2013 NFL Picks

Here are my uninformed picks for the upcoming NFL season.  Last year I had Houston and Green Bay in the super bowl which is all you need to know about my prognostication powers.

AFC East

1. New England

2. Miami

3. Buffalo

4 New York

The Patriots without Tom Brady are a two win team.  Seriously that is how important Brady is to the success of the organization.  But as long as he is there they should still cruise to another division title.  The Dolphins will finish second only because someone has to.  Their entire growth depends on if they can get Tannenhill to play competent enough.  The jury is still out.  The Bills are starting an undrafted rookie QB but I kind of like them other then that.  They have talent but the question mark at the quarterback position makes this team a risky proposition.  The Jets are a mess and I love it.  I cannot stand that wind bag Rex Ryan and that team looks to be completely dysfunctional and Ryan is being exposed as the fraud that he is. 

AFC North

1. Cincinnati

2. Baltimore

3. Pittsburgh

4. Cleveland

I am going out on a limb and picking the Bengals to eek out the division.  I really like their defense and if Dalton can pull a Flaco I think they might be ok.  The Marvin Lewis factor does give me some pause though.  The Ravens are proof that the NFL is now a bunch of mediocre teams and the least mediocre in January tends to win the big game.  Think about the last three champs.  All of them very flawed teams that won despite of their flaws.  There are no powerhouse teams anymore and while that makes for great competiveness I am not sure it makes for a great product. Anyway, I think that they have too many big losses to overcome.  The Steelers are looking old and are losing that air of invincibility about them.  Steelers fans are worse than Cowboy fans.  They just hide their dickness better.  (I stole that line from something I read online and cannot agree with it more.) The poor Browns, their wretched play looks to have no end in sight.  They are just bad and rebuilding once again, what a surprise. 

AFC South

1. Houston

2. Indianapolis

3. Tennessee

4. Jacksonville

The Texans win this by default.  They have talent on the roster but as per usual will find a way to lose come the playoffs.  They beat up on the sisters of the poor but anytime they are asked to play a good team they crap the bed.  The fact that the Colts made the playoffs last year shows how watered down the NFL has become.  With that said, I like Andrew Luck but this team is going to regress this year before they get better in 2014.  The Titans are the most non-descript team in the game.  Chris Johnson is a stud running back but he is also maddening to watch.  He will go 7 carries for 8 yards then break off a 50 yarder.  With that said they are not very good.  The Jaguars are in my humble opinion the worst team in the whole sport.  They should get the first pick next year.

AFC West

1. Denver

2. Kansas City

3. San Diego

4. Oakland

Everyone is sucking on the teat of the Broncos this year.  And they very well may be great.  However, all it takes is one bad hit to the surgically repaired neck of Manning and they become hot garbage.  I am not saying that is going to happen but it might. The Chiefs will be much better and I actually like the Andy Reid hiring even if he is flawed.  Alex Smith is the huge question mark here.  They could sneak in and win this division. The Chargers are re-building and don’t have much talent after wasting away a great roster when LT was still there. They still have Phillip Rivers and now being freed from the zombie that was Norv Turner I think he might be ok.   When I was a kid, the Bears stunk.  So, while I was fan I also latched onto the Raiders as my AFC team simply because I hated the Steelers so much and the Raiders seemed cooler and the more rebellious team.   While once a proud franchise today they are a laughing stock.  They are a tire fire of a team with no hope.  It is sad. 

NFC East

1. New York

2. Dallas

3. Washington

4. Philadelphia

The Giants tanked last year.  They are kind of a yo-yo team one good year and then one bad.  I think this is their good year.  The Cowboys have some playmakers but then they always do and never can seem to get over the hump.  This year will be no different.  As for the Redskins, let’s see what RGIII does with a first place schedule and a league that has had a year to watch him on film.  Oh ya, he is also on a repaired knee good luck. The Eagles will be interesting to watch.  I think it takes a year but I think they turn it around quick but just not this year.

NFC North

1. Green Bay

2. Chicago

3. Detroit

4. Minnesota

The Packers have a brutal defense, a suspect running game and an o-line that could not block a pee wee team.  Yet they will win the division because of Aaron Rodgers putting up video game numbers.  When people tell me football is a team game, I laugh.  There is no better deodorant then having an elite quarterback.  The Bears are severely average. I like the Trestman hire but the defense it getting old. With that said, I like them better then the two teams behind them.  They will win about 8-9 games and get another mid round pick and continue to run in circles.  The Lions had a nightmare season last year which made no sense.  They have talent but cannot seem to put it all together.  Why they brought back Jim Schwartz is beyond me.  The Vikings played so over their heads last year it was comical.  There is no way they duplicate that.  They might have been the worst playoff team of the last twenty years.

NFC South

1. New Orleans

2. Atlanta

3. Carolina

4. Tampa Bay

The Saints can put up 45 and give up 50.  But they sure do make for an exciting brand of football.  Maybe Sean Payton being back gets them back on top.  There is no reason why the Falcons should not win the NFC this year.  On paper they are the best team.  Yet, somehow they always seem to blow a tire in the playoffs, which for some reason makes me happy.  The Panthers will go 8-8, they always do.  This team is the most average in an average league.  I personally hope the Buccaneers lose every game this year.  An apathetic fan base, an owner who could give a shit and a coach who is a total D-bag that personifies every macho stereotype I hate about the sport. 

NFC West

1. Seattle

2. San Francisco

3. Arizona

4. St. Louis

Everyone is on the Seahawks teat this year and I guess I will join them.  I don’t think they are a powerhouse but they should go 8-0 at home and that will be huge.  The 49er’s are solid on both sides of the ball.  But, I worry they lose a little focus and have somewhat of a super bowl hangover.  The Cardinals with Palmer should be better.  This team has a good defense but the O-Line is really bad.  The Rams are improving and could sneak up on people this year.  I still think 2014 would be a better guess as to when they start contending but they have talent and it is going to blossom soon enough. 

AFC Playoffs

Houston over Kansas City

Baltimore over New England

Baltimore over Denver

Cincinnati over Houston

Cincinnati over Baltimore

NFC Playoffs

New Orleans over Atlanta

San Francisco over New York

San Francisco over Green Bay

New Orleans over Seattle

New Orleans over San Francisco

Super Bowl

New Orleans over Cincinnati