FanPost

VoodooMagic's Annual Inaccurate NFL Predictions Column




It's a slow news day and a slow work day, so I'm looking for any sort of distraction to get me through my day before a nice 4-day weekend where I'm going to my first gay wedding!

I was thinking of just getting some more fantasy talkers going in the Wednesday thread but I think this might be a better use of my commenting prowess on Canis.

I'm just gonna go division by division here:

NFC North:

Bears 11-5

Packers 10-6

Vikings 8-8

Lions 7-9

Thoughts: I'm a believer in this Bears offense. The defense might actually be terrible and that could the deal break on their overall success (like possibly a first round playoff exit) but I think through the grind of a regular season they are going to be tough to stop for most teams. I like all Bears in fantasy.

Packers are as solid as Rodgers and that is really it. I don't think their playmakers are as dynamic as the Bears are, I question the offensive line and I'm not sure the defense will be that great either but as long as Rodgers plays 14 games they should be safely in the playoff picture.

As for my Vikes. This record is entirely dependent on how they start the season. I think Cassel is good enough to QB the Vikes to a .500 record but they have a fairly tough start to the season. I could see them starting 1-4, 2-5 and then just going to Bridgewater. While I like Bridgewater, I think if they start 1-4, 2-5 and go to Bridgewater as the rookie it likely lowers the wins for this team....Maybe that's a good thing though. Maybe going 6-10 with Bridgewater and getting one good pick is ultimately what is in the franchises best interest, but football of all sports is such a year by year deal, I approve of starting with Cassel and seeing if you can get a quicker start to the season.

I like the Lions talent wise, but the uninspired coaching choice of Jim Caldwell is pretty concerning for my tastes. I wouldn't be surprised if they went 5-11 or 11-5 though.

AFC North

Cincinnati 10-6

Ravens 9-7

Steelers 8-8

Browns 5-11

Thoughts: People seem pretty high on the Bengels as a regression team. While they do seem primed to take a tiny step back, I just think they have too much talent to lose out to any of these squads. I'm a big fan of Gio, they have a great offensive line and are getting Atkins back.

The rest of the division is just too boring to spend too much time commenting on. If Johnny F is as good as I want him to be, I think the Browns have a pretty bright future but until that happens they will probably go 5-11 like they do every year.

NFC East

Philadelphia 10-6

Dallas 9-7

Washington 7-9

New York 7-9

Thoughts: I think this division will be the football equivalent of what the Wolves are trying to be the next season. You could theoretically look at the teams in this division and say it will amount to "fun" football...but every team is going to be terrible to borderline undisciplined defensively. There will be some fun shoot outs, but some rather awful games as a result. I don't see any real contenders in this group

AFC East

Patriots 12-4

Dolphins 10-6

Jets 8-8

Bills 5-11

Thoughts: Kinda a typical AFC East, Pats dominate, the Bills suck and the Jets and Dolphins vie for the middle. I actually kinda like the Dolphins as playoff contender this year. I sorta like Tannehill and I like elements of that defense. They spent a lot of money on their O Line and that was the biggest issue they had last year so who knows?

As for the Patriots, I have predicted them going to the Super Bowl every year for the past decade so I will do it again. The curious trade of Logan Mankins is unfortunate, but I guess you gotta assume Belicheck has a contingency plan or likes one of their guards they got coming up? I love their defense. I wish they had one big/fast WR that was a burner down field....If they had that I think they'd win the whole thing

NFC South

New Orleans 11-5

Atlanta 10-6

Tampa Bay 8-8

Carolina 7-9

Thoughts: I'm bummed about the Panthers. I loved watching them last year but they had about as bad of an offseason as you can imagine. They lost almost their entire OLine and WR corp and most of their secondary. Hopefully they have some guys coming up they like cause that was a fun team to watch when it was going well.

I think the Falcons will naturally be much improved. They'll be similar to many teams in the NFL this year in that they have no defense...but a better OLine, a younger RB and a healthy White and Jones should help pick that offense back up to where you'd expect it.

Tampa is always a team that seems like they are on the brink of having an absolutely terrifying team but are a few key positions are missing. Is Josh Mcown good enough to get the most out of an otherwise talented team? I think he might be...but we'll see. 8-8 is a safe prediction

The Saints might be a sleeper Super Bowl contender. i'm not too crazy about their chances at going to the Super Bowl but I do think if it's not San Fran or Seattle it'll prolly be the Saints in the NFC.

AFC South

Indianapolis 10-6

Houston 8-8

Tennessee 5-11

Jacksonville 3-13

Thoughts: Easily the worst division in football as I'm not sure any team in this division would have a winning record in another one. Houston is on the verge of having a nightmare defense, but are QB'd by Ryan Fitzpatrick...I love Andrew Luck but his management has done a poor job surrounding him with talent. I think Jacksonville and Tennessee might be two of the four worst teams in the NFL though and may only get wins as a result of playing in a weak division.

NFC West:

San Francisco 12-4

Seattle 11-5

Arizona 10-6

St. Louis 4-12

Thoughts: I might not be giving STL enough credit here, but the Sam Bradford injury seems like it may have been the punch that causes them to have a tough time recovering in time for the season. I LOVE Arizona in a unrealistic expectation sorta way...They seem primed for a regression, but I hope not. I think they have a lot of interesting young talent and I have never hated Palmer as much as most.

I love the Niners this year. They are my pick for the Super Bowl. I think Kaep is sitting on an epic season. He's got an awesome group of weapons to play with and I think he has an MVP-Convo season (I don't think he will be the MVP but I think you'd be able to make a reasonable case for it). Seattle lost a lot of players and will probably naturally have some SB hangover, but if any team can repeat--it's them.

AFC West

Denver 12-4

San Diego 10-6

Kansas City 8-8

Oakland 3-13

Thoughts: The Chefs worry me (I have intentionally called the Chiefs the Chefs for years, I understand it's a lame joke). Of the big favorites for a regression (Bengals, Cards, Chefs, Panthers) they are the one I believe is the most likely.

I obviously like Denver but I think they are going to have some regression to the point where I don't think they will be in the Super Bowl.

I love the Chargers. Maybe last year was a mirage but I think Phil Rivers is awesome and I'm glad he's got a coaching staff that knows how to unleash him.

Super Bowl: 49ers over the Patriots

What do ya'll think about the NFL this year?