the playoffs. The Ravens passing game will stay strong throughout the year as long as Perriman can stay healthy in his rookie campaign. Flacco knows the feeling of choking in Foxboro and won’t let it happen again. I hope I’m wrong, but I just don’t feel confidence in the Pats D this year. Looks like the 2009-2013 defense again.
Biggest Dissapointment? The AFC East. This is the year everyone wants to pick against the Pats, but they will just roll out of bed and into the playoffs yet again. I’d say the Dolphins have the best chance at coming in second around 9-7, maybe 10-6. Buffalo has awesome D, but no QB, and the Jets are the Jets.
Enjoy opening night, Go Pats.
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